The reporters claimed that residents appeared split on the issue. That's a statement which carries weight. Now you could argue, well, "appear" is in the eye of the beholder, and if you asked a few people what they thought, and you got a mixed bag, then that "appears" like Providence is split, even if that's not the case. But that would be disingenuous or incompetent.

Either write honestly, like, we were on location at Roger Williams Park and asked some people what they thought and here are two quotes to show "both sides"--or report on it seriously. Claiming that Providence's residents appear split on the issue based on a handful of conversations held at one location at one time of day is, to put it mildly, unsupported.