From the flyer:
Richmond City Council Candidate Forum
This November, elections will decide who will represent you. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear where candidates stand on critical issues facing our communities such as health, equality, education, and urban planning.
September 13th 8:00 PM
VCU 500 Academic Center 500 N Harrison (former Ukrops)
moderator: Dr. Kim AllenSponsored By
L Douglas Wilder School of Governmentin partnership with
A Philip Randolph Institute – Richmond Alliance for Progressive Values -Coalition to Stop Gun – Violence – People of Faith for Equality – RePHRAME – Richmond NOW – Sierra Club Falls of the James – Southerner on New Ground S.O.N.G. – Unite Women-Va – Virginia Organizing – Virginia New Majority-Central Va Chapterfor more information: roland.winston@gmail.com
Note: All three Council candidates from the 5th District have indicated they will attend.
I submitted this question to the City Council debate organizers:
The Sierra Club has a petition with about 1300 signatures asking that the City of Richmond lower the minimum monthly water/sewer service charge to no more than $15 per month. The current minimum monthly service charge for water and sewer service is $49.40 per month, which is the highest in the country. This outrageous service charge is unfair to low-income residents and to those who conserve water. As a candidate for City Council, will you endorse lowering the city’s minimum service charge to $15 per month, which is line with other localities?
Two more questions:
1. In his 2011 State of the City Address, Mayor Dwight C. Jones said that “While we will take advantage of good opportunities which present themselves, we are going to grow this City by design and not by default.” The City’s fundamental land planning document is the Master Plan which is implemented through the zoning ordinance. During the current 2009-2012 term, City Council has approved 67 special use applications which waive zoning rules for applicants on a piece-meal basis. Do you think that is good planning; is that “growing this city by design?”
2. An open government is essential to a democratic government. The public must have access to government information and access to the decision-making process. A study undertaken by City Hall Review evaluated the City of Richmond on 105 criteria. The study found that the City failed to meet 101 of the criteria. The Richmond Open Government Project is sponsoring a petition to “Make Richmond City Hall an open government equal to the best in Virginia.” Four candidates for City Council have signed the petition (Agelasto, Delp, Diradour, and Shewmake). Will you sign the petition and pledge to “Make Richmond City Hall an open government equal to the best in Virginia?”