Consults Over Coffee: What Happened to Monroe Park?
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Dear Delegate Carr and Councilperson Lynch (Part 2),
Dear Delegate Carr and Councilperson Lynch,
I hope you all are doing well and staying healthy. I recognize that the pandemic is not over and I do believe you both should be commended for your public service during this emergency. Councilperson Lynch, I was delighted and relieved to hear that you recovered from your COVID-19 infection. Congratulations to you and your family!
I am writing for two reasons.
One is to follow up on an earlier request for information and attention for the implementation of ranked choice voting. My understanding is that Governor Northam’s budget provides $16.7 million GF in FY 2021 to support and replace the Virginia Election and Registration Information System (VERIS) with more modern systems that must be compatible with RCV ballots. I appreciated your earlier reply but with the replacement of VERIS becoming more viable and the dismissal of the previous City Registrar, I am hoping to hear more on this now.
Secondly, and somewhat related, I was intrigued when I read that Richmond City Council’s Governmental Operations Committee is expected to begin reviewing the city charter, or constitution, for potential amendments.
As you know, this is important as the city charter is Richmond’s governing document and lays out how the local government should function. It also outlines the rules and expectations for elected officials.
In addition to advocating for ranked choice voting as a board member for FairVoteVirginia.org, I am also a supporter of www.MoveToAmend.org, a national group dedicated to amending the federal constitution in order to establish that corporations are not people and that money is not speech. While there is certainly a lot happening on the national level with Congressional Representative Pramila Jayapal’s introduction of the The We the People Amendment, I am very much interested in seeing complimentary local and state level actions.
I will note that the City of Charlottesville’s City Council passed a resolution in support of a federal constitutional amendment back in 2012. Councilperson Lynch, you may remember that I asked specifically if you would introduce and support a similar resolution to Richmond City Council back when you first ran for your seat, and you replied in the affirmative. Now that you are in your second term, so to speak, I think it is fair to make this request again.
Certainly, Virginia is at a crossroads when it comes to campaign finance reform and its leaders putting their allegiance to citizens before corporate power. We are seeing a lot of ‘big money’ already effecting the election race for Governor. Attempts to reign in Virginia’s unusually unrestrictive campaign finance system have so far gone nowhere in the General Assembly. The Commonwealth of Virginia is different from other states in that it does have its own state constitution. Delegate Carr, would you be willing to propose an amendment to the Virginia constitution similar to what MoveToAmend.org and Congressional representative Jayapal are proposing for the federal constitution?
Again, I greatly appreciate any information or attention you can give to my humble requests for Richmond and our Commonwealth.
Sincerely,
Scott Burger
COVID-19 Is No Joke
So for the second year in a row, there will be no April Fool’s posts. Sadly, the COVID-19 still presents a viable risk and threat for neighbors while life during the pandemic remains unsettled and difficult for many people in general. It’s too bad, because I did have some good ones planned- ‘City Launches ‘R-VAlue’ (Social credit system which would reward residents who promote casino possibilities while punishing those who brought up controversies like Monroe Park), ‘VCU’s New Robot Avatars Attempt To Replace Adjuncts‘, ‘Reclusive Neighbor Did Not Know Pandemic Was Happening’, ‘Oregon Hill Marijuana Gardening Club‘, etc. But the reality is that we need to focus on the current reality.
Instead, let’s use this time before Easter to think about and pray for those who are battling the virus (including our Councilperson, Stephanie Lynch, who publicly announced her infection on Tuesday) and think positive thoughts about vaccines and better times ahead. Don’t be an April Fool, keep wearing your mask outside of your home.
Time To End Some Leases And Protect What Is Public
Todd Woodson, past OHNA president, past Sierra Club Falls of the James ‘Green Giant’ award winner, and past member of City Council’s Monroe Park Advisory Council, released this post this morning:
NO CITY MONEY FOR THE MONROE PARK CONSERVANCY!
Friends- the writing is on the wall! As Historic Monroe Park falls deeper into dereliction only two years after an $8 million dollar renovation, it has become obvious that even though 2020 set a record for charitable giving, the Monroe Park Conservancy – the group responsible for the Park’s sad condition, is broke and can’t honor their agreement with the City. Alice Massie and treasurer Matthew Stanley have defied federal regulations by refusing to allow their form 990’s to be reviewed by the public. Having exhausted all sources of charitable giving, it is inevitable that this “conservancy” will or have asked the City for a bail out, using tax payer money. It will take millions to repair the damage they and they alone have caused to our most historic park. The answer should be a resounding NO! It is time to terminate the lease and put the historic park back in the hands of the community under our capable Parks Department’s management. Giving Massie and Matthew Stanley (who is also Outreach Director for Richmond Public Schools) more money would be an egregious waste of our hard earned dollars. Reach out to your representatives and ask that they terminate the lease immediately and fix the park with public restrooms, usable pathways and a RESTORED TREE CANOPY!
