News Briefs

East Providence Police arrest three in catalytic converter thefts
Local police, assisted by the Rhode Island State Police arrested three out of state suspects in the theft last March of some 14 catalytic converters.  Police were called to the Rhode Island Truck Center on Amaral Street for a report of a larceny in progress on March 12 around 2 a.m. “A caller reported that several individuals had gained access to the gated facility and were actively stealing catalytic converters from several commercial vehicles. Responding officers encountered a silver Mazda sedan exiting the parking lot occupied by three males wearing black ski masks,” said Police Chief Chris Francesconi. Officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but their commands were ignored. The vehicle fled the scene at a high rate of speed towards the Wampanoag Trail. Several officers pursued the vehicle on Pawtucket Avenue before it continued onto Route 195 westbound. During the pursuit, the vehicle sustained damage to the passenger side front tire. The vehicle continued to flee at a high rate of speed on three wheels onto Interstate 95 north and eventually Route 146 north.

“Our officers attempted to stop the vehicle, but their commands were ignored. The vehicle fled the scene at a high rate of speed towards the Wampanoag Trail. Several officers pursued the vehicle on Pawtucket Avenue before it continued onto Route 195 westbound,” added the chief.  During the pursuit, the vehicle sustained damage to the passenger side front tire. The vehicle continued to flee at a high rate of speed on three wheels onto Interstate 95 north and eventually Route 146 north.  “We notified surrounding agencies of the pursuit which was eventually terminated near the Smithfield Avenue exit on Route 146.  Rhode Island State Police located the vehicle a short distance away where the vehicle attempted to exit onto Route 116. The vehicle became disabled, and all three suspects fled on foot. All three were subsequently taken into custody by Rhode Island State Police,” Chief Francesconi reported.          

Rhode Island State Police recovered 14 catalytic converters from the vehicle, each valued at approximately $1,500. Officers identified several vehicles that had the catalytic converters removed. Detectives are currently investigating the incident to see if the suspects are connected to other catalytic converter thefts in East Providence and surrounding communities. The three suspects were eventually transported to the East Providence Police Department where they were identified and arraigned by a bail commissioner.

Jose Vazquez, age 27 of Chicopee, MA. Nathaniel Vazquez, age 26, and Roberto Jourdan, age 24 both of Springfield, MA.  They were variously charged with: Larceny over $1,500 (6 counts), Injuring or Tampering with Vehicles (6 counts), Eluding an Officer/High-Speed Pursuit, Obstructing an Officer in Execution of Duty and Conspiracy.

Councilman to Draft Ordinance to deter converter thefts
City Councilman-at-Large Bob Rodericks asked council colleagues to support his call for an ordinance intended to deter the chronic thefts from residents and businesses of stolen catalytic converters. “Catalytic converter theft is at an epidemic proportion, here and across the country,” Rodericks said at the March 15^th city council meeting.  I had this item placed on the docket well before the recent arrest of three suspects and it is very coincidental but timely to discuss this now,” Rodericks said.

The councilman described the reason for these thefts.  “Catalytic converters contain precious metals, including palladium and rhodium, which are part of the platinum-group metal (PGM) family.  The value of these metals has increased significantly in recent years.  In fact, an ounce of palladium is now worth more than an ounce of gold.  Rhodium, meanwhile, is currently worth nine times the price of gold, more than $18,000 per ounce.”  Chief Francesconi addressed the council to agree that the problem is a big one.  “For thieves, this means a catalytic converter might be a better score than the average wedding band or gold watch. Many scrapyards and black-market buyers have an open call out for catalytic converters, which they turn around and sell to metal recyclers,” said Francesconi. Certain car models contain more precious metals in their converters. Trucks, vans, and older foreign model vehicles, for example, are common targets.  Thieves can get $300 and much more in some cases for the converters.  Usually a thief can cut off a converter in seconds.  “In 2020 we had reports of 21 CC’s stolen in 10 separate incidents.  From January 2021 until March 11th 2022, we had reports of 57 CC’s stolen in 44 separate incidents,” reported Francesconi.  

