PROVIDENCE – A bat sighting has led to the temporary closure of the building housing the headquarters of the state's Department of Children, Youth & Families .

SEIU Local 580 has been trying to stop a 10-year lease renewal of the building at 101 Friendship Street in Providence on grounds the retrofitted former jewelry factory has "been plagued by health complaints for decades."

A planned vote by the State Properties Committee on a new lease for DCYF's headquarters was delayed in late July after union members raised their concerns about what they described as an “unhealthy workspace.”

But it was the bat sighting on the 2nd floor of the building that led to DCYF Director Ashley Deckert declaring a temporary closure of the building and "transition to remote work."

'We take this situati

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