Allison Krauss & Union Station at Landmark on Sunday

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Blurb from Style:

In 1985 Alison Krauss made her recording debut at 14. Since then she’s sold more than 12 million albums and won 26 Grammy awards, the most for any female recording artist in Grammy history. She and her band Union Station helped bring bluegrass to a pop audience in the ’90s, and her platinum-selling 1995 compilation, “Now That I’ve Found You,” catapulted her into mainstream star status. Krauss has worked with some of the biggest names in popular music, including James Taylor, Phish, Dolly Parton, Yo Yo Ma and Bonnie Raitt. Krauss’ latest, 2011’s “Paper Airplane” — her first since 2007’s Grammy-winning collaboration with Robert Plant — debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Country Albums and Bluegrass Albums charts and hit No. 3 on the Top Album chart. Alison Krauss and Union Station will perform at the Landmark Theater on Sunday, April 15, at 7:30 p.m. $51-$61. 800-514-3849.

For Landmark Theater info, click here.

‘Watchdog’ C. Wayne Taylor Holds His Bite On 2nd Street Connector

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I have written before about how C. Wayne Taylor has taken on City Hall on the 2nd Street Connector and Special Use Permit Issues. Here’s the latest:

April 12, 2012

The Honorable City Council
City of Richmond
900 E. Broad St., Suite 200
Richmond, VA 23219 USA

Re: 2nd Street Connector Information

Dear Honorable Members of Council,

On March 15th 2012 I requested certain information from Councilor Tyler regarding the proposed 2nd Street connector. He said he would give me a response by the end of the week. On April 2nd I send an email to Councilor Tyler advising him that I had not received anything. As of this evening, I still have not received any of the information I requested.

The citizens of Richmond are being denied a meaningful voice in the political process if you do not give them the relevant information. Will you please take the appropriate action to obtain and make public the information I requested.

Sincerely yours,

C. Wayne Taylor
www.CityHallReview.com

Attachments: Copies of the emails are included below.

Links: http://cityhallreview.com/tag/2nd-street-connector/

Copy: Liaisons, Planning Commission via Secretary, Press, Interested Citizens

—– Forwarded Message —–
From: C WAYNE TAYLOR
To: Bruce Tyler
Cc: C WAYNE TAYLOR
Sent: Monday, April 2, 2012 4:41 AM
Subject: Tyler – 2nd Street Connector Information

Dear Mr. Tyler,

I have not received the information.

C. Wayne Taylor

—– Forwarded Message —–
From: “Tyler, Bruce W. – Council Member”
To: C WAYNE TAYLOR
Sent: Sunday, March 18, 2012 1:26 PM
Subject: RE: Tyler – 2nd Street Connector Information

Mr. Taylor:

I will give you a response this week.

Bruce W. Tyler

1st District Councilman
City of Richmond

City Council
900 E. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219

cell: 804.357.6007
fax: 804.343.0909

From: C WAYNE TAYLOR [mailto:cwaynetaylor@yahoo.com]
Sent: Thu 3/15/2012 4:16 PM
To: Tyler, Bruce W. – Council Member
Cc: C WAYNE TAYLOR
Subject: Tyler – 2nd Street Connector Information

March 15, 2012

VIA EMAIL TO: Bruce.Tyler@Richmondgov.com
The Honorable Bruce Tyler
City Council
City of Richmond
900 E. Broad St., Suite 200
Richmond, VA 23219 USA

Re: 2nd Street Connector Information

Dear Honorable Council Member,

The proposed 2nd Street connector would cause a major change in the character of the area. I think it is very important to fully understand the proposal and the various factors involved.

As you know, the administration has not been transparent in this matter. Economic Development even tried to charge me for copies of the documents discuss with city council.

Therefore, I request that you help insure that citizens have all the facts. Will you please provide or obtain answers to the following for the public and me:

1. Has an elevation rendering of the proposed crossing of the historic canal been presented to council?

2. Has a perspective rendering of the proposed connector been presented to council?

3. What is the acreage of the land that is proposed to be conveyed to the city west of the connector?

4. Why does the Planning Commission letter state that the area on both sides of the connector will be privately owned?

5. Why is there a proposed parcel boundary down the middle of the historic canal?

6. What is the acreage of the land that the city is providing for stormwater detention.

7. Does the stormwater detention facility essentially block access of city land to Tredegar Street?

8. Does the parking area connect to Tredegar Street or the connector?

9. How many parking spaces are gained or lost?

10. Does the city have the right to require that the connector be put on the Tredegar Ironworks parcel under alternative B-3 of the 1995 agreement?

