EDITORIAL: Nothing Good Happens After Midnight - Proof is Federal Hill

EDITORIAL: Nothing Good Happens After Midnight - Proof is Federal Hill

On many weekends in Providence, Federal Hill is the epicenter of crime and violence. It is no longer a great strip of restaurants for family dinners, engagements, and anniversary celebrations.

 

Now, Federal Hill is shootings, fights, robberies, and stabbings.

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This past weekend was much like far too many weekends.

 

There was a stabbing at a restaurant that was hosting a comedy event. Saje Kitchen was hit with a 72-hour closure order by the Board of Licenses.

 

This was not the Saje’s first problem.

 

As GoLocal reported, in October 2023, a woman was arrested after she was refused reentrance into the establishment — and assaulted a police officer. 

 

Then this weekend, shortly before 2 AM on Sunday, the driver of a car was cited for a number of violations which caused an accident with a Providence Police officer. Multiple people were taken to the hospital.

 

Sadly, this isn’t the exception; the Federal Hill violence is the rule. Just the other weekend, a brawl at a club — after midnight - saw the establishment's security guard arrested. 

 

In recent years, there have been vicious murders, beatings, and shootings. The karma is bad. Federal Hill makes national news for violent robberies rather than epicurial excellence.

 

This violence on Federal Hill is nothing new—it has been going on for the last several years. But city officials continue to be ineffective at changing the dynamics. Thus, changing the hours and limiting the late-night crowd and violence would dramatically help.

 

Many of the remaining restaurants, like Angelo's, The Old Canteen, and Caserta's suffer from the neighborhood's growing reputation as a violent area.

 

Much of the fine dining has left the Hill — it is now in East Greenwich, along with a growing number of restaurants in Barrington. Instead of the affluent suburbians coming to Providence for dinner and a show, they now stay local and head home early.

 

It is time for Providence Mayor Brett Smiley to step up and push for a midnight closure of bars and restaurants on the Hill. Council President Rachel Miller, who represents that area, and Smiley have feasted not on the food but on campaign donations tied to the clubs.

 

While the violence continues, the city deploys more and more law enforcement resources. Providence taxpayers are the ones who underwrite the constant public safety response to late-night violence, and officers are consistently placed in harm's way. 

 

It is not working. Bad players and bad operators outnumber the police, and the crime continues.

 

It is time for the Smiley administration to take action to ensure the safety of visitors and the economic stability of the city.