Ned Oliver wrote about the change for Axios Richmond:
The local electoral board took emergency steps to move two voter precincts out of city school buildings.
What’s happening: The decision follows complaints by teachers and staff that the facilities in question are infested with mold.
What they’re saying: “The move was decided due to the presence of unhealthy air quality conditions,” the General Registrar’s office said in a statement Monday.
Details: A precinct at Clark Spring Elementary in the Randolph/Maymont neighborhoods is moving to VCU University Student Commons.
And a South Richmond precinct at Boushall Middle is moving to Hickory Hill Community Center.
Of note: The move avoids a single day of potential exposure for voters and election workers, but RPS staff and students are continuing to use the facilities on a permanent basis.
One neighbor had this to say on the matter:
I’m confused. I personally helped volunteer and pack up textbooks and art supplies and such over 10 years ago because of the mold (other neighbors were there)
I thought the mold was gone
I’ve heard they are doing tests….what’s going on?Voters can’t breath the air for 15 minutes but kids and faculty have to go 5 days a week
What the hell
Another neighbor:
As i mentioned when I voted in the primary this summer, The VCU commons is a terrible location for us. There’s only paid parking (if it’s not paid due to holiday they need signs this year saying that)
There’s no info on whether to enter on main or Floyd. For the primary this summer, I parked on main st and there were zero voter signs (this where everyone from the 505 would walk or drive bc the entire precinct is south of main st). There were signs saying no parking on the north side of the street. There were no signs signifying a polling location when I walked in either. It was on the 2nd floor with no elevator readily available that I could find. I suspect they want to combine forces for the poll workers at the colocated 207 location. I’m signing up for mail only now.
The mold issue is particularly galling given that school building maintenance has been an ongoing city issue for decades.
It also feeds into longstanding suspicions that the Clark Spring Elementary is suffering a gradual ‘demolition by negligence’ so that the City can eventually sell off the land to developers or VCU.
Regardless, bad news for the public.