From FaceBook event page:
On October 3, 2016 Green Party Nominee for Vice President, Ajamu Baraka, will speak at Virginia Commonwealth University. The talk will take place in Grace E. Harris Hall room 101. You can enter the classroom through the front doors of the bulding directly in front of the commons and the ram horns.
“The Monroe Park Conservancy announced today that it has raised $3 million for the project, half of the $6 million facelift planned for the city’s oldest public park in the heart of Virginia Commonwealth University’s campus. The city will cover the other half.”
Oregon Hill used to border Monroe Park and neighbors still regard it as an important part of our public life.
No mention of donors other than the City.
“The conservancy has raised $1.3 million toward the goal since this past spring, but Massie declined to name specific organizations or donors to the project.
In spring 2014, Richmond City Council approved leasing the 8-acre public park to the conservancy for 30 years. The nonprofit planned to raise funds to cover its half of the bargain over the next year and begin construction in fall 2015, after the UCI Road World Championships wrapped up. Raising the money proved more difficult than expected and set the project back, Massie said this past spring.
The project’s designs have already been approved, but council must vote to accept the private funds before construction can begin. A groundbreaking ceremony is scheduled for November. Afterward, the park will be closed for 12 to 18 months while construction is completed.”
There are a lot of rumors about how the renovation plans are changing…
It’s a busy time of year in Richmond, and there are more events to keep track of than you have ever heard of.
So just count this as a quick reminder.
City Council candidate forum tonight at 6 pm at Diversity Thrift. I know Oregon Hill’s councilperson, Parker Agelasto, is looking forward to it. (Open Source RVA and WRIR will be taping on Tuesday and broadcasting the forum on Friday Sept. 23rd at 9 am. WRIR is also a co sponsor of this forum and the subsequent Tuesday candidate forums to be held at Diversity Richmond. So if you can’t make it, be sure to tune in.)
On Thursday, please volunteer to help take care of Oregon Hill sidewalks. Pine Street neighbor Stephenie Harrington is hoping to get a good group. There is also a second day of sidewalk cleaning planned on Saturday, 9/24, 9:00am.
This morning Libertarians gathered in Monroe Park to rally for their Presidential candidate, Gary Johnson. Part of the reason for it was to also protest his exclusion from the upcoming Presidential debates. As the rally gained steam, some of them marched around the perimeter of the park holding signs and passing out campaign literature.
At one point a group met up with a wedding party near the churches.
There was also what I think was a “Spirit Walk” by VCU students, complete with VCU police escort.
Although multiple media outlets covered the City Democratic Committee mayoral forum at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School this past Tuesday, the Times Dispatch newspaper captured this exchange:
Morrissey also chided Berry, a former assistant city manager in Richmond and county manager in Hanover County, on his response to a council candidate’s concerns about high city water rates that are inflated by an annual payment to the general budget in lieu of taxes.
Berry had warned that eliminating the payment from the public utility enterprise fund would hurt the city’s general budget. “The problem is if you take that away, it’s money that goes away from the general fund.”
Morrissey responded, “Just because you need the money doesn’t mean you can add a phony, faux tax to the water bill.”
Councilperson Baliles, who could not attend that forum, released this video:
On top of that, there was this announcement:
On today’s packed edition of Open Source RVA, we talk with city council candidate Charlie Diradour about his campaign to represent the second district. We discuss Richmond’s water rates, transparency in city government, what’s happening with Monroe Park and a host of other topics
…
We also welcome back to the program Farid Alan Schintzius, who talks about his legal efforts to appeal the decision by the city’s electoral board that disqualified him from the mayoral ballot. Too much show? You decide. Listen in at 2PM on WRIR 97.3 FM and http://wrir.org.
That’s today (Friday, Sept. 9 at 2pm).
So…The ongoing citizen campaign to reform City of Richmond’s water utility has become part of the local election landscape. Oregon Hill neighbors and others who have worked over time to bring water utility reform forward are excited to hear what the candidates have to say going forward.
It continues to be outrageous that small volume residential citizens can pay as much as 78% of their water/sewer bill for service charges, while some above average volume users can pay as little as 11%.
Will the candidate support removing the federal income tax surcharge on the water rates?
Will the candidate support lowering the base service charge that all customers must pay before receiving the first drop of water?