“Unfortunately, very few arrests have been made in these incidents.  Often times there will be grainy video surveillance which shows a suspect(s) and a vehicle, but the image does not provide much actionable information.  All incidents occur under the cover of darkness.  Currently there are statewide and region-wide efforts to track and cooperatively investigate these incidents.  Often a suspect(s) will be from out of state,” Francesconi told the council.  Councilman Rodericks will work with City Solicitor Michael Marcello to draft an ordinance which will then require council approval.  “The focus of this proposal will be to prevent unscrupulous buyers from being available to converter thieves.  Let’s limit the source of the sales other than from a licensed shop and with proper identification of sellers, etc.,” said Rodericks.

Long Vacant & Litigated Industrial Property to become “East Pointe”
The City Council unanimously approved a TIF (tax increment funding) supporting the $100M redevelopment of a long vacant brownfield and former industrial site into a new residential development that includes market rate and affordable housing units.  “The new development will also include public access to the Seekonk River and Omega Pond for the first time since the 1880’s,” said the East Providence Waterfront Commission.  Tax increment financing is a financial tool used by local governments to fund economic development. The basic concept of a  TIF is straightforward, to allow local governments to finance development projects with the revenue generated by the development.  “The TIF for this project, as it was in all others, is entirely paid for from taxes within the specific development,” said Director of Planning and Economic Development, Bill Fazioli. “No tax money is assessed from anyone other than owners of this development.” A TIF is based on the theory that a development can pay for itself. The basic idea is that public investment in an area, often in the form of infrastructure, induces property value growth which increases property tax revenue. The revenue increase is, in turn, used to pay for the initial investment. This results in TIF being labeled as “self-financing,” due to the use of future revenue to pay current costs (Schwartz Center for Economic Policy).

The property off Roger Williams Avenue in Rumford has been a blighted area for years. Ocean State Steel was shut down in 1994 due to environmental concerns.  The RIDEM (Environmental Management) calculated approximately 600,000 tons of steel dust had been emitted into the atmosphere between August and December 1992.  Currently the site is vacant & fenced off under the control of a judicial receiver. It has been the site of neighborhood complaints for years.  Prior ambitious plans were initiated but never happened for many reasons.  The GeoNova Development Company LLC proposed a redevelopment project in 2001.  It was a $200 million plan for 500 condominiums, townhomes, single-family homes, and commercial spaces.  The site was remediated but the Development Project never materialized.  Another company, Prominem LLC released plans for 144 apartment units in 2016, but that plan also never made it off the drawing board.

GeoNova and the City went through a complicated legal process in Superior Court.  Eventually the city was able to take ownership and seek a company to develop this site.  Churchill & Banks submitted redevelopment plans in 2020.  The new plan is for a 387-unit residential community along the Seekonk River that will contain a mix of inland and waterfront homes, as well as an apartment complex.  According to city officials and the Waterfront Commission, project benefits include:

• Develop a vacant & blighted parcel on the Seekonk River
• Increase housing supply to the city
• Will contribute to city’s tax base and improve surrounding area
• Will provide public access to Seekonk River and Omega Pond for the first time since 1880’s
• Development will improve environmental quality of site

The current site is owned by the City of East Providence and does not generate any tax revenue.  All property tax revenues not used to pay debt service will flow directly to the City.  “We will also create public access to a long-dormant site that will provide recreational opportunities to Omega Pond, Seekonk River, and the Ten Mile River,” said Fazioli.  “There will be kayak and canoe free access.”

 City unveils art sculptures in Riverside & Watchemoket Squares
In a continuing effort to “spruce up” many East Providence public spaces, the city unveiled three family-friendly sculptures at Riverside and Watchemoket Squares at the end of March.  The Riverside sculptures by artist Peter Diepenbrock, were installed alongside the bike path and were displayed before a large turnout of residents.  “I hope this will bring smiles to the faces of residents for generations to come, thanks to the Rhode Island Commerce Corporation’s Main Street Rhode Island Streetscape Improvement Grant,” said Mayor Bob DaSilva.  The city unveiled three bunny sculptures and three patio areas with pavers. Bike racks will be installed and landscaping in the area will be completed in the spring.  “It is my intention to celebrate the playful experience of riding bicycles typically learned by children when quite young and to symbolize that joyful experience with these three characters in a manner that can be appreciated by people of all ages,” Sculptor Peter Diepenbrock said.  “I believe this family of playful characters will provide a colorful, fun-loving theme for the local community, and for those passing through.”      

“It is my intention to celebrate the playful experience of riding bicycles typically learned by children when quite young and to symbolize that joyful experience with these three characters in a manner that can be appreciated by people of all ages,” Sculptor Peter Diepenbrock said. “I believe this family of playful characters will provide a colorful, fun-loving theme for the local community, and for those passing through.”

