"My pitch is that the city government can do so much more than what we are doing now," said Morales. "The status quo has left so many of our neighbors behind and disconnected from the government."
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has endorsed Rep. David Morales to be the next Mayor of Providence. Senator Sanders has made it clear that he is supporting candidates around the country who are taking on the political establishment and are committed to building a government and a Democratic Party that serve the needs of working people.
“What we are trying to do is build a grassroots, multiracial, working-class party that will stand up to the oligarchs,” Senator Sanders said. “What you also have to understand is we are taking on — when we take on the Democratic establishment — you’re taking on super PACs, you’re taking on billionaires who fund many of the people who oppose our candidates.”
“Bernie Sanders was one of my earliest inspirations in politics,” said Rep. Morales. “At a time when too many of our leaders are serving the interests of the donor class, Senator Sanders speaks with moral clarity on the responsibility of government to put working people first.”
“I’m grateful to Senator Sanders for believing in our grassroots movement to cap rent increases, invest in our public schools, and protect our immigrant community. With his support, we’re going to build a Providence all our neighbors can afford.”
He was responding complaints about the problems spilling out of some nightclubs in South Providence and Washington Park, I believe in response to something said by Linda Perri, President of the Washington Park Neighborhood Association.
I happened to be part of a conversation recently about the rent stabilization bill that Mayor Smiley rejected. Here's what I think needs to be known: there are several important exemptions to the bill that would help single owner-occupied multiple family units. People say that if not allowed to increase rent above 4%, no repairs will be made. Two things about that. One is that owners should be smart about their investment, and do what it takes to keep a place in decent shape, and two, as David said, enforcement needs to be actually implemented so that owners who do allow violations are held to account. These laws are already on the books! So, enforce them already!
All people hear about is the 4% limit, but the proposed law is much more thoughtful than just that.
City Council President Rachel Miller Endorses David Morales for Mayor of Providence
City Council President Rachel Miller has announced her endorsement of Rep. David Morales for Mayor. Miller led the council’s passage of Rent Stabilization this year, which Mayor Smiley vetoed. Miller cited David’s commitment to continuing her work and signing the Rent Stabilization when the council passes it again next year in a video that can be seen here: https://youtube.com/shorts/8Cx5hV08iCM?feature=share
“I’m excited to endorse David Morales to be the next mayor of Providence,” said Council President Miller. “David has been a thoughtful governing partner for years, demonstrating his commitment to building coalitions and delivering results for working people in our city.”
“Rents in Providence have risen by more than 40% over the last six years. I am so proud to have led the effort to pass Rent Stabilization, which David supported from day 1. Our neighbors deserve a Mayor who will work for us, not the corporate interests pricing working people out of the city they love. I know David will be that Mayor, and that he will fight to continue the momentum for progressive change we have built during my 8 years in City Council.”
“I’m deeply honored to have the support of Council President Miller,” said Rep. Morales. “For the last 8 years, she has fought for the working people and families of Providence. During her tenure as Council President, she successfully organized majority support for Rent Stabilization, and I was proud to stand alongside her when the council passed it this year. Councilor Miller has never been afraid to stand up to corporate interests and fight for our neighbors. As our next Mayor, I am committed to honoring her work and signing Rent Stabilization into law when the council passes it again next year.”
Providence Teachers Union Endorses David Morales for Mayor
The Providence Teachers Union has announced its endorsement of Representative David Morales for Mayor of Providence. The endorsement comes at a pivotal moment for the city, as Providence Public Schools prepare to return to local control after years under state intervention. PTU cited Representative Morales’s consistent support for educators, collaborative leadership approach, legislative record of delivering investments for Providence schools, and commitment to improving staffing levels and student outcomes as key reasons for their endorsement. PTU leadership and members have expressed their support for David in a video that can be viewed here:
“Our members have spoken. The membership overwhelmingly agreed to endorse Representative Morales. He has demonstrated his commitment to our students, their families, and the community. This commitment sends a clear message that our educators and service providers are valued and respected,” said Cindy Robles, PTU President and special education teacher at Roger Williams Middle School.
“Representative Morales has consistently shown up for students, families, and educators in Providence. His deep respect for organized labor, commitment to staffing that prioritizes student and educator well-being, and interest in amplifying teacher voice make him a promising partner in this next chapter for PTU and for our district,” said Lindsay Paiva, PTU President-Elect and third-grade teacher at Avenue Elementary School.
