A few more neighborly actions
Affordable utilities, housing for a Smith Hill neighbor, vaccines for youth, upcoming special elections and more
Good morning. Here are a few more things to do with and for our neighbors this week. Do join Providence youth in their demand for Counselors Not Cops tomorrow and Friday, meeting at 12pm in Kennedy Plaza.
ASAP: A Smith Hill mom needs housing for June 1st— she needs 4 beds and can pay up to $1500 but the landlord must be able to take a housing voucher! Smith Hill is preferred but anywhere in Providence will work. Please share any leads with her councilor, Kat Kerwin, at kkerwin26@gmail.com.
TODAY, 4/28, BY 4pm (to sign up) / TOMORROW, 4/29, 4pm (to testify): RI Senate Bill 0584, which creates a Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) for utilities, has been scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Finance Committee this Thursday, thanks to the ongoing efforts of the George Wiley Center and many others! If a PIPP is passed in Rhode Island, low-income residents will be able to pay significantly reduced rates on gas and electric bills, capped at 2-4% of monthly income. Please sign up here to testify in favor of this bill, which could help people stay in their homes, be more healthy and comfortable, and not rack up debt just to keep the lights and heat on! Written testimony should go to jplume@rilegislature.gov BEFORE 2pm on Thursday, 4/29. The graphic below includes a script for calling your senator and you can also adapt it for your testimony.
Anytime after now, but spots might fill up: Gogo Thabiso Mthimkhulu is a sangoma (traditional healer) from Swaziland. He is offering 15 free sessions and custom medicine for Black people living through the ongoing trauma, state violence, white supremacy, and genocide of the US empire. He is also offering paid sessions for people who are not Black but think they might find healing in this practice. Learn more about what he does and what you’d do together.
BY 4/30, 1pm (to make the appointment) / 5/4, various times (the appointments themselves), 335 Hartford Ave, Providence: People 16 and up can make appointments for their first Pfizer vaccine by calling 401-709-1848. If you haven’t had your first shot and especially if you live or work down that way, give them a call today or tomorrow and see what’s available for next Tuesday!
SAVE the DATES: Providence and West Warwick have special elections for city/town councilors coming up. Providence’s is for Ward 15 (Olneyville and Silver Lake) and West Warwick’s is for Ward 5. Steve Ahlquist has provided a list of key dates for voters. 5/9 is the date to register by if you want to vote in the primary.
With love,
Kate