This comes as no surprise to Oregon Hill residents.
And it should not come as any surprise to state and federal officials. Local government’s emphasis on development, even infill development, without consideration for transportation effects has already been proven to result in adverse effects on air quality.
Last month, the neighborhood suffered great injury due to a sudden afternoon fire. Although three houses were were burned, greater tragedy was avoided partly due to a heroic and quick response by Richmond’s Fire Department. Oregon Hill residents have always had great love and esteem for firefighters and some even remember the fire station that used to be on Laurel Street before the Expressway took it. Although many of us grouse about rising City taxes and fees, it is hard to find anyone who will begrudge the budget for Richmond’s fire department. On that evening when many of us walked over to Pleasants Park to see what was left of the century and a half-old row houses, it was a great comfort to see Fire Chief Creecy and his compatriots at work, making sure that the fire was controlled and victims were taken care of. Last month the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association voted unanimously to recognize the Fire Department for their great efforts.
In the same vein, the Richmond Police Department deserves our appreciation as well. As this past weekend approached, many residents were concerned about a repeat of unpleasantries associated with previous ‘Slaughterama’ weekends. The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association was particularly concerned about sending the right, strong message- that we were not against fun or bicycles, but would not stand for litter, excessive noise, or vandalism. I am pleased to report that I have not heard of any problems from this past weekend- it was a nice quiet weekend with neighbors and visitors enjoying beautiful weather and outside activities. Slaughterama 6 was a success as well and people watched as well as took part in the games and stunts on Belle Island. While congratulating the police, parks officials, public, and Slaughterama organizers, special thanks goes to the sector police lieutenant Lisa Drew, who did a marvelous job of mustering resources and briefing her fellow officers. She spent many hours carefully planning deployment. She deserves to be commended for a job well done.
Don’t forget to move those cars!
Hopefully there will be more coverage of the City’s budget process soon, but from what I heard at this morning’s meeting at the Main Street Library, the City’s new stormwater utility fee will cost Richmond homeowners about $45 each more every year, while VCU, as state property, will be exempt. Hopefully, I am wrong about this, but I am afraid that is what is coming down the pike. Keep in mind that under the current system, VCU already pays a much smaller rate for water use than Richmond citizens, who pay what is possibly the highest minimum water rate in the country. There are still a lot of questions as to what commercial property owners will be charge for stormwater vs. residential, and what developer property vs. undeveloped means.
As I have said before, I am not against a stormwater utility fee, as long as it is fairly applied and it goes towards actually preventing stormwater runoff problems in the City. The Public Utility is at least starting to dress the new entity more green, and they deserve some credit for that.
To find out more about the situation, citizens may want to attend City Council’s Finance Standing Committee Budget Work Session, Wednesday, April 8, from 2 to 5 pm in Council Chambers at City Hall.
There is a lot more going on with the City budget as more economic devastation comes to bear and I urge citizens to get involved.
With mountaintop removal and new nuclear and coal burning plants under a lot of environmental scrutiny, Dominion Power has decided to turn to a more ‘renewable’ resource’, namely, the James River.
Today the company leadership said that the State Corporation Commission has given its permission for an emergency contingency plan to dam the river just above the falls and install hydro-electric turbines near Dominion’s corporate headquarters and trading floor on Tredegar Street. While Dominion has hydroelectric plants in other parts of the country, this James River plan is expected to create huge controversy.
This development comes at a crucial time for Dominion Power. It has already asked the SCC for a residential rate increase. At the same time, it is trying to retool with smart grid technology.
Locally, the City of Richmond’s James River Park manager exploded upon hearing the news about the proposed dam. No comment, just exploded. Local environmental activists tried to explain what this meant for the James River eco-system, but most, like the park manager, were just stunned speechless.
