GRTC Task Force Discusses Site Selection for Downtown Transfer Center

GRTC and Transit Study Task Force - 2012 July 12 - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

The Task Force held its regular monthly meeting at 4:00 PM on Thursday, July 12 at the Department of Economic Development's offices located on the third floor of Main Street Station.

The first order of business was the approval of minutes from two previous meetings. Scott Burger asked that the minutes be amended to reflect him asking about additional members for the Task Force. The amendment was adopted and the minutes were approved. [0:23]

The largest part of the meeting was a presentation from Stephen McNally, GRTC Project Administrator about the process for the site selection for a Transfer Center located in the downtown area located between 14th, Belvidere, Leigh, and Canal. [1:50]

SUBCOMMITTEE REPORTS

[41:28] Montigue Magruder from the User Services Subcommittee gave a report of their last meeting.
[52:16] Jack Berry [Richmond Convention & Visitors Center] talked about the recent event Paralyzed Veterans Wheelchair Games, then discussed a June 26 meeting with Bob Crum from the Richmond Regional Planning District Commission.
[56:00] Miscellaneous Discussion

Public Support does not Affect Council Vote on Schools' Budget

Monday's meeting lasted over 5 hours. The main topic of discussion was the City's Budget. Citizens spoke for 80 minutes in opposition to the proposed budget which does not fully fund Richmond Public Schools.

Full house because of all of the awards being given out tonight, not because of a genuine interest in the adoption of the City Budget, though there were some people here for that too (see Parts 4 - 6, below). In Part 1, you can experience the Prayer, the Pledge of Allegiance, an explanation of the Evacuation Instructions in case of an emergency, and a moment of silence in honor of Councilman Chris Hilbert's mother who passed away that day. All members were present with the exception of Mr. Hilbert.

Part 2 is the Awards Period.

A majority of the people spoke in support of fully funding the public schools. Speakers in Part 4 included Thad Williamson [2:00], Angela Dews [5:32], John Reed [9:15], Thomas Hartman [12:47], Lola Van McDowell [14:46], Dave Ballard [18:42], Kirsten Gray [22:17], and Barbara Haas [26:13].

Speakers in Part 6 included Shirley L. Harvey [0:16], Vivek Jain [2:54], Chris Dorsey [7:22], Teddy Parham [11:20], Benony Tony Amekudzi [15:05], Dr. Angela Renee Jones [19:43], David Napier spoke supportively of the Council's efforts [22:09], Jill Brown? [23:12], Donny "Dirt Woman" Corker provided comic relief [26:16], and Donald Hatcher [27:43].

A few comments of support for the City Budget from interested parties [0:17] followed by Council discussion [12:43] and then a quick vote on the C.I.P. [Capital Improvement Program] Budget [48:26].

Several speakers during the Citizen Comment period spoke in support of changing the law to allow residents to keep chickens in their yards. I spoke to encourage folks to run for elected offices. At the end of the comment period Charles Samuels [2nd District] said he was bring forward an ordinance for such a thing, Marty Jewell [5th District] said he wanted to be a co-patron on the paper.

One paper was amended and continued, Ord. 2012-79 pertaining to the Landmark Theatre. On the Consent Agenda, there were just few items, mostly small Council member expenditures which were approved, followed by Approval of Minutes [4:46] and Reports and Announcements from Council members: Doug Conner, 9th District [5:42], Charles Samuels, 2nd District [6:46], Bruce Tyler, 1st District [7:13], Reva Trammell, 8th District [7:51], Cynthia Newbille, 7th District [8:43], Marty Jewell, 5th District [10:07], Ellen Robertson, 6th District [12:56], Kathy Graziano, 4th District [15:42].

The Introduction of New Papers was the last order of business [18:13], I just filmed the beginning of it because after 5 hours I was ready to go.

A Short Meeting for Council

Formal Meeting 2012 Feb. 13 • Richmond City Council • Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

There was not much substance at Monday's meeting. I arrived 5 minutes late, missing the prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. A summary of the meeting, as well as the Informal Session, should be posted over the weekend. In the meanwhile, you can watch the video.

Informal Session - Eggleston Plaza, Tax Exempt NonProfits, CAFR Review, Juvenile Justice Center

Part 1/4 - 2012 Jan. 23 - Docket Review - Informal Session - Richmond City Council, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Most of the evening's docket was reviewed with little discussion. However, in this segment there is a major discussion of the Special Use Permit for the Eggleston Hotel site at 2nd and Leigh Streets in Jackson Ward, Ordinance 2011-211.

Part 2/4 - 2012 Jan. 23 - Docket Review Cont'd - Informal Session - Richmond City Council, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Conclusion of the Docket Review, including a discussion on reopening the tax-exemption application process for nonprofit organizations, Ordinance 2012-1.

