Excel Academy is deeply disappointed by the City Council’s vote against our proposed lease of the Carl G. Lauro building, catalyzed by President Miller’s sudden reversal last night of her prior public support for the agreement. Providence constituents submitted 384 statements of support to the City Council, compared to just 17 in opposition, a ratio of 22 to 1. This vote sends a troubling message: family voices can be disregarded for political expediency. Over 200 families stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the Council Chambers, filling every seat and overflowing the balcony. In contrast, only a few dozen opponents attended. For all the talk tonight of “equity” and “access,” the Council meeting itself was inaccessible to non-English speakers, who made up the majority of families in attendance. We are especially grateful to Councilor Espinal for engaging with families in their native language at the May 12, 2025 Ordinance Committee meeting. We urge city leaders to remember their responsibility to all Providence families, not just the loudest or most politically connected, and to lead with the same courage and transparency that our community has modeled throughout this process.
