|
One Year In
It has been my pleasure to serve as your Council representative for the last year. Even with almost five years experience at the City previous to Council, I have continued to try and learn by listening and working with others to better serve you.
It has been a very rewarding and enriching experience (and occasionally trying!). I will continue to work hard to represent our district to the best of my ability and communicate on issues that are most important to you and our district, as well as help guide our great City in the direction we need to go.
I sincerely hope that everyone has a safe and wonderful Christmas and holiday season and a wonderful 2014.
|
|
Holiday Cooking Safety Tips
 As the holidays are upon us, the Richmond Fire Department has a friendly reminder list of safe cooking tips. Cooking fires are the leading cause of house fires in Richmond (and across the nation and they would like to make sure no accidents occur in your kitchen so your family enjoys a delicious meal instead of a visit from the Fire Department! |
|
1st District Most Clicked
We are offering a fun feature each month to show the top 3 most clicked links in the previous month's 1st District E-newsletter!
November |
|
1st District Twitter Picture of the Month
When someone tells you there's a pumpkin on top of Boatwright, you kind of have to check it out.
|
Reporting a Neighborhood Issue
There are multiple ways that you can report neighborhood issues that you need us to address.
1. You can call my office (804-646-5349) and speak to either me or my liaison, Eli.
2. You can log on and use
SeeClickFix to report issues such as potholes, non-functioning lights, bulk pick up requests, etc.
3. You can also log in to the
Citizens Request Service (CRS) to report more serious needs (or again, call my office).
If possible, please send us a picture(s) with your request for service or issue. Many times, a picture snapped with your cell phone goes a long way to helping us relate your request to City staff so they can easily identify the issue and correct it!
|
|
Get regular updates and news on my 1st District Facebook page!
(You don't need a Facebook account to access the page)
|
|
UPCOMING MEETINGS
--Mon., Jan. 13
-- Mon., Jan. 27
Joint 1st & 2nd District Shockoe Baseball Meeting
Wed., Jan. 22 at 6:00pm
Albert Hill Middle School
1st District Town
Hall Meeting
Tue., Jan. 28 at 6pm
Albert Hill Middle School
|
Link Up on LinkedIn
Follow updates on social network for work professionals, aka "the safe-for-work social network"
|
|
If You Use Gmail.....
 Gmail accounts will notice the tabs at the top of their inbox and if they do not see their regular newsletters or email sent to a list from a service such as Constant Contact, they can click on the Promotions Tab and should find the emails under that heading. You can set your preferences to have the email land under the "Primary" tab but you must do so manually.
Learn more about the new Gmail layout here.
|
Updates & Retweets!
Keep up to date with my Twitter feed for news, updates and retweets from other city officials and departments and personalities around RVA!
|
|
Important Numbers
Police Sector 311
Lt. Mike Stith Sector
804-646-1412 - E-mail
Finance Department
Kevin Ervin
804-646-6452 - E-mail
West End Library
804-646-1877
Web site
Belmont Library
804-646-1139
Web site
|
|
Contact Me
804-646-5349 (Office)
804-592-1060 (Cell)
900 E. Broad St. Ste. 303
Richmond, VA 23219
Eli Wong, Council Liaison
804-310-1738 or
Social Media   
Committee Assignments:
- Land Use, Housing & Transportation (Chair)
- Government Operations
- Organizational Development
- Education & Human Services (alternate)
|
|
Mail Updates
If you know someone who would like to receive these e-mail updates via U.S. Postal Service, please e-mail me here or call 804-646-5349 and provide their name and mailing address.
|
|
|
|
|
Joint District Baseball Town Hall Meeting Wed., January 22
City Council President Charles Samuels and I will jointly host a
meeting to discuss the Shockoe Stadium proposal on Wed., January 22 from 6:00-8:00pm at Albert Hill Middle School at 3400 Patterson Avenue (map).
