Early voting started this week! If you did not request a mail ballot, you can vote early at City Hall Monday through Friday between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm all the way until Election Day. If you’re planning to vote in person on November 3, make sure to double check your polling place at vote.sos.ri.gov.
This Wednesday the City Council is hosting a remote public workshop on the proposed skate park project at the Abruzzi Sports Complex. There have been many questions from the Council, various local sports leagues, and members of the public about this project. The workshop is an opportunity for the Council to sit down with the Friends of Newport Skate Park for the first time to talk through their proposal and for members of the public to ask questions and give input. I called for the workshop on the skate park because it is important for project discussions to take place publicly with ample public input to ensure no party is adversely affected.
This Thursday the Planning Board is holding the first of two dedicated workshops focused on the North End Urban Plan and its incorporation into Newport’s Comprehensive Land Use Plan. The North End Urban Plan will influence the shape of future and existing neighborhoods for generations to come. It is critical that North End residents continue to have robust participation in the process to ensure the Plan represents their interests and achieves their vision for the future. I strongly encourage you to review the Plan and take part in these workshops. If you have any questions about the Plan or the process, please reach out to me or the Planning Department.
The City of Newport has received $75,000 from the State’s Take It Outside grant program and we are currently accepting applications from retail or restaurant businesses in Newport with fewer than 50 employees to help fund equipment that will allow them to expand their business area outside. This will aid our small, local businesses in sustaining through the cooler months and is part of the City’s larger efforts to support our businesses community during this difficult time. Although business has improved in Newport over the past few months, overall revenues and sales are still much lower than they would be in a normal year. Please help us spread the word on this program. The City is always looking for more ways to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic on the community. If you have ideas on other ways we can be working with our community, please let me know!