This week Juneteenth was declared a federal holiday. Juneteenth honors the day enslaved African Americans in Galveston, TX learned they were free – over two years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed. In Newport last year, we officially honored Juneteenth as a holiday with a proclamation. This year, Sankofa Community Connection put together the celebration of Juneteenth, and we gathered at City Hall, Great Friends Meeting House, and the Liberty Tree to honor the day and celebrate together as a community.
During this week’s City Council meeting, we are receiving the proposed zoning ordinance changes for the North End to help us achieve the goals set forward in the North End Urban Plan (NEUP). We are receiving the proposed changes and referring them to the Planning Board for their review and recommendation. This is the standard process for proposed ordinance changes and will allow ample time for public discussion and input. I encourage everyone who was engaged throughout the development process for the NEUP to give your feedback on these potential changes to our zoning. The NEUP was developed with the intention to direct redevelopment of the North End in ways that address historical inequities, offer more diverse economic opportunities, and better incorporate the North End into Newport. The corresponding zoning amendments are crucial to making this happen.
We have a resolution in this week’s docket endorsing a State bill that would increase the State funding for school districts whose free and reduced lunch population is greater than 20% - which includes Newport. Unfortunately, before the Council could consider this resolution, the Senate and House Finance Committees made the decision that it would not come up for a vote before the full General Assembly this year. This bill would greatly aid Newport and other districts around the State, and I will push to have it considered again next year.
It is important to remember that increased State funding is not the complete solution to funding our school system. When the Council approved the FY22 City budget at the last meeting, it included just a 1% increase in the funding for our school system. I voted against this budget because I believe that our schools need more to thrive, and our budget must reflect our community values. Our schools need to be reliably funded from both the State and the City in order to have predictability in their budgeting.