Trash/Recycling Pickup Tomorrow

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This Wednesday is a “Red Wednesday”, which means trash and recycling pickup. Ideally, rolling recycling containers are stored and deployed in the back alleys along with trash cans. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night.

If you have not done so already, don’t forget to sign up for your Recycling Perks.
In order to take your recycling to the next level, read this: 10 ways to improve your recycling.

In recycling news, Australian tech company Relectrify has received an investment of AU$ 1.5 million (US$ 1.17 million) from it’s government’s Clean Energy Innovation Fund and two private parties so that it can expand its advanced repurposing of used batteries from electric cars. These discarded batteries will ultimately provide ‘an affordable plug-and-play solution’ for storing solar energy and may also act as a power back-up.

Also, congratulations to Suffolk, VA for their recent, successful recycling drive.

Little Mexico To Hold Relief Fundraiser For PR/Mexico Disaster Victims

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While its not in the neighborhood, I know many neighbors who enjoy the close by Little Mexico restaurant.

From the FaceBook event page:

Hi guys, its Nivi, as you all know there’s been alot of things going on right now. Rosio & I wanted to do our part & throw a little fundraiser to raise/collect donations (whether money or necesities) for Mexico & Puerto Rico.

TUESDAY, OCT 10 from 3PM to 7PM, Little Mexico will take a percentage of the proceeds made during this time and date will be donated to United for Puerto Rico & Omaze to help the victims of the hurricanes in Puerto Rico and earthquakes in Mexico, as well as accept items (LIST BELOW) that are gonna be sent to PR. Unfortunately I havent found anyone whose going to be shipping to MX to send items, so if anyone knows PLEASE LET ME KNOW!

This is something that is very personal to me, as I’ve had very little communication with family but I’ve been made aware of family members who have lost their homes completely and/or belongings. Hope to see ya’ll there! Anything is appreciated!

If for any reason you can’t make it to the event and/or would like to make an additional donation, you can donate online to the websites or donate to a little fundraiser I’ll have open on FB until OCT 11TH! These orgs aren’t an option so I put it under my name and I’ll personally donate the funds to them!

https://www.facebook.com/donate/347360749039938/
https://donate.omaze.com/mexico
http://www.unitedforpuertorico.com/

—-LIST OF ITEMS THAT CAN BE DONATED—-
Water, Canned Food, Batteries, flashlights, water purifying tablets, first aid kits, bandages, small tool kits, hygiene products, sewing kits, small fire extinguishers, manual can openers, wrenches to turn off gas lines, battery-operated radios, garbage bags, dish soap, disinfectant, paper cups, plates, napkins, latex gloves and work gloves, baby wipes, sterile eye wash, sun screen, hand sanitizer, antibiotic ointment, adhesive tape and prepackaged tarps

Depressing Local Politics

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After listening to a talk by local mass transit experts today, I am feeling pretty down. The universities and counties are still very noncommittal when it comes to financial support of the new BRT or expanded GRTC service. The universities would rather keep running their private shuttles and students are ok with that. I expect that means City residents will bear most if not all operating costs, as with so many other supposedly ‘regional’ projects. This is in turn is going to force many poor people out of the City, never mind any mobility advantages. Perhaps this was the hidden intention all along.

Also, along those lines… I did not attend the meeting of City Democrats last night (I am a Green, not a Democrat), but my understanding is that they rejected endorsing the federal Kaine/ Warner/Evans legislation to allow historic tax credits for school buildings. They also rejected endorsing the local Put Schools First referendum because it would require the Mayor to come up with a school modernization plan that does not rely on a big tax increase and the Democrats, including Mayor Stoney, want to put a big tax increase forward next year. That’s what I am hearing….

Oh, and despite public opposition, the City’s Urban Design Committee approved the latest Monroe Park Conservancy/VCU plan to to remove MORE trees from Monroe Park, AND (conversely) if you happen to be one of those Richmonders who think the Confederate statues on Monument Avenue should be removed, the state and City governments will not allow it.

Welcome to RVA, still very much like the old Richmond, which does not tolerate any uppity grassroots politics.

Upholstery Workshops Offered

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From Pine Street neighbor Haleh Pedram’s post (reposted with permission):

Hello DIYer neighbors and friends! Starting immediately I will be offering Saturday morning basic upholstery workshops. Three hour sessions, $75 includes instruction, use of proper tools and materials (not including foam or fabric).

10 am- 1 pm at my studio on Pine street. Each session limited to two attendees, you needn’t be from the neighborhood but I thought this was a good place to start.

Get your place spruced up by the holidays and have the pride of knowing you did it yourself. Haleh.pedram@gmail.com to sign up or for more details. Thanks!

Schools Before Stadiums!

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From the Times Dispatch article today:

A majority of Richmond voters say they’d support a tax increase to build and repair city schools but are opposed to any public money going to support the construction of a new coliseum, according to a poll conducted by Christopher Newport University on behalf of the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

“I am really surprised by the level of support to increase taxes to pay for schools,” said Quentin Kidd, who oversaw the poll and directs CNU’s Wason Center for Public Policy. “Especially in the context of how little support there is for the coliseum and baseball stadium. This is Richmonders basically saying, look, these are our priorities.”

Gee, Quentin, you are surprised? Perhaps you missed the previous instances where our school kids have marched on City Hall? Or as citizens have expressed their disappointment in watching the Center Stage and Redskins boondoggles? Perhaps you heard my own personal response to your telephone polling, where I stated that Dominion’s Tom Farrell and VCU Emperor Eugene Trani should profanity fully retire already. And since the Times Dispatch neglected to mention it in their article, I will- there’s a (revenue/tax-neutral) referendum on the ballot this November about this very topic.

Hazmat At Cary Street Gym

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Pool problems at VCU’s Cary Street Gym have lead to a scene with the Virginia Commonwealth University police and Richmond firefighters, including a hazmat crew.

The facility has been closed down while they figure out what is going on.

From the Times Dispatch article:

The gym was evacuated as a precaution, said Richmond Fire Battalion Chief Christine Richardson, adding that at this time they don’t believe there’s any immediate risk to anyone in the area.