“Thousands of families with young children in tow use our beautiful East Bay Bike Path,” Mayor DaSilva said. “Our hope is that these unique, playful sculptures will encourage bike path users to stop and enjoy the sculptures and learn about and visit some of the local businesses in Riverside Square.”  The area has an ice cream shop, coffee café, pizza restaurant and other small businesses.  The $69,000 grant award enables the City of East Providence to pay for costs associated with way finding signs, landscaping, public art and design elements in the Riverside Square area. The City provided $30,000 to the project based on the grant match requirement.

“My proposal called for the development and placement of three uniquely whimsical, ‘Bunny-Bike’ or ‘Biker-Bunny’ sculptural profiles, to be placed independently in three locations within the Riverside Square.  They were designed to maximize the ‘fun factor’ these figurative hybrids, blend a bunny with a bike in three variations: a unicycle bunny, a wheelie bunny, and a racer bunny,” said artist Diepenbrock.

The other new art installation was at the Waterfront Gateway Sculpture Garden, a public open space located in the heart of Watchemoket Square in East Providence.  “The Feathers Three” sculpture is a triple cluster of the debut sculpture concept, Pluma Sculptura, aka “The Feather” by artist Kirk Seese.  This sculpture represents the first time “The Feather” has been seen in this configuration, as a grouping of three.  It was also the result of a competitive contest.

“With its vertical nature and colorful palette, the Feathers Three represents upward momentum, a reaching towards something better, an inspiration for the eyes,” Seese said. “They don't ask the viewer for anything other than to enjoy them for what they are.  “There's no hidden meaning or political statement, just beauty and I am absolutely thrilled to have artwork on display in the gorgeous state of Rhode Island,” Seese added.

“We are thrilled to feature “The Feathers Three,” Mayor Bob DaSilva said. “The new outdoor sculpture will be part of a broader place-making initiative at the Square and establishes an arts district in the area of the square with the sculpture garden as its focal point. “This is only one of many initiatives to come in the City’s development of the Arts and Entertainment District,” DaSilva added.  The sculpture garden is well landscaped with a stone bench and sidewalks, which are maintained by the City.

The City is leasing the sculpture for two years with an option to extend the lease or purchase it outright at the end of the term. The $5,000 leasing fee is covered by the Public Art line item in the FY2020 Capital Budget.  As the creator of the Watchemoket Sculpture Garden, East Providence Arts Council (EPAC) was involved in the decision-making and artist selection process for locating a new sculpture in the park. EPAC Chair Jennifer Cahoon and EPAC Vice Chair David O'Connell served on the selection panel.  Seese was one of nine applicants who responded to the city's RFQ for public art released in October 2021. A selection panel, consisting of East Providence artists, fabricators, and Watchemoket Square stakeholders, reviewed applications and selected “The Feathers Three” as their top choice.

Forbes Street compost area open for leaf and yard waste drop offs
The Department of Public Works/Refuse & Recycling Division, announces that the Forbes Street Compost Site will be open to residents for dropping off some types of yard waste.  Residents may drop off leaves, grass, shrubs and branches less than three (3) inches in diameter or other material suitable for composting at the site. Residents must show a valid driver’s license as proof of residency. No commercial vehicles are permitted. Incoming material must be loose. Also, there are no plastic bags allowed and no contaminants.  Weekly curbside yard waste collection will begin on Mon., April 4, 2022.  The Yard Debris labels for barrels are offered free of charge and are available at City Hall or at the Public Works Complex on Commercial Way.  For questions or more information, please contact DPW Program Coordinator, Donna McMahon at (401) 435-7701 Fax: 434-1725. 

Recreation Dept. announces 2022 summer day camp registration
EAST PROVIDENCE, RI – The City of East Providence Recreation Dept. will hold a six-week summer day camp for East Providence youth ages 6-12 (age as of September 1, 2022). Camp will run from June 27, 2022 – August 5, 2022 (no camp July 4, 2022), at Pierce Field, 201 Mercer St. East Providence, RI 02914.

