Category Archives: editorial

What Is More Important? Schools, Water Utility, Or Homeless Shelter? Welcome to Richmond’s Ranked Choice Voting Day!

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Hi everyone! January 23rd is traditionally recognized as Ranked Choice Voting Day!

Of course, here in Richmond, VA, that does not mean too much as the political establishment is still squashing Ranked Choice Voting (RCV), despite encouragement for it.

But, hey, don’t let the General Assembly, City Council, and winter doldrums get you down. For it is I, Scott Burger, the pirate king of Oregon Hill, here to entertain you and (counterintuitively to my monarchial rule) encourage grassroots democracy with yet another exciting public RCV poll.

Given yesterday’s RPS announcement, the noteworthy recent anniversary of last year’s water crisis, and ongoing struggles for the ‘unhoused’, what is more important?

1) Fully funding our public schools

2) A reliable, working, public water utility

3) larger homeless shelters

Now, I could add as choices a sustainable environment and larger rainy (sleety? snowy) day emergency fund, but let’s not get too crazy or hopeful. Let’s keep it relatively simple. This is not a mayor’s race.

After all, we are supposed to be beginning a new City budget process…

Remember, with ranked choice voting (RCV), you are allowed to vote for more than one choice, but you need to rank them.

Also remember that the political establishment (and their corporate masters) will not allow an all-of-the-above choice as it wants large corporations and tourism to get a steady stream of taxpayer dollars in the form of tax breaks and subsidies. LIVE Nation and New Market Corporation were not going to build their new riverfront amphitheater by themselves (or were they?). Co-Star was not going to incentivize itself, now was it? Otherwise VCU might not have received their money. The corporate welfare must continue, according to our current leadership, opportunity costs, public choices, and alternatives be damned.

Remember what I said about keeping the pressure on!

Happy Ranked Choice Voting Day!

Ready? Vote:

I will try to update this post with results later, if I am not thrown into the new ICE facility in Hanover. (Remember, ICE received “only” $14 billion in funding, despite public demands to abolish it altogether. But that goes back to national priorities…)

#MeToo Revolt 2: Epstein Files

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This is not an easy editorial to write so close to the holidays, but it is a substantial and necessary follow up to an earlier one. The disclaimer that this does not portend to represent the views of all Oregon Hill residents is in full effect.

In 2018, the country, and indeed the world, was still feeling the reverberations of the powerful #MeToo movement. This community news site, in a strongly worded editorial, cheered it on, despite the political winds, and called for stronger investigations and prosecutions of Trump’s sexual assaults, among others.

But this was before things became even more dark and twisted with the headlines of Epstein’s arrest and “suicide” (no, it was most likely not a suicide).

Today, at this time, it is extremely important to recognize some things:

Many of Epstein’s victims went to the police and FBI years ago, and in some cases, even over a decade ago. They named names (yes, including Trump).
Horribly, and shamefully, the system protected Epstein and other predators.

It’s continuing to do so now. No predators should be ‘redacted’! EXPOSE THEM ALL!

In addition to that call, there is another aspect of the Epstein papers that the corporate, mainstream media is ignoring. The American people, and indeed everyone around the world, should see what was probably the biggest and most successful sexual blackmail operation in the history of espionage.

It’s past time for the political establishment, centrists and statists all around, to admit that Epstein did not act alone. Americans deserve to know that Epstein tried to buy cyber weapons for Israel, had Israeli intelligence and their former Prime Minister stay at his house dozens of times, ran the third largest pro-Israel charity in America that itself declared it, “acted from pure Zionistic motivations.” And that he helped Mossad and CIA connect during the Iran Contra conspiracy. Epstein lobbied to get the United States to bomb Syria and Iran on behalf of Israel.
Not to mention that his hench-woman (who is now playing for a Trump pardon) was the daughter of the legendary Israeli spy, Robert Maxwell.
And the establishment politicians and media want to act like the public can’t know who Epstein worked for and with? Come on!

No, this is not ‘antisemitic’, nor is it all-out Israel-bashing. The state of Israel correctly says that it routinely faces deadly threats, and must be creative and resourceful in defense. Every ‘intelligence’/spy/counterspy agency in the world has used the very old tradition of sexual blackmail -it’s a natural part of ‘spycraft’. The United States supplies over $4 billion in ‘domestic’ and military aid to Israel, but as the old saying goes, ‘all is fair in love and war’.

