Marijuana Forum at VCU

VCU Students for Sensible Drug Policy in co-operation with Virginia NORML held a forum to advocate decriminalizing marijuana at Virginia Commonwealth University's Student Commons on Saturday, September 25, 2010 in Richmond, Virginia.

Part 1/3 - Cannabis in the Commonwealth - Sept. 25, 2010 - Duffy, Stroup, Sterling, Gettman - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Dee Duffy, Executive Director of Virginia NORML, opened the meeting.

Keith Stroup, founder of NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, spoke about his 40 years of experience in the marijuana movement. It is interesting to note, that in places where marijuana is already legal, NORML is fighting to establish that individuals have a right to raise at least 5 plants for personal use and they are working to oppose to "unconscionable profiteering." Kudos Mr. Stroup and NORML!

Eric Sterling, President of the Criminal Justice Policy Foundation, discussed excessive government power, some history of alcohol prohibition, and government's immoral persecution of marijuana users, growers, and distributors.

Jon Gettman [Cannabis policy expert, The Coalition for the Rescheduling of Cannabis] had technical difficulties for the first half of this talk, the projector started working where his comments leave off here in Part 2. Mr. Gettman discussed statistics showing that African Americans are disproportionally arrested for marijuana compared to whites.

Part 2/3 - Cannabis in the Commonwealth - Sept. 25, 2010 - Gettman, Leibig, Werth, Sharpe - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Part 2 contains the conclusion of Jon Gettman's PowerPoint presentation on the racial disparity of marijuana arrests.

Criminal defense attorney, Virginia NORML Board of Directors, and NORML Legal Committee Member Christopher Leibig advocates preserving the police's right to illegal searches based on probable cause triggered by the aroma of marijuana as a way to appease law enforcement's opposition to decriminalization.

Lennice Werth from Virginians Against Drug Violence recounted some history of the Marijuana Movement in Virginia and urged the audience to contact their members in the Virginia House of Delegates to tell them to support House Bills 1134 and 1136, introduced by Harvey Morgan (a Republican pharmacist) in Virginia's General Assembly last year.

Robert Sharpe [Media Awareness Project] discussed the history of marijuana law, dispels some popular myths about marijuana use, and makes an economic argument for decriminalization.

Part 3/3 - Cannabis in the Commonwealth - Sept. 25, 2010 - Questions & Comments - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

In this portion of the forum panelists solicited questions from the audience. This clip includes helpful legal advice including be polite to police and only tell them your name, but don't answer any questions, you don't have to tell the police where you are coming from or where you are going. Ask, "Am I free to leave? Am I being detained?" They recommended watching the video, "Busted: The Citizen's Guide to Surviving Police Encounters."

Watch it here,
video.google.com/​videoplay?docid=3435730304776119545#

New City Jail Discussed at Ellen Robertson's Town Hall Meeting

The topic of Ellen Robertson's monthly townhall meeting for Saturday, September 11, 2010 was the proposed New City Jail. Four developers were present at this event. This is one of the first meetings to publicly discuss the new jail project in greater detail.

The clip above includes the opening of the meeting. Vice President Ellen Robertson recognized a number of members from the audience including Council President Kathy Graziano [4th District], Councilman Bruce Tyler [1st District], Sheriff C.T. Woody, Chandra Smith [School Board, 6th District], and former-Councilman Bill Pantele, and Byron Marshall [Chief Administrative Officer].

A prayer was said by Reverand Alonzo Pruitt who works at the Richmond City Jail.

Part 2 - Presentation from Sheriff's Office on New Richmond City Jail - Sept. 11, 2010 from Silver Persinger.

Part 2 is a presentation from the Sheriff's Office. They recount a little of the history of the City Jail, describe its inmates (which they prefer to call 'residents'), discuss the need for a new facility and the desired design, which isolates the individual prisoner and relies heavily on video camera surveillance. This was promoted as more secure and reducing the staff needed to operate the jail.

Part 3 - Administration, Consultant, & Reverend on New Richmond City Jail - Sept. 11, 2010 from Silver Persinger.

In Part 3, top administrators weigh in. Byron Marshall [Chief Admistrative Office] and Chris Beschler [Deputy Chief Administrative Office, Operations/Director, Public Utilities], Walter Ridley, a city hired consultant from Fort Washington, Maryland [his website describes him as President/CEO of the RIDLEY GROUP and ASSOCIATES LLC, "A Criminal Justice and Faith-Based Consulting Firm."], and Reverend Alonzo Pruitt who works at the Richmond City Jail.



