On 11/07/2019 city officials introduced a Committee To Address Commemorative Works. From the Providence Journal: 

"The idea for such a committee has been in the works since 2017, when the Department of Art, Culture and Tourism created a vision plan for public art in the city. Around the same time, debates were raging in some Southern cities over whether Confederate monuments should be removed.

The committee would comprise historians and cultural experts tasked with evaluating historical works across the city and assessing applications from the public that call for the creation of new commemorative public art or the modification, relocation or removal of existing pieces."

Today I attended my meeting with Stephanie Fortunato, director of the Department of Art, Culture and Tourism. I was connected with her when I reached out to the Mayor's office asking for an audience to air my grievances about the statue and deliver the petition. 

We had an excellent conversation, and I learned that there has been an extremely thoughtful and comprehensive approach to the issue of outdated and culturally insensitive monuments in providence. 

While the mainstream media has picked up on very loud, divisive voices, there are a lot of people behind the scenes working very hard on this issue, and have a comprehensive plan to address it. 

I was reasured that the Committee will not be pressured into moving the statue to Federal Hill. And while it will be a panel of historians and experts who will ultimately make the decision, our vision, as supported by you petitioners, is very much aligned with the spirit and direction of the formed Committee. I have confidence in them making the right choice that will be sensitive to our indigenous communities, and respectful of history. Your voices also have been added to the discussion, which will be taken seriously and into consideration. 

The website for the Committee should be live by the end of the Calendar year. It is at that time, they will start accepting requests to review Providence monuments. It is important at that time for as many of us as possible to mobilize and submit a request for the Columbus Statue to be reviewed by the Committee. This will prioritize the statue for review.

I will keep you all up to date on what happens next. Thank you!