11. Does alternative B-3 provide better topography to cross the historic canal and provide more clearance for boats.

12. Why was the connector project assigned to Development rather than Planning?

13. Has Planning been prohibited from commenting to citizens about the connector?

14. Has the planning director issued an analysis of the pros and cons of a connector?

15. Has the city traffic engineer issued a report on the connector?

16. Who prepared the traffic analysis report?

17. Has part of the traffic analysis report been redacted?

18. Is it correct that the connector is not shown on the Downtown Master Plan?

19. What elements of the connector are not consistent with the Downtown Plan and UDC Guidelines.

20. Why were the trees cut down after the Planning Commission reviewed the connector concept plan?

21. What happens if the city requires clearance over the historic canal and refuses to pay the cost?

I believe the following is correct:

22. Road construction grading will cut into the profile of the historic canal.

23. The stormwater detention facility will cut into the profile of the historic canal.

24. Water flowed in the historic canal until about 1970.

25. Slave labor was used to construct the historic canal.

26. An 1880 bridge was built over the unused canal in a traditional arched style.

27. The historic canal is on the National Register of Historic Places.

28. The top executive at Dominion Resources received total compensation of $16.9 million in 2010.

I have attached copies of the documents that the Jones Administration attempted to charge me to have.

Thank you for your attention,

C. Wayne Taylor
www.CityHallReview.com

Copy: Council, Liaisons, Press

After Painting The Town Green, Check Out The World In Monroe Park

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It’s not too late to make plans to join VCU’s Paint The Town Green effort this Saturday morning.

Afterwords, you may think about enjoying the VCU Intercultural Festival, which takes place from 12 noon to 6 pm in Monroe Park.

Given the protest the day before, it is pretty clear that Monroe Park is getting a lot of use. I will just add the editorial comment that it would be good to see its planned renovations funded.

City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force to hold meeting Thursday

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From City announcement:

All residents are invited and encouraged to attend

WHAT The Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force will hold a meeting. The purpose of the Task Force is to make recommendations to Richmond City Council with regard to enhancing mass transit in the Metro-Richmond area and the efficiency and effectiveness of the GRTC Transit System. The meeting is free and open to the public and all residents are invited and encouraged to attend.

WHEN Thursday, April 12, 2012
4:00-6:00 p.m.

WHERE Richmond Department of Economic Development
Richmond Main Street Station – 3rd Floor Conference Room
1500 East Main Street; Richmond, Virginia 23219
(PARKING: Free parking is available on the west side of the building by using the Franklin Street Entrance and using the lot below the Interstate. When facing the Train Station from the Franklin Street Entrance, make a right and park towards the Clock Tower end. When facing the building from the parking lot, the entrance door to the Richmond Department of Economic Development is located on the right of the building.)

WHO Members of the Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force

CONTACT For more information, please contact Councilman Bruce W. Tyler, Richmond City Council, West End 1st District, at 804.357.6007; or bruce.tyler@richmondgov.com.

Background ____________________________________________________________________________

Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force
Richmond City Council established the Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force on September 27, 2010 by Richmond City Council Ordinance No. 2010-173-166.

The objective of the Richmond City Council GRTC and Transit Study Task Force is to provide a report to Council within in a year of its first meeting which recommends the following:

1. Any legislation, plans, policies, and programs that promote efficient mass transit in the city;

2. Economic development, economic growth, employment and tourism strategies that include public transportation; and,

3. Public relations and education programs to increase public use of mass transit.

4. The Task Force shall also work with interested private organizations to improve the service and efficiency of the GRTC.

James River Film Festival at Main Library on Friday

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From announcement:

Join us at the Main Library on Friday, April 13 from Noon to 3, for the 19th James River Film Festival
Free and open to the public!

