Category Archives: politics

Meet & Greet With Incumbent McClellan on Wednesday

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IMG_0341

Another flyer went around the neighborhood for “A Meet & Greet” with the 71st District incumbent Delegate Jennifer L. McClellan. Its happening this Wednesday from 6:30 pm to 8pm at the Finches’ house, 411 S. Cherry Street. Its described as a casual light food and drink mixer, no campaign contributions required. R.S.V.P. by Sept 1 to rosarf40@hotmail.com.

I wonder if her competition, Silver Persinger, will make it. Unfortunately, I doubt I will be able to make it due to prior commitments. I do have some questions for the Delegate though, questions that I have asked before…

Since she serves on the House Education Committee, can she encourage VCU to take a positive step for community relations?

As a Verizon attorney, can she make sure the neighborhood gets its fair share of service, including FIOS?

Since her main contributor is Dominion, what can she do to make sure Dominion utilizes more renewable energy vs. dirty coal?

I am sure other Oregon Hill residents and 71st constituents have questions. Please feel free to leave some in the comments below.

King Asks For More Solar

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Although there have been some welcome announcements recently about local solar projects, the King of Oregon Hill asks his subjects and other local leaders to do more to utilize distributed rooftop solar energy as an alternative to the grid’s dirty coal power.

“I have lobbied heavily for more solar for a while now. All along, I have encouraged VCU to do solar, including thermal with the new rec center pool project. I have lobbied Richmond Public Schools to renovate Open High with solar as a pilot for future solar schools,” stated Burger. “Furthermore, I have tried to serve as an example, putting solar on top of my palace, and in the process, compelling Dominion Power to improve the micro-grid in the neighborhood.

Now is not the time to let up as the financial and environmental incentives keep increasing. Certainly, solar will not be our sole saving grace, but combined with energy conservation and other renewable energy, it is part of the overall solution to emerging emergencies, including Peak Oil and Climate Change.

Of course I do not expect everyone to be in a place or position to afford full PV solar arrays, but I do hope that everyone will take what steps they can- whether it be solar powering just one room or structure, or attempting solar financing as a third party.

I will also note how this intersects with previous royal edicts on food security. The conversation continues to grow.”

Center Stage Siphoning Off Landmark Theater Funding?

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There’s a rumor on the street that the soon-to-open downtown Center Stage project is now taking funding away from the Landmark Theater renovation.

Instead of getting it out of City of the Future funds, the way it was supposed to,
the Landmark actually got its money from the excess surplus from the Manchester Project. But CenterStage leadership is rumored to be negotiating with Council to get the money that would have gone to the