April 13, 2020
Dear Cranston Residents,
The City has been diligently addressing the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic and is in constant contact with the RI Department of Health as well as the Governor's office. I have also been on daily calls with other Rhode Island city and town mayors and administrators to discuss local COVID-19 issues and procedures as well as on national legislative calls for updates on how Rhode Island and Cranston will be affected.
This is a challenging time for all of us, and decisions being made to keep us safe are difficult. Per the Governor's orders, non-critical businesses and schools continue to be closed, and we don't know when that will be lifted. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our school administration, educators, families and students who are working hard towards successful distance learning. I also want to thank our first responders, health care workers, all employees in the medical field, nursing homes and other congregate care settings, as well as personnel serving us daily in our essential markets, pharmacies, restaurants and retailers.
To all of our closed businesses, we understand the economic toll this is taking, and we encourage you to contact the Small Business Administration about disaster loans and loan advances. To workers who are now unemployed or have been laid off, please contact the Department of Labor and Training. Also the Rhode Island United Way 211 hotline is available 24 hours, 7 days a week to answer questions and connect you with the support you may need.
I have issued a stay at home order-it's the best way to stay safe. Additional Executive Orders outlining the procedures we are taking here in Cranston to combat the spread of the virus can be found on our city webpage link here or www.cranstonri.com. For further information, detailed below is a listing of services available with our City departments at this time:
• Public Works: Trash pick-up is continuing on a normal schedule, and this week is the start of yard waste pick-up on your usual trash day until mid-December.
• Senior Center: Over 600 bagged lunches are being distributed daily to other meal sites around the state by our transvan drivers and our RSVP volunteers are delivering lunches to members that can't get to the Center to pick up. If you are able to get to the Center, pick-up time for a bagged lunch is between 11:00am and 1:00pm. For additional help, contact the Center at 780-6000.
• Parks & Recreation: All walking tracks, fields, playgrounds and recreation areas have been closed at this time.
• Tax Collections: 4th Quarter personal & commercial, motor vehicle, tangible taxes as well as sewer fees have been delayed until May 15th because of the economic strain being placed on Cranston residents and businesses. If you are able to pay your taxes at this time, you can drop them off at City Hall in first floor lobby between 8:30-4:30pm (CHECKS ONLY). If you request a receipt, please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope with your dropped payment. Payment is also accepted through our online portal at Invoice Cloud on our webpage link here or www.cranstonri.com and click Finance Department, Tax Collections tab.
• Clerk's Office: Documents related to deed recordings can be dropped off in City Hall lobby and the Clerk will call or email when documents are recorded.
• Library Services: All Cranston Library branches are closed until further notice, however, virtual reading and electronic resources are available through the library at www.cranstonlibrary.org.
• Economic Development: If any business has questions relative to limitations on service, please contact ED Director Larry DiBoni at 401-780-3166.
• Building Maintenance: City Hall is the only public building open, in very limited capacity, and is continually being cleaned and sanitized on a daily basis.
I encourage you to visit our city website often for updated information and to view my Executive Orders relative to COVID-19. If you have any additional questions, please contact our office at 401-780-3104.
Please continue to use caution and stay healthy and safe. Thank you.
Sincerely,
Allan W. Fung
Mayor