Why we oppose ballot measure 7
Put Providence First | People Over Politics
Neighbors Voting No on 7 is a coalition of Providence community members, organizations, and faith communities united by a single conviction: every resident of this city deserves to feel safe, welcomed, and at home. We're opposing Measure 7 for three reasons: it makes many of our Jewish neighbors feel unwelcome and unsafe in their own city; it puts Providence's finances and pension funds at risk over a conflict the city has no ability to resolve; and it does nothing to meaningfully advance peace in the Middle East.
Measure 7 asks Providence residents to pass a litmus test on a conflict thousands of miles away rather than come together around the real, shared work of building a stronger city. Instead of positive engagement — the kind that brings neighbors together across differences to solve problems— it forces a divisive vote that pits communities against each other and leaves lasting damage to the relationships and trust this city depends on.
Measure 7 isn't just divisive — it's fiscally reckless. It would direct Providence to make pension and investment decisions based on a foreign conflict the city has no jurisdiction over and no expertise in, putting retirees' financial security at risk to make a symbolic statement about a dispute that belongs with the federal government, not municipal pension boards.
We're a broad and diverse coalition, and we don't agree on everything. But we agree on this: Providence should be a city where every resident, regardless of identity or background, feels safe and secure — and where city government stays focused on what it's actually for.
That's why we're voting no on 7.
