Rep. Williams questions how 6/10 connector decision affects local community

STATE HOUSE – Rep. Anastasia P. Williams (D-Dist. 9, Providence) is publicly questioning the recent decision to rebuild the 6/10 connector in Providence despite vast community support to convert the road way into a boulevard that would reconnect the community after decades of being spilt in half by the highway.
“The recent decision to simply rebuild the status quo of the 6/10 connector, despite the loud and vocal opposition voiced by the affected community of color in the surrounding neighborhood, represents a modern reinforcement of the notion of taxation without representation. Why are the voices of the most affected community regarding this decision being thrown aside so callously? These out-right dismissals to the community’s ideas and concerns never seem to happen to our neighbors on the East Side of Providence or other parts of our state,” said Representative Williams.
“The new rallying cry of our capital city is ‘One Providence’, yet the actions displayed by this decision to disregard the voices of the surrounding community of color are anything but inclusive to the community’s desires and viewpoints. I fully support the intent and idea of ‘One Providence’, however, this notion of unity has not had any significant impact on the decisions that have been rendered regarding this publicly funded project,” added Representative Williams.
“The time is now to fully embrace the diversity of the community and break down the barriers of division once and for all, such as tearing down the giant concrete monstrosity that has divided the community for far too long in order to accommodate easy access to Providence for others at the expense of the surrounding community that the 6/10 connector immediately affects,” added Representative Williams.
“If the public’s input was truly desired by the decision makers, then why are the public notices for these community forums only in English when there is a wide and diverse set of cultures inhabiting the affected communities? Our neighborhoods have been crumbling for years and when the opportunity to invest real dollars in the beautification of our community presented itself, we have been told no and that the status quo must remain. This passively approved neglect to our urban communities through constant inaction must end and that is why I am so profoundly disappointed by the recent decision to ignore the public and reinforce the very real and tangible barrier to neighborhood and cultural unity that the 6/10 connector represents,” added Representative Williams.