As Trump’s presidency takes its toll on local communities worldwide, some democratic-led areas are helping chip away at the last few remnants of progress. This week, Providence’s Mayor Brett Smiley once again took aim at the beloved and popular bike lane on South Water Street. In a recent interview with NBC 10 WJAR, Smiley stated he intends to move forward with the removal, claiming he has backing for his plan while complaining that environmental regulations are slowing him down. Later in the interview, he goes on to complain about traffic congestion, suggesting it would get better if we simply divested from other modes of transit and had more vehicle lanes.
Smiley’s justification for his plan is misleading and dismissive. His distaste for environmental concerns and disregard for the impact on the community to forward his personal agenda is both reckless and self-centered.
At countless public meetings and press briefings, residents, business owners, and other politicians have made it clear that Smiley’s plan is incredibly unpopular. For Providence, the South Water Street bike lane represents one of the few things uplifting its diverse culture. It has encouraged local events, increased accessibility, drove up business and tourism, and transformed the area into centerpieces for large-scale gatherings like WaterFire. For many, this concrete strip represents much more than what’s presented at face value.
This isn’t the only public asset being attacked, either. Smiley has gone after affordable housing initiatives, homeless shelters, public transit, community events, the environment, education, and other pillars that prop up Providence, to name a few.
So, while the progressive city of Providence deals with the consequences of the Trump Presidency, local politicians such as Mayor Brett Smiley take it one step further, making a bad situation even more needlessly exhausting. By attacking the few rays of sunshine that escape the murky clouds and brighten up Providence, it’s unclear what will be left.