Library cuts will greatly reduce services to children

As usual, The Providence Journal missed the point in its Jan. 9 article on children’s specialists at the Providence Public Library (THE BUDGET CRUNCH — Library considers laying off seven child specialists, by Journal Staff Writer Daniel Barbarisi).

When the children’s specialists are laid off in March, children’s services will be sharply reduced at all branch libraries in Providence because the number of employees will be lower. It is irrelevant whether the employees who stay are librarians or specialists.

At the small branches like Fox Point and Smith Hill, the staff will be cut from three to two workers. Without the children’s specialists, there will be no one left to provide after-school programs, summer reading and other key services. The librarians who remain will be too busy maintaining order, helping adults and answering reference questions to do the work of children’s specialists, too.

At the large branches like Rochambeau and Mount Pleasant, the children’s staff will lose one of [its] current two employees, again leading to major reductions in services.

There is a solution: raise the needed money. The mayor, under the new agreement between the city and PPL, is expected to serve as the honorary chair of a new fundraiser for the library. Now is the time for the mayor and PPL to get their acts together — hold the fundraiser and save full library services for the children of Providence.

Neil Romans

Providence

Cyclist told he shouldn’t be on the road — by police

On New Year’s Day, I decided to start the year anew. I pumped up my tires to my road bike, which had been collecting dust for nearly four months, donned my all-weather cycling gear and headed out the door for an invigorating bike ride. Although cold and wet, I felt particularly spry, for what better way to start the new year than with a bike ride through beautiful and historic Providence?

With the cloud cover increasing by the minute, temperatures dipping below freezing and sleet coming from above, I decided to head home for a cozy and well-deserved cup of coffee. Down North Main Street, I went up Smith Street, past the State House and then the iconic New York Systems diner, when all of a sudden I’m nearly hit by a moving vehicle. Mind you, this is not the first time I’ve come close to being hit by a driver while riding through downtown or the surrounding areas. I throw my hands in the air in disgust and yell, “Slow down.” Yet to my surprise, said vehicle was a marked Providence Police vehicle, a sports utility van to be exact. Within seconds of my cautionary exploits, again a throw of the arms and loud “slow down,” the police officer turned his lights on and pulled me over.

When I asked why he pulled me over, he responded with an emphatic and irritated, “You shouldn’t be on the road!” I asked, “Where should I be?” And then I tried with all the patience my cold and wet body and numbed mind could muster to explain that I have every right to the road. He responded with, “You’re going to cause an accident if you continue to ride in the street” and immediately called for back-up. His request resulted in six police vehicles, not including the unmarked vehicle that also arrived momentarily, all of which surround me, while one officer checked my identification.

Some of the assisting officers checked my saddlebag and squeezed my tires, checking for who knows what. Maybe while on my ride, Homeland Security raised the level to red and added that cycling apparel and equipment was to be viewed with caution. Maybe they were in search of illegal sports gel or dangerous and explosive tire patches.

The other officers on hand stood and watched while talking about their weekend drinking binges and of course the Patriots perfect season, After attempting, once again, to explain my rights as a cyclist I was told that it is apparent that I do not like police officers and that I was trying to tell them how to do their job.

What I find most disturbing about the whole incident, despite having taken over 30 minutes of my time and taxpayers’ money, was that all of this could have been avoided had the initial officer, who happened to be a sergeant, or any of the assisting officers, been aware or at the very least familiar with Rhode Island bike laws, which clearly state a bicycle’s right of road.

Ironically, as the City of Portland, Ore., spends millions and acts to protect its cyclist from death-resulting accidents, the City of Providence does little to do so. In fact, those put in place to protect and serve the community are unaware of how to protect cyclists and they, themselves, are guilty of neglecting a cyclist’s right to the road.

If Providence is to become more bike-friendly, which it should given the dearth of available parking and morning and evening congestion, it must not simply create more bike lanes or bike boxes, although those would be great and are much needed. It needs to start with a training program for police officers to inform them of a cyclist’s rights.

Police officers should be at the forefront of making sure cyclists are safe and comfortable on the road, rather than making them feel, as I felt on New Year’s day, unsafe and in danger of losing my life or being seriously injured. With all the beautiful art work around downtown Providence, it does not need the installation of “ghost bikes,” riderless and painted white, makeshift memorials for deceased cyclists.

Paul Khalil Saucier

Providence