Category Archives: government

Sector 413 Police June Newsletter

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Click here to get to the PDF of the newsletter.

Some excerpts:

During the month of June 2009, Sector 413 experienced an overall increase
of crime by 7% as compared to June of 2008.
…
There were 5 robberies to individuals in Sector 413 during June 2009. Two
of these occurred in Oregon Hill.
…
6/16/09-618 Idlewood Ave – 0148 a.m., the male victim was
robbed by 4 b/males. These males were later apprehended in a
taxi cab on the Southside and charged with this robbery.
(Note: This was reported on this site earlier.)
…
06/21/09 – (attempt) – 100 S. Cherry Street, 0315 a.m., the
male victim was walking on Cherry Street when he was
approached by a b/m. The suspect had a knife and demanded
the victim’s money. The victim struck the suspect and ran to his
home.
…
1 house break-in on Laurel Street
…
In the last week the trend has been to remove license plates from vehicles.
2 occurred on Pine Street in Oregon Hill. Monroe Ward and Jackson Ward
had 3 a piece. We feel they are stealing them for the expiration date
sticker.
…
Three individuals were arrested in the Fan district for graffiti. We feel these
individuals are also responsible for some of the tags located in Oregon Hill,
Jackson Ward and Monroe Ward.
…
The homeless continue to bring complaints and are tied into some of the
crimes I have touched on. The detectives and Officers have worked very
hard at identifying these individuals and what areas they may be hanging
around.

The Spigot Is Turning…

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I am very glad to hear from Richmond Water Utility officials that, according to initial estimates, VCU will pay for 2,356 ERUs resulting in an annual stormwater utility charge of approximately $106,000. I am told this involves 185 parcels. This is a lot better than nothing, which is what I was initially lead to believe and I do appreciate their willingness to answer questions. Now, how does this compare to average annual residential charge of $45? And what is VCU doing to actually solve its stormwater runoff issues? More scrutiny is not a bad thing.

In the meantime, a few more notes:

The stormwater utility issue is refocusing attention to the water rates issue. Silver, as usual, is doing a lion’s share.

Its great to see more neighbors using rainwater barrels, some of them bought at the Byrd Market. It’s also good to see the City getting with the program…

I would love to see Richmond establish a ‘Green Alley’ program like Chicago’s (not to be confused with Oregon Hill’s Green Alley)

Now, what about micro-hydroelectric and grey water systems?

Two Tuesday Meetings

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This Tuesday evening there are two meetings of note (actually, I am sure there are more than that, but two are what my brain is currently handling).

One is a national health care policy symposium held on the VCU academic campus. Unlike some earlier meetings on health care, this one will actually include more view points than just ‘the public option’ one that the Obama administration is pushing. Its being held by a group called United Virginia.
Please click here for more information.

The second one is for the City’s Fifth ‘Central’ District, hosted by City Councilperson Marty Jewell. It is from 6 pm to 8 pm at the Southside Comunity Services Center (4100 Hull Street). On the agenda are presentation on the new stormwater utility, crime report, traffic calming issues, and more.

Silver on Water Rates: 1st District Gets Special Treatment?

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Oregon Hill resident Silver Persinger continues to cover AND challenge City Council. This time he takes on a topic dear to other Oregon Hill residents- water rates!

I spoke in opposition to ordinances 2009-113 and 2009-114 which exempt 836 residential water customers [ most who live in the “affluent first district,” Mr. Tyler’s district ] from higher water rates for having water meters larger than 5/8 inch.

DPU conducted a survey of over 200 of the 836 households and found that they all had appropriate sized meters for the type and number of water fixtures used by the customer. 93% of the 836 households [ 777 ] would have had to pay less than $20 a month additionally on their monthly water bill.

Monroe Park Mailbox

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I am assuming this is (or maybe, was, at this point) some guerrilla installation art for Monroe Park. Speaking of which, Oregon Hill resident Todd Woodson was re-appointed to the City’s Monroe Park Advisory Committee at City Council last night.

IMG_0004

Youth Dance Program to Perform June 26th and 27th

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From press release:

City’s Award-winning Youth Dance Program to Perform

The Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities’ award-winning City dance program will present its annual student performances on Friday, June 26, at 7 p.m., and Saturday, June 27, at 11 a.m. Both shows will be at Richmond’s Landmark Theater.

“Anyone who is interested in dance will be stunned to see these students perform,” said J.R. Pope, director of the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities. “Every year the students in our dance program compete with students from dance studios throughout the region and come home with a bag full of trophies. This year they won 14 first place awards and seven second place awards competing with dance troupes from across the southeast, and they were the only municipally-sponsored troupe. All the others represented private studios,” he said.

The Friday night performance will feature a complete story-ballet based on the Wizard of Oz. Children of all ages will enjoy this timeless classic, which includes the tornado and all of the much-loved characters, even the melting wicked witch. The cast will feature more than 200 dancers, some as young as three years old.

Saturday’s show, entitled “Back to the Future,” will also feature a large cast, this time performing a wide variety of dance and movement, including tap, jazz, modern, and hip-hop.

Advance tickets, which can be purchased at the Landmark Box Office, are $12 for adults and $8 for senior citizens and children under the age of 12. At the door, tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children and seniors.

For more information call 646-3673.

CITY OLD & HISTORIC DISTRICT PUBLIC CONVERSATION

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The press release:

A CITY OLD & HISTORIC DISTRICT PUBLIC CONVERSATION

Wednesday, June 24th
6:30 – 8:30 pm
The Firehouse Theatre
1609 W. Broad Street [MAP]
(Free parking across the street at Lowe’s)

Richmond’s Commission of Architectural Review
and City Staff want to hear from YOU!
Why do we have Old & Historic Districts?
Why do we choose to live in them?
Why do we think they are important?
What does the public want from them?
How can the Commission of Architectural Review (CAR), the City, and residents be better custodians of Old & Historic Districts?
How can we strengthen the alliance between CAR, the City and residents?
This meeting is free and open to all residents and interested parties of Old & Historic Districts.
Please attend. Your input is crucial.

For more information, contact James Hill at james.hill@richmondgov.com
or city staff at (804) 646-6313.

Some insight:

Oregon Hill has National and State Historic Designation, but by choice not City O&H, though it may happen in the future. While I am personally favorable towards O&H for Oregon Hill, many of my neighbors have objected to government involvement and any possible economic hardship from maintaining O&H standards, and I try to respect that. I often try to broach this topic at neighborhood association meetings. If nothing else, I try to keep a sense of humor about it.

We have also watched how the City and State government has not exactly been uniform in its approach to historic preservation. Keep in mind that VCU is exempt from City code and continues to encroach and destroy our neighborhood. The debate about Union Hill’s O&H needs to be heard.

Oregon Hill has the distinction of holding the most individual historic easements in the City. There was actually a DHR meeting at the Jacob House about that not too long ago.

To get on my soapbox a bit, those individual easements are important because while Oregon Hill may lack grand mansions, we are very historic for the overall collection of working class small houses and business fronts. Its not just rich neighborhoods and government buildings that are historic and deserve to be preserved.

Thanks,
Scott

Governor Kaine To Visit Byrd Market on Tuesday

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Virginia’s Governor Tim Kaine will visit William Byrd Community House Byrd House Market and Grace Arents Community Garden on Tuesday, June 16, 2009, from 3:30 to 4:15 p.m. Gov. Kaine has a long history of supporting Early Childhood Education and accepted William Byrd’s invitation when he learned how the organization used its farmers’ market and community garden as teaching tools for its numerous children’s programs.

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