Will the candidates support discontinuing the use of the water utility as a cash cow for the city’s general fund?
As the election season hits full swing, there are many candidate forums taking place. It would be helpful if someone put together and published a full, public list of them. In the meantime, if you know of any particular ones that may be of interest to Oregon Hill, please add in comments.
Sept 20
Richmond City Council
https://www.facebook.com/events/274756072907285/
Sept 27
Congressional
4th District
7th District
https://www.facebook.com/events/623336041177382/
Oct 4
Mayoral
All 8 candidates are confirmed
https://www.facebook.com/events/1661397580844855/
Oct 11
Richmond School Board
https://www.facebook.com/events/1132340900174405/
Nothing better than a good history rumble, and RVAHub.com may have started one with a post on the history of Harvie’s Pond that tries to reintroduce some troubling assertions about the history of the James River and Kanawha Canal.
What’s particularly worrisome is how RVAHub.com is glossing over the earlier debate itself.
From a 2013 post on this site, entitled “Dueling Maps of the Towpath”:
Venture Richmond Director Jack Berry gave a presentation on the proposed amphitheater at the July meeting of the Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association. One the main assertions Berry made was that the tow path on the south bank of the canal was only 12 feet wide until it was enlarged in the 1880s to make way for the railroad. He wants to remove over half of the tow path on the south bank of the canal, from 25 to 12 feet to improve the sight lines of the the proposed amphitheater.
Disproving Berry’s assertion is the 1848 plat of Lewis Harvie’s property on file at the Henrico Courthouse (Plat 3-417), which is far more detailed than the Morgan map cited by Berry. This plat is of such detail that it actually gives the dimension of the tow path as being 30 ft. wide at the location of what is now Venture Richmond’s proposed amphitheater. (See measurement on the attached Henrico Plat below the word “Path” to the left of the “House.”) The east-west street above the canal is the same width as the tow path and is also labeled “30 feet wide.”
This 1848 Henrico plat establishes that the towpath was at least as wide as it is today during the canal’s primary period of significance, and long before the railroad purchased the right-of-way on the canal bank. This canal was carefully engineered with an impermeable “puddled” clay layer that would be irreparably damaged if half of the south canal bank is removed.
Sadly, this has happened. In late June, early July of 2014, Venture Richmond ignored citizen concerns and compromised the integrity of the historic canal.
In doing so, Venture Richmond and City government ignored the findings of a large report on this historic area that was completed earlier that year. That report concluded with this paragraph:
In 1989 a joint Virginia House and Senate resolution honored the bicentennial anniversary of the opening of the James River Canal, recognizing that the “James River Canal, around the falls of the James River in Richmond, Virginia was the first operating canal system with locks in the United States,” and recognizing the canal, “… as a valuable, scenic, historic and economic resource to the Commonwealth and its capital city.” The James River and Kanawha Canal has survived and been treasured as a remarkable feature for a dozen generations. Will we be the generation that jeopardizes the canal, allowing the tow path embankment of this rare, historic structure to be cut because it blocks the view of a rock band?
It’s definitely worth noting that Jack Berry, as the Executive Director of Venture Richmond, dishonorably broke a repeated public promise to this community and government. From neighbor Todd Woodson:
“It is outrageous that Venture Richmond is breaking its repeated promises to submit the amphitheater plan to an impartial state and federal review through the Section 106 process. We have spent a year researching the canal, and we have documentation that the current tow path and and embankment are authentic and will be greatly damaged by the amphitheater plan.”
Flash forward to 2016 and the same Jack Berry is now running for Mayor, complete with a slick video and lots of support from the Ukrops and other members of the local corporate oligarchy. Does anyone doubt that Berry, if elected Mayor, will put his backers’ corporate interests over the concerns of citizens and neighbors? As the election draws nearer, there are other important points to consider and I will try to get to them, but this “history debate” says a lot about the character of Berry. Also, is Venture Richmond is disingenuously delaying its interactions as they wait to see if Berry is elected or not?
Sure, a lot of people may not care that much about a nerdy debate over old maps, water levels, and historic preservation (though it should be held in higher regard based on future planning, and more!), but the bigger picture is who owns the history as we get ready to elect our new leaders. Sadly, I cannot help but compare this RVAHub.com post, which puts forward Venture Richmond’s version, with previous attempts to push Venture Richmond’s propaganda (to the point of dishonestly suggesting that this neighborhood is against the Folk Festival). The stance of this community news site is that the history belongs to all of us, and while different interpretations are certainly welcome, they should not be used as tools of corporate hegemony to the detriment of the community and the truth.
