Dear friends,

Today is Labor Day, and I am grateful for all the ways the labor movement has made our lives better - 5 day weeks (weekends!), 8 hour work days, safer working conditions and more. And there's more work to do, of course. I read an article this morning about workplace hierarchies and vaccine hesitancy among health care workers - a recommended Labor Day read. We still have work to do to make sure everyone has a safe working environment where their work is valued and they are paid fairly. 

Tonight is the start of the Jewish holiday of Rosh Hashanah, the New Year. Many are celebrating via remote synagogue services, or in smaller groups, perhaps eating outside with others or on our own for the second year in a row. So, for everyone making the best of another weird holiday, I wish you a very joyous and sweet New Year. 

And, finally, Thursday is the first day of school for many; others started last week. I wish you and your families a very happy school year full of growth and learning! 

As always, please follow me on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram, or write to me at info@rebeccakislak.com. You can also call or text me at 401-400-2338. I look forward to hearing from you!

                                                                              

Senator Gayle Goldin has resigned and begun working for the Biden administration. I'm excited for her for this opportunity. That leaves her seat open, and there will be a special election to fill it, with a primary on October 5 and general election November 2. If Sen. Goldin was your Senator, please make a plan to vote by mail*, in person early at city hall or in person on election day at your polling location. All information will be at vote.ri.gov.

If you need voter registration or mail ballot applications printed and delivered to you, let me know and I'll print and drop them off. I'm always happy to help make voting easier!

The announced candidates are: Democrats Shirley Francis-Fraiser, Hilary Levey Friedman, Bret Jacob, Geena Pham, Ray Rickman, Sam Zurier and Republican Alex Cannon. Candidates who collect 100 signatures will appear on the ballot.

Here are some important deadlines for this upcoming election:

Tuesday Sept. 14 - Deadline to apply for a mail ballot, application here*
Sept. 15- Oct. 4 - Early in person voting at city hall
October 5 - Primary Election
Tues. Oct. 12 - Deadline to apply for mail ballot for general election, application here*
Oct. 13-Nov. 1 - Early in person voting at city hall
Nov. 2 - Election Day

*note, if you are planning to vote by mail, you might want to print out both the primary and general mail ballot applications now and mail them in together. You also need to know that you will need two witnesses to sign the envelope, or one notary. (This requirement was waived through COVID-related executive orders which have expired. It worked really well for the 2020 elections, and we should reinstate this by passing the Let RI Vote Act. Many of us are working on this, but it will not pass before this special election.)

There will be plenty of community forums where we can hear from the candidates. I'll start collecting the list here (and please let me know if you hear of any so I'll add them):

LGBTQ+ Candidate forum hosted by Dion Sage of the Progress Report
8 p.m. Sept. 28 on-line here: https://fb.me/e/2qQTBXatR 

Join Rebecca for coffee!
Friday September 10 10:30-11:30 a.m. Three Sisters, 1074 Hope Street

District 4 Community Meeting
Thursday September 30 - 7 p.m. - Zoom Link Here
Come here about what the General Assembly passed last year, Rep. Kislak's priorities for the next year, and share what is important to you.
 

Link here.



FB event here.


North Main Street Corridor Study
September 13, 6-7:30
FB event here.
Join the Providence Planning Department and Councilwoman Nirva Lafortune for an analytical presentation of existing economic and urban design conditions of the corridor and a community Q+A.


PVD Fest has lots of other events on their calendar, here.