Or is it? Remember the paroxysms of partisan furor over the last decade over foreign interference in government and in our very elections? The redactions we have seen so far in the released Epstein files are certainly not about protecting victims, and they are about more than protecting Conman-In-Chief Trump, Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, Noam Chomsky, and many others. The American people should know the extent of THIS foreign ‘interference’.

Besides the aforementioned sexual exploitation victims of Epstein (and Maxwell, and others), there is also the matter of ongoing genocide in Gaza (now estimated over 650,000 dead, with over 350,000 of those being children under five years of age, not to mention the millions displaced). How instrumental was this sexual blackmail operation in swaying upper echelon leaders and journalists into keeping the United States government complicit with this genocide, even through the tumultuous Presidential election?
All of the world’s people deserve to know.

In the spirit of the #MeToo movement, and in remembrance of the Holocaust-
NEVER AGAIN!

Celebrate the holidays and enjoy time with family and friends, but please keep some headspace in solemn reflection and prayers for ALL victims.

May the new year bring better justice, peace, and stronger, grassroots, non-violent revolt!

Edwin “Eddie” Slipek

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Local writer and educator Ed Slipek passed away after a brief illness and there have been a number of good tributes published.
Bennet Funeral Home Obituary
Richmond Magazine
Style Weekly
Richmond Bizsense

Laurel Street neighbor Charles Pool wrote:

Ed Slipek was a passionate writer who worked tirelessly to encourage brilliant new architecture as well as to wake up Richmond to the treasures of our city’s historic neighborhoods before they are lost to greed and stupidity. I am so very, very grateful for the many articles that he wrote regarding the Oregon Hill community and architecture. Ed was not one to use email, and he kindly allowed me to drop off research on his Spring Hill doorstep on the latest issues. His articles really made a difference in those issues and in the public perception that Oregon Hill is a rare historic resource well-worth preserving.

It is a revelation to read an example of Ed’s brilliant writing that is as pertinent today as it was in 2002 when Oregon Hill was appropriately zoned as a residential neighborhood. Ed’s words are just as relevant now when the Oregon Hill Historic District is again fighting for survival against Code Refresh upzoning proposals that would allow 75′ tall buildings and huge apartment buildings on some blocks of the historic district of modest, two-story homes:

https://www.styleweekly.com/proceeding-as-planned/

Ed’s words live on. We were blessed with his wise words, and there have been few people that have had such a positive impact on our city as Ed Slipek. He will be greatly missed.

2nd Draft Of ‘Code Refresh’ Ignores Neighborhood Input

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Yesterday the City government released the latest drafts for its zoning ordinance rewrite project.

The Draft 2 zoning map now has 7 properties south of Green Alley changed from RA-A to RM-A zoning (6 dwelling units per building 40′ height, 70% lot coverage).

These properties now targeted with RM-A zoning are:
123 S. Pine
125 S. Pine
516 S. Pine

200 S. Linden (Grace Arents Housing)
202 S. Linden (Grace Arents Housing)

314 S. Cherry
316 S. Cherry
(314 and 316 were built in 1860, according to Zillow, and are now owned as a duplex)
407 S. Cherry has been changed from RA-A to RM-C

The athletic field of St Andrews is now proposed with MX-5 zoning with 75′ height limit.

The Draft 2 zoning map now proposes zoning for the properties north of Green Alley on the 100 blocks of Pine, Laurel and Cherry zoned RM-A.

Draft 2 zoning map now changed the St. Andrews Church and Pine Street Baptist Church zoning from RA-A to MX-3 zoning.

The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association (OHNA) voted that all of these properties should be zoned RA-A

In addition, some properties on the 600, 700 and 800 blocks of W. Cary Street are now proposed with MX-5 zoning and some with MX-3.

OHNA voted that all of the properties on these blocks of W. Cary should be zoned MX-3.

General office and retail are still shown as permitted uses by right under the RA-A and higher zoning.

It’s discouraging, but not surprising that the City’s ‘Code Refresh’ push continues to toss aside neighborhood input. After all, it already has a reputation as a scam for developers’ profits and very little to do with ‘affordable housing’.

City government and local corporate media go on and on about the need for Richmond to update its zoning, which they say has not been updated since the 1970’s, refusing to acknowledge that Oregon Hill was properly and appropriately rezoned for R-7 in 2002, not the seventies. It’s dishonest.

Code Refresh is a Scam

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Email sent last night to Mayor, City Council representative, planners, neighborhood association….

