From the Richmond Police Department’s FaceBook page:
Richmond Police were proud to join Richmond, VA – Mayor’s Office Dwight C. Jones, Councilman Parker Agelasto, Councilman Jon Baliles and several city residents this morning for a bike ride from Monroe Park to City Hall in honor of Bike to Work Day!
Despite continued questions and controversy, the Mayor’s Office released the following press release:
For Immediate Release Contact: Michael Wallace
Wednesday, May 15, 2013 (804) 646-2772 Michael.Wallace at Richmondgov.comMayor to Officially Open New 2nd Street Connector Road
WHO: Mayor Dwight C. Jones
Ellen Robertson, Richmond City Council Vice President, District 6
Parker Agelasto, Richmond City Council, District 5
Carter Reid, Vice President – Administrative Services & Corporate Secretary, Dominion
Bruce Hazelgrove, Vice President – Corporate Resources, NewMarket Corporation
Jack Berry, Executive Director, Venture RichmondWHAT: Official opening of the new 2nd Street Connector road.
WHEN: Thursday, May 16, 2013 at 3 p.m.
WHERE: New 2nd Street Connector Road
Street extends from 2nd Street to Tredegar Street
Richmond, VABACKGROUND:
Mayor Jones, members of Richmond City Council, Dominion, New Market Corporation, and Venture Richmond will officially open the new 2nd Street Connector road. Project represents the first completed project of the 2012 Richmond Riverfront Plan.
Free parking is available in the parking lot off of Tredegar Street just west of the American Civil War Museum parking lot.
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Questions from individual citizens did not get answered, but with more interest in the canal, now Better Government is posing questions. From Better Government:
May 13, 2013
VIA EMAIL TO: ray.tarasovic at richmondgov.com
Police Chief Ray J. Tarasovic
Police Headquarters
200 West Grace Street
Richmond, VA 23220Re: Canal Wall Destruction Investigation
Dear Chief Tarasovic,
On April 16 Better Government Richmond sent you a letter regarding criminal and civil investigations of the destruction of the pre-Civil War canal wall on City property that took place in October 2012. We asked if the Richmond Police Department had conducted an investigation of this apparent crime and, if so, the status of the investigation. A copy of the letter was sent to Mr. Gene Lepley, Jr., your Director of Media Relations.
We have not received any response from you. This is disappointing since you describe yourself as a “transparent person” and say you “believe in sunshine.” (Richmond Times-Dispatch, February 20, 2013)
We repeat our request for information. Please send us free copies of the records that indicate the current status of the investigation. Please see §2.2-3704 of the Code of Virginia for your response options.
Sincerely,
Board of Directors
Better Government RichmondBetter Government – US LLC
By: C. Wayne Taylor, SecretaryCopy:
Mr. Gene Lepley, Jr., Director of Media Relations
Mr. Michael Herring, Commonwealth’s Attorney
Honorable Parker C. Agelasto
Press
From City press release:
Richmond, VA — Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ Pedestrian, Bicycling, and Trails Commission invites the city of Richmond to participate in Richmond Bike Month during May. The goal of the 2nd Annual Richmond Bicycle Commuter Challenge to show how easy, affordable, and healthy bike commuting can be.
“The Richmond Bicycle Commuter Challenge is a great way for our residents to learn and experience the tremendous health and sustainability benefits of bicycling. It is my hope that local businesses and large employers alike partner with us to promote a healthy Richmond, and be a central resource in increasing the overall health of our city,” commented Mayor Jones. “My Administration has the goal of making Richmond one of the most bicycle and pedestrian-friendly cities in the country.”
Participants are encouraged to ride their bicycle to and from work, and report days commuted at the end of each week for the entire month of May. Riding a bicycle for only part of the commute, such as to join a car pool, ride the bus can still be counted. Participants can register now online and log their weekly commutes at www.riderichmond.net/bike-month-commuter-challenge. All commutes must be reported on the website by Friday, June 7, and the results will be announced by Friday, June 15.
“This is an opportunity to encourage everyone to try bike commuting and possibly make cycling a routine as well as a healthy travel option for commuting or running errands. Richmond Bike Month will also allow Richmond area cyclists to see the City’s infrastructure improvements, including widespread bike parking racks and improved bike routes across the city,” said the City’s Bicycle Coordinator Jakob Helmboldt.
Mayor Jones and the Pedestrian, Bicycling, and Trails Commission will celebrate Richmond Bike Month on Friday, May 17, 2013, at 7 a.m. during the Bike to Work Day rally at Monroe Park, 620 West Main Street. The public is encouraged to attend and participate by bicycling to work that day.
Motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians have shared rights and responsibilities when using city streets. Please visit the Richmond Bicycle Commuter Challenge link on www.Richmondgov.com for safety tips and laws.