“I am honored to have the support of our Providence educators who are on the ground supporting our students and families each day,” said Representative Morales. “As our public schools return to local control, our teachers and support staff need a partner in the Mayor’s office who will listen to their ideas and work with them to deliver the quality education all our children in Providence deserve. My administration will be committed to increasing local investments to improve staffing levels, prioritizing the mental health of our students, supporting our multilingual learners with the expansion of dual language classrooms, and creating school environments where every teacher and student feels supported.”
In partnership with the PTU, Representative Morales has released a comprehensive plan to strengthen educator recruitment and retention, improve staffing levels, expand family engagement and transparency, support student mental health, and better address the needs of multilingual learners and students with IEPs all across Providence.
I read with keen interest this interview with David who I adamantly support for mayor of Providence. You covered most all of the important issues surrounding Providence, all that I find extremely important and viable. However, I have some questions. David spoke of a lot of things which will require I believe a great deal of new money to flow from the budget. From the increased need for social workers for homelessness and our public schools. Hiring a variety of persons of expertise to fill slots in the administration to oversee his plans and make them come to fruition. And other policies discussed that require increased funds, perhaps the city is not providing at present. So, where will this increase in money come from, if indeed there will be an increase? This needs to be identified and addressed. I remember many community meetings with Rep. David and Senator Sam Bell where they would spell out unique avenues where funds could be brought in from various sources, including ways to write grants and fulfill functions where the federal government would provide additional funding that the state was not accessing. It seems to me that most of the ideas and policy changes would require a huge influx of monies to the budget. And I know David is not a fan of raising taxes, especially for the middle and working families. I'd like to hear his ideas about raising money for these things.
Also, I'd like, (and I'm not sure this is timely or appropriate), I'd like to hear more about the team David would be forming to address all of the wonderful policy changes that he has spoken of in the interview and has planned to implement in his administration. Who will he be bringing in to help him to carry out these policies he has thoroughly thought through. This may not be appropriate at this time, as we are just coming up to the Primary, but the visions of one man as mayor must have a grand team to help him implement these policies.
Thorough interview. Good endorsement, I think. I don't go a lot of places, but everywhere I go David is there. I've seen him at the Wyatt, at the AMOR Grill Off - every year, at various marches and rallies. This is his community.
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders has endorsed Rep. David Morales to be the next Mayor of Providence. Senator Sanders has made it clear that he is supporting candidates around the country who are taking on the political establishment and are committed to building a government and a Democratic Party that serve the needs of working people.
“What we are trying to do is build a grassroots, multiracial, working-class party that will stand up to the oligarchs,” Senator Sanders said. “What you also have to understand is we are taking on — when we take on the Democratic establishment — you’re taking on super PACs, you’re taking on billionaires who fund many of the people who oppose our candidates.”
“Bernie Sanders was one of my earliest inspirations in politics,” said Rep. Morales. “At a time when too many of our leaders are serving the interests of the donor class, Senator Sanders speaks with moral clarity on the responsibility of government to put working people first.”
“I’m grateful to Senator Sanders for believing in our grassroots movement to cap rent increases, invest in our public schools, and protect our immigrant community. With his support, we’re going to build a Providence all our neighbors can afford.”
He was responding complaints about the problems spilling out of some nightclubs in South Providence and Washington Park, I believe in response to something said by Linda Perri, President of the Washington Park Neighborhood Association.
I happened to be part of a conversation recently about the rent stabilization bill that Mayor Smiley rejected. Here's what I think needs to be known: there are several important exemptions to the bill that would help single owner-occupied multiple family units. People say that if not allowed to increase rent above 4%, no repairs will be made. Two things about that. One is that owners should be smart about their investment, and do what it takes to keep a place in decent shape, and two, as David said, enforcement needs to be actually implemented so that owners who do allow violations are held to account. These laws are already on the books! So, enforce them already!
All people hear about is the 4% limit, but the proposed law is much more thoughtful than just that.
press release:
City Council President Rachel Miller Endorses David Morales for Mayor of Providence
City Council President Rachel Miller has announced her endorsement of Rep. David Morales for Mayor. Miller led the council’s passage of Rent Stabilization this year, which Mayor Smiley vetoed. Miller cited David’s commitment to continuing her work and signing the Rent Stabilization when the council passes it again next year in a video that can be seen here: https://youtube.com/shorts/8Cx5hV08iCM?feature=share
“I’m excited to endorse David Morales to be the next mayor of Providence,” said Council President Miller. “David has been a thoughtful governing partner for years, demonstrating his commitment to building coalitions and delivering results for working people in our city.”
