Richmond City Council Meeting for September 13, 2010

Entire Formal Meeting - Sept. 13, 2010 - Richmond City Council - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Informal Session - City Registrar Showalter Discusses Redistricting Plan

Informal Session- Full Meeting - Sept. 13, 2010 - Richmond City Council - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Complete video of the September 13, 2010 Informal Session of Richmond City Council. City Registrar Kirk Showalter discussed redistricting that will occur as a result of the 2010 Census [1:00 - 31:50], Docket Review of the evening's papers for the next half hour [32:00 - 1:03], the last 10 minutes of the meeting were spent deciding what time and date would work out for everyone for their Fall Retreat, they finally settled on October 12, 2010, 9:30 AM - 1 PM. Location to be announced.

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.

The Latest Boondoggle - The Richmond Coliseum Study Group

Interim Status Update from Coliseum Study Group - Sept. 9, 2010 - Richmond, Virginia from Silver Persinger.

Today at 12 noon at the Performing Arts Center, a presentation was given to Richmond news media outlets by consultant Dan Barrett of Barrett Sports Group, LLC to discuss the preliminary results of their unscientific survey among Coliseum users which was used to illustrate support from the "General Public."

A statement from the report that jumped out to me was, "Approximately 99% of Respondents would potentially attend an event at a renovated Coliseum or New Arena Development."

Read the Interim Status Report for yourself and Mayor Dwight Jones' Press Release that was handed out after the presentation.

Here is an informative article about the formation of the Coliseum Study Group that costs $150,000 and was paid for by four area corporations, Genworth Financial, Dominion Resources Inc., Altria, and MeadWestvaco.

Mayor Jones was not present at the Press Conference, neither was any member of the Council present, nor any representative from Council's Chief of Staff. However, many of Mayor Jones' top administrators were there including Byron Marshall [Chief Administrative Officer], Peter Chapman [Deputy CAO, Dept. of Economic and Community Development], Suzette Denslow [Mayor's Chief of Staff], and four members of the Mayor's public relations office: Tammy Hawley [Press Secretary], Michael Wallace [Public Information Officer], Shelby Crouch [videographer and one of the only carry-overs from Mayor Wilder's administration], and a photographer, Jemila Woodson.

The assembled press were permitted to ask questions after the presentation.

KUDOS to the Office of the Press Secretary to the Mayor for both emailing PDFs of the documents above and for having paper copies at the Presentation for members of the media.

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.

Section 3 Informational Forum

Informational Forum on Section 3 Contracting - City of Richmond, Virginia - August 12, 2010 from Silver Persinger.

City of Richmond and Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority [RRHA] with the Department of Economic and Community Development organized this "informational forum" to discuss and share information about "Section 3", a program to benefit public housing residents as well as low and moderate income folks who earn less than 80% of area median income.

During Peter Chapman's presentation he said that 27% of the city's residents live in poverty and the current unemployment rate is 9.9%.

Richmond City to Celebrate Celebrity Alleged Pedophile Michael Jackson

Official Press Release from City of Richmond follows:

City of Richmond
Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities

Media Contacts:
Tesha Davis (804) 646-3998
Christy Everson (804) 646-5944

For Immediate Release
Aug. 5, 2010


City to show Michael Jackson movie, hold dance contests

Richmond, VA - The city’s Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities will show Michael Jackson’s “This Is It” Friday, Aug. 6, at its Broad Rock Sports Complex as part of its free Friday Pictures in the Park series of outdoor family entertainment. Broad Rock Sports Complex is located at 4801 Old Warwick Rd.

The movie, which will begin at 8:30 p.m., will be preceded by a Michael Jackson dance contests for children and teens at 7 p.m. and for adults at 8 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for first, second and third place in each contest.

Both the contests and movie are free, and free popcorn will be provided for the movie as well.

The public is encouraged to dress the part and participate in the dance contests, and to bring blankets, chairs and water or soft drinks to enjoy the movie.

Mayor Dwight Jones announces New City Jail will Remain in Shockoe Valley

Mayor Dwight Jones, Sheriff Woody, Michael Herring discuss Richmond City Jail from Silver Persinger.

At a Press Conference on Monday at 12:10 PM, Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced that the Richmond City Jail will remain in Shockoe Valley rather than being located at a new site. Four contractors have submitted conceptual proposals to his administration. They are City Central LLC of Richmond, which submitted the first proposal under the Virginia Public-Private Education and Infrastructure Facilities Act (they also hired Vice President Ellen Robertson's former Council Liason John Westbrook as a consultant for their project; their initial proposal for Commerce Rd. is in Mrs. Robertson's district); Tompkins Builders/S.B. Ballard Construction Co. of Washington, DC/Virginia Beach; Mojave Corrections Co. LLC of Nashville, Tenn.; and English/Balfour Beatty Joint Venture of Lynchburg, VA/London, UK.

Sheriff C.T. Woody also spoke about what efforts were being made to lower the temperatures in the City Jail from 120 degree Fahrenheit. Commonwealth's Attorney Michael Herring said that his office would be working to facilitate the release of between 350-400 non-violent inmates who would be diverted into alternative programs such as drug and mental health treatment.

BP Oil Spill Sucks

Here is a T-shirt I designed on April 30, 2010, just 10 days after the oil spill began.

Spill Baby Spill T-shirt by freesilver
More Oil T-Shirts

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.

Mayor Presents Budget to Council

Richmond, VA City Council - Prayer, Pledge, & Appointments - March 22, 2010 - Part 1/12 from Silver Persinger.

Richmond City Council - Information about Census 2010 - Awards Period - March 22, 2010 - Part 2/12 from Silver Persinger.

Mayor Dwight Jones Presenting FY 2010 Budget to City Council - March 22, 2010 from Silver Persinger.

Richmond City Council - Budget Details with Byron Marshal & Marcus Jones - March 22, 2010 - Part 4/12 from Silver Persinger.