2019 -- S 0879

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2019

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S E N A T E   R E S O L U T I O N

RECOGNIZING RICARDO PATIÑO FOR HIS MANY YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE

STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND CONGRATULATING HIM ON THE OCCASION OF HIS

RETIREMENT

     Introduced By: Senators Quezada, Nesselbush, Crowley, Ruggerio, and Rogers

     Date Introduced: May 16, 2019

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

     WHEREAS, Ricardo Patiño was born in the City of Pereira, Colombia. Upon graduation

from high school, he enlisted in the Colombian Army. Consequent to his military service, he

immigrated to the United States to join his family and enrolled at the New York City College of

Technology, and later, transferred to the Pratt Institute’s School of Architecture, where he

received his Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and a Master’s degree in City and Regional

Planning; and

     WHEREAS, To the good fortune of the people of Rhode Island, Mr. Patiño relocated to

Central Falls, married, and began his career at Rhode Island Housing, working as a construction

specialist. An exceptionally astute businessman, he also began investing in local real estate and

co-founded Latino Lead Inspectors, Inc.; and

     WHEREAS, During these years, Mr. Patiño also began what would become a deep

commitment to his community and the city’s civic life, and particularly to zoning and planning

issues; and

     WHEREAS, In 1999, Mr. Patiño ran for a seat on the City Council, and although

unsuccessful on his first attempt, on October 4, 2001, he ran again, earning a plurality of the votes

to become the first Latino elected to office in the City of Central Falls; and

     WHEREAS, While serving the people of Central Falls for four terms on the Council, Mr.

Patiño was a consistent and outspoken advocate for affordable housing and economic

development within the City, and ameliorated the diversification of the City’s police and fire

departments; and

     WHEREAS, In addition, during his tenure on the Council, Mr. Patiño frequently voiced

prescient warnings about the City's pension mismanagement, which eventually came to fruition a

decade later when Central Falls was plunged into bankruptcy; and

     WHEREAS, Mr. Patiño is widely credited with opening the door for the many Latinos

who subsequently entered politics in Central Falls, and ultimately to the election of current Mayor

James Diossa, the City’s first Latino executive; and

     WHEREAS, On a statewide level, Mr. Patiño is still very actively involved promoting

participation and leadership among Latinos. He was a founding member of the Latino Dollars for

Scholars, the Blackstone Valley Political Action Committee, and the Rhode Island Latino Action

Committee; and

     WHEREAS, Currently, Mr. Patiño makes his home with his wife, Iris, in the Reservoir

Triangle neighborhood in the City of Providence, where he has served several terms as Treasurer

of Providence's ECAS Theater and as a Commissioner of the Providence Housing Authority;

now, therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

hereby recognizes and thanks Ricardo Patiño for almost two decades of service as a Construction

Specialist with Rhode Island Housing and wishes him continued happiness, success, and

fulfillment in all his future endeavors; and be it further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Ricardo Patiño.

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