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.

RePHRAME's 3rd Annual Community Forum at Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church

RePHRAME's 3rd Annual Community Forum - Sept. 16, 2010 - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Various residents of Richmond's public housing and members of RePHRAME spoke to fellow residents and supporters at Sixth Mount Zion Baptist Church on Thursday, September 16, 2010 at 6 PM. Anthony Scott, CEO of Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority [RRHA] spoke to the group around minute 30:00.

The chief demands of the group were for RRHA to institute a local payment system and to increase the tenant representation on the RRHA Board. Currently residents have to mail their rent payments to Baltimore, Maryland and out of 7 commissioners on the RRHA Board, only one is a public housing resident.

A spaghetti dinner prepared by Richmond Food Not Bombs followed the meeting.

City Council Back from August Recess

Organizational Development - Richmond City Council - Sept. 7, 2010 from Silver Persinger.

The Organizational Development Standing Committee met at 4:11 PM. All members of Council were present. The Council received reports from Anthony Scott [CEO, RRHA] and Council's Chief of Staff, Daisy Weaver.

Mr. Scott discussed RRHA's updated 5 year strategic plan.

After the OrgDev meeting, the Council briefly convened a Special Meeting to approve a Resolution to change the name of the old U of R stadium from "Richmond Stadium" to "City Stadium."

Then the Council went into Executive Session [closed to the public] to discuss the Port of Richmond with members of the Port of Richmond Commission.

Crosland Presentation on Dove Court Redevelopment - A Blueprint for Privatizing Public Land & Housing

Crosland Presentation on Dove Court Redevelopment from Silver Persinger.

During Council Vice President Ellen Robertson's monthly 6th District meeting for August, there was a presentation from Crosland, the master developer for the Dove Court Redevelopment in North Richmond. Two individuals from Crosland gave the presentation, Dionne Nelson and Darryl Hemminger.

Council member Robertson was not present at the meeting because she was in Seattle, Washington.

The plan is to construct about 300 apartments, single family houses, row houses, duplexes and office space with about 1/3 dedicated to "affordable housing." Interesting to note, after the construction phase, Crosland will stay on long-term as the site's property manager, perform repairs, and enforce condo association-style rules in the neighborhood.

RRHA Monthly Board Meeting - RePHRAME speaks to Board

Part 1/3 - RRHA Board Meeting - April 20, 2010 - Public Information Period from Silver Persinger.



Above, Claudia Hill addressed the RRHA Board to complain about inaction by RRHA, difficulty in certification, unauthorized disclosure of her personal information, and a dangerous gas leak that took too long to repair. This is an excerpt from Part 1, from the Public Information Period.



Above, RRHA Board member and President of the the Richmond Tenants' Organization [RTO], Marilyn Olds tells it like she sees it regarding RePHRAME and the RTO.

Part 2/3 - RRHA Board Meeting - April 20, 2010 - Reports and Resolutions from Silver Persinger.

Part 3/3 - RRHA Board Meeting - April 20, 2010 - Workshop on Mixed Finance Development of Public Housing from Silver Persinger.

Airport Commission desires Leasing Authority / RRHA's Voucher Program/ Lehigh Cement Environmental Assessment Good @ Land Use - Jan. 19, 2010

Part 1/2 - Citizen Comment & Papers for Consideration @ Land Use - Jan. 19, 2010 from Silver Persinger.

At this meeting the Capital Region Airport Commission wanted to amend the language of their agreement with the city, giving the Commission sole authority in determining leases at the property.

Part 2/2 - Presentations on RRHA's Voucher Program & Lehigh Cement Environmental Assessment @ Land Use - Jan. 19, 2010 from Silver Persinger.