Political Profile: Andrew Poyant, Candidate for Providence City Council, 14th Ward | #citycouncil


Monday, August 29, 2022

 

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Andrew Poyant is running for Providence City Council in the 14th Ward. Here’s what he has to say.

1.  What do you think is the biggest political issue this campaign season in Providence?

Addressing the housing crisis. Rents, cost to buy a house, and property taxes are increasing at a faster pace than income. Due to lack of insulation, our energy costs are also high. Additionally, Providence has high rates of lead poisoning partly due to the age of housing in Providence. I will advocate for policies that ensure lead-free, green affordable housing for all Providence residents.

 

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2.  What do we need to do to improve Providence’s economy?

One of the reasons Boston is the economic hub of New England is because Massachusetts is continually ranked number one in education. We need to aim for educational excellence in Providence Public School. We also must create a fair tax system that prioritizes economic opportunities for Providence residents instead of giving tax breaks to large corporations and real estate developers. We must put Providence residents to work in good-paying union jobs building green affordable housing, rebuilding and staffing our schools, and installing solar panels and wind turbines across our city.
 

3.  What is the greatest challenge facing Providence as a city?

Improving Providence Public School District (PPSD) will have a ripple effect on everything else in Providence. I want to increase transparency and public engagement in decision making around our schools. I will advocate for reimplementing the Providence City Council Committee on Education and hold quarterly meetings with all stakeholders: parents, students, staff,  the School Board, the RI Dept. of Education, and the mayor’s office. I will advocate for rebuilding and fully funding our schools, increasing staff of color and multilingual staff, expanding dual language programs in PPSD, and increasing transparency and engagement with parents and students. I will team up with RIC to create a program to train Providence residents to become teachers and support staff in PPSD. We need to hire more behavioral specialists, and ensure that students have classes that they enjoy; we have made cuts to art and music, we need to make sure each school has these classes which give students something to look forward to going to school.

We can’t invest in our school system without implementing a fair tax system, putting an end to tax breaks for corporations and real estate developers, and increasing taxes on large non-profits such as private colleges.

 

4.  Why are you running for office? What makes you uniquely qualified? 

As a community organizer in Providence, I have seen time and time again the people in power siding with corporations and the wealthy instead of helping the people of Providence. With this being the first election in Providence with term limits, we have an opportunity to have a government that prioritizes the people. My work as an environmental scientist and my experience as a community organizer and as a parent gives me a unique perspective on how to address issues at the city level.

 

5.  Who is your inspiration?  

My children are my inspiration. I want to help build a community that they are proud of, a just society where everyone is housed. I am inspired by them, by their creativity and curiosity, their view of a lack of limits that society so often places on adults. 

Additionally, Jamie Lerner is a political inspiration to me. As a city planner turned politician from Curitiba, Lerner transformed his city which now is known as “the ecological capital of Brazil” and consistently ranks near the top of the list for best quality of life. Lerner implemented one of the best rapid bus transit systems in the world, increased housing near major bus stops, improved schools, converted floodplains to parks, added exercise equipment in parks, and much more. I will use my professional experience to improve the quality of life and public and environmental health in Providence.

BIO:

Andrew is an Environmental Scientist and a father of 3 young children. He has pushed to improve Providence Public Schools as a member of the Community Design Team. He has participated in RI Kids Count events to advocate for high-quality affordable childcare at the state level. Andrew is also a board member of the People’s Port Authority where he advocates for Environmental and Racial Justice.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PoyantforPVD
Email: [email protected]

 

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