“Rents in Providence have risen by more than 40% over the last six years. I am so proud to have led the effort to pass Rent Stabilization, which David supported from day 1. Our neighbors deserve a Mayor who will work for us, not the corporate interests pricing working people out of the city they love. I know David will be that Mayor, and that he will fight to continue the momentum for progressive change we have built during my 8 years in City Council.”
“I’m deeply honored to have the support of Council President Miller,” said Rep. Morales. “For the last 8 years, she has fought for the working people and families of Providence. During her tenure as Council President, she successfully organized majority support for Rent Stabilization, and I was proud to stand alongside her when the council passed it this year. Councilor Miller has never been afraid to stand up to corporate interests and fight for our neighbors. As our next Mayor, I am committed to honoring her work and signing Rent Stabilization into law when the council passes it again next year.”
Providence Teachers Union Endorses David Morales for Mayor
The Providence Teachers Union has announced its endorsement of Representative David Morales for Mayor of Providence. The endorsement comes at a pivotal moment for the city, as Providence Public Schools prepare to return to local control after years under state intervention. PTU cited Representative Morales’s consistent support for educators, collaborative leadership approach, legislative record of delivering investments for Providence schools, and commitment to improving staffing levels and student outcomes as key reasons for their endorsement. PTU leadership and members have expressed their support for David in a video that can be viewed here:
https://youtu.be/NPHQdv9VkJQ
“Our members have spoken. The membership overwhelmingly agreed to endorse Representative Morales. He has demonstrated his commitment to our students, their families, and the community. This commitment sends a clear message that our educators and service providers are valued and respected,” said Cindy Robles, PTU President and special education teacher at Roger Williams Middle School.
“Representative Morales has consistently shown up for students, families, and educators in Providence. His deep respect for organized labor, commitment to staffing that prioritizes student and educator well-being, and interest in amplifying teacher voice make him a promising partner in this next chapter for PTU and for our district,” said Lindsay Paiva, PTU President-Elect and third-grade teacher at Avenue Elementary School.
“I am honored to have the support of our Providence educators who are on the ground supporting our students and families each day,” said Representative Morales. “As our public schools return to local control, our teachers and support staff need a partner in the Mayor’s office who will listen to their ideas and work with them to deliver the quality education all our children in Providence deserve. My administration will be committed to increasing local investments to improve staffing levels, prioritizing the mental health of our students, supporting our multilingual learners with the expansion of dual language classrooms, and creating school environments where every teacher and student feels supported.”
In partnership with the PTU, Representative Morales has released a comprehensive plan to strengthen educator recruitment and retention, improve staffing levels, expand family engagement and transparency, support student mental health, and better address the needs of multilingual learners and students with IEPs all across Providence.
I read with keen interest this interview with David who I adamantly support for mayor of Providence. You covered most all of the important issues surrounding Providence, all that I find extremely important and viable. However, I have some questions. David spoke of a lot of things which will require I believe a great deal of new money to flow from the budget. From the increased need for social workers for homelessness and our public schools. Hiring a variety of persons of expertise to fill slots in the administration to oversee his plans and make them come to fruition. And other policies discussed that require increased funds, perhaps the city is not providing at present. So, where will this increase in money come from, if indeed there will be an increase? This needs to be identified and addressed. I remember many community meetings with Rep. David and Senator Sam Bell where they would spell out unique avenues where funds could be brought in from various sources, including ways to write grants and fulfill functions where the federal government would provide additional funding that the state was not accessing. It seems to me that most of the ideas and policy changes would require a huge influx of monies to the budget. And I know David is not a fan of raising taxes, especially for the middle and working families. I'd like to hear his ideas about raising money for these things.
Also, I'd like, (and I'm not sure this is timely or appropriate), I'd like to hear more about the team David would be forming to address all of the wonderful policy changes that he has spoken of in the interview and has planned to implement in his administration. Who will he be bringing in to help him to carry out these policies he has thoroughly thought through. This may not be appropriate at this time, as we are just coming up to the Primary, but the visions of one man as mayor must have a grand team to help him implement these policies.
Thank you and good blessings.
Thorough interview. Good endorsement, I think. I don't go a lot of places, but everywhere I go David is there. I've seen him at the Wyatt, at the AMOR Grill Off - every year, at various marches and rallies. This is his community.
Steve, did Smiley really say that about South Providence being a Nightclub District?
I don’t even know how accurate that is. Federal Hill has plenty of nightclubs of its own. As does Downtown.
I was in the room when he said it.
Wow, that's crazy to me. What was the point or context of him saying that? I gotta reread that part again.