In this clip, Councilwoman Ellen Robertson discusses the historic significance of Eastview, the first African American Single Family Home development in Richmond, Virginia which was soon surrounded by public housing and a jail at the bottom of the hill. At the end of the clip, she urges folks to support the decision by Mayor Jones to keep the jail at its current location.

Part 5 - Comments from Eastview Residents - Ellen Robertson's Town Hall - Sept. 11, 2010 from Silver Persinger.

Comments from 50-year residents of Eastview, history of the neighborhood and of land. Interesting history here. 14 acres.

Part 6,
Closing comments coming soon.

Amending the Downtown Master Plan - Villains and Heros

Above, footage from Monday night's Council meeting held on July 13, 2009 includes the complete discussion of the proposed amendments to Richmond's Downtown Master Plan. This is as exciting as it gets for a City Council meeting. Enjoy it.

The clip opens with Brooke Hardin from the Department of Community Development describing the proposed changes, followed by comments from the public. Council discussion began with Councilman Marty Jewell (5th District) immediately seconding the request made by the attorney for Echo Harbor to strike language they did not like. Mr. Jewell's reckless motion was seconded by the Reva Tramell (8th District) and supported by Bruce Tyler (1st District) and Doug Conner (9th District).

Charles Samuels (2nd District) was the hero of the evening -- delivery a worthy speech at a crucial moment. The final vote was 4 - 4. The motion failed, thankfully.

The final Public Hearing on the Amendments to the Downtown Master Plan will be held on Monday July 27, 2009.

The First Two Hours of this Almost Four and a Half Hour Meeting



This unedited portion of video includes the meeting prayer, Pledge of Allegiance, Roll Call, Amendments to the Agenda, the Awards Period [at 9:00, which is broken out and detailed below]. At 37:20, Council President Graziano introduced Peter H. Chapman, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer [CAO] for Economic and Community Development, he didn't say much.

Highlights:

Citizen Comment Period begins at 38:30
Approval of Minutes [56:30]
Standing Committee Reports and Announcement from Council Members [57:30]
Review of Items on Consent Agenda [1:16:30]
Citizen Comment on the Consent Agenda [1:21:30]


the Consent Agenda,

Marty Jewell's Comments



Above, Councilman Marty Jewell argued for striking the language from the Downtown Master Plan as requested by the attorney from Echo Harbor and offered a motion to that effect. Councilwoman Reva Trammell seconded the motion. Bruce Tyler and Doug Conner also voted to support the motion. However, the motion failed on a vote of 4 to 4.

What the Echo Harbor Attorney Said and What a Couple of People Said



Above, comments from USP Echo Harbor, LLC attorney Jim Theobald to Richmond City Council during the public hearing on proposed amendments to the Downtown Master Plan. His comments are followed by comments from Thad Williamson and Eugenia Anderson Ellis, both citizens of Richmond, Virginia.

Awards Period



Above, many awards on this night.

Council President Kathy Graziano (4th District) and new CAO Byron C. Marshall presented an Official Joint Proclamation, officially declaring July 2009 as Richmond Public Park, Recreation and Community Facilities Month. J. R. Pope, director of the Department, accepted the award on behalf of the employees of the department, many of whom were in the audience.

Councilwoman Ellen Robertson (6th District) presented an Official Welcome to the 2009 Richmond Microscopy & Microanalysis Conference that will be held at the Richmond Convention Center July 26 - 30, 2009. The welcome was received by Carolyn Marks and Edwina "Winnie" Westbrook [the wife of John Westbrook, Ellen Robertson's Legislative Assistant], two of the four organizers of the Conference. A free event, open to the public, will be held on June 29 at 8:30 AM entitled "Microscopy in the Classroom."

Councilwoman Reva Trammell presented a Community Service award to the Mr. Yong Hak Lee and Mrs. Keum Ho Lee, owners of the Satellite Restaurant and Lounge / Crab House for their willingness to host community meetings at their restaurant [such as the one last week organized by Councilwoman Trammell for business owners to discuss the recent robbery and shooting and other recent crime on the Southside].

Councilman Charles Samuels presented an Official Recognition to the Braille Circulation Library founded in 1925. The recognition was received by Rev. Brian J. Barton, Sr., Executive Director and Board Members, Melody Lindsey and Maurice Bray.

Councilman Samuels also presented an Official Recognition to WDYL (Y101) celebrating their 10th Anniversary and their service to the Richmond-Metro area.