Eric Halvarson

Eric Halvarson

@ehalvarson.bsky.social

Providence, Rhode Island. City News Reporter for The Providence Eye.

61 followers46 following14 posts

Eric Halvarson
@ehalvarson.bsky.social

At least three sightings of ICE in Providence over the past week, as organizers with Providence Youth Student Movement petition Governor McKee for relief.

The Providence Eye@thepvdeye.bsky.social

Two days after the viral video of a man confronted by immigration agents in Providence, ICE detained a different individual in the same neighborhood.

pvdeye.orgViral Video Shows ICE Agents Confronting Man Holding Two Children in Silver Lake, Immigrant Communities Seek ReliefOn Tuesday, October 20 around 8 a.m., Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers surrounded a man holding two small children in the Silver Lake neighborhood of Providence. After interrogating...
Eric Halvarson
@ehalvarson.bsky.social

A true career milestone to be featured in the legendary Steve Ahlquist's work!

Steve Ahlquist@steveahlquist.bsky.social

The Downtown Progressive Action Network: The November Ballot, Beyond the Candidates “Providence voters face seven important ballot questions this November, including the first citizen-led ballot initiative in city history...” steveahlquist.substack.com/p/the-downto...

steveahlquist.substack.comThe Downtown Progressive Action Network: The November Ballot, Beyond the Candidates“Providence voters face seven important ballot questions this November, including the first citizen-led ballot initiative in city history...”
Eric Halvarson
@ehalvarson.bsky.social

Students at RIC mapped and audited local Flock cameras, finding the networks were searched millions of times by groups across the country—including federal authorities.

pvdeye.orgReport Finds Providence Flock Data Leaked over 3 Million Times, Despite Data Security PromisesOutside groups accessed data tracking the locations of drivers in Providence more than 3,200,000 times over one year, according to a new report from Rhode Island College (RIC).  This spring, students ...

Eric Halvarson reposted

The Providence Eye
@thepvdeye.bsky.social

NEW: The City of Providence and Rhode Island Energy have agreed to share the cost of cleaning out a stormwater drain pipe that has been releasing a diesel-like substance into Narragansett Bay since at least 2022.

pvdeye.orgPublic Street Pipe Cleanup Inches Forward After City of Providence and Rhode Island Energy Reach DealPeople are picking up litter wedged between rocks with long metal grabber tools. They find plastic bottles, pieces of styrofoam and the occasional condom, but they don’t complain. It’s a crisp and cle...

Eric Halvarson reposted

The Providence Eye
@thepvdeye.bsky.social

On Monday, Councilor Miguel Sanchez, who represents Manton and Mount Pleasant neighborhoods in Ward 6, announced he had gathered enough support to replace outgoing Council President Rachel Miller as leader of Providence’s legislative branch.

pvdeye.orgMiguel Sanchez Poised to Become President of Providence City Council. What Does the City Council President Do?In September, a progressive slate of candidates swept the Providence Mayoral and City Council primaries, and City Hall is set to bring on a new team of leaders.  On Monday, Councilor Miguel Sanchez, w...
Eric Halvarson
@ehalvarson.bsky.social

When Mayor Elorza announced this tax in 2018, Providence targeted residential properties. Bringing this back with a focus on commercial spaces will lead to some interesting discussions, especially about the future of vacant buildings Downtown.

The Providence Eye@thepvdeye.bsky.social

NEW: Providence’s Vacancy Tax Has Gone Unenforced for Six Years. Morales Says Time’s Up.

pvdeye.orgProvidence’s Vacancy Tax Has Gone Unenforced for Six Years. Morales Says Time’s Up.It’s been six years since Providence enforced a local tax on vacant and abandoned properties, according to city officials. In 2018, Mayor Jorge Elorza announced that properties which qualify under a “...

Eric Halvarson reposted

The Providence Eye
@thepvdeye.bsky.social

One of the agency’s longest-tenured drivers, John Tancredi, started driving for RIPTA 33 years ago and has watched children grow up on his routes. “Keep going. That’s our job,” said Tancredi. “Pick up people, drop people off. That’s it. It’s simple.”

pvdeye.orgAs RIPTA Celebrates 60 Years, A Veteran Driver Reflects on 33 Years on the Roads, from Pandemics to Budget CrisesThe Rhode Island Public Transit Authority (RIPTA) is celebrating its 60th anniversary on November 7, 2026. One of the agency’s longest-tenured drivers, John Tancredi, started driving for RIPTA 33 year...
Eric Halvarson
@ehalvarson.bsky.social

While most Providence residents have been struggling with a “housing emergency,” the state of Rhode Island currently believes 356 properties in the city are worth over a million dollars and sit empty for most of the year.