Mayor Avula,

I have to tell you, I have to let you know- this Code Refresh process is so horrible. I strongly object to the rezoning proposed for the Oregon Hill Historic District which would greatly damage the affordable housing and historic fabric of the neighborhood. But I am also mindful of other neighborhoods in this City that have no clue as to how this runaway train will hit them in the future.

Years ago, I went to Richmond300 meeting and pleaded for my neighborhood in person. Richmond300 was passed despite my neighborhood’s protest and a promised amendment. I have emailed comments repeatedly and told they don’t count. I went to a Westover Hills Code Refresh meeting at some pizzeria and added the little post-it notes in person, but I am told they do not really count. I went online to put some notes on the digital map, but it was not easy at all. I have worked in corporate IT and I found this website cumbersome, confusing, and distressing. I can’t imagine my more elderly and impaired neighbors even attempting to take part in this. Even the Sept. 28 ‘deadline’ is not clear to anyone. This is so stacked against us.

And believe me, Richmond residents are seeing how other parts of the City, the wealthier neighborhoods, are not being threatened or impacted by ‘Code Refresh’. The economic discrimination is OBVIOUS and NAUSEATING.

Despite the discouragement, I am emailing you, planners, and other people these recommendations, and I again ask that these be counted, considered, but also documented and made part of official records.
• All properties within the Oregon Hill Historic District that are currently zoned R-7 must be zoned RA-A.
• Maximum Lot Coverage in RA-A: The maximum lot-coverage ratio in the RA-A district shall be reduced to fifty-five percent (55%), matching the existing standard under R-7 zoning.
• The Oregon Hill Historic District, including the Jacob House boundary, shall be excluded in its entirety from the VCU circle of influence map. I REPEAT: • The Oregon Hill Historic District south of West Cary Street must be removed from the “VCU Node” circle, consistent with the Richmond 300 Master Plan.
• Parsons House Condominiums (Parsons Street Parcel): The zoning classification for the Parsons House condominium property shall be revised from RX-4 to RA-A.
• Field to the west of St. Andrew’s School: The zoning classification for the open field parcel north of the school shall be revised from RX-6 to RA-A.
• Cary Street Corridor: The zoning classification for properties fronting Cary Street shall be revised from MX-6 and RX-4 to MX-3.
• Residences North of the Alley Near Cary Street: The zoning classification for the existing R-7 residential lots north of the alley between Cary Street and Green Alley shall be revised from MX-6 and RX-6 to RA-A.
• Citywide duplex: Duplexes should be permitted citywide, as they are in RA-A.
• Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan: While not a function of the map, the Planning Commission should adopt and implement without delay the draft Cultural Heritage Stewardship Plan
• All of the properties on the 100 block of South Pine, 100 block of South Laurel and 100 block of South Cherry Street, including 104, 106 and 106-1/2 S. Pine Street; 103, 105 and 109 S.
Laurel Street; and 117, 119, 121 and 123 S. Cherry Street must be zoned RA-A.
• All properties that are currently zoned B-3 within the Oregon Hill Historic District must be zoned MX-3, and MX-3 must be revised to have a 35 foot maximum height limit. These
properties include all of the 600, 700 and 800 blocks of West Cary Street which must be zoned MX-3.
• The RA-A zoning proposed for much of the Oregon Hill Historic District must not allow business use “by right”. Retail, dining uses and alcohol sales must NOT be allowed “by right” in RA-A zoning.
• The the maximum lot coverage must be no greater than 55% in the RA-A zoning, and the maximum height limit must be 35 feet.
• The two-story Parsons Row condominiums at 605 Spring Street must be zoned RA-A.
• The St. Andrews athletic field at 316 Linden Street must be zoned RA-A.
• MX-3 must be revised to have a 35 foot maximum height limit. All properties that are currently zoned B-1 within the Oregon Hill Historic District must be zoned with MX-3 with a maximum height limit no greater than 35 feet, consistent with the adjacent RA-A properties.
• Any rezoning must recognize the importance of, and encourage the use of, the Special Use Permit process which has served the neighborhood well.
• The affordable workforce housing in Oregon Hill must not be displaced by zoning that allows greater density.

