Providence City Councilor Helen Anthony announced Friday she will step down from her post Sept. 1, citing her continued recovery from injuries sustained in a serious accident in a California state park two years ago.
The Ward 2 councilwoman, who chairs the council’s finance committee, announced her resignation in a letter to her constituents Friday.
“As I continue to heal from the traumatic injuries I suffered when I was struck by a van in June 2023, my neurologist has recommended that I devote more time to my recovery,” Anthony wrote. “I’m proud to have served Ward 2 and the City of Providence and to have chaired the council’s Finance Committee. Unfortunately, the demands of those roles is hindering my ability to heal.”
Anthony, who has served on the council since 2019, also submitted a formal resignation letter to the city clerk, which will be on the agenda for the City Council’s next meeting on Sept.4. The City Council is in recess for August.
The council will formally accept Anthony’s resignation at its September meeting, triggering a special election within 90 days, per the city charter. The Board of Canvassers will set the date once the seat is officially declared vacant.
Ward 2 covers a portion of the capital city’s East Side and includes the neighborhoods of Blackstone, College Hill, and Wayland.
“The residents of Ward 2 have had a wonderful representative; residents of every neighborhood have had a steadfast advocate in Helen,” Council President Rachel Miller said in a Friday statement. “While I will miss her leadership on the council, and in particular her deft stewardship of the Finance Committee, I am proud of her decision to prioritize her health.”
“As Helen’s colleague and friend, I was in awe of her resilience and tenacity as she recovered from the accident, and I am in awe of the grace with which she is making this difficult decision today,” Miller added.
Anthony was struck by a large, van-sized ATV in a crosswalk at Point Lobos State Natural Reserve, the Boston Globe reported in October 2023. The vehicle’s driver, an 82 year-old park volunteer, had mistakenly hit the gas pedal. Anthony’s extensive injuries — including a brain bleed, broken bones, and a bruised heart — required her to be hospitalized in California for more than two weeks, where she underwent multiple surgeries. She returned to the City Council in October 2023.
“I take immense pride in the stands I have taken for transparency. It was not always easy, but I have done my best to communicate with you and to represent the city’s long-term interests,” Anthony wrote in her letter to constituents. “This year’s budget was particularly difficult given the financial challenges facing the city. While no single councilor can solve the city’s problems, I am proud that my team and I set a new bar for educating colleagues and residents about how the city’s budget and taxation processes work, and striving to encourage meaningful public input.”
During the transition period after Anthony leaves her post, the City Council Office encourages Ward 2 residents with concerns or questions to call constituent services at (401) 521-7477 or email council@providenceri.gov.
This story was originally published by the Rhode Island Current.
