Gratitude and Community Updates

Dear Friends & Neighbors,

I hope that you all had a lovely Thanksgiving holiday with your family and friends. I know that for many in our community, times are tough economically. I am grateful for organizations like the RI Community Food Bank, the Elisha Project, and Ward 3's own Mount Hope Community Center (among so many others) who are working so hard every day to ensure our neighbors across Rhode Island have healthy food on their tables. As winter approaches, let's take care of each other -- and please reach out if I can ever be helpful or connect you to resources any time.

As always, there is so much going on in our community and with my work on your behalf, so I'll just jump in:

Upcoming Events & Meetings:

• Today is Small Business Saturday!​ Our locally-owned business are part of the fabric of our community!  I'll be personally kicking off my holiday shopping today - and absolutely always include the fantastic folks on Hope Street! (Shopping at the Farmers Market at Farm Fresh very much also counts as Small Biz Saturday!)

• December 3rd at 7pm at URI: Plugged into Energy Research -- Please join me at URI where I will be participating in a panel discussion on the Tackling Energy Inequality and the role of energy efficiency. Livestream link also available at the QR code on the below poster.

• December 4th at 6pm: City Council full meeting in Council Chambers: this is our last scheduled full City Council meeting of 2025. You can find the agenda and materials available on the Open Meetings Portal.

• December 10th - 6-7pm - Ward 3 Community Meeting at the Mount Hope Community Center. This will be our last Ward 3 meeting of 2025 -- please let me know if there are any topics you'd like addressed at this or future meetings, so we can get them on future agendas!

• December 11th - 6pm - Special Committee on the Environment and Resilience.  This committee (which I chair) will meet to vote on my amended pending ordinance related to utility work in public roadways. We will also hear a presentation from Sustainability Director Priscilla De La Cruz about the recommendations from the City's Stormwater Task Force. (I served on this Task Force as a council representative.)  The meeting will also be livestreamed, and the agenda and materials will be posted on the Open Meetings Portal ahead of the meeting.

• December 12th: District 1 School Board Applications Due! If you are interested in serving on the Providence School Board, the City is recruiting the new appointed member for District 1. If you live within wards 1, 2, or 3 -- you are eligible to apply. To learn more and fill out an application, please check out the Mayor's Application Website here!

• December 14th at 7pm:  Save the Date -- 2nd Annual Holiday Celebration in Lippitt Park! More information coming soon, but this year's celebration is being co-planned with the office of Arts Culture & Tourism; the Friends of Lippitt Park, and the Jewish Alliance! We had such a good time together last year - I'm excited to celebrate the holiday season with you all! (**We know this is the first night of Hannukah and have a special celebration planned with a local artist - more details coming soon!)

Topics of Interest:

• Home Repair Program: The Providence Revolving Fund is administering a statewide home repair program for income qualified properties. The Program involves forgivable loans that cover the costs of necessary repairs! You can learn more here.

• Waterfire Arts Center Building:  The City Council recently authorized a bond to purchase the Waterfire Arts facility on Valley Street.  The City Council Finance Committee (I am on this committee) approved a lease with Waterfire for the use of their building - this will be on the Council's next full agenda. I know many constituents had questions about the lease agreement - and I wanted to make sure I shared the link to the November 4th Finance Committee meeting where the recording and all the testimony and materials are attached. Waterfire is an important cultural and economic engine for the City -- and the whole State - and we heard compelling testimony to support these lease terms.  

• Rhode Island Energy Rates: I hear regularly from folks about their energy rates -- wondering what the different parts of the bill are, who sets the rates, what a 'distribution' charge is, how to engage on utility policy, whether the utility owns their own gas plants (nope!), etc. Rhode Island Energy just submitted their newest proposed rate case to the Public Utilities Commission, which could raise rates substantially starting next fall.   I am digging in on this proposal and will share more information & resources via this newsletter in the new year -- and will plan to have this as a topic of an early 2026 Community Conversation.

My Campaign Announcement: I am Running for Lt. Governor!

​Friends, two weeks ago, I launched a campaign to be Rhode Island's next Lieutenant Governor.  Please check out my launch video, linked below and also on my website at SueAnderBois.com​.  Steve Ahlquist also captured my speech at our kick-off rally​, where I share my vision for this office.

I hear from neighbors and friends across the state every day who have lost faith in a government who really sees them, cares about their issues, and that can do big things. Government is often ‘not working for us’ and frankly, just not working. But I believe in the role that government can and should play – and know from my experiences that it can and does work when people are in office who are effective, who know how to get things done, and who listen and work for the greater good.

​This is what I will bring to the Office of Lieutenant Governor. As I have as your Councilor and throughout my career, I will work tirelessly to address the big issues facing Rhode Islanders today – and I’ll bring people together to create real, lasting solutions – not just a government of ribbon cuttings and press releases.​

I cannot do this alone! You can sign up to volunteer at SueAnderBois.com.  We will need resources to reach all Rhode Islanders – donations* are gratefully accepted online here or checks can be made out to Friends of Sue AnderBois and sent to 166 5th St, Providence 02906.  ​

​Gratitude: ​

It continues to be the honor of my life to serve as Ward 3's City Councilor.  This community is inspiring and thoughtful -- and every day I hear from residents who are looking to give back and contribute to their community.  During this Thanksgiving week, I am overwhelmed with gratitude that I have the opportunity to serve you & work hard every day to make our place a little better for all of us.  

Please reach out to me any time if I can be helpful in any way.  You can also follow me between newsletters on BlueSky​, Facebook​, and Instagram​! 

With Gratitude, 

Councilor Sue AnderBois

*Rhode Island law stipulates that only people - not businesses or business accounts - can donate to campaign. Any individual can donate up to $2000/calendar year. Thank you for your support!