At this past OHNA (Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association) meeting, Councilperson Stephanie Lynch was asked if there was any news on Monroe Park. She replied that there was none other than rumors of financial difficulty on the part of the Monroe Park Conservancy and she did not know of any City Council requests to rescind the lease (something that OHNA has previously requested).
Given some of the same issues of park use and attempts at privatization, it is noteworthy that near the riverfront side of Oregon Hill, during or shortly after the recent ‘zombie show filming’, a sign went up in the Belle Island (part of the James River Park system) for “private parking”. The city’s lease with Venture Richmond stated that they would retain free parking in the Belle Isle parking lot i.e. public parking.
After citizens made inquiries, Venture Richmond quickly said more recently that the new signs would come down and blamed the towing company for misunderstanding. Many citizens remain skeptical and believe this was yet another attempt to sneak in privatization. Oregon Hill residents, including Todd Woodson, remain vigilant in trying to watch over Venture Richmond and other ‘public-private partnerships’.
And on that score, one other thing- Oregon Hill residents have heard that Dominion is planning to move ahead with its proposed solar array on top of its riverfront parking garage (which, btw, is not shared with the public for parking). While many Oregon Hill residents are very much in favor of renewable energy, this is in violation of the hard won height agreement there (which OHNA, the Sierra Club Falls of the James, and other community and environmental groups are part of). What does this mean if Dominion is not going to be held accountable for its own agreements that are there to protect a public view?
When you look at all that has recently been proposed around the neighborhood, including Richmond300 shenanigans to ‘affordable housing’ initiatives, it is time is to send some universal messages- BACK OFF! AND STOP TRYING TO TAKE FROM THE PUBLIC! Return Monroe Park to the public!
P.S. Please do click through the links in this editorial and appreciate the time and energy that Oregon Hill residents have sacrificed to protect this neighborhood and what belongs to the City and public in whole. The local corporate media often does not give the complete picture in these matters and we need everyone to recognize how corporate hegemony, be it from institutions like VCU, be it from private companies like Dominion, be it from ‘public-private partnerships’ like Venture Richmond, be it from our own compromised City government, is acting against us. (Coming soon to this community news site, more on how we can fight back on the local, city, state, and national level…)
Tell SCC: Support SRECs for Community Solar
TODAY is the deadline to send comments to the SCC to help increase VA SREC values.
Background:The VA State Corporation Commission is setting the rules for the implementation of the DG carveout for the Virginia Clean Economy Act as it relates to Dominion Energy filing. The carveout is the percentage of the 100% clean energy goal that will be allocated to distributed solar projects. The Commission will determine what kind of energy projects qualify for the carveout and ultimately how much SRECs are valued. The commission will decide the extent to which solar homeowners are eligible for these credits, and if so, how much these credits are worth. Their decision will affect the value of SREC’s, an important production-based incentive for solar on homes, businesses, and nonprofits in VA.
We’re asserting that to maintain a high value SREC, it’s important that the SCC reserves the solar carveout in the VCEA exclusively for net metered, customer-owned and sited solar. We also see the opportunity to ask the SCC to increase the floor of the carveout as well. But the biggie is making sure that the carveout is reserved for customer owned and sited generation. Solar United Neighbors is joining a number of industry groups to intervene in the proceeding but it’s important that as many VA solar advocates (you’ll) comment as well!
Submit Comments to the SCC before COB 2/12/21.
The commission is accepting public comments regarding Dominion Energy’s filing through Friday.
Go this link:
https://www.scc.virginia.gov/casecomments/comment/PUR-2020-00134
Follow the directions. Fill out the required information, including your name, address, email and other contact information.
In the section marked ‘Comments’, explain why the SCC should support Virginians’ ability to go solar. We’ve drafted a message below, but please personalize your message. If you have solar, tell the commission how it has benefited you and your family. If you don’t have solar, tell the commission you support expanding solar in Virginia.
Hit the submit button
Email to State Corporation Commission (feel free to customize based on your personal or organizational goals)
Dear State Corporation Commission Staff and Commissioners, RE: PUR-2020-00134
The solar installed on homes and businesses across the Commonwealth does more than provide electricity. It creates good local jobs. It makes our electric grid more reliable. And, it provides clean energy. Distributed solar owners deserve credits for these benefits.
Distributed solar energy must play a role in Virginia’s 100% clean energy goal as part of the Virginia Clean Economy Act. You can see that this happens by taking the following steps:
– Reserve the distributed generation carveout solely for customer-owned and sited,net metered solar systems.
– The 1% distributed generation carveout should be a minimum, not maximum amount. This will ensure that more Virginians are able to participate and receive a value for their role in Virginia’s clean energy transition.
