Urging the City of Providence to Follow the First Source Hiring Ordinance Mandates

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.