A new week is upon us, and as we get closer to July 1st, we still have heard 0 comments from Mayor Smiley on his proposed changes to PVDFest and the absolute outcry of disinterest from the people who go to PVDFest and support it every year.

There is no doubt that his changes are going to hurt the venues, bars, and restaurants that are already struggling to hang on in the heart of the city for the past few years. PVDFest would have been a MUCH needed revenue influx for those businesses and some were even looking forward to it as a possible means to stay open. This PVDFest will undoubtedly change the landscape of the businesses we have in Providence. 

Not only will this effect public businesses, but it is going to hurt the festival itself.

People do not want these changes, people WILL boycott the festival, and when we do, Mayor Smiley will use the low attendance rates as a means to call the festival unsuccessful as a whole, and we will lose it all together if he remains in charge.

We may not be able to change this festival, but we can be heard, and let him know, we will not stand for this next year, we hope to hear something from him publicly by July 1st, and if not, we will then be in touch with ideas for boycotts, and demonstrations of solidarity to those local businesses on the day of Mayor Smileys PVDFest. Anyone interested in planning these things, please feel free to message me on Instagram @daveyftrout.

We will hold Mayor Smiley responsible for his changes, actions, and words, be it through this petition or at the polls, but we urge you to continue to share this petition, donate if you can to it, and let our collective voices be heard on a large scale, that's how we can achieve this social victory!

COMMUNITY ALWAYS WINS!