– Increase the carve out by a minimum of 1% of the annual RPS requirement on a yearly basis to ensure maximum economic impact. This is consistent with the economic transition requirements contained in the Virginia Clean Economy Act.
Distributed solar is responsible for creating a majority of all solar jobs in Virginia. More distributed solar means more jobs and local economic growth in our communities. For every 1MW of residential solar, 31 jobs are created. Every kW of distributed solar brings $2,425 in economic activity.
Limiting the types of projects eligible for the distributed generation carveout will make solar more accessible to low-income families and support a more broad portfolio of projects in the Commonwealth.
Thank you for reading my letter. Please ensure customer-owned solar plays a role in our clean energy mix.
Regards,
Correspondent Of The Day: “City Should Manage Monroe Park Upkeep”
Let’s hope the new 2nd District City Council representative, Katherine L. Jordan, will move to terminate the lease.
Set A Good Example
This photo was taken in Hollywood Cemetery, but it should apply everywhere right now. If you visit Oregon Hill or surrounding amenities, please wear a mask to keep the coronavirus from spreading. There have been some complaints about some local tour companies bringing people to see holiday lights into the neighborhood who are not following pandemic guidelines. This is happening elsewhere in the area as well and it is unacceptable. Please stay on Santa’s Nice List.
Dear Delegate Carr and Councilperson Lynch,
Dear Delegate Carr and Councilperson Lynch,
As you both are well aware, the City of Richmond will hopefully be electing a new Mayor in a few short weeks. You both probably also know that, ultimately, candidates vying to be Richmond’s Mayor need to win a plurality of the vote in at least five of the city’s nine city council districts. Should no candidate have achieved that feat on November 3rd – something considered a distinct possibility considering the numerous serious candidates left in the race – a second round vote between the top two city-wide vote earners is to take place (with the same requirement of winning a majority of the city’s districts). In addition to discord, a run-off election could prove very costly financially to the City.
On April 10, 2020, Governor Northam signed HB 1103. This Act amended the Code of Virginia by adding a section numbered 24.2-673.1, relating to using ranked choice voting (RCV) in local elections. The Act stipulates that elections of members of a county board of supervisors or a city council may be conducted by ranked choice voting pursuant to this section. The decision to conduct an election by ranked choice voting shall be made, in consultation with the local electoral board and general registrar. The law shall be enacted within the county or city by a majority vote of the board of supervisors or city council that the office being elected serves (or, this being Richmond, is it the General Assembly?). The Act will go into effect on July 1, 2021.
Unfortunately, the Act also stipulates that any costs incurred by the Department of Elections related to changes in technology that are necessary for the implementation of this Act, including changes to technology for receiving the results of elections conducted pursuant to this Act, shall be charged to the localities exercising the option to proceed with ranked choice voting. On behalf of FairVote Virginia, I respectfully request that you both ask the City of Richmond Registrar to provide Richmond City Council and the Virginia General Assembly with an estimate of the costs associated with the implementation of this Act.
After receiving this estimate, City Council, (or, this being Richmond, is it the General Assembly?) will be in a better position to make a decision regarding the implementation of ranked choice voting in future Richmond local elections.
A couple of things that are also on my mind in regard to this matter:
I am closely watching for the findings of a study required by the General Assembly Budget Amendment HB29, which explores replacing VERIS (Virginia Election and Registration Information System.) If VERIS is replaced, the new system chosen must be compatible with RCV ballots. I am hearing the study completion is on target for October reporting, and since RCV has already passed the legislature and has become an option for all localities in 2021…it will be part of the initial requirements!
“It is the intent of the General Assembly that the Department of Elections release a Request for Information in fiscal year 2020 related to the replacement of the Virginia Election and Registration Information System (VERIS). The Department shall provide an update to the Chairs of House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee on the options and potential costs for replacing VERIS on or before September 1, 2020.”
https://budget.lis.virginia.gov/amendment/2020/1/HB29/Introduced/FA/83/1h/
During the pandemic, ranked choice voting has become a necessary alternative to lengthy assembled run off conventions, RCV was used in both Democratic and Republican Party Conventions this year in Virginia. Most notable, in August, to elect the Republican Party of Virginia’s State Chair. In the second round of tabulation Rich Anderson received 62% of the vote.
In VA10 and VA11 districts, the Republican Party conventions selected candidate for House of Representatives by ranked choice voting. Commentary in an article on thebullelephant.com noted that in the 10th District convention, “was a very well run unassembled convention with everything working as it should have. For most of the day, there were no lines at all, with some short wait times in the early morning when Loudoun county was voting. There were 1600 delegates registered and 1240 showed up to vote, an excellent turnout.”
Arlington County Democratic Party used ranked choice voting to endorse candidates for County Supervisor and School Board.
