Category Archives: government

Style Raises Questions About Landmark/Center Stage Deal

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Scott Bass has a story in this weeks Style magazine that illuminates some questionable funding plans for the Landmark Theater (previously known as The Mosque), brought on by the controversial Center Stage.

From the article:

Increasingly, the city’s cultural hubs are paid for by taxpayers. The mayor’s plan to renovate the Landmark is almost identical to the taxpayer-funded renovation of the Carpenter Theatre, which reopened as part of CenterStage in 2009. Nearly three-quarters of the $73.5 million used to renovate the Carpenter came from the public kitty: $25 million from the city; $9.7 million from state and federal grants; and $20 million in historic tax credits.

Mayor Jones proposes allocating $14 million in city money for the Landmark renovation, but that only scratches the surface. His plan involves millions more in public dollars, primarily through diversion of state and federal taxes.

There’s precedent: The CenterStage project engendered quite a bit of controversy and political mayhem, in part because of fundraising struggles and provocation from former Mayor L. Douglas Wilder. The project also remains something of a financial mystery. Despite receiving more than $40 million in city and state funds and $500,000 annually from the city for operating costs, CenterStage’s comprehensive agreement with the city exempts the foundation from the Freedom of Information Act.

While the foundation receives more than half of its revenues from taxpayers, it isn’t required to publicly disclose how it spends the public’s money.

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MPACT Meeting Cancelled/Mayor’s Food Policy/Jewell Schedules 5th District Meeting

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From email announcement:

Please note that the MPACT/CAPS Meeting for Precinct 4, scheduled for Thursday, March 15th, has been cancelled. The next round of Community Conversations with the Mayor is quickly approaching and as soon as we have a date for Precinct 4, follow-up correspondence will be sent out. In the meantime, if there are any concerns or service requests, feel free to utilize the MPACT website, call 311, or reach out to your MPACT Co-Chairs (Charles Finley, Louise Caine, Horace Anderson and Barbara Abernathy).

On that note, the Mayor’s Food Policy Task Force is meeting next Wednesday:

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Congressman Scott’s Health Care Forum On March 15

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Congressperson Bobby Scott sent notice to constituents about his upcoming health care forum:

This March marks the two year anniversary of Congress passing and the President signing into law the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. On Thursday, March 15, 2012 from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., I will be holding a community forum in Richmond to provide an update on the implementation of the new health care reform law. The forum will be held at the General Assembly Building, Senate Room A, located at the intersection of Ninth Street and Broad Street in downtown Richmond.

Joinining me at the forum will be Ms. Joanne Grossi, the Regional Director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and Ms. Jill Hanken, a health attorney at the Virginia Poverty Law Center. Director Grossi will provide information on what provisions of the Affordable Care Act have already been implemented and what the public can expect to be implemented in the next few years. Ms. Hanken will provide insight on what has been happening at the state level in regards to implementing the new health care law. We will also be joined by constituents who have already benefited from the Affordable Care Act.

Seating is limited, so those who plan to attend may want to contact his office.

In additional health care policy news, the Green Party had this press release (click on title for full statement):

The Green Party urges the Supreme Court to strike down the Affordable Care Act’s health insurance mandates, sees a chance for Medicare For All

GRTC Task Force Holds Public Hearing Tonight

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Gas is projected to cost what, 4 or 5 dollars a gallon this summer?

From City Council Press release:

WHAT The Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force will hold a public hearing to receive public input on concerns and goals regarding public transportation in the City of Richmond.

The meeting is free and open to the public and all residents and transit riders are invited and encouraged to attend. Residents and transit riders interested in speaking are encouraged to register with the Richmond City Council Office of the City Clerk, by calling 804.646.7955, prior to Noon on Thursday, March 8, 2012.

The purpose of the Task Force is to make recommendations to Richmond City Council with regard to enhancing mass transit in the Metro-Richmond area and the efficiency and effectiveness of the GRTC Transit System.

WHEN Thursday, March 8, 2012
6:30-8:00 p.m.

Residents interested in speaking are encouraged to register with the Richmond City Council Office of the City Clerk, by calling 804.646.7955, prior to Noon on Thursday, March 8, 2012.

WHERE Richmond City Council Chambers
Richmond City Hall, 2nd Floor
900 E. Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219

WHO Members of the Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force

CONTACT Those interested in speaking are encouraged to register with the Richmond City Council Office of the City Clerk, by calling 804.646.7955, prior to Noon on Thursday, March 8, 2012.

Jewell Supports Road Despite Citizen Opposition

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The Times Dispatch has an article about the 2nd Street Connector At City Council yesterday. It manages to not mention the citizen opposition from the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association and the Sierra Club Falls of the James group.

