2025 -- H 6410

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LC003053

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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H O U S E   R E S O L U T I O N

URGING THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE TO FOLLOW THE FIRST SOURCE HIRING

ORDINANCE MANDATES

     Introduced By: Representatives Morales, and Batista

     Date Introduced: June 11, 2025

     Referred To: House Municipal Government & Housing

     WHEREAS, Chapter 21, Article III1/2, sec 21-91.1 of the Code of Ordinances of the City

of Providence ordained that "all significant public investments of taxpayer dollars require that

employers utilize the Providence First Source List for jobs created as a result of the public

investment"; and

     WHEREAS, It is furthermore required that the failure of businesses to notify First Source

about job openings, the failure to notify about job openings before advertising to the public, and

the failure to allow access to relevant records shall result in termination or suspension of aid or

funding, termination of contract recovery of any public benefit, withholding of future payments,

and suspension or termination of doing business or receiving funds from the City for a minimum

of two years; and

     WHEREAS, Businesses in the City of Providence are not all complying with the

requirements of the Ordinance, yet the City of Providence has failed to uphold the provisions of

this Ordinance by refusing to enforce the provisions and penalties outlined in the First Source

Ordinance; and

     WHEREAS, Language specified within sec 21-91.1(8) of the Ordinance states that

"Unless the City's citizens are provided with an opportunity to be hired on projects that their tax

dollars fund, unemployment will remain high, property values will further decline, foreclosures

will increase, crime will also increase, and the City will not be able to pay for or provide essential

public works projects, social programs, and incentives to the private sector that will induce

economic activity"; and

     WHEREAS, First Source Providence was established in 1986 with the sole purpose of

connecting working class, low-income, City residents with employers in the City of Providence

with job opportunities and job training; however, there are many available and qualified residents,

who live and pay taxes in the City of Providence who need jobs and are not being provided with

the opportunities required by the City's duly adopted Code of Ordinances; now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island hereby

strongly urges the City of Providence to follow the First Source Hiring Ordinance mandates and

enforce the rules and/or penalties on those businesses not complying; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the Honorable Brett Smiley, Mayor of the City

of Providence, the Honorable Rachel Miller, President of the Providence City Council, and

Wedley Thelemaque, First Source Director, City of Providence.

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LC003053

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