An open letter to Providence elected leaders:

Dear Elected Officials (Tiara, Mary Kay, Enrique, Sam and Rachel),

I write with deep disappointment about the decision to fund professional trash cleanup only around the Armory where a temporary warming center is currently located. While I applaud your efforts in responding to the concerns of residents near the Armory (West End), I wonder why the same resources and allocation weren’t granted to residents in South Providence who live in close proximity to Crossroads and Amos House, and where trash that probably doubles the amount the Armory is seeing is generated all year long. Can someone please explain?

The issuance of emergency funds for trash cleanup in the West End after only experiencing the impacts of shelters for one month is unjust, not equitable, and disrespectful to the people of South Providence.
The support of constituents from elected officials (both within and outside of district lines) should be more or less the same, especially if you consider yourselves allies.

Sam – thanks for the suggestion of earmarking funds from the half million funding Crossroads is seeking through the city council as a way to improve trash pick up, but that is nothing more than putting a bandaid on the issue at hand. Simply put, we believe the same professional cleanup the residents of West End are going to receive should be extended to other parts of the city. Once the Armory warming center closes, the trash and dumping generated will presumably come to an end, which is great news for residents in the West End, but for residents in South Providence the issue continues and we simply can’t continue to ignore that.

This is the time for our elected officials and allies to step up and advocate for us. Lots of promises were made during the campaign season and my hope is that each and everyone of you will follow through. The residents of South Providence matter, will not be ignored, and deserve better. Please help!

I’m attaching the celebratory twitter announcement for those who may not have seen it. Here’s to hoping we see a similar tweet for South Providence.

I look forward to seeing what may happen.

Best,

Yaimani Rivera
South Providence Resident