I am sharing previous news posts in regard to Richmond300 and Code Refresh, with the hope that these will also be considered and documented.

https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/09/25/ohna-deadline-to-comment-on-re-zoning-code-refresh-is-sept-28/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/09/25/comment-of-the-oregon-hill-home-improvement-council-on-proposed-rezoning/

I particularly point to this link directly underneath this sentence, as it gives a small glimpse of the huge corruption and subterfuge we have faced. The amount of time and energy that we have invested in battling VCU, City, developers in order to keep our historic community intact deserves more appreciation and recognition.
https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/09/25/some-historical-perspective-on-the-current-zoning/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/09/10/wric-reports-richmond-residents-demand-greater-community-voice-in-citys-code-refresh/

REFORM! REFORM! REFORM!:
https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/09/07/newspaper-coverage-and-ltes-bring-strong-calls-for-government-reform/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/07/04/max-lot-coverage-in-new-ra-a-zoning-threatens-neighborhood/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/03/28/neighborhood-threatened-by-re-zoning-comments-due-this-weekend/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/03/16/is-oregon-hill-under-attack/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2025/01/28/review-of-planning-review/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2024/10/25/community-hospital-saved/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2024/08/13/richmond300-code-refresh-meetings-this-week/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2024/02/28/editorial-save-community-hospital/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2023/03/29/neighborhood-association-opposes-demolition/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2023/03/09/top-down-planning-changes-threaten-neighborhood/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2023/02/09/bza-boogaloo-its-way-past-time-for-poole-and-pinnock-to-take-a-hike/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2022/12/12/meeting-on-city-initiated-zoning-changes-tomorrow-evening/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2022/08/11/please-send-an-email-letter-for-oregon-hill/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2022/06/28/victory-city-council-passes-amendment-resolution-unanimously/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2022/06/24/richmond300-amendment-for-oregon-hill-at-city-council/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/12/16/the-wayne-commission/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/12/15/city-council-votes-against-neighborhood-to-pass-richmond300-plan/

https://www.styleweekly.com/opinion-let-us-succeed/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/11/15/land-use-committee-meets-tuesday/

https://richmondfreepress.com/news/2020/nov/05/oregon-hill-neighborhood-open-speculation-destruct/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/10/05/planning-director-punked/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/09/30/mayor-wants-to-take-away-parkland-for-affordable-housing/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/09/26/olingers-storefront-canard/

https://www.styleweekly.com/guest-commentary-runaway-train/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/07/31/will-richmond300-and-city-planning-commission-ever-listen-to-oregon-hill/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/07/17/city-planners-scheme-a-last-minute-end-run-around-citizens/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/07/12/city-planners-determined-to-ignore-and-destroy-oregon-hill-community/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/06/05/richmond-300-plan-would-irreparably-damage-oregon-hill/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2019/11/15/presentation-to-richmond-300/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2019/10/29/richmond-300-continues-to-ignore-city-residents/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2019/10/16/taylor-lynch-williamson-and-da-silva-submit-pledges-to-the-neighborhood/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2019/10/16/ohna-letter-to-city-council-and-richmond300-committee/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2018/11/12/single-family-to-be-removed/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2018/10/15/ohna-letter-to-richmond300-planners/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2018/05/14/demolition-of-historic-buildings-on-w-cary/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2018/03/17/ohna-press-release-with-letter-in-regard-to-w-cary-development/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2018/03/16/public-demonstration-planned-for-sunday-afternoon/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2020/09/17/revisiting-a-history-of-assessments-on-small-house/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2012/05/02/ohna-letter-for-349-s-laurel/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2010/10/09/two-years-later-still-waiting-for-positive-step-by-vcu/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2009/11/29/editorial-filling-in-the-gaps-in-historic-urban-neighborhoods/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2008/10/24/ohna-president-asks-vcu-to-take-positive-step-for-true-community-partnership/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2008/09/10/belvidere-plans/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2008/09/10/1990-park-plans/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2008/09/06/what-might-have-been-or-what-could-be/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2008/07/19/rezoning-meetinggreen-drinks-at-built-gallery/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2008/06/25/re-zoning-and-the-disappointing-marty-jewell/

https://www.oregonhill.net/2008/04/30/last-house-on-100-block-of-s-belvidere-demolished/

…. I could also bring up the sordid history of the developer Salomonsky, City government, FBI, and Oregon Hill residents, but let’s truncate there for now.
The stink is already apparent and overwhelming.
In the end, I am not surprised by this disaster. It’s not about “racial justice”, density, or affordable housing. Pretenses of ‘working with the community’ are laughable. It’s glaring to any citizen paying attention that this whole thing, Richmond300/Code Refresh, is a scam, a plot designed to prey on longterm residents for the benefit of unscrupulous developers. When you combine this con job with other factors, including rising utility rates and the RRHA debacle, it has become very clear that the City of Richmond is at war with its less wealthy residents, wanting to eradicate and replace us.