There will be a presentation about the proposal from the Administration followed by questions from citizens. We hope you can join us for this important discussion. |
Leaf Collection in West End Delayed
Due to several days of rain last
week that delayed leaf collection in the Museum District, the leaf collection schedule for the areas west of I-195 to the University of Richmond has been delayed and will begin Friday, December and continue through Friday, January 10.
|
|
Shockoe Baseball Proposal
I delivered a letter to the Administration on Friday, December 6th expressing my questions and concerns about the Shockoe Stadium proposal and offered some alternative scenarios that might be considered. An excerpt:
"I believe it is the Council's responsibility to review this ambitious proposal and ensure it provides needed economic growth while protecting our financial ability to borrow and meet current and future needs. The goal to maximize the possible economic impact is one I share but should be balanced against the risk. For me, however, there are simply more questions than answers, and thus it makes it difficult, if not impossible, for me to lend my support to this proposal.
I applaud the commitment of the Administration to hold special public hearings in addition to the meetings at Council as well as meetings in our respective districts and am confident that they will help better inform Council with the necessary information to make this a better proposal before a decision is made. I look forward to working with my colleagues, your staff, and others to make sure we keep Richmond safe for baseball and safe at the bank."
There will be much more discussion on this matter going forward with a vote on the current proposal possibly in late February or March.
You can find the related Times-Dispatch articles and Davenport report upon which the proposal is based on my web site. You will also find news articles regarding the proposal in the left sidebar.
I encourage you to read the entire six-page letter,
which you can find here.
|
|
Christmas Tree Pickup
When you are ready to take down your tre  e and decorations, please remember that Public Works policy concerning Christmas trees is the same as a bulk pick-up request.
When you place your tree in your alley or yard for pick up, please call the 311 Call center or Public Works at 804-646-0999 and let the agent know you have a Bulk Pick-Up/Live Christmas Tree for pickup.
They will be picked up and disposed of separately than your regular trash pick-up. You can also call my office at 804-646-5349 and let us know the address and we will enter your request or follow up if any trees are missed.
|
|
New Use for Westhampton School
The Westhampton School will soon house the health system's College of Nursing and School of Imaging as
 The two school structures built in 1917 and 1930 will remain and host 400 or 500 students of the nation's top rated nursing school in the NCLEX-RN licensure exam. It will bring a lot of activity to the neighborhood while creating jobs and offering career opportunities at the campus.
The news was welcomed by the neighborhood as well as the historic community which was pleased to see all efforts made to save both buildings. The construction timeline is determinant upon receiving historic designation for the building, approval of special permits and securing historic tax credits and could take up to 36 months.
The relocation of the playground as part of the 2012 deal with the Redskins training center will be determined by the end of the year by the Department of Planning and Parks & Recreation.
|
|
Police Update & Holiday Safety
Two bank robberies occurred in the Patterson Libbie District on December 4 and December 11.
The Gateway Bank was robbed on Wednesday, December 4 around 4:45 pm and money was taken but no weapon was displayed. Click here for photos.
The BB&T branch was robbed on Wednesday, December 11 around 4:55pm. Police believe this was the same man in the Gateway holdup and did not display a weapon or get away with any money. He was last seen walking towards Libbie Ave. Click here for photos.
If you have any information about either crime, please contact CrimeStoppers at 780-1000.
__________________
Please don't forget the Police remind us annually that this time of year if their "busy season" when crimes of opportunity increase. They remind us to be safe when out shopping and bringing packages into your home during the holiday season. They encourage us to avoid suspicious persons, always trust your instincts, to always be alert and aware of your surroundings, and never leave items or packages in your car!
|
Town Hall Meeting Tue., Jan. 28
Please join us for a Town Hall Meeting Tuesday, January 28 at 6pm at Albert Hill Middle School at 3400 Patterson Avenue (map).
For more information, please contact my office at 804-646-5349 or via this e-mail.
|
|
330 Oak Lane Up For Auction?
 After years of wrangling, auctions, code violations, tall grass and drama, the property at 330 Oak Lane built by Douglas Southall Freeman will likely be sold at auction in the new year. RichmondBizSense.com reports that the property once owned by Justin French is likely headed back to the auction block. The 10,000-square-foot house has been put through the foreclosure process by Bank of America for the third time. The bank owns the primary $1.45 million note.
"No new auction date has been set, said Bank of America spokeswoman Nicole Nastacie, but the bank recently transferred the servicing of the loan to a small specialty servicer. Special servicers are typically hired by large banks to handle foreclosures." Click here to read the article. |
|
Richmond, VA: A City of Historical Significance, Emerging Artists and Great Food
Huffington Post writer Malerie Yolen-Cohen spent some time in Richmond recently and shared her thoughts about RVA with the world in the most glowing of terms:
 "The best thing about gritty, sometimes sketchy, disparaged cities is that, for the traveler, they don't put on airs, hike up prices or otherwise become obnoxiously pretentious. Disparaged cities just try harder. And that is a boon to tourists.