After recent events in Monroe Park, I asked candidates running for City Council in the 2nd District for written statements on the future of Monroe Park.
I received the following from Kimberly Gray:
I support the Monroe Park Master Plan that was developed in 2009. As the 2nd District City Council Representative I will advocate for renovations to get started sooner rather than later. I will work to help secure the remaining funds required to complete the plan. I am a strong proponent for keeping the historic integrity of the park and to promote the ideal that our parks are our greatest public treasure and should be open, safe and comfortable for all of us to visit and enjoy.
I have also received this statement from candidate Charlie Diradour:
Thanks to Scott and OregonHill.net for inviting us into the conversation regarding the future of one of Richmond’s most iconic parks. Monroe Park’s history is one of the many reasons that it should be restored to its former glory. The concept of public squares in Richmond dates back to the Eighteen Hundreds, and as we witness a resurgence in the “live, work, play ” manner of living, we need leadership that understands that parks are not amenities, but necessities.
The City of Richmond has not maintained, or improved this gem for decades. In fact, the damage done by installing the wrong sidewalks, including doing extensive damage to the irrigation system, has made the restoration more expensive in the long run.
The lease that was signed, and continues in force by and between Richmond and The Monroe Park Conservancy has been my evening reading for weeks now, and from what I gather that lease gives The Conservancy the right to The Park for Thirty years. That same lease gives The Conservancy the time they need to raise the sufficient monies to improve The Park.
Given the history, the present situation, and the future possibilities, I believe that the current agreement represents the only viable option to address the decades of neglect of this jewel by The City. Monroe Park must be restored so that it may be enjoyed by all, including VCU students and staff and Richmond residents.
Teddy Roosevelt said, “The nation behaves well if it treats its natural resources as assets which it must turn over to the next generation increased, and not impaired, in value.” Through our collective efforts we must find a place of agreement that will facilitate Monroe Park becoming, once again, a place for all to congregate, recreate, and at times find solace. We can only do that with steady leadership from a community committed to repairing structures and relationships.
Thanks to all;
Charlie
And finally, 2nd District Council candidate Rebecca Keel submitted her statement last night (August 21st, this post with Gray’s statement was originally made on July 27th):
Hello, thank ya’ll, and please forgive my delay in replying to your request for a statement. After spending a several weeks researching the history of the park, the current lease held by the Monroe Park Conservancy and VCU, and after hearing from some community members, both off and online, it seems clear that many people do not support the privatization of Monroe Park. Further, it happens to be my personal opinion that the act of privatizing, under the guise of revitalization, is short sighted.
Therefore I do not support the privatization of Monroe Park and would work to terminate the current lease. I hold this position because it is what the people want, and what would help populations who already and regularly inhabit the park.
It is true that Monroe Park is in poor condition, and I agree that this is an issue of Public Health and Well-being. The city must take better care of its historic gems.
It is also true that many unstably housed and homeless people regularly spend time in Monroe Park. Part of caring for a community is caring for the community members. Proposals to revitalize Monroe Park, that do not include services and resources for our homeless community members, are not solutions that work toward community growth and social justice.
Finally, it is necessary that any restoration of the park should respect the city’s history and come from community generated proposals and widespread buy-in.
As a council member, I will ensure that community engagement is thoughtful and inclusive, and together we can form a solution that both beautifies Monroe Park and provides assistance for the folks who already value it.
Thank you for your consideration,
Rebecca K. W. Keel
Despite the heat, buses arrive and march happens from Monroe Park.
From Richmond police:
The following locations will be closed for the event planned Saturday between the hours of 11:00 am – 6:00 pm
W. Franklin Street between Belvidere and N. Lombardy St.
Monument Ave between N. Lombardy and S. Meadow Street.
All side streets at these location wil also be closed.
No Parking will be enforced on Franklin St and Monument Ave. N. Allen Ave will also be enforced as well as the 1600-1800 Blk of W.Broad St & 1000 Blk. W. Grace St. Between the hours of 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Please pay close attention to the No Parking Signs during this day. We are trying to prevent vehicles/personal property from possibly be damaged.