Part 3/4 - 2012 Jan. 23 - CAFR Presentation - Informal Session - Richmond City Council, VA from Silver Persinger.

Interim Director of Finance, Wayne Lassiter reviewed the Fiscal Year 2011 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report [CAFR].

Part 4/4 - 2012 Jan. 23 - Juvenile Justice Center Presentation - Informal Session - Richmond City Council, VA from Silver Persinger.

RePHRAME holds Housing Forum at Richmond Convention Center

The forum "Is PETRA good for Richmond?" was held in room B-10 at the Greater Richmond Convention Center in Richmond, Virginia on Saturday, June 25, 2011 from 10:30 AM - 12:20 PM

The event was organized by RePHRAME, its partners NAACP and Virginia Organizing Project, and co-sponsored by RRHA.

Part 1/8 - RePHRAME Forum: Is PETRA good for Richmond? - June 25, 2011 - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Part one includes Opening Comments from Antoinette Baylor [RePHRAME Member], Opening Prayer by Rev. Sylvester T. Smith [Pastor at Good Shepherd Baptist Church], Welcome by Andrew Schoeneman [Doctoral Student, VCU School of Social Work], Introductions of the panel by Cathy Woodson [Virginia Organizing Project, RePHRAME Partner] and Drusilla Bridgeforth [NAACP, RePHRAME Partner], and Cora Hayes [Co-Founder, RePHRAME] answers the question, "What is P.E.T.R.A.?" [The Preservation, Enhancement & Transformation of Rental Assistance Act]

Part 2/8 - RePHRAME Forum: Congressman Bobby Scott - June 25, 2011 - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

U.S. Representative Bobby Scott spoke to the assembled crowd on items related to housing policy.

Part 3/ - RePHRAME Forum: Diane Yentel from HUD - June 25, 2011 - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Diane Yentel, Director of the Public Housing Management and Occupancy Division in HUD in Washington, D.C., spoke first.

Part 4/ - RePHRAME Forum: Linda Couch - June 25, 2011 - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

The next speaker was Linda Couch, Senior Vice President of Policy for the National Low Income Housing Coalition.

Part 5/8 - RePHRAME Forum: Cora Hayes - June 25, 2011 - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Cora Hayes, Co-Founder of RePHRAME/Resident Engagement Group, enumerated demands including the right of tenants to organize and tenants' rights.

Part 6/8 - RePHRAME Forum: Cora Hayes - June 25, 2011 - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Marilyn Olds, RRHA Tenant Commissioner and President of the Richmond Tenant Organization asked questions about perceived waste.

Part 7/8 - RePHRAME Forum: Question & Answer Period - June 25, 2011 - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Panelists took written questions from the audience.

Part 8/8 - RePHRAME Forum: Comments from Newbille & Hilbert - June 25, 2011 - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Councilwoman Cynthia Newbille and Councilman Chris Hilbert made a few brief comments at the end of the meeting followed by a few more comments from Cora Hayes and Andrew Schoeneman. The meeting was closed with a prayer made by Marion Jones.

Public or Private: Richmond Mayor Elect Dwight Jones Gets Personal

I called the Richmond City Clerk's office about two weeks ago to ask about Mayor Elect Dwight Clinton Jones' swearing in. Though the Clerk's office was not organizing the event, Mrs. Sears-Thomas offered that they had heard that it would be held on December 31 but that it would be a "private" event. The Times Dispatch reported the private swearing ceremony on Dec. 9, 2008.

At the time, it struck me as unusual that the swearing in of an elected public official would be a private ceremony. I paid it little mind and thought it would get straightened out in time for the actual event. I called the Clerk's office again today [4:49 PM] to see if they could provide any additional information regarding the swearing in. The clerk's office told me that there would be a public swearing in on Jan. 10. I asked, "What about the swearing in tomorrow?" and Ms. Craighead responded that it was going to be "private." I asked, "Isn't that unusual?" She responded she wasn't sure because this would be her first time going through the process. She offered to give me the number of the Mayor Elect's transition team.

I called the number she provided at 4:51 PM, and it was answered by Margaret Pugh who is serving on the transition team. I asked about the swearing in and she told me about the event on January 10. I asked, "What about the swearing in tomorrow?" To which Ms. Pugh responded that was "more of a personal type of event." I was shocked and said that it was unusual for a publicly elected official to have a private swearing in. I asked if the Press would be permitted to attend because I would be much more interested in reporting the event than criticizing it as being closed to the public. I left my name and number and Ms. Pugh said she would talk with the Mayor Elect's assistant.

Could this be a sign of another secretive and privileged administration? Can you imagine if President Elect Obama proposed holding a private swearing in ceremony? Why not hold the mayoral inauguration in Council Chambers in conjunction with Council's ceremonies on Friday, January 2, 2008 at 10 AM? What better way to demonstrate a willingness to work hand in hand with the Council?