Provided by a neighbor who attended the 5th District meeting Wednesday night:
(Issue #5)
Proposed Idlewood Plan
7
History Hounds Tour Hollywood Cemetery Saturday
From www.virginia.org:
Dogs are invited to join their owners for this walking tour of Hollywood Cemetery, in partnership with the Richmond SPCA. Dogs must have current shots, mix well with others and remain on a leash. Owners are responsible for water and cleaning up after their dogs. Space is limited. Reservations: (804) 649-0711 x301. Meet outside the cemetery gates at Cherry and Albemarle streets.
$10 per person
$5 for History Center Members
Walk-ups welcome.
Cash or check, or purchase online at richmondhistorytours.com.
On-street parking.
This tour is presented as part of the Richmond History Tours program, a service of the Valentine Richmond History Center. We offer a full schedule of walking and bus tours of city neighborhoods, waterways, parks, retail districts, historic sites and battlefields. Led by a trained master guide, a Richmond History Tour is the best way to experience the city’s rich past, present and future.
Loose Cannons and Byrd Bash
I understand it is not too late to get tickets for tonight’s Loose Cannons II event or the Byrd House Bash on Saturday.
Buddy’s Yard Sale Saturday
Overlook Trail Work Coming up
There was a meeting with contractors and City staff on site yesterday at the ramp below the Overlook at Oregon Hill. The paving of the area and addition of handicap railing will begin soon. Work is anticipated to begin within the next week to week and a half.
Please be aware that this area will be a construction site and not accessible during the project.
This work stems from state greenway grants that the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association previously applied for and won with the help of Napi Ippolito.
ONE Campaign Sponsors Film At St. Andrew’s Church On Saturday
From St. Andrews Episcopal Church:
The ONE Campaign is sponsoring an exclusive free screening of the HBO film Mary and Martha on Saturday, April 27th at 4:00pm in our Chapel. This film is the heroic, true story of two mothers who, after the loss of their sons, become activists and dedicate themselves to the cause of malaria prevention. The trailer can be found at bit.ly/16Lc8HE. Pizza and light refreshments will be served after the show. You can RSVP online at bit.ly/152ffwK or contact Lee Williams at 874 – 1965.
Questions For The Chief
Dear Police Chief Tarasovic,
I would like to know who hired the contractor that destroyed the pre-Civil War Tredegar wall on city property, and the public would like to know if the entity that hired the contractor be held responsible. The reasonable citizens of Richmond assume that the laws against destruction of public property will be applied equally and that this destruction of public property will not be “swept under the rug.”
I would greatly appreciate it if you applied transparency to the case of the destruction of the Tredegar wall on city property.
Thank you very much for your assistance.
Scott Burger
Email sent March 23 (An earlier, similar email was sent by a neighbor in February and an even earlier email was sent last year to predecessor Chief Norwood). No responses received as of yet. I am hoping that Chief Tarasovic will be willing to speak to this issue tomorrow evening at the 5th District meeting.
From a February Times Dispatch article:
“I’m a transparent person,” Tarasovic said Tuesday after joining Mayor Dwight C. Jones in congratulating dozens of officers for winning awards. “I’ll tell you how I feel. I’m telling you how I feel now.”
“I believe in sunshine, and I think we will shine in the sun,” Tarasovic added, referring to transparency.
Williams Profiles WBCH
Richmond Times Dispatch columnist Michael Paul Williams has a profile of the William Byrd Community House in advance of its Byrd House Bash fundraiser on Saturday.
More than a century after nurses and social workers introduced the resettlement concept to Richmond, William Byrd provides essential resources to Richmond’s most vulnerable families. That’s an achievement worth celebrating and perpetuating.
Parking Parking Parking
Not as important as Transportation Transportation Transportation, but still on folks’ minds…
I am not sure what’s going on, but evidently no parking on west side of Laurel Street 195 overpass tomorrow…
In contrast, this sign is more explanatory…some celebrity cook guy is coming to the Landmark tomorrow and needs parking…
But then there is this VCU news… (click for Commonwealth Times link)
Proposal Would Raise Parking Costs
Perhaps some of this will be discussed at the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association meeting tomorrow evening…or maybe the 5th District meeting on Wednesday evening…
Facts About the Mayor’s Proposed Water Rate Change
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