The Providence Eye@thepvdeye.bsky.social

This spring, Rhode Island adopted a “Non-Owner Occupied Property Tax,” which became more commonly known as the “Taylor Swift Tax,” in reference to the pop star’s Watch Hill Estate. The tax on luxury properties will fund low-income housing.

pvdeye.org“Taylor Swift Tax” Hits Providence: Over 350 Non-Owner Occupied Luxury Properties Get Billed to Fund Low-Income HousingThis spring, Rhode Island adopted a “Non-Owner Occupied Property Tax,” which became more commonly known as the “Taylor Swift Tax,” in reference to the pop star’s Watch Hill Estate. The tax on luxury p...
Eric Halvarson
@ehalvarson.bsky.social

Update: now looking at recount tomorrow morning (Tuesday) for Ward 9 and for Ward 5, where incumbent Roias was up by 55 votes over Casoli.

Eric Halvarson@ehalvarson.bsky.social

Early results in Providence's Ward 9 race reported incumbent City Councilor Juan Pichardo up by just two votes over former City Councilwoman Carmen Castillo. Election officials said a recount will likely be conducted on Monday, September 14.

Eric Halvarson
@ehalvarson.bsky.social

Early results in Providence's Ward 9 race reported incumbent City Councilor Juan Pichardo up by just two votes over former City Councilwoman Carmen Castillo. Election officials said a recount will likely be conducted on Monday, September 14.

Eric Halvarson reposted

The Providence Eye
@thepvdeye.bsky.social

State Representative David Morales captured 53% of the vote in Wednesday’s primary, surpassing incumbent Mayor Brett Smiley’s 46% in a race that reflects a national surge of left-leaning politicians challenging their establishment Democratic peers. pvdeye.org/david-morale...

pvdeye.orgProgressive Rep. David Morales Unseats Providence Mayor Brett SmileyState Representative David Morales captured 53% of the vote in Wednesday’s primary, surpassing incumbent Mayor Brett Smiley’s 46% in a race that reflects a national surge of left-leaning politicians c...
Eric Halvarson
@ehalvarson.bsky.social

Just past noon, Providence's primary vote count is already approaching 16,000. The number to beat is 22,566, when the last citywide office primary election was held in 2022.

Eric Halvarson
@ehalvarson.bsky.social

In a state with one of the highest recidivism rates in the country, Building Futures Inside is prepping inmates for union jobs upon release. To date, only 9% of participants in the program have been re-incarcerated—a rate far below the state average of 46%.

pvdeye.orgRhode Island’s Reincarceration Rates are High. This Construction Skills Program Helps Participants Build Futures Once Outside.Over the last three years, inmates at Rhode Island’s Adult Correctional Institutions (ACI) demolished a floor at the minimum security facility to make way for a construction workshop. As they replaced...
Eric Halvarson
@ehalvarson.bsky.social

Ward 5 is a race to watch in my books! Three out of the five candidates for this one City Council seat made their cases on Monday. More coverage of the seat here: pvdeye.org/ward-5-elect...

pvdeye.orgA Housing Policy Divided: How One Neighborhood Election is Already Reflecting PVD’s Rent Stabilization DebateThe rent stabilization ordinance proposed by City Council in January 2026 has become a core issue in Providence’s upcoming mayoral election, highlighting disagreements among the Democratic party on ho...
The Providence Eye@thepvdeye.bsky.social

Here is the recording from last night's Ward 5 City Council Candidate Forum:

youtube.comPVD City Council Ward 5YouTube video by Community Libraries PVD

Eric Halvarson reposted

Philip Eil
@phileil.bsky.social

The mighty @thepvdeye.bsky.social (where I'm a board member and opinion editor) is hosting *ten* more city council candidate forums across the city in the coming weeks. Here's a schedule. More info and coverage at pvdeye.org.

Philip Eil@phileil.bsky.social

I enjoyed moderating last night's PVD City Council Ward 3 Candidate Forum featuring Yulyana Torres, Jason Kashdan, and Steven London. Turnout was *great.* And it was a really informative discussion of the issues facing this ward (where I also live) and the city, in general. Democracy is fun!

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