I completely agree with neighbors and other City residents that the “Code Refresh” initiative needs to be scrapped and Rodney Poole and director Vonck replaced with competent people, determined to do what’s best for our community, and not just developers.

Sincerely,
Scott Burger

Three quick addendums:

As I mentioned, the wealthier areas of Richmond are unscathed by the rezoning and are shown (appropriately) in white (without color) in the proposed zoning map.

And speaking of Salomonsky, remember that Rodney Poole even appointed Salomonsky’s business partner, Brian White, to the Zoning Advisory Council.

Lastly, notice that on the proposed zoning map that planners are proposing 90′ tall buildings on Dominion’s property on Tredegar Street and the Venture Richmond (really DPW’s) canal property. In other words, the public can say goodbye to the public views of the historic riverfront, according to this proposed zoning map.

Newspaper Coverage And ‘LTE’s’ Bring Strong Calls For Government Reform

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While local television stations bandied ongoing amphitheater concerns and new signs (more on those at a later time), Richmond Times Dispatch reporter Samuel Parker examined the details in regard to another City Hall threat against the neighborhood- rezoning.

Oregon Hill residents have been contemplating on this matter from the beginning- going back to the original ‘Richmond 300’ meetings on land use and calling foul on the narratives that came forth from them. City Hall brushed off the heartfelt complaints by neighbors and in what has become a horrible pattern, self-congratulated itself and celebrated dubious awards. The City government did the same thing with its water utility even as the water plant failed, something that surprised even longtime critics, exposing the real rot underneath.

Thankfully, in the last week or so, Mr. Parker, in a few in-depth newspaper articles, focused on who City’s Planning Department officials really are and brought significant light to conflicts of interest and tenures that should have ended decades ago.

Laurel Street neighbor Charles Pool wrote a well-written and complimentary Letter To The Editor (LTE) in gratitude for Parker’s work and the Times Dispatch newspaper published it this past Saturday morning. Pool’s correspondence also served to underscore the result of Planning Department problems- “an illegitimate process with a bonanza of new zoning proposals by developers, for developers”, that have more to do with profiteering than City’s well-being or affordable housing. Pool also described some of the disastrous impacts of these current proposals on this historic neighborhood and strongly called for immediate reform.

(By the way, also see the poignant LTE (“Correspondent Of The Day”) from the president of Chesterfield’s NAACP, Nicole Thompson-Martin, on Dominion’s dirty fossil fuel ambitions – “Letter: Clean energy isn’t just cheaper, it’s more equitable”)

Cherry Street neighbor and former president of the neighborhood association Todd Woodson re-posted Pool’s letter on social media and further challenged the City government.

I’ve been civically active in Richmond, Virginia for 25 years because I love our historic City and recognize the amazing progress we can and must make to ensure equity and prosperity in all corners. That said, I have seen it so damn corrupt here in the past that the FBI has had to intervene, sending lawless developers and City Councilors to jail.
If you care about our community, please read this LTE in today’s Times Dispatch. We are on a precipice of destroying much of what’s good and beautiful in Richmond because the developer “foxes are in the henhouse”. Our Department of Planning and Review has acknowledged paying for and using compromised data to implement terrible zoning changes in our historic neighborhood. Oregon Hill was appropriately rezoned to R7 in 2002. R7 maintains the character of this family oriented enclave (which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places) while at the same time promoting a dense fabric of reasonably affordable housing.
I call on Mayor Avula and City Council to DO THE RIGHT THING! Remove the bad leadership from our Planning Commission and Department , scrap the current Code Refresh abomination and start from scratch with the added voices of environmentalists , social activists, historians and other grassroots community members. If it aint broke dont fix it. The current Code Refresh is simply Urban Renewal 2.0 and only benefits the greedy that are currently wielding power.

Mr. Parker does deserve gratitude and laurels for bringing more attention to longstanding problems with Richmond’s Planning Department, and citizens and residents are both cheering and adamant. Will Mayor Avula and City Council represent the citizens and residents of this city, or will they continue to cowardly adhere to developer money? (And yes, this does include issues with the new corporate amphitheater as well as debate over the future of public housing).

