Tomorrow night, meet 3rd District Congressional candidates, including incumbent Congressman Bobby Scott, at the Crusade for Voters meeting.
From NorthRichmondNews.com :
On Thursday night, there is a 5th District School Board candidates forum.
West of the Boulevard News (wotbn.net) has the details:
The local Food Not Bombs chapter just sent this via email:
The following statement is just the first step in a campaign of resistance being coordinated by Richmond Food Not Bombs and others to resist the criminalization of homelessness and the further gentrification of an area of Richmond that is already advancing rapidly down that path. For more information about the campaign, or to get involved, email rvafoodnotbombs@gmail.com
Richmond Food Not Bombs has been sharing food in Monroe Park for over sixteen years now. We have developed many connections and friendships over the course of our existence, helped provide healthy food to many individuals who may not have had access to it otherwise, and become a staple of social activity for many people’s Sunday afternoons.The proposed renovations to Monroe Park are an attack , a judgement on who the park should and shouldn’t be for. It is an attack on the homeless, the “homeless-appearing” (whatever that means – it’s in the Monroe Park Advisory Council’s renovation plans), and groups and individuals who don’t judge people by their social status or whether they have conventional means of acquiring shelter.
We will not stand for it.
The only change that the park really needs is for the city to do its job when it comes do doing maintenance on the bathrooms, as they are functional but one of the water pipes to the sinks has corroded away. Other improvements, such as installing permanent chess tables, or a playground area for kids would be nice, but NOT at the cost of driving out the folks who currently congregate in the park, shutting the entire park down for 18 months, or privatizing the security of the park.
Food Not Bombs will resist all attempts to shut the entire park down for any amount of time. This is a congregating place for students, families, homeless individuals, activists, folks who like to play frisbee, and various other people who currently enjoy the dynamic of the park. The ONLY people currently not represented in the day-to-day activity of the park are affluent white folks, and the proposed renovations are CLEARLY designed with ONLY them in mind.
To the end of maintaining the park as a place for people from ALL walks of life to gather, enjoy themselves, share meals, resources, and conversation we have a few very specific demands:
1) We require that a minimum of two acres be kept open and un-fenced at all times during construction. We understand the nature of construction and are ok with it not being the SAME two acres at all times, but they must be contiguous and accessible to ALL people.
2) During the construction, at any time that the bathroom facilities are not accessible/functional we require at least 4 portable toilets and two hand washing stations, as well as a source of drinking water, to be accessible to the public.
3) We require open, clear, and direct communication from the City Council, the Monroe Park Advisory Council, and any other companies, groups or organizations involved in the renovation efforts. This is to include publicly posted signs IN the park regarding renovation proposals, active dissemination of any new developments in construction, and active participation in dialogue with the current users of the park.
4) There will be no regulations at any time restricting the distribution of free food, clothing, or other resources.
5) IF a private security company is hired to do security for the park, their protocols and handbooks will be available for free on request from any member of the public, and there will be a predetermined and transparent accountability process for any instances of security officers abusing their powers or violating individuals’ rights.
We feel that these are reasonable requests, and we will NOT compromise on any of them. Public parks are for the people who use them, not “Advisory Councils” or universities who would like to see them change to better suit their vision of gentrification.
We will not tolerate further attacks on those already most oppressed by the oppressive institutions of capitalism that are behind the push to “renovate” Monroe Park, and we WILL fight back against them.-Because food is a right, not a privilege.
Food Not Bombs
The Flying Brick Library will be hosting an event on Sept. 30 at 6 pm with Tricia Shapiro, author and Mountain Justice campaigner.
Here’s some background:
Mountaintop removal (MTR) does exactly what it says: A mountaintop is stripped of trees, blown to bits with explosives, then pushed aside by giant equipment?all to expose a layer of coal to be mined. In recent years, local people fighting against MTR’s destruction of their homes in West Virginia, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Virginia have invited volunteers from outside Appalachia’s coalfields to help them bring national attention to this shameful practice, and abolish it. Since the Mountain Justice campaign began in 2005, dozens of local coalfield residents, students, Earth Firsters, and others have been arrested in nonviolent protest actions against MTR.
Tricia was there for some of it. Tricia is coming to us at the Flying Brick to offer her perspectives and experiences as an on-the-ground, inside reporter with the Mountain Justice Campaign. Her book, published by AK Press, is being released just as Mountain Justice and other environmental groups plan to converge on Washington DC for Appalachia Rising, the largest convergence against MTR in history. Please join us during open hours at the Flying Brick Library for a casual and educational talk on the struggle against Mountain Top Removal.
Brought to you by The Flying Brick Library, AK Press, and James River Earth First!
There was most likely quite a bit of ideological rivalry on the Hill back in day (just like now?). I wonder just how serious it became (a la Gangs of New York, perhaps?). Of course, the conservatives were likely the Democrats back then, and the Republicans were probably considered ‘the liberals’ (and certainly not ‘the radical right’ you see now with the likes of G.W. “I am the decider” Bush and Palin, (‘Goin’ rogue, you know’).
From the Daily Dispatch, August 7, 1880:
A meeting of the Conservatives of Oregon Hill is announced for to-night, at which Captain George D. Wise, Hon. A.M. Keiley, and S.B. Witt, Esq. are expected to speak.
Still dreaming those dreams.
Keep in mind that the high speed rail now being bandied about would skip downtown Richmond altogether. Former City Council member Bill Pantele noticed.
