Charles Samuels' Community Meeting to Discuss Homelessness & Closure of Monroe Park for Renovations

Text adapted from the Wingnut Blog.

This meeting took place at the Carillon War Memorial, where Councilman Charles Samuels [2nd District] held a "community discussion" for groups who ‘serve the homeless’ to figure out what they should do when Monroe Park is closed for renovations. It was not a forum, nor really a big group discussion. However, there were about 25 or so folks associated with Food Not Bombs who came to promote the idea that the park need not and ought not be closed entirely during renovations. Many people spoke out questioning why the park was going to be closed in its entirety and suggested that moving services would not make up for destroying the community of people- homeless and not- who use Monroe Park on a regular basis.

Part 1/2 - Charles Samuels' Community Discussion on Homelessness & Monroe Park - Nov. 4, 2010 from Silver Persinger.

The first half of the meeting includes comments from Mr. Samuels, Homeward, and Embrace Richmond. They did not allow any questions or feedback from anyone attending the meeting, even when it was very clear that people had questions and concerns. Mo Karn, a Wingnut, interrupted the meeting [24:40] to say that the discussion was based on the false assumption that the park must be closed during the renovation.

Part 2/2 - Recommendations from Citizen Work Groups @ Charles Samuels' Community Discussion - Nov. 4, 2010 from Silver Persinger.

This 2nd section of the video shows how many of the groups in the room decided that the solution to the problems with closing all of Monroe Park was simply not to close the entire park!

Below is a highlight reel featuring comments supportive of keeping the park open.

Public Forum Participants: Keep Monroe Park Open from Kontra.

Towing Rates Up, People with Disabilities Speak Up, 911 = $3.5 M Shortfall, Crimes Against the Homeless

Councilwoman Reva Trammell [8th District] held a nearly 3 hour long Public Safety Committee meeting. Councilpersons Betty Squire [7th District], Chris Hilbert [3rd District], and Marty Jewell [5th District] were also present.

Public Safety Committee - Sept. 21, 2009 Part 1 from Silver Persinger on Vimeo.

Above, watch the Citizen Comment Period and a report from the Richmond Towing Advisory Board where they recommend raising the price of towing from private property from $65 to $125.

Public Safety Committee - Sept. 21, 2009 Part 2 from Silver Persinger on Vimeo.

In Part 2, watch Linda Broady-Myers' presentation on issues affecting people with disabilities. She reported 42,000 people in Richmond have some disability. The majority of her comments dealt with curb cuts [AKA wheelchair ramps on sidewalk] that are not correctly made, do not exists, are not properly maintained, or blocked by illegally parked cars. She also spoke about the blind who walk into traffic signal boxes attached to poles and into trees that are not maintained above sidewalks, among many other items. Kellie High-Foster, Deputy Director, Financial Services Division from the Police Department, gave a report on the City's 911 Emergency Communication System and proposed expenditures and shortfalls. Major Eric English of the Richmond Police Department spoke about recent crimes committed against homeless individuals. Ron Jordan, Managing Partner, Advantus Strategies and the City's hired lobbyist to the General Assembly gave a presentation on the City's proposed 2010 Legislative Agenda.