RCV Prize for a Richmond University SGA Increases

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With students coming back to Richmond universities, and with student government associations meeting again, it is worth noting that no Richmond university student government association (SGA) has claimed the previously announced $1,000 prize.

Just to refresh memories, in 2022, I, Scott Burger, pledged to reward whichever Richmond university student government is the first among Richmond university student governments to conduct a campus wide election of student government officers using ranked choice voting and incorporate ranked choice voting into its constitution/bylaws with a $1,000 prize.
(Please refer to the notes on the original post-
https://www.oregonhill.net/2022/11/16/1000-rcv-prize-for-a-richmond-university/)

In the last three years, this city, state, and country has seen some remarkably close elections, a few vote recounts, and much concern about voting and elections in general. Sadly, despite RCV progress elsewhere, and so much overall local change in general, Richmond politics is still languishing on its hotbed of apathy. It does not help that local media, including the college newspapers and media, have ignored this contest altogether, refusing to even mention it.

Some have suggested that I should just endow money directly to a university administration or department (as if I trust them to spend the money well!) or, completely ignoring the simple, grassroots approach to this promotion of RCV, should use the money instead to fund research or ‘a study’. As if there has not already been enough studies! Over 100 colleges and universities in the United States use ranked-choice voting (RCV) for student government elections. RCV is used at George Mason University, James Madison University, University of Virginia, and Washington and Lee.

I will state again that while I don’t think money should equal speech (I support www.MoveToAmend.org), for this contest, I am willing to make an exception.

I thought about doubling the prize amount, but between Trump’s tariffs and job threats from AI threatening the economy, I am not going to do that. I have decided to split the difference. I will increase my prize pool by $500. So, among the eligible Richmond university student governments, University of Richmond SGA, Virginia Commonwealth University SGA, or Virginia Union University SGA, the first SGA who satisfies the contest to my satisfaction will get $1,000. And now, the second one to do so will get $500. If there is not a second one within a year, the first winner will be rewarded the $500 in addition to the $1,000. Again, pay attention to the original caveats.

Remember, this city, state, and country need young people to lead. With emboldened fascism growing, we need to keep pushing for true democratic reforms that empower voters.

City’s Response On Belle Island Parking Lot Is Lacking

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Another followup editorial…
Once the media inquiries started to come in, the City (Parks & Rec?) finally responded with a blanket statement:

For public safety and crowd control, on Amphitheatre concert days the Richmond Police Department closes Brown’s Island Way at S. 2nd Street and Tredegar Street and closes Tredegar Street between 5th and Brown’s Island Way, to vehicular traffic. This closure with the addition of closing the Tredegar Street parking lot helps ensure effective traffic and crowd management by providing organized staging zones, designated parking for staff and volunteers, and safe pedestrian access.

The City has entered into a paid, month-to-month trial lease agreement with Allianz Amphitheater/ Live Nation, granting use of the 60 parking spaces in the Belle Isle parking lot on select specific days and times to support event operations. This parking lot closure is a similar model used for RiverRock and Folk festival. The Tredegar Street Belle Isle parking lot is partially owned by the City of Richmond and Venture Richmond. Venture Richmond has also approved the use of their section of the parking lot for this endeavor.

Remaining dates that the Belle Isle parking lot will be offline for the month of July are:
Tuesday, July 15 (8:00 AM – 12:00 AM)
Wednesday, July 16 (8:00 AM – 12:00 AM)
Thursday, July 17 (8:00 AM – 12:00 AM)
Saturday, July 19 (1:00 PM – 12:00 AM)
Thursday, July 24 (1:00 PM – 12:00 AM)
Saturday, July 26 (1:00 PM – 12:00 AM)

Many of Richmond’s reporters did their usual copying and pasting of this press statement, and sadly, as expected, some added, in a very ‘Trumpian’ fashion, their own complaints about ‘complainers’ who challenged this ‘big, beautiful’ new amphitheater and the might of Venture Richmond. ‘How dare citizens speak up!’ was the chastising tone.

A couple of problems with this-

First of all, closing the Belle Isle Parking lot is contrary to the Venture Richmond lease agreement.

Secondly, they are closing the parking lot for entire days, and also from 12 noon other days, for employee parking, so this has little to do with security during events.

