“Slimy” - Councilor Pulls Plug on Vote to Fund Benefit Street Improvements, WateFire Building Lease

“Slimy” - Councilor Pulls Plug on Vote to Fund Benefit Street Improvements, WateFire Building Lease

A Providence City Councilor led a walkout of fellow council members to stop a vote to authorize over $6 million to finance funding for Benefit Street improvements - as well as a vote on the contentious WaterFire building lease agreement.

At Thursday’s City Council meeting, City Councilman Miguel Sanchez spoke when the body was set to consider the ordinance that would approve financing of a $6.2 million project through the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank for the “Mile of History Project” on the city’s East Side. 

“We’re all aware of what we’re doing here,” said Sanchez. “This was planned on being tabled - because the vote was literally tied 30 minutes ago…obviously it appears that one of our colleagues is missing.”

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“This is something I’m not proud of but you know…slimy, and you know, I don’t want to offend anyone or make it personal,” said Sanchez.

“Councilman - if you could not attack [councilors],” a female’s voice can be heard saying. 

Providence Mayor Brett Smiley has been supportive of the funding measure for Benefit Street; Sanchez did not respond to a request for comment on his remarks. 

“None of this is personal, at the end of the day, I love serving with all 14 of you, but I’m going to be walking out right now because what we’re doing here is ridiculous,” said Sanchez on the floor of the Council. “If you oppose this piece of legislation, I also urge you to walk out.”

 

Meeting Abruptly Adjourns

Council Finance chair Jo-Ann Ryan then rose to speak on the agenda item - but in the course of her comments, enough councilors walked out, leaving the body without the required quorum to conduct business. 

“I rise to speak on the Mile of History Project. What is before us tonight is a $6.2 million infrastructure investment in our famous historic corridor Benefit Street - actually it’s the Benefit Street area - otherwise known as the Mile of History. It’s also an expansion of our partnership with the Mile of History Association,” Ryan started to say. 

“I’m sorry Councilwoman, at this point we don’t have quorum in the room - we’re just going to adjourn for a moment…at ease is the word,” a female’s voice can be heard saying. “Since we no longer have quorum, we are no longer in an open meeting. So I’m going to ask for a procedural motion to adjourn.”

Ryan did not respond to request for comment. 

The City Council meeting adjourned at just short of the half-hour mark - leaving multiple items of business unaddressed, including the city’s proposed WaterFire lease agreement.

The next meeting of the City Council is scheduled for December 4.