Recreation counselors will lead children through a fun-filled day of camp activities that include sports, arts and crafts, special events, field trips and much more! Free lunch is provided. Camp operates rain or shine Monday – Friday 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Transportation is NOT available to and from camp. Children must be dropped off and picked up.  The program will follow all RIDOH COVID-19 safety guidelines to ensure the health and safety of our campers and staff. If RIDOH guidelines change, adjustments to the program will be made.  Camp fee is $510 per child for the six-week program. The $255 deposit is due at registration. Final payment is due July 8, 2022.  Space is limited.  For more information, please call the Recreation Department at 401-435-7511.

Mayor meets with senior community to discuss landscape improvements
The Robert Rock Senior Center Advisory Group recently held a meeting to discuss proposed renovations to the Center’s landscape, which will be paid with federal funds secured by the City of East Providence.  Mayor DaSilva and Community Development Coordinator David Bachrach, shared the City’s proposals for the landscape project. 

Elements of the proposed project include a gazebo, flowers and plants, trees and a shed roof for increased shading, a rain garden and a pickleball court. The court can also be used for additional activities such as yoga and meditative therapy. The rain garden will help collect rainfall-runoff and be a home for plants and pollinators. Residents and visitors can sit in different pockets in the rain garden and enjoy nature and privacy. Plants and birdfeeders will also be sprinkled throughout the grounds. 

The project incorporates accessibility and safety elements on the grounds, like wheelchair ramps and a lighting system, so that all members of East Providence can utilize the facility. Concrete walkways will be included for a safe walking environment and a formalized pathway from Pawtucket Avenue will be created. A bag and waste station will also be added for those who walk their pets on the grounds. This project will shield traffic and allow for more privacy, however, the shielding will still allow for the trees to be visible during the annual Christmas tree event.

The meeting was collaborative, as members of the Advisory Group provided input on how to enhance the Senior Center. Suggestions included adding a stop sign in the parking lot to increase safety measures and adding a sound system. A sound system projecting nature sounds would help buffer the noise from traffic and would play holiday music during WinterFest. This would be highly beneficial during meditative therapy. 

The only impact to the Senior Center during the improvement project will be to the grounds which will be closed off to the public. The parking lot and entrance will remain open during while improvements are being made. It is the Administration’s intent to break ground and complete the project this year.  This project will result in a multicenter campus hosting an assortment of programs, including afterschool initiatives that involve the youth and seniors.

City employees donate to Ukraine victims
East Providence resident Natasha Rybak received a check with the funds raised by East Providence city employees for the assistance of those suffering in Ukraine.  Natasha Rybak is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. She has Ukrainian roots with long-standing ties to Ukraine since she participated as a Rotary Youth Exchange Student in Lviv, Ukraine in 1993-94.  Along with collaborators at Brown University, she co-founded the Brown University Ukraine Collaboration in 2011, focused on building capacity in the area of public health, HIV and TB.

When the Invasion of Ukraine started in February, she immediately started working with dedicated friends and colleagues in RI to start a local fund-raising effort with the goal of directly helping collaborators in need in Ukraine.

“She very much appreciates the local support for Ukraine and would like to emphasize that her colleagues in Ukraine feel this ongoing support helps keep their spirits up during a very tragic time,” said Mayor Bob DaSilva who presented Rybak with the donation.  A link to a fundraising site: https://fundly.com/friends-of-ukraine-ri.  Also, PayPal: Friends of Ukraine RI PayPal.

EP Fire Department and Emergency Management Agency Gets Equipment
The East Providence Fire Department was awarded an $834,363.64 grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), through their Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program. The AFG program is a highly competitive grant program open to all fire and emergency medical service departments nationwide.  The fire department released a statement which said, in part:  “The grant funding awarded will be used to train, certify, and license 25 of our personnel to the level of Emergency Medical Technician Paramedic, from their current level of advanced emergency medical technician cardiac. This will help expand and improve our emergency medical services division and increase the level of pre-hospital care to residents and the residents of surrounding communities that we serve. In addition, these personnel will also be trained, certified, and licensed to the mobile integrated health paramedic care (MIH-PC) level and allow us to develop, implement, and sustain an MIH-PC program as part of our emergency medical services division. Our MIH-CP program will improve the health and wellness of underserved populations in the community, especially those with chronic conditions who use the ER as their primary source of healthcare. Elderly populations to include shut-ins identified through EMS responses and our local senior services program will also benefit from our MIHFi-CP program by providing home healthcare interventions and the reduction of readmissions to local hospitals.  A big thank you to Mayor DaSilva and the City Council for approving the grant request. Nothing but the best for the citizens that we proudly serve.”