Facts About the Mayor’s Proposed Water Rate Change

Posted on by
5

Please consider and share the following as City Council goes over the budget.

FACT SHEET: Richmond’s proposed $26.11 monthly water/sewer service charge

At $26.11, Richmond’s minimum monthly water/sewer service charge would still be one of the highest in the nation. It is a burden for every senior citizen getting by on Social Security and every other low income resident of the city to pay $313 annually just to be connected to the water supply.

1450 persons have signed a petition asking that Richmond reduce the minimum monthly service charge to $15 per month, which is line with other localities.

The city is using the utilities as a “cash cow” for the city’s general fund. Of the $12 million annually paid by the water and sewer utilities into the city’s general fund, $3 million is paid in lieu of FEDERAL INCOME TAXES, which no business pays to the city. Every customer’s monthly service charge could be reduced $4 each month if the payment in lieu of FEDERAL INCOME TAXES was removed.

Henrico’s service charge is about half of Richmond’s and Henrico gives a discount to those who use 3 or less units of water volume.

Water is a necessity that no one can do without. This is the most regressive means possible to fund the city through an outrageous service charge on this necessity. The city residents own the utility, which should provide an affordable base price for water service to those willing to conserve water.

The city’s water rate structure provides little financial incentive to conserve water because the large service charge is the same even if the customer uses little water.

In Norfolk, the minimum monthly service charge is $1; everyone’s bill is in proportion to the amount of water used.

The minimum water/sewer service charges are not even shown on the bill, so most residents are not aware that they are paying a high monthly service charge — even if they use no water.

If Richmond had fair water rates that provided a financial incentive to conserve water, there would be less need for more chemicals and water treatment facilities. Fewer pollutants would be released downstream. The city would be better prepared for periodic drought conditions.

By the way you can see from our list that the city’s proposed $26.11 base water/sewer service charge is still higher than most cities:

Henrico: $16.27
Chesterfield: $22.16
Norfolk: $1.00
Charlottesville: $8.00
Petersburg: $13.90
Hopewell: $25.39
Alexandria: $18.20
Roanoke: $20.75
Washington DC: $3.86
Charlotte: $4.92
Greensboro: $3.04
Raleigh: $5.81
Columbia,SC: $11.01
Macon,GA $15.75
Tallahassee,FL $24.86
Pittsburg: $16.59 (includes first 1000 gallons)
Knoxville: $24.75 (includes first 1,500 gallons)
Memphis: $10.82
Louisville Ky: $21.27
Little Rock AR: $20.72
Oklahoma City: $13.03
Kansas City Mo: $22.30
Milwaukee: $9.65
Lincoln Ne: $4.92
Bismarck ND: $12.20
Helena,MT: $6.97
New York City: $12.90 (includes 4 ccf)
New Orleans: $15.65
Phoenix: $5.36
Albuquerque: $15.32
Dallas: $8.30
San Francisco: $7.90
Atlanta: $13.12
Seattle: $23.93

Eat Oregon Hill/Pescados Hosts St. Andrew’s School Fundraiser Monday

Posted on by
Reply

From the FaceBook event page:

Please join St. Andrew’s School for a fundraiser at Eat by Pescado’s on April 22nd from 5 pm to 10 pm. Eat will donate a portion of the entire day’s sales to St. Andrew’s!!

Eat by Pescado’s is located at 626 China Street, right in our own Oregon Hill neighborhood!

www.eatoregonhill.com

www.st-andrews-school.org

Traffic Advisory: Lane Closure on the Robert E. Lee Bridge

Posted on by
Reply

From City press release:

For Immediate Release
April 19, 2013
For more information, contact:
Sharon North – (804) 646-5607

Lane Closure – Robert E. Lee Bridge
WHO: City of Richmond Department of Public Works

WHAT: Lane Closure

WHEN: Monday, April 22 through Friday, April 26, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WHERE: Robert E. Lee Bridge

BACKGROUND: There will be intermittent alternating right lane closures in the northbound and southbound lanes to allow for a bridge inspection.

###

Traffic Blocking Intersection

Posted on by
1

From SeeClickFix.com report:

Hello – During evening rush-hour traffic, the intersection of Belvidere Street and Main Street is a mess. Due to back-ups along Belvidere, travelers on Belvidere frequently block the intersection, causing traffic on Main Street to not be able to proceed during a green light. I witness this and sit through this everyday. Cars on Belvidere get stuck in the middle of the intersection on a green light and are stuck when their light turns red. This causes cars on Main Street to not be able to proceed. When the cars on Belvidere are finally able to proceed, the cars stuck on Main Street must quickly run through the intersection (and at this point a red light) in order to avoid getting hit by the Belvidere traffic. Is there anyway the intersection ca n be painted and “No Blocking the Intersection” signs be erected. Thanks!

Local History Includes Streetcar Bombing

Posted on by
Reply

This past week has seen a lot of local anxiety due to the bombing of the Boston Marathon on Monday, especially since the Monument 10K in Richmond was held just before it.

WTVR’s reporter Mark Holmberg recently did a piece on the history of local bombings.

One that he did not include was the 1903 bombing of a Laurel Street streetcar. Click here for the old Times Dispatch newspaper story about that. In that case, the incident was suspected to be related to the labor strife of competing trolley lines.

It’s not always easy to sort out the motivations for such acts. As we wait to learn more about the Boston Marathon suspects, its hard not to wonder what would drive people to do such things.

“The last public bath in the city”

Posted on by
3

From a neighbor:

There is an interesting photo in the Times Dispatch today of the Grace Arents public baths on the 500 block of Belvidere.

Click here for photo.

Caption: In May 1952, the Richmond City Council ended a longtime city service: the Grace Arents public baths, in the 500 block of South Belvidere Street. As a Times-Dispatch story noted: “The last public bath in the city … finally bowed to old age and the home bathtub and shower.” Arents, who lived from 1848 to 1926, was a local philanthropist and niece of Lewis Ginter.