Back in November before an excited crowd of excited and hopeful Providence constitutes, newly elected Mayor Angel Taveras addressed the crowd over what was just accomplished for the very first time in the Rhode Island state. The state of Rhode Island made history when the people of Providence voted in the first Latino Mayor of the state. Even Taveras could not believe what he had just accomplished, “A year ago today, who would have imagined that any of this was even possible, that this son of immigrants from the Dominican Republic would become the mayor of Providence?”
Born to Dominican immigrants, Taveras grew up in the poor south side of the city raised by his single mother. His education started at a Head School before enrolling into the Providence public school system that eventually lead him into enrolling into Harvard as an undergraduate before moving onto Georgetown University where he earned his law degree. Before becoming a politician, Taveras showed how much he cared for his community by creating a after-school program and summer day camp at the Elmwood Community Center which he was awarded with a fellowship award.
After graduating from Georgetown, Taveras returned to Providence to practice law. In 1999, Taveras opened his own private practice, Taveras Law, where he established himself as a well-respected advocate of the community. In 2007, Taveras was appointed by Providence’s then Mayor David Cicilline to serve as an Associate Judge on the Providence Housing Court and had been confirmed twice to the seat by the Providence City Council. While judge on the housing court, Taveras developed systems to support homeowners facing foreclosure and open the line of communication between inspectors and improve the tracking system of code enforcement. It was during his time as a housing court Judge, Taveras realized the troubles plaguing the city he grew up and is living in.
Locked in a crossroad, Providence is facing severe financial challenges since the city is faced with a budget deficit with an unfunded pension liability estimated to be about $800 million while the state and federal funds are deteriorating due to the impact by the global recession. Taveras believes the only way to end the city’s financial troubles is “to take control of its financial future is now,” and the one way he can make sure this is done is by running the executive branch leaner and calling for consolidation in city departments and workers to aide the cause in addressing their money problems.
Earning a public school education himself, Taveras sees the trouble the public education system in Providence is facing and addresses the rising concerns of more than half of the students are not proficient readers and more than three quarters are not proficient in math. He also notes that the graduating rates of high schools are below standard and that the only way to fix these issues is that, “Justice demands that we fix our schools and ensure their long-term success.”
During his inauguration speech held on January 3, 2011, after becoming the first Dominican to become the city’s 37th Mayor, Taveras addresses his supporters by giving his commencement speech in both Spanish and English and promises that, “In the face of all these challenges, and in the midst of this storm, I am confident. Confident that together, we will overcome these challenges, weather this storm and strengthen our city and our state.”