Here’s a recent announcement:
Dear Supporters,
The Southeast High Speed Rail Corridor Tier 2 DEIS for the portion from Richmond to Raleigh has been released and 8 public hearings have been scheduled along the corridor. To find our joint talking points, go to www.VHSR.com/SEHSRT2EIS
The full study can be found at, http://www.sehsr.org/deis/deis.html, along with a link to submit electronic public comments. All public comments are due by August 30th. The dates and locations of the public hearings are copied below, and all hearings begin at 7:00 pm with a public viewing beginning at 5:00 pm.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Greater Richmond, VA
Virginia DMV Cafeteria
2300 W. Broad Street, 1st floor
Richmond, VA 23269
From announcement:
Join Hands this Saturday to Support Clean, Renewable Energy
Dear Sierra Club members and friends:
Join us for Hands Across the Sand in Richmond on Saturday, June 26 at 11 AM. Hands Across the Sand is a participatory event against offshore drilling and supporting clean energy. Hands Across the Sand events is being staged across Virginia and across our nation as well as in 20 other countries. Be a part of this simple that compelling event to send a message to our leaders: “Say NO to offshore drilling, Say YES to Clean, Renewable Energy”. 11 AM we gather and at 12 noon we’ll all join hands at different locations to demonstrate our commitment to this simple message. For details about the Richmond event including how to sign up, go to the following URL:On Facebook.
For more general information about the event go to:
www.handsacrossthesand.orgGlen Besa, Director
Sierra Club-Virginia Chapter
glen.besa@sierraclub.org
This Saturday’s May Day Parade is experiencing some controversy. Although the parade is not going through Oregon Hill, it was endorsed by the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association at the March meeting, and there are related workshops scheduled for this Friday at the William Byrd Community House on Cherry Street (see workshop schedule after press release).
Press release:
A coalition of local activist groups plans to hold a parade in Richmond this Saturday, May 1, to commemorate May Day. On March 16, 2010, Fellow Worker
Kenneth Yates, one of the event organizers, submitted a parade permit
application to Sgt. Selander of the RPD Special Events Division. According
to the relevant city ordinance (Chapter 102, Article X of the City Code,
pertaining to Assemblies, Demonstrations, and Parades), the police should
have responded within five days. Instead, nearly a month went. On April 14,
Sgt. Selander informed Mr. Yates that, in order to receive a parade permit,
his group would have to pay for two off-duty police officers. According to
Attorney Rebecca K. Glenberg of the Virginia ACLU, who has been in touch
with both Mr. Yates and Sgt. Selander on this matter, the city code does not
include any authority for the police to impose such a requirement.*PLEASE NOTE: * whether things work out or not, the rally and parade will
still happen. It will just have to happen on the sidewalks and not the
streets. We do have a permit for both the rally and the sidewalks.Sign the letter here:
http://www.change.org/petitions/view/free_speech_for_richmonds_may_dayDear Mayor Dwight C. Jones and Police Chief Bryan T. Norwood:
I am writing to protest the fact that the Richmond Police Department is
attempting to deny a parade permit to organizers of a Richmond May Day
Parade planned for this coming Saturday, first by failing to respond to the
organizers‚ permit application within the time limit imposed by city law,
and second by demanding that the organizers first agree to hire two off-duty
police officers, a requirement not included in the relevant city ordinance.
I urge the City of Richmond to do the right thing, respect the First
Amendment right to peacefully assemble and immediately grant the parade
permit.Sincerely,
Cc:
The New York Times, Washington Post, Associated Press, Richmond Free Press,
Richmond Voice The Virginia Defender, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Style Weekly,
WRIR, Richmond-area Clear Channel radio stations, WTVR Channel 6, WRIC
Channel 8, NBC Channel 12, May Day 2010 Richmond Organizing Committee
Here is the workshop schedule for this Friday (to get more details on individual workshops, click here):
5:30pm – 6:00pm “STOP MEANS STOP!” | The Active Hand Ministry
6:00pm – 7:00pm “VCU Students For Social Action” | VCU Students for Social Action
6:00pm – 7:00pm “Restoration of Voting Rights” | Resource Information Help for the Disadvantaged
7:00pm – 9:00pm “Conflict Resolution for Activists” | Richmond Peace & Education Center
7:00pm – 9:00pm “Reproductive Justice & Prison Abolition” | Richmond Reproductive Freedom Project
9:00pm – 10:00pm “One City, One Community.” | RePHRAME
From the Richmond Dispatch, February 26, 1888:
The Solid Democratic Club of Oregon Hill met last night at 8 o’clock, with President D.R. Read presiding and J.L. Lee acting as secretary. After transacting the regular business of the club, lively and stirring addresses were made by Mr. Meade Haskins, James W. Gibbons, W.M. Prentiss, John J. King, and others. The club is in good working order, and ready for the fight for Democracy.
It was announced last month that Oregon Hill resident Maurice Henderson was planning to run for the 5th District seat of the Richmond City School Board. Now, this month, Henderson was appointed to the Board to fill out the rest of departing Board representative’s term. Henderson has told supporters that he still plans to stand for election to the seat this November.
Oregon Hill resident Maurice Henderson is planning to run for the Richmond School Board.
There is an upcoming meeting to introduce him on 2nd Baptist Church, 1401 Idlewood Avenue on Saturday, January 23, 2010 at 2:30 P.M.
This is an opportunity to meet and ask him questions regarding his candidacy for this position vacated by the former representative, Betsy Carr, who ascended to the position of 69th district representative in the General Assembly.
Also,
The next 5th District meeting with Councilperson Jewell will be held on Wednesday, January 27, 2010 at 6:00 P.M. – 8:30 P.M. It will be held at the Binford Middle School, 1701 Floyd Avenue, Richmond, VA 23220.
In addition,
The Mayor’s State of the City Annual Address will be next Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 6:30 P.M. – 8:30 P.M. It will be held at the Richmond Center Stage, Carpenter Theater, 6th & Grace.
But please note: The Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association holds its monthly meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, January 26, at 7 pm.