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From City announcement:
For Immediate Release
May 8, 2013
For more information, contact:
Sharon North – (804) 646-5607Lane Closure – Laurel Street
WHO: City of Richmond Department of Public WorksWHAT: Lane Closure
WHEN: Monday, May 13 through Friday June 17
WHERE: Laurel Street between Cathedral Place and West Franklin Street
BACKGROUND: The northbound lane of the aforementioned street will be closed to allow for renovations at 801 W. Franklin Street.
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From press release:
Better Government Richmond, a citizen advocacy organization, is pleased to announce the release of a new video about the City of Richmond Water Utility Charges and Rates. Better Government members produced this video in order to inform the public about the Mayor’s proposed plan that is under review by City Council. Better Government mentioned a study of the water utility by paid consultants as one of its top issues in its first press release in February.
The 9-minute video includes information regarding the consultants’ study as well as an explanation of charges on a sample City of Richmond utility bill. It has been made available online at Vimeo.com as well as on Better Government Richmond’s website and Facebook page. Supporters are asked to share with their neighbors and contacts.
The Vimeo.com url is http://vimeo.com/64618134
See also:
Neighbor Charles Pool sent this email to members of City Council yesterday.
(Ed. note: He received permission to send them an attachment of the “Tiller” magazine article, but I have not received permission to post that here. If I do receive it or a public website link to it, I will be sure to post it here.)
Dear Richmond City Council members,
Please take time to read the article entitled, “New Richmond Amphitheater Endangers Canal Plans” by Elizabeth Davis in the attached Winter/Spring 2013 edition of the “Tiller,” the wonderful publication of the Virginia Canals and Navigations Society (VCNS).
This article highlights the threat to the historic canal by Venture Richmond’s proposed amphitheater. If the canal bank is lowered as proposed, it would destroy the long-range plan of a canal boat trip to Maymont. Concern for our canal has arrived from as far away as Yangzhou, China, where the World Canal Conference “urged the people of Richmond, Virginia to prevent further destruction to the canal and to preserve, restore, interpret and wisely use this irreplaceable amenity for Virginia and her visitors.”
Other cities would be envious of our canal, running through the heart of downtown Richmond, that was promoted by George Washington at Mount Vernon, the canal company’s honorary President!
As noted in the “Tiller” editorial by Holt Messerly, “I want all people to enjoy this precious national resource for the betterment of Richmond, and for the preservation of our history and for the enjoyment of all — not just for someone to be able to cut the grass easier and see a straighter line to an amphitheater. We must look at the big picture and consider all of the areas as one big entity; a green way with a blue way …”
There was a meeting with contractors and City staff on site yesterday at the ramp below the Overlook at Oregon Hill. The paving of the area and addition of handicap railing will begin soon. Work is anticipated to begin within the next week to week and a half.
Please be aware that this area will be a construction site and not accessible during the project.
This work stems from state greenway grants that the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association previously applied for and won with the help of Napi Ippolito.
From a neighbor:
There is an interesting photo in the Times Dispatch today of the Grace Arents public baths on the 500 block of Belvidere.
Caption: In May 1952, the Richmond City Council ended a longtime city service: the Grace Arents public baths, in the 500 block of South Belvidere Street. As a Times-Dispatch story noted: “The last public bath in the city … finally bowed to old age and the home bathtub and shower.” Arents, who lived from 1848 to 1926, was a local philanthropist and niece of Lewis Ginter.
From City Council press release:
Councilman Parker C. Agelasto to hold meeting in Richmond Central 5th Voter District
All Richmond Central 5th Voter District residents invited and encouraged to attend
WHAT (Richmond, Virginia U.S.A.) — The Honorable Parker C. Agelasto, Councilman, Richmond City Council, Central 5th Voter District will hold a district-wide meeting in the Richmond Central 5th Voter District. This is part of the regular meetings he is holding, which include information on his Central 5th Voter District goals and accomplishments; a thematic agenda of current interest; and, special guests. All Richmond Central 5th Voter District residents are invited and encouraged to attend.
The planned agenda/discussion topics for the upcoming meeting will include:
Agenda
· Chief Ray J. Tarasovic, Richmond’s New Police Chief
Richmond Police Department· Richmond Parking Presentation
Ms. Lynne Lancaster, Parking Operations Manager
Richmond Department of Public WorksMr. Steven Bergin, Parking Program Manager
Richmond Department of Public Works· Richmond Public Schools Update
The Honorable Mamie L. Taylor, Member
Richmond Public Schools Board of Trustees – Central 5th Voter District· FY 2014/2015 Richmond Government Budget Review Process
Parker Agelasto, Councilman
Richmond City Council – Central 5th Voter District· Questions, comments, ideas, suggestions and concerns
WHEN Wednesday, April 24, 2013
6:30-8:00 p.m.WHERE Richmond Public Schools
Binford Middle School
1701 Floyd Avenue
Richmond, VirginiaWHO The Honorable Parker C. Agelasto, Councilman
Richmond City Council, Central 5th Voter DistrictCONTACT For more information, please contact Councilman Parker C. Agelasto, Richmond City Council, Central 5th Voter District, at 804.646.6050 (tel), or parker.agelasto@richmondgov.com (email)