When a Dominion Power official was asked about a possible conflict with the City’s new James RIver Park Easement, he reportedly echoed former President G.W. Bush, by muttering through his clenched teeth that “its just a goddamned piece of paper”. He then recovered his composure to say,
“People need to understand, more and more energy is being used by Virginians and we need to find new ways to meet that need”.
From the Times Dispatch:
A member of Richmond School Board is the first to declare for the House of Delegates seat of retiring Democrat Franklin P. Hall.
Betsy Carr, a school trustee since 2006, is outreach director of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, a parish located just outside Capitol Square.
Hall announced Friday that he is quitting the House after 34 years to become one of three commissioners who oversee the state’s liquor monopoly.
The 69th House District has a black majority and is anchored in South Richmond.
Note: Oregon Hill is in the 71st District, represented by Jennifer McClellan.
Did you know that during its period of “historic significance” in 1904, Monroe Park boasted 362 trees of 26 species? Today, the Park has only 155 trees of 23 species- less than half of what they had back then. The Monroe Park Masterplan calls for replanting treestock to replace many trees both on the sidewalk perimeter (which will become brick sidewalk) as well as the Park’s interior. Trees benefit us all by shading us from the heat, filtering pollutants from the air and decreasing stormwater runoff by absorbing rainwater. It has been said that “the best time to plant a tree is 10 years ago”. While documents are being prepared for the infrastructure needs of the Park, the replanting of new trees in construction safe areas should begin NOW. The cost TO THE CITY is relatively low and the sooner we plant, the sooner we can enjoy the benefits. We need to get the message out that TREE REPLANTING AND MAINTENANCE is of major importance to the lovers of Monroe Park. SO I ASK THIS FAVOR! Please take a minute now and email your SUPPORTIVE COMMENTS ON REPLANTING and MAINTAINING TREES in MONROE PARK to:
information@monroepark.com
and CC it to:
Rachel.Flynn@richmondgov.com
We have another month to plant this season and we can get a lot done next season but these people need to know how important an issue this is to you. It will take many years to recover the historic canopy IF WE START NOW. so thanks for showing your TREE love. Please pass it on and thanks again.
Todd Woodson.
eager runners
The Ukrops Monument 10K was this morning. Its a fantastic, family-friendly, fitness event for the whole region. I know some Oregon Hill residents took part and I implore them to send some photos so I can post them here.
And I am really sorry to bring up a sore subject with such a great, happy event. But I need to…
In addition, residents would pay more for gas, water and waste-water disposal. Property owners would pay a new annual storm-water fee to fund utility projects.
No surprise here, we tried to warn our fellow citizens. I guess we can join SaveRichmond.com in saying, we told you so.
And we continue to ask: What will be VCU’s rate?
As usual, white elephant schemes distract from this and other important issues.
From the Times Dispatch:
State officials hold meetings to discuss bacteria in James
These meetings are TODAY.
This post on the local Sierra Club’s blog is important.
A couple of quick thoughts:
One way that Oregon Hill residents can help keep bacteria out of the James River is by cleaning up after their pets properly. We can also use less lawn and garden fertilizer. Hopefully, growing our own food lessens agricultural runoff overall. Of course trees are also important in this. All Richmond neighborhoods should be taking measures.
As for the City’s proposed stormwater utility fee, there’s no doubt that Richmond needs to do more to lessen its stormwater runoff. And for environmental reasons, it should be supported. However, it still needs more scrutiny. The local Green Party has it clear that the City has been overcharging its citizens for water for years. In fact, though the water rates were slightly reformed this past year, the City’s minimum water rates are still among the highest in the country (while it sells water to the surrounding counties, who in turn, charge their citizens LESS than the City does!). So where is all this money going? We are talking tens of millions of dollars, maybe more, of taxpayer dollars for a PUBLIC utility. And if the City starts charging residents the stormwater utility fee, again, where is all THAT money going? Is it really going towards preventing and not just piping and controlling stormwater runoff?
Citizens need to start asking more, better questions of their local civic leaders.