Newport City Council members met with state legislators on Saturday to discuss the city’s priorities for the 2025 General Assembly session, focusing on issues ranging from road safety to education funding.
The two-hour workshop at Newport City Hall brought together city councilors (with the exception of Third Ward Councilor David Carlin) and Newport’s General Assembly delegation, including Senators Dawn Euer and Louis DiPalma, and Representatives Lauren Carson and Marvin Abney.
Council Chair Charles M. Holder emphasized the need for better communication and action from the state on Newport’s concerns, particularly regarding state-managed roads like Admiral Kalbfus Boulevard and America’s Cup Avenue.
“We have great public safety issues, we have great infrastructure issues on those streets and intersections,” Holder said. “It seems like every time we go to the state and ask for help, we’re just kind of getting pushed back.”
Legislators pledged to work on improving communication and addressing the city’s road safety concerns. Senator DiPalma suggested creating a list of priority items with specific timelines to track progress.
“If we have that, we know that and we’re not going to duplicate what we’re doing,” DiPalma said.
Housing affordability and availability emerged as another key topic. Councilor Lynn Underwood Ceglie highlighted the need for a regional approach to housing issues, given Newport’s limited land.
“We can’t continue to make progress if we’re working in silos,” Ceglie said. “I think we need to work collaboratively with our sister communities.”
The legislators discussed ongoing efforts to address housing challenges, including potential changes to short-term rental regulations and funding for affordable housing initiatives.
Education funding and improving student outcomes were also major points of discussion. Councilor Xaykham Khamsyvoravong argued for a more comprehensive, statewide approach to education reform.
“Our public education system is fundamentally broken,” Khamsyvoravong said. “We are shorting an entire generation. This is a public policy issue that extends much beyond our individual school systems and is a statewide issue.”
Senator Euer acknowledged the need for education reform, while Senator DiPalma highlighted efforts to improve literacy through the Right to Read Act. Senator Euer also emphasized the importance of partnering with educators in developing education policy.
“We need to be driving state policy with those professional, that professional knowledge in mind and in partnership,” Euer said.
The meeting also touched on issues such as lead pipe replacement, suicide prevention on bridges, and support for unhoused students.
Legislators encouraged city officials to continue advocating for Newport’s needs at the State House. Representative Abney stressed the importance of in-person testimony during legislative hearings.
“The people who get most of what they want or what they need are the ones who take the time to come across the bridge and go up to Providence and look for parking spaces and plead your case there,” Abney said.
City officials and legislators agreed to maintain open lines of communication and work together on addressing Newport’s priorities in the upcoming legislative session.
The workshop concluded with a commitment to ongoing collaboration between the city and state representatives to tackle Newport’s challenges in roads, housing, education, and other key areas.
Those interested can watch the entire workshop here.