Brown’s Island Way is kept open most of the day. The Dominion Energy headquarters is at the end of Tredegar St. and these employees, of course, need access through Brown’s Island Way. This lot is not being closed for security, but to provide parking for amphitheater employees. (Or is there more to it? Neighbors who attended last night’s concert said that lot attendants told them that they are selling the lot as “VIP parking”, at least for last night’s show.)

Thirdly, the Allianz amphitheater is being given over $30 million in City subsidies and is a for-profit enterprise. They can well afford to rent another lot for their employees without depriving public use of the Belle Isle parking lot.

This parking lot closure is not similar to RiverRock and the Folk Festival, which are free non-profit events organized by Venture Richmond. Venture Richmond’s lease specifically allows them to close the Belle Isle parking lot for limited events, like the Folk Festival, that are organized by Venture Richmond. The Allianz amphitheater, by contrast is a private for-profit venue which is charging handsome prices for admittance and food. The Allianz events are not organized by Venture Richmond.

One point that may have been overlooked in all of this is that this lot is incredibly important for disabled access to Belle Isle. Southside access to the park is not the same.
Again, taking the only parking lot for Richmond’s most popular park for private functions is outrageous!

Lastly, if the lot is owned by the City of Richmond and Venture Richmond then is it a public parking lot or not? Upon further investigation, the land is owned by the City’s Department of Public Works. PUBLIC!

This is not the first time that the neighbors have fought to keep the Belle Isle parking lot open to the public for visiting the park.
In March 2021 a sign went up on the Belle Isle parking lot closing it to the public.

Oregon Hill residents immediately protested and pointed out that this was contrary to the Venture Richmond lease, and the lot was re-opened to the public the next day.
Now, once again, Venture Richmond is trying to close the only parking lot for Belle Isle for private functions.

It would be nice if local reporters could get off their duffs and not just reiterate whatever the local PTB (“Powers That Be”) feed them.
People complain about ‘complainers’, but there is more at stake than people think.

Fascism, Richmond-Style

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Still no real coverage from the local corporate media, so another pointed editorial..,

Remember when “Brown’s Island Way” or whatever it is called was built, citizens were told it was for public access to the riverfront? Well now it is being closed down with barriers for a private amphitheater concert.

This is in addition to the Belle Island parking lot, owned by Richmond’s Department of Public Works, but managed by James River Park, being closed, except for use by the Allianz Amphitheater employees or their contractors or whatever.

Interestingly enough, the only ‘official’ statement on this was made by Venture Richmond and shared yesterday in a social media post by the James River Park.
It read:

IMPORTANT INFO -PLEASE READ
The Tredegar/Belle Isle parking lot, Tredegar Street, Brown’s Island Way, and S. 5th Street will all be closed from the morning of July 15 to midnight on July 17 for load in, load out, and general security of and for the Dave Matthews concert.

This post was later taken down in haste.

Again, it is important to recognize that closing the Belle Isle parking lot for private amphitheater use is in violation of Venture Richmond’s lease agreement, which requires the parking to be open for public use. In addition, there is nothing in the $30+ million tax rebate from the City about the amphitheater having the authority to take over the Belle Isle parking lot.

Taking the only parking lot for Richmond’s most popular park for private functions is outrageous!

Supposedly this is temporary, but it calls everything into question.

And, no, it is not nearly as egregious or horrible as ICE overreach, the gutting of federal agencies, or the use of armed forces against civilians, but make no mistake about it, when government colludes with corporate powers (and vice versa) to STEAL from the public and prevent public access, it is another form of fascism.

Here in Richmond, VA, we dress this local fascism in public/private partnerships like Venture Richmond, concealed by big institutions like VCU (that are increasingly under corporate influence), make excuses about commerce and tax flows, all the while hiding behind a mostly silent and bought City Council. Sadly, citizens who have been here a while are all too familiar with it. Our increasingly strained environment bears it the best it can.

Many just look the other way and cheer when Venture Richmond makes an entertainment announcement for the next ‘public’ festival. Don’t expect it be among the polite chatter for the ultra-wealthy attending their private ‘DMB’ bro fest this evening or next. Beer prices are more likely the topic of conversation.

Hopefully we will eventually see someone else write/say something about this small parking lot matter, but don’t forget this moment. And please don’t forget it the next time that Richmond PTB (Powers That Be) decide to limit or take away real public ownership of the riverfront, our neighborhoods, information, or anything else.

We have stepped over the line from dealing with an increasingly corporate society and government to living in fascist times.