The Council will be meeting in person this week in the Council Chambers. It has been interesting to be meeting in person again, but it is not the same without members of the public in the audience. The public will continue to participate remotely by phone or by Zoom. I hope that we are able to have meetings soon with members of the public with us.
At the meeting this Wednesday, the Council will be honoring the late former Mayor Paul Gaines for his many years of service to our community. Mayor Gaines was a great man and his contributions to Newport will be felt for years.
In Providence, discussions are ongoing that would propose merging the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Authority with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation. RITBA is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the four bridges connecting Aquidneck Island and Jamestown to the mainland, including the Newport Pell Bridge. The tolls from the Newport Bridge are collected by RITBA and used to keep this critical infrastructure safe and functional. I am concerned that a merger with RIDOT would allow the department to increase tolls and divert resources away from maintaining our bridges to fill gaps in funding for projects up state, making Newport residents, businesses, and visitors alike shoulder a disproportionate burden in maintaining the State’s road infrastructure. This is unacceptable, which is why I am introducing a resolution at this week’s meeting to oppose this proposed merger.
The Council will be considering a resolution to voice support of the inclusion of African American history education in all Rhode Island K-12 schools. It is an important step to take and I am glad that the Council will have the opportunity to discuss it. It is important to provide our children a full view of history in their education, and this call for an expanded curriculum is one example of why I did not support the cuts to the school department’s proposed funding in this year’s budget. I will work to provide the resources needed to back up this Councils wishes. In Newport, we are fortunate to have had individuals and organizations working in our schools for years to educate students on African American history, both our nation’s history and our local history right here in Newport. Keith and Theresa Stokes and Sankofa Community Connection have been integral in the community effort to bring these parts of history to our students, and I want to thank them for all the work they have put in over the years.