More donated gravel was spread this morning on the 600 block alleys. This follows previous volunteer work.
Correction: Neighbors actually raise money for this gravel. Volunteers donated their time though.
More Gravel For Alleys
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Category Archives: government
Times Dispatch: “Dogs are not banned on Potterfield Bridge, but some injuries reported”
It does a good job of exploring the concerns and the responses. In conclusion, the City does not disallow dogs on the new bridge, but there are reasons for dog owners to be careful.
This might be a good time to remind everyone of the meeting next week on riverfront development.
(Ed. note: my own personal experience is that when I walked my dogs on the bridge, I did not see any evident injury, but did notice their apprehension. I will certainly be more careful in the future and may not take the dogs on the bridge again.)
Councilperson Agelasto Releases Statement As New Council Is Sworn In
The Times Dispatch had an article this morning on the Council meeting last night, where new members were sworn in and 3rd District Councilperson Chris Hilbert was elected President of City Council.
The article reported that 5th District Councilperson Parker Agelasto (Oregon Hill’s representative) had a pointed statement released after the meeting:
However, in a departure from what is typically a unanimous, nine-member vote for council president, Agelasto opted to abstain.
After the meeting, Agelasto distributed a statement saying he didn’t vote for Hilbert because he was disappointed Hilbert didn’t appoint him to any leadership positions on the council’s committees and, instead, stripped him of the position he had held as vice chair of the council’s finance committee.
“During my first four years on City Council, I attempted to bring greater transparency to council operations and greater accountability over how taxpayer monies are spent,” he said. “I realize this new way of doing things was not greeted with open arms by some on council, who were wedded to past council actions that too often led to spending abuses and fixations on shiny projects at the expense of funding for schools, public safety and basic city services.”
Mark Your Calendars: Riverfront Plan Meeting Jan. 11
From email announcement:
The Department of Planning & Development Review would like to invite you, as someone who has previously attended Downriver public meetings, to a public meeting to discuss the results of the Downriver concepts developed over the last 10 months with your input. Please forward this invitation widely within your networks and among interested parties:
What: Public Meeting on Downriver Riverfront Plan Amendments
Where: City Council Chambers, City Hall, 900 E Broad Street
When: Wednesday, January 11, 6-8 PMThat page now opens with a picture of the T. Tyler Potterfield Memorial Bridge – the first completed implementation project of the Riverfront Plan. We hope that you all have an opportunity to enjoy the Bridge over the holidays (and maybe even show it off to your guests!) and look forward to seeing you on January 11 to discuss the Downriver sites and next steps.
Happy holidays,
City of Richmond Department of Planning & Development Review
City Encourages Hazard Mitigation Planning; Meeting Friday
From City press release:
Richmond, VA – The City of Richmond’s Office of Emergency Management invites public comment on a regional Hazard Mitigation Plan that is presently being updated.
A meeting will be held on Friday, December 16, 2016, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.at the Richmond Regional PDC, Board Room, 9211 Forest Hill Ave, Suite 200, Richmond VA 23235.Disasters can devastate a community’s economic, social, and environmental well-being. Hazard mitigation is the effort to reduce loss of life and property by lessening the potential impact of future disasters.
Mitigation planning is a key process to break the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage. It positions local leaders to take action prior to a disaster, to reduce impacts when a disaster occurs. Using local knowledge and expertise to plan today, allows localities to plan, design, and build their community and builds partnerships for risk reduction throughout the community.Having a hazard mitigation plan will:
· increase awareness of hazards, risk, and vulnerabilities;
· identify actions for risk reduction;
· focus resources on the greatest risks;
· communicate priorities to state and federal officials; and
· increase overall awareness of hazards and risks.The 26 localities of the Richmond and Crater regions work together to update the Richmond-Crater Multi-Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan to identify vulnerabilities associated with natural disasters and develop long-term strategies to reduce or eliminate long-term risks.
While nothing can be done to prevent natural hazard events from occurring, the region is poised to minimize the disruption and devastation that so often accompanies disasters, increasing the region’s resiliency.Attend the meeting below to help break the cycle of disaster damage, reconstruction, and repeated damage. Please come to provide comment on the plan.
Friday, December 16
10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Richmond Regional PDC, Board Room
9211 Forest Hill Ave, Suite 200
Richmond VA 23235
For additional information please contact Bill Lawson, Emergency Planner, Office of Emergency Management, at 804-646-5281 or William.Lawson@Richmondgov.com.
Support The Recounts – for Monroe Park and National Election
The Sierra Club Falls of the James has joined some Oregon Hill and Fan neighbors in calling for a community review and ‘recount’ of the trees that have been removed recently from Monroe Park.
As one neighbor, Turk Sties, put it,
The conservancy should be following the approved master plan. The master plan was clear on what trees would not be removed. I don't know if the removed trees were to stay per the master plan. But the plan should be followed.
Funding was obtained to effect the master plan. How can it be spent for anything else, especially for removing trees the master plan deemed integral to the rejuvenated park?
The tree work should be investigated by the city auditor to determine whether or not the conservancy has removed any trees that were to remain. If the conservancy has caused the removal of "spared" trees, the conservancy board members should be removed for cause and replaced with other people who can follow instructions. If that is not possible, it is time to require the addition of three "at-large" board members who can represent the citizens' interest.
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On the national front, the courageous Jill Stein continues to push forward for recounts of Presidential ballots in key swing states, despite setbacks. Using fundraised money, the state recount efforts have not found evidence of foreign actors, but have found many systematic problems. Perhaps the most troubling of these is a preponderance of undercounting in predominantly black Michigan districts.
At the same time, Clinton emerged to condemn ‘fake news sites’, while some established newspapers have published unverified, anonymous CIA leaks that claim Russian intervention in the election. Regardless of veracity, foreign agents installing a right-wing leader? You can almost hear other countries such as Argentina, Chile, and Iran singing in their best Bob Dylan (and for the record, I am not a big fan) voice, “How does it feeeeeel?” As Glenn Greenwald of the Intercept put it, it’s also “a good indication of how confused and lost U.S. political culture has become in the wake of Trump’s victory.”
How will this all be sorted out going forward? Not sure, but in my book, trees and votes do matter and deserve more attention.
City of Richmond Fire Department Survey
Excerpt from email:
My name is Steven Hall Jr. and I am a lieutenant for the City of Richmond Fire Department. Like you, I am a resident of the City of Richmond. As a National Fire Academy Executive Fire Officer candidate, I am conducting research that will help the City of Richmond Fire Department better understand and meet the expectations of our citizens. Below you will find a link to a short survey that will help our leadership better understand your expectations and how we can improve our service to you.
5th District Holiday Party
Leaf Collection/Street Cleaning and The Tireless Jimmy Blackford
Cherry Street neighbor Jimmy Blackford and I worked on dislodging leaves and dirt from sidewalks and gutters in preparation for City’s upcoming leaf collection and street cleaning. It would be great if other neighbors could do the same. It is supposed to rain Tuesday and Wednesday, so hopefully it will get done before then. Don’t forget to move those cars!
Ceremony To Close Monroe Park Tomorrow
Report from Cherry Street neighbor Todd Woodson on Monroe Park:
Breaking News- tomorrow, Wednesday, November 9th at 10am, the Mayor and VCU president Rao will hold a ceremony in the park with watering cans to celebrate the closing. Ms Massie reports that this weekend will be the last for activity in the park before work begins. The Conservancy is asking that displaced feeding groups not use other parks. The first phase of work is tree work, which will take 4-5 months. It is important that we stay vigilant during this period as in all phases as we don’t want any “mistakes”. They will also be removing the benches and lights from the park during this period.