Richmond is preparing to build a new road to its downtown riverfront, while keeping open a remnant of the city’s historic canal system to one day float boats again.

The capital budget that will be presented by Mayor Dwight C. Jones next week for the fiscal year that begins on July 1 will include $385,000 to preserve a section of the James River and Kanawha Canal with an open-bottom culvert beneath the proposed Second Street Connector.

However, it does mention how 5th District Councilperson Marty Jewell is supporting the road (despite the neighborhood’s wishes):

Councilman E. Martin Jewell, of the 5th District, supports the road but not the culvert beneath it because of the $385,000 price tag that the mayor is expected to include in his proposal capital budget for fiscal 2013.

“To do this now is ridiculous,” Jewell said.

But city planning and economic development staff said Richmond would get only one chance to preserve the remnant of the canal that extends from downtown as far west at Maymont Park.

“This is the first opportunity for the city to have a say about how the canal is treated,” planner Jim Hill told council.

“We think there’s an invaluable benefit to the city … by not foreclosing the opportunity for the future,” Hill said.

Sustainability Community Workshop This Evening

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From City press release (originally released last week):

Richmond, VA – As part of the process to develop and implement Richmond’s Sustainability Plan, RVA Green: A Roadmap to Sustainability, Mayor Dwight C. Jones will host a public workshop to share the draft sustainability plan and gain community input for action steps and resident participation in plan implementation. The workshop will be held:

Thursday, February 16, 2012
5:00 – 6:30 p.m.
Richmond Police Training Academy, 1202 West Graham Road
Registration and light refreshments begin at 4:30 p.m.

The Sustainability Plan is part of Mayor Jones’ Green Richmond Initiative created to support the City’s sustainability goals. Those goals are to improve the quality of life for residents, create a healthy environment and enhance economic opportunity in the city of Richmond. During the workshop, the City will share the draft Sustainability Plan and provide opportunity for community input to develop action steps for resident involvement in the implementation of the plan.

Once the community begins implementing the plan, the City will use metrics to report annual progress and assess future sustainability efforts for City government and the community.

Those planning to attend who require assistance or special accommodations are asked to please contact Ashley Gresch at agresch@vhb.com or (804) 343-7100. Please make request by February 13, 2012 to allow time to arrange the accommodations.

The planning process is fully funded by the US Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program.

# # #

It seems like just yesterday when the Mayor launched RVA Green….

GRTC Task Force Meeting Today

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From City press release (It’s somewhat ironic that this site is one of the only local news sources covering this as Oregon Hill lost its bus route over a year ago, but hey, its just the future of mass transit in the area, nothing to see here):

Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force to hold second meeting

All residents are invited and encouraged to attend

WHAT The Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force will hold its second meeting. This meeting will include a presentation to the Task Force by the GRTC Transit System on the current state of the GRTC Transit System. The purpose of the Task Force is to make recommendations to Richmond City Council with regard to enhancing mass transit in the Metro-Richmond area and the efficiency and effectiveness of the GRTC Transit System. The meeting is free and open to the public and all residents are invited and encouraged to attend.

WHEN Thursday, February 9, 2012
4:00-6:00 p.m.

WHERE Richmond Department of Economic Development
Richmond Main Street Station 3rd Floor Conference Room
1500 East Main Street; Richmond, Virginia 23219
(PARKING: Free parking is available on the west side of the building by using the
Franklin Street Entrance and using the lot below the Interstate. When facing the
Train Station from the Franklin Street Entrance, make a right and park towards
the Clock Tower end. When facing the building from the parking lot, the
entrance door to the Richmond Department of Economic Development is
located on the right of the building.)

WHO Members of the Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force
The Honorable Bruce W. Tyler, Councilman, Richmond City Council,
West End 1st District,

CONTACT For more information, please contact Councilman Bruce W. Tyler, Richmond
City Council, West End 1st District, at 804.357.6007; or
bruce.tyler@richmondgov.com.

Background ____________________________________________________________________________

Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force
Richmond City Council established the Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force on September 27, 2010 by Richmond City Council Ordinance No. 2010-173-166.

The objective of the Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force is to provide a report to Council within in a year of its first meeting which recommends the following:

1. Any legislation, plans, policies, and programs that promote efficient mass transit in the city;

2. Economic development, economic growth, employment and tourism strategies that include public transportation; and,

3. Public relations and education programs to increase public use of mass transit.

4. The Task Force shall also work with interested private organizations to improve the service and efficiency of the GRTC.

Curbside Recycling On Wednesday

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Its a “Red Wednesday” this week, according to the CVWMA. Please plan to put your recycling containers out this evening or tomorrow morning before 6 am and then move them back off the sidewalk by tomorrow evening. The City will also be picking up trash.

Here’s a recycling fact to ponder: Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours — or the equivalent of a half a gallon of gasoline.