Yearly Archives: 2009

Silver Petitions City Council On Behalf Of Bicyclists

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Candidate Silver Persinger is at it again. In his own words:

I created this petition to Richmond City Council. A friend was recently stopped by police for not having a light on her bicycle and fined $100. Sign this petition to reduce the fine and pass it along to your friends. If several hundred people sign it, we may have a shot.

Click here to sign the following petition.

Petition to Reduce Fine for Riding a Bicycle without a Light in Richmond, Virginia

We, the undersigned, request that Richmond City Council reduce the fine for bicyclists who ride a bicycle at night without lights from $100 to $15.

Whereas, bicycle riding is a healthy form of transportation that is good for rider and the environment; the City Council should value and encourage the contribution that bicyclists make to reducing the impact of transportation to the city and the environment.

Whereas, bicycles are predominately ridden with young people, students, and the low income; a $100 fine presents a financial hardship for the majority of bicycle riders. On July 24, 2009 the Federal Minimum Wage was raised to $7.25. A $100 fine represents over 13.5 hours of labor at minimum wage, or over a third of an employee’s weekly wages.

Whereas, most bicycles are equipped with reflectors, the bicycles are visible at night by reflecting the headlights of oncoming automobiles.

We object to the $100 fine and request the City Council to create an ordinance which would reduce the fine to $15.

LUHT Agenda- It Matters

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Often, the resolutions that come before City Council have their basis in one of the committees that meet before City Council. One of the most important of those Council committees is the Land Use, Housing, and Transportation Committee, which usually meets monthly on a Tuesday afternoon (for example, July 21, at 3 pm in Council chanbers at City Hall).

Here are a few items from the agenda for the upcoming LUHT Committee meeting that may be of interest to Oregon Hill residents and Richmond citizens in general:

Presentation(s)

Monroe Park Improvements Planned by Monroe Park Advisory Council – Larry Miller,
Project Management Analyst, Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities.

Central VA Waste Management Authority (CVWMA)Presentation – Kim Hynes, Executive
Director, CVWMA

Papers for Consideration

Public Works

4. Ord. No. 2009-138 (Patron: Mr. Hilbert) – To amend *** the Code *** for the
purpose of establishing procedures and guidelines for the maintenance and removal of
trees on City-owned property and to establish an Urban Forestry Commission.

free summer Youth Basketball Camp

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From the City:

Media Advisory
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, 17 July 2009

Councilman Jewell invites families to sign up for free summer Youth Basketball Camp

Free camp for boys and girls, ages 9-13

WHAT Councilman Marty Jewell, Central 5th District, Richmond City Council, invites families to sign up for the Champions Youth Developmental Basketball Camp being held the last week in July.

This week-long camp is free for youth (boys and girls) ages 9-13, and openings are available on a first-come, first served basis.

Participants will receive free breakfast and lunch, basketballs expert instruction, t-shirts, school supplies and awards. Each camp will include 100 students. This will be the camps third year in Richmond.

WHEN/ Richmond Camp to be held: MONDAY, JULY 27, 2009 – FRIDAY 31, 2009
WHERE 8:00 A.M. – NOON – Armstrong High School; 2300 Cool Lane

Petersburg Camp to be held: MONDAY, JULY 27, 2009 – THURSDAY 30, 2009 – 1:00 P.M. – 4:00 P.M. – Petersburg High School; 3101Johnson Road

REGISTRATION CONTACT
Pre-registration is required and interested families should contact Dr. Leon Wright Bey, Camp Director, at 804.536.6394.

WHO For more information, please contact Mike Pearson, President/Founder, Friends Helping Friends, at 804. 405.4472, or 405.4472, or
Dr. Leon Wright Bey, Camp Director, at 804.536.6394.

BACKGROUND
Champions Youth Developmental Basketball Camp (CDBC) began in Petersburg in 2005 and focuses on holistic skills development, including: Basketball, Academic, Life and Leadership (BALL). CDBC is produced by the nonprofit organization, Friends Helping Friends, Petersburg Department of Parks and Leisure Services, and through the leadership of Director Tami Yerby, and Camp Director Dr. Leon Wright Bey of Virginia State University, who previously served as Virginia State University’s (VSU) Women’s Basketball Coach and Athletic Director.

In addition to the support provided by a variety of sponsors, key to the success of these camps is the help of numerous high school and collegiate basketball coaches; current/former athletes, educators, administrators, entrepreneurs, and community leaders, who serve as clinicians, motivational speakers, and support staff.

Assistance in bringing this camp to Richmond included, but was not limited to, support from Richmond City Councilman Marty Jewell, Central 5th District; Richmond Department of Parks and Recreation; Randy Ashe, Athletic Director, Richmond City Public Schools’ Armstrong High School (AHS); Darryl Watts, AHS Head Coach for Boy’s Basketball; and former local high school and Virginia State University Head Football Coach, Lou Anderson. Support for this year’s camp is also being provided by Richmond City Councilwoman Betty Squire, East End 7th District.

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Anniversary of Streetcar Bombing

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The Tuesday, July 14, 1903 edition of the Times Dispatch reports of ‘torpedoes’ going off under a streetcar on Laurel Street during the tense times of a labor strike.

It sort of puts the previous post in perspective…I have been fascinated by the now-online archives of Richmond newspapers. Most of the stories I have read so far that mention Oregon Hill are about dogs, smallpox, and violence, but there are also beautiful descriptions of the neighborhood that could easily apply to today.

Do yourself a favor and search and read through them sometime. I will be sure to be including more Hill history now that these are available.

So Next July 4th…

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…the police will be ready!

News Release
Richmond Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit Receives $1.1 Million Dollar Grant

July 9, 2009
This week, the Department of Criminal Justice Services notified the Department that its EOD Unit will receive $1,176,300 in federal funds from the Department of Homeland Security.

“This will enhance our operational capacity with equipment allocations and training with our local, state, federal, and international law enforcement agencies. The grant allows us to add public value to our community without a local financial impact,” stated Assistant Chief Dave McCoy.

Contact: Sgt. Ron Brown
Richmond Police Department
Phone 804-646-0607
Fax 804-646-3496
http://www.richmondgov.com/police