If you've been reading my blog posts here, you'll know that I'm a big fan of formerly depressed, now "emerging" cities, particularly if said cites have singular historical significance and incredible restaurants. Richmond, Va., that little-bit-Philly-little-bit-New-Orleans decidedly southern yet close to north city, has this in spades. Yes, Richmond's got broken storefronts and skeptical suburbanites, but there's a vibrant, youthful, Brooklyn-before-it-got-upscale vibe here, and it's worth at least a few days to explore." |
Hiring a New Superintendent
Perhaps the most important decision the School Board will make next week is the selection of a new Superintendent that can address the problems our system faces and begin to solve them and make the education of our kids more than a political slogan or desire.
I was among hundreds of attendees at the
forum held Wed., December 18th at Albert Hill as each of the three candidates met with different groups for an hour each and answered questions and conveyed their vision for RPS and Richmond. It was very enlightening and in one case, for me, encouraging that we have a candidate that could change the direction and trajectory of public education in Richmond. The Board will decide on Sunday and announce their selection Monday.
There are three articles that cover the candidates before and after the forum that are worth noting:
* Richmond superintendent finalists an experienced group (December 16)
* Stark differences in Richmond superintendent candidates (December 18)
__________________________________
Albert Hill for the Holidays
As you shop on Amazon.com for the holidays and post holiday deals, you can be a BIG help to the Albert Hill PTA. If you click here on the Albert Hill website, Amazon will pay 10% of all sales made through our website links directly to the PTA!
Also, if you are looking for a unique holiday gift, don't forget the Albert Hill Bowls Around Town Community Art Project. The project was featured in Style Weekly in October.
Ceramic artists will be selling their artwork in the cafeteria TONIGHT during Holiday Night. Part of the artists' profit will be donated to the PTA, who, in turn, supports teachers' programs for the kids! It is a win, win situation...and you take home a beautiful piece of art! If you cannot attend tonight, call the office at 804.780.7710.
__________________________________
Munford + Kroger = $$$
You can help fund initiatives at Mary Munford by joining the Kroger Plus Program simply by registering your Kroger Card. You can obtain a Munford barcode on the PTA web site and take it to the store and scan it with your bonus card.
 Last year Munford funded two computers, physical education equipment and classroom books. More than 90 families who have signed up and earned the school over 100,000 points since the start of school!
__________________________________
T.J. Marquee Sign Close to Goal
The TeeJay Viking Fund recently received two donations totaling $5400 for a new marquee at Monument Avenue and G race Street.
The Viking Fund also recently raised $1000 for new girls' basketball uniforms and is still raising funds for the boys' teams. Please consider a donation during the season of giving! You can visit the TeeJay Viking Fund web site here.
__________________________________
Richmond teacher cites major problems before leaving
Teacher Luke Neal returned to Richmond to teach but only lasted one quarter of the year before leaving for Henrico.
"Conditions at the school, he said, were deplorable.
In a 3�-page letter sent to the city's school superintendent and elected leaders, he detailed life at the school.
Environmentally, he said, it was a treacherous place for a man who received a liver transplant: no soap, no toilet paper, mold growing on the walls.
Educationally, it was a challenge to teach in a place where kids fought without consequence.
Perhaps worst of all, he said, was administrative malaise."
These stories are disturbing and must be an impetus for decisive Board action and a top priority of the new Superintendent. You can read the article here.
|
|
Irreconcilable Differences: Why Henrico and Richmond called it off in 1961
"The 211-page prenup reads today like a policy wonk's fantasy: "Report of Advisory Committees for the Consolidation of the City of Richmond and Henrico County." The date: July 31, 1961.
Under the proposal, Henrico's four districts became boroughs into which Richmond proper was incorporated. After an interim period of five and a half years, representative reapportionment would occur on the basis of the four Henrico boroughs. The expanded city's council would then drop from 12 members to nine, with the charter calling for at-large elections."
|
|
|
|
|
Newsletter
