I recently sent the mayor a letter stating I will not be supporting his workforce development center proposal. While I strongly support providing a recreational center for Townies the Mayor’s proposal does not accomplish that.

From all we are being told, the mayor is more focused on meeting the Governor’s Learn 365 agenda with this new building than providing Townies what they twice voted on which was a recreational center to be built at Pierce or Martin Middle School.

To say the mayor’s current proposal is giving the residents what they voted for is just not factually true. I have been very clear in stating I am committed to getting Townies the rec center they asked for. My hope is the mayor is willing to compromise with the city council to provide a much-needed service. 

The letter reads as follows:

Mayor DaSilva,

I wanted to express to you in writing that I will not be voting to allocate Townie dollars for your workforce development learning center. The following are the reasons I will not be supporting your project,

1. The residents of East Providence twice voted for a Recreational Facility. If you were to go by Pierce field and our other parks, you would see the all the youths that utilize them. Unfortunately, when the weather changes there is no indoor facility for them to use. Your proposal does not meet the need for indoor recreation in its current design.

2. Your proposal talks heavily about the need for classroom space for workforce development and after school tutoring. I believe 13 schools, 3 libraries, and the opportunity to invest in the former Oldham provides enough classroom space to meet this need.

3. Location, constituents are telling me they object to your proposal to build at the worst intersection in the city. I agree with them. I hope the grants can be amended to a better location. I don’t understand how this process got this far along without any input from the city council.

4. Health Services, again these health services you mention can be done at the existing buildings the city has.

While I will not be supporting your proposal in its current form, I want to clearly express that if you are willing to compromise on the layout of the building to be more focused on recreation and the location you would not only get my support, but I would be a champion to ensure we provide the rec center Townies asked for.

I look forward to continuing this conversation.

— Lawson is the Ward 4 representative on the East Providence City Council.