Also, in Arlington County, there is an initiative underway to implement RCV in local elections.
Regardless, I appreciate any information or attention you can give to my humble request for RIchmond.
Sincerely,
Scott Burger
FairVote Virginia board member and 5th District resident
(FairVote Virginia is a non-partisan, non-profit champion of ranked choice voting. Our members cover the entire political spectrum and come together from across the Commonwealth, united by a shared mission to revive real, representative democracy by enacting and implementing ranked choice voting legislation.)
UPDATE:
Thank you very much for your prompt response.
Sincerely,
Scott
On Oct 26, 2020, at 1:15 PM, Betsy Carr – House of Delegates
Dear Scott,
Thank you for your email. I will forward your request to the Richmond Registrar’s Office. Please keep in mind that since the election is a week away, they may not respond until after their work relating to the election is complete.
HB1103 stipulates that the local governing body (i.e. the City of Richmond’s Council, not the General Assembly) in consultation with the local electoral board and local registrar can decide to implement RCV in their locality.
Additionally, I spoke to House Appropriations staff about the HB29 budget language regarding the report on the replacement of VERIS. Due to COVID-19, budget language was passed that allows for state agencies to defer their reporting in order to prioritize their response to the pandemic. The Department of Elections is one of those agencies that has had to seriously shift their focus in order to ensure that all Virginian voters are able to safely vote. A report is expected around the end of the year.
Please let me know if you have any additional questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Betsy
Virtual Richmond Folk Festival Begins
Unfortunately, the pandemic has forced this year’s Richmond Folk Festival to ‘go virtual’.
From The Richmond Free Press:
The 16th Annual Richmond Folk Festival, a celebration of music and culture from around the globe, will take place virtually Oct. 9 through 11.
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, people can enjoy the festival through a special television program, radio broadcasts and online streaming.
Music from Jamaican reggae, Chicago blues, Altai throat singing, kosher gospel, Gypsy jazz, Indian slide guitar, Gulf Coast boogie-woogie, Ireland and Dominican bachata will be featured from 6 to 10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 9, noon to 6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 10 and Sunday, Oct. 11, on Virginia Public Media radio stations 107.3 and 93.1 FM. The music is by performers from past Richmond festivals.
From 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, the festival will broadcast “All Together Now,” a two-part television celebration of Virginia artists, including Butcher Brown featuring J. Plunky Branch, Cora Harvey Armstrong, Kadencia and Jared Pool & Friends. The performances were filmed at Richmond’s Spacebomb Studios in partnership with VPM, and will be interspersed with performances from the festival’s Virginia Folklife Stage from the past. It will be broadcast on VPM Plus Channel 57.1 WCVW digital HD and livestreamed on VPM’s Facebook page and VPM’s YouTube page.
An interactive art installation by artist Kevin Orlosky will take place on Brown’s Island, the site of the festival in the past. Public participation is encouraged, with people wearing masks and socially distancing. People can paint a rock that represents something they miss, mourn or are looking forward to doing again after the pandemic. The rocks will become part of Mr. Orlosky’s stone labyrinth that, when viewed from above, will form a hand.
Artist Shannon Wright of Richmond, an illustrator and cartoonist whose work has been featured in major publications, books and online sites including The New York Times, created the official poster for the festival.
Details about the festival, performers, schedule, activities and where to listen or watch it are available on www.richmondfolkfestival.org.
As one of the handful of people who attended the very first folk festival (rainy) night in Richmond, back when it was National Folk Festival, I am delighted to see that it is soldiering on, as I very much enjoy the outside music it usually brings to the area. And while neighborhood relations have not always been harmonious, I know many Oregon Hill residents will be sad that they will not have the full festival just down the hill this year. It deserves support. (And talk is cheap- if you can afford it, do purchase a folk festival poster or t-shirt at Plan 9 Records or online).
Planning Director Punked!
At the Planning Commission meeting today, Planning Director Mark Olinger stated that he was highly offended by the rendering of the possible building that could be constructed in Oregon Hill if the ‘mixed-used’ designation with four-six story building height was approved. He stated that he would never allow such a horrible building to be constructed in Oregon Hill. Apparently Mr. Olinger did not realize that it was a photo of the very building that he approved in Oregon Hill on West Cary Street! He simply cannot be trusted.
Of course, when Oregon Hill resident Charles Pool tried to respond to Olinger’s presentation, the Planning Commission Chair muted him.
We need a new Planning director, and probably a whole new administration and Planning Commission. The Richmond300 plan cannot be allowed be allowed to pass when it is effectively ignoring the input of citizens who just don’t want to see their neighborhood ruined by greedy developers.
This is what we can expect from Richmond’s establishment, which has a bad history of running roughshod over its less wealthy residents. Sadly, its doubtful the local media will pick up on it, because they do not want to offend said establishment.