Miguel is Endorsed by Neighbors and Leaders
“Whether it’s running into him on the morning commute on RIPTA or catching up after mass at St. Joseph’s on Hope St, Miguel is a neighbor I’m always glad to see. I know that he’ll use his unparalleled policy background on council to help working families like ours.”
“Corporate money in politics is a problem nationally and here in Providence. In Ward One we have an incredible opportunity to elect Miguel Martínez Youngs over an incumbent who has been beholden to developers and corporate interests. Miguel will listen and answer to the people, make policy decisions for the people and vote with the people – we’ve lived in Ward 1 for 20 years, and that’s why we endorse Miguel Martínez Youngs for City Council.”
“For me, integrity is a politician’s most important quality. In other words, I thought I’d never vote again. But Miguel Youngs is my neighbor. He walked my dog Dexter when I broke my wrist. I've played chess with him for years (and occasionally won). I know he is honest. I know he cares. I am voting for Miguel — not only for him but because of him.”
“I still often reflect on the work I got to do with so many of you while serving as the council member for Ward One - from starting the Fox Point Community Garden, to school improvements like the rehab of the Fox Point Bathhouse, to beautifying and expanding parks and plazas and playgrounds across the neighborhood. Ward One's voters have long been a voice for ensuring that the city does what's in the best interest of everyday voters. I support Miguel because I know he'll not only take seriously the work of stewarding the Ward's many vibrant neighborhoods, but will also back a progressive policy agenda - even when powerful insiders try to stand in the way.”
“We are writing to the residents of Ward 1 to share our support for Miguel Youngs. Working in neighborhoods across the city, we came together on the City Council to reform what had been ‘business as usual’ for many years.
Those reforms have increased resident voice in decision making, and we’ve worked hard to make the legislative branch of local government more collaborative, responsive, and accountable to residents across the city.
Miguel's policy work was important to efforts on expanding affordability, preparing our schools for return to local control, and tax reform. We have also worked with him on neighborhood, constituent, and city infrastructure concerns. Miguel has earned our trust and respect.
It is unusual for elected officials to endorse an incumbent’s opponent, but we trust Miguel Youngs to do what is right for the residents of Ward 1, even when it means challenging insiders and powerful interests like corporate housing developers."
“I had the privilege to work closely with Miguel Youngs on education, historic preservation, design review and city finance. Miguel drafted thorough policy and revised it with 15 councilors with often very different priorities. That's a rare skill — and it's why Miguel is respected across the council, even by those who don't always agree with him. Ward 1 deserves a leader with integrity -- someone more invested in listening to constituents than fundraising, who takes clear positions and who can collaborate with other councilors to get things done. Miguel isn’t a grandstander -- he does the work and will fight for what matters to the people of Ward 1.”
“Miguel is the real deal. He's been doing the hard, serious work of progressive policy and community building for years – most recently working hard on policy to address the housing crisis and affordability in our city. Miguel is not running for himself – he’s running to improve people's lives and help move Providence forward. Miguel Youngs will be a city council member we can really be proud of.”
“I've lived in Ward 1 for more than 30 years and have worked in adult education, immigration and violence prevention. These are fraught times in our neighborhoods - the horrifying presence of ICE, the shooting at Brown, the blizzard and its aftermath. Poverty, hunger, food insecurity, and too many people living on the streets. While I have respect for the incumbent councilman, we need to take decisive action to stabilize rents and develop and maintain housing that supports current residents. Miguel's experience in city hall, his community work and his personal understanding of the working class make him the best candidate to grow and strengthen our community.”
“I have spent decades working alongside mayors, elected officials, and community activists to shape the future of Providence. As former Deputy Secretary of State, a three-term State Representative for the East Side, the city's Equal Opportunity Officer, the foremost advocate for swim proficiency for BIPOC youth, and a lifelong guardian of Black Rhode Island history, I know exactly what it takes to lead this community forward.
That is why I am proudly endorsing Miguel Martínez Youngs for Providence City Council. This pivotal moment demands a leader who pairs deep historical context with an exceptional understanding of policy—and Miguel embodies that rare combination.
I have seen his dedication firsthand over the last ten years at my non-profit, Stages of Freedom. Whether volunteering at community events, guiding our organization as a board member, or documenting the structural displacement of Providence’s Black community, Miguel has always shown up for the communities we serve. He understands precisely where our city has been, which is exactly why he is qualified to map out where we need to go.
What truly sets Miguel apart is his unwavering focus on what matters most. I have watched him champion the issues closest to my heart—most notably, our public schools—with exceptional clarity, empathy, and urgency. Our students deserve a leader who can see the big picture and deliver real results. I trust Miguel completely to be that voice on the City Council.
Providence needs leadership that listens and acts. Join me in moving our city forward. Vote for Miguel Martínez Youngs for City Council on Wednesday, September 9th.”
"I've lived in Fox Point for more than 15 years and I've been promoting local and worker ownership of legal cannabis and doing tenant organizing. Miguel has consistently been a thoughtful and principled voice who truly understands how local politics works and how to use it to help ordinary people. I've seen what happens when well-connected people get their way. Our neighborhood can be more than that. Miguel is the person I trust to represent all of us."
“I met Miguel by chance at a café on Wickenden Street. We began talking, and I was impressed with his passion and unwavering courage and commitment to challenge the predatory real estate developers and landlords in Ward 1, where I live. I support him for Councilman 100% ! Let’s save our neighborhood and protect our neighbors by electing Miguel on September 9th!
“As an artist and a small business owner, I see every day how the lack of housing, decent wages and transparent leadership is hurting our city. Ward 1 anchors the city’s downtown economy, and many of us are just getting by. We created Craftland 20 years ago to give Rhode Island artists a reliable way to earn a living. We need a city councilor who will fight for affordable rents and protect the local businesses and makers that give Providence its spark. That’s why I support Miguel Martinez Youngs for Providence City Council.”
“I'm a low-income resident of Ward 1, and I live in subsidized housing. I want to see someone in office who will fight for the creation of affordable housing over luxury housing. I walk nearly everywhere, and I want a representative who will push for safer streets and sidewalks kept in better repair.
Miguel cares about the concerns of people like me. He has fought for years to make housing in our community more available and affordable. And unlike our current councilperson, Miguel backs rent stabilization. Please join me in voting for Miguel.”
Zak Mettger
Governor Street
“Long before I served on the Providence City Council, I was an organizer. I spent years fighting alongside working people in Providence who had to fight twice as hard just to be heard. Serving on the Council and organizing in neighborhoods taught me a lot about this city and the hard work it takes to make it better. That is why I am proud to endorse Miguel Youngs for Providence City Council.
I worked closely with Miguel while he served as the Council’s Deputy Director of Policy. I saw his work ethic up, how seriously he took every issue, how carefully he listened to people, and how committed he was to finding solutions that worked for the people. I came to trust his judgment, his empathy, and his commitment to this city.
As chair of the Council’s Housing Crisis Task Force, I relied on Miguel as my primary staff person. He helped turn months of testimony, research, and community input into a report with real recommendations for addressing our housing crisis. We worked together on rent stabilization and on the broader fight to make sure Providence remains a city where working people can afford to live.
Miguel understands something that is easy to forget in City Hall: government is supposed to work for the people who do not have lobbyists, wealthy donors, or powerful institutions fighting for them. He understands that every policy decision has real consequences for families, renters, workers, and communities that have too often been pushed aside.
After twelve years, I am preparing to leave the Council. I know what this job demands, and I know what it takes to stand up to powerful interests when doing what is right is not the easy choice. I also know the importance of having people in City Hall who listen, who care, and who are willing to do the work.
Miguel has the experience, the heart, the courage, and the determination to carry that work forward. I am proud to endorse Miguel Youngs, and I urge the voters of Ward 1 to elect him on September 9th.
“Providence needs change. I am a renter with family who are new homeowners and grandchildren attending our local public schools, so I appreciate Miguel Youngs’ support of renters, homeowners and education. Miguel is not afraid to make hard decisions in a timely manner and fight for our hard-working community.”
“We moved to Providence from larger cities, with backgrounds in politics and advocacy, and we’ve seen firsthand what happens when communities aren’t intentional about protecting the people who call them home. It didn't take long for us to recognize that Providence is at an important crossroads, and we believe its future requires leadership that understands both the challenges facing the city and the realities of how change actually happens. Miguel listens to constituents, takes our concerns seriously, and brings a level of knowledge and authenticity that we value. Most importantly, he understands that public service is about representing the people who live here, not building a resume or simply checking a box. That’s why we’re proud to support Miguel.”
“I’ve always tried to teach my sons that our values mean very little if we are unwilling to stand by them when it becomes difficult. I’m proud that he has carried that lesson with him, and I hope he will always have the courage to speak up and stand with those whose voices are too often unheard.”
I learned many of my values from my mother, Marta V. Martínez, executive director of Rhode Island Latino Arts (RILA). With the ACLU, my mom sued the Trump administration and WON on behalf of the nation’s artists and cultural organizations.