Organizer requests Washington Square closure for Juneteenth; police warn city lacks officers for full closure

Charles Roberts presented a request for the council to close Washington Square for a planned Juneteenth special event that seeks to consolidate historical and cultural presentations in the square. Roberts emphasized the event's growth and cultural importance and asked for a full square closure to improve safety and logistics.

Captain Michael Naylor of the Newport Police Department reviewed the public-safety plan and said an initial staffing request for four officers was revised to eight after review of the detailed plan. He advised the department could not provide eight officers on the requested weekend because staffing is constrained around the USGA and other seasonal demands, and suggested alternatives such as closing Park Street and orienting food trucks to line Washington Square as was done previously.

Why it matters: The request raises a tension between the event organizer's safety and access plans and the police department's limited staffing during a high-demand period. Councilors and the solicitor discussed how food-truck placement must comply with the city's food-truck ordinance and special-event licensing rules. The council voted to receive the communication and referred the request to city administration for further review and recommendations; the organizer offered to meet with city staff to refine plans.