Futuropolis (Phil Trumbo and Steve Segal, 1984, 40 min.) with star Tom (Cosmo) Campagnoli! This is the granddaddy of Richmond independent film, the third time we’ve screened Futuroplis since the festival began in 1994. Shot over nine years on sets constructed in the basement of the Broad Street Station (now the Science Museum of Virginia), using an animation process known as pixilation, Futuropolis has the feel of a 1930’s comic strip and the warm synthesis of atomic age nostalgia. With Futuroplis actor Tom (Cosmo) Campagnoli on hand for a Q&A

19th JRFF: Mark of the Damned
Mark of the Damned (Eric Miller, 2007, 90 min.) with director Eric Miller! Made by Richmonders over an 8-year span at a cost of $10,000, Mark of the Damned is a sci-fi/horror hybrid, full of ambience and shot in the stark chiaroscuro of the silent cinema years. A self-proclaimed “journey beyond truth into an amplified world,” Mark of the Damned’s cursed legacy includes a screening in Sicily where the power in the theatre inexplicably failed. Director Eric Miller will be on hand for a Q&A after the screening.

VCU SDS: “Defend Your Right to Peaceful Assembly and Protest”

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From a statement for the VCU Students for a Democratic Society:

VCU recently proposed amendments to its student code of conduct. The proposed rules prohibit demonstrations that disrupt the normal functions of the university, but the language is so vague that, if interpreted by a trigger-happy administrator, you could be punished for non-disruptively, peacefully, and legally exercising your First Amendment right to peaceable assembly and protest.

“Demonstrations/riot – Participating in an on-campus or off-campus demonstration, riot or activity that disrupts the normal operations of the University and/or infringes on the rights of others; leading or inciting others to disrupt scheduled and/or normal activities within any campus building or area.”

VCU is not alone in this crackdown on active citizens; measures are being taken to criminalize free speech throughout the city and country.

On the 3rd of March, 30 peaceful protesters were arrested by Virginia State Police in riot gear for sitting on the steps of the Virginia Capitol building. They were demonstrating for an end to anti-choice reproductive legislation. In a further attempt to scare citizens away from expressing their First Amendment right to peaceful assembly, the female arrestees were held for nearly nine hours in a paddy wagon and prevented access to restrooms and drinking water.

In Georgia, members of the state legislature unsuccessfully attempted to restrict the right of protesters and union members with SB 469. The bill would have made it a felony to protest near a private business. Imagine being charged with a felony for simply holding a sign!

VCU’s Monroe Park is also significant. Last Spring, several activists were arrested for camping out on the corner of Main and Laurel in protest of City Council’s attempt to gentrify the park and criminalize homelessness. Later in 2011, members of Occupy Richmond were brutalized by Richmond police and denied access to Monroe Park after being forcefully removed from Kanawha Plaza, a camp that passed the City’s sanitation standards.

And so, we, the VCU chapter of Students for a Democratic Society are protesting today to publicly exercise and protect our freedom to peacefully assemble, to stand against the unjust and unprovoked attacks on civil disobedience, and to demand transparency in American society.

**This is an orderly, peaceful demonstration. We are practicing what we are trying to defend. Behavior that is harmful or disruptive to our fellow students or homeless won’t be tolerated.**

There is a Facebook page for a protest this Friday in Monroe Park at 1 pm:

https://www.facebook.com/events/429199907105958/

Paint the Town Green to beautify neighborhoods around VCU

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From Fan of the Fan’s post:

VCU students and neighbors will work together to beautify the neighborhoods around the college during Paint the Town Green this Saturday, April 14. Meet at in Monroe Park at 8:30AM for breakfast, community service projects begin at 9AM. Participating neighborhoods include Jackson Ward, The Fan, Oregon Hill, Randolph, and Carver.

All of the volunteers assembled at Monroe Park before breaking up into teams to work in neighborhoods surrounding campus. Photo by John Venuti. (Paint the Town Green 2011)

“We hope to have close to 500 volunteers this time,” said program director and Community Coordinator, Ron Brown. “This year we have partnered with more neighborhoods [including Jackson Ward] and the City of Richmond’s Love My Block initiative,” said Brown. This year’s Paint the Town Green Event will include both the Monroe Park and Medical campus. To register for the event or for more information, email neighbors@vcu.edu.

Paint the Town Green, a community service and partnership initiative, is held tentatively on the second Saturday of every April and October. Paint the Town Green is sponsored by the VCU Council for Community Engagement, the neighboring VCU communities, the Monroe Park and MCV Student Government Associations and The Alumni Association.

Submitted by Jose Menjivar