There is an important update about COVID-19 vaccination. The City of Newport and Town of Middletown are opening COVID-19 vaccination center in mid-February, serving Newport and Middletown residents who are 75 years and older first. Residents are asked to pre-register for the vaccine on the City website.
Black History Month begins tomorrow and once again, we will be flying the red, black, and green flag at City Hall. Sankofa Community Connection will be holding an event to celebrate Black History Month and the flying of the flag on Thursday at 1 pm.
The City Council approved the North End Urban Plan during our meeting last week. The Plan’s approval lays the foundation for redevelopment of the North End to be done in a way that benefits both residents and businesses. I am most proud of the inclusion of a framework to develop Community Benefits Agreements that will give our community a seat at the table in negotiations with developers. A CBA opens up opportunities and can help ensure that our residents are not displaced, that job training is provided, and more.
Now that the Plan has been approved, we can begin taking the next steps, starting with the accompanying zoning amendments that will help make the Plan’s vision a reality. The Planning Board is working with staff on zoning and will soon being hearing input from the public. The zoning will provide the guidance and structure for development to be done thoughtfully and in a way that benefits everyone who lives, visits, and does business in Newport. The Council will be meeting with GrowSmartRI in the next few weeks to hear how they have been working with our North End community on how to encourage economic growth while ensuring accessibility and social equity. This workshop is still being scheduled but I will make sure to let you know.
This coming Saturday morning, the Council will be meeting with our State legislators to talk about legislative priorities for Newport. When the State and the City representatives work together, we are better able to accomplish shared goals and get things done that benefit Newport. I encourage you to join the meeting on Zoom; let me know if you have items you want to make sure we discuss.