1. How has your professional background prepared you for the new role as councilman representing Ward 1 in Providence, which includes Fox Point? First, I have been a resident of Ward 1 for over 25 years. From Fox Point Elementary School to my degrees from Brown University, I’ve been living and working in this community for a long time and understand the issues. Professionally, I’m an educator. Prior to this role, I served on eight boards, including as a board member of the Fox Point Neighborhood Association, Brown’s Alumni Association board of governors and was a co-founder of the Providence Coalition of Neighborhood Associations.
2. New development is coming into Fox Point and downtown Providence, sometimes displacing existing residents. How can this conflict be resolved? We need to encourage economic development that expands jobs, our population and tax base ... and municipal revenues all while ensuring that development within our communities has the consensus support of neighborhood residents and doesn’t undermine historic preservation. We need to balance the new with the old and enforce zoning principles that truly reflect the historic vibrancy and nuances of our neighborhoods.
3. What should the city do to resolve its financial problems, which include heavy pension obligations and high taxes? The precarious financial state of Providence’s over $1 billion unfunded pension liability bleeds into the city’s effectiveness. Over 40% of the city’s land is off the tax rolls because it’s owned by universities, hospitals and nonprofits. We need to ally with large tax-exempt institutions so they can forge more in PILOT [payments in lieu of taxes] agreements to bolster their contributions to the economy.
4. What should business owners expect to see from city government? As a city, we should be a proactive source of information for our businesses but, most importantly, listen to them about what they need and how we can better support them. We’ve got to get rid of some of the red tape and promote our local businesses.
5. What do you see as the single most pressing issue for your constituents? Improving overall neighborhood quality of life for our families, our children and our elderly. Without raising property taxes, we need to figure out how the government can work more effectively for our hardworking taxpayers.
Mary MacDonald is a PBN staff writer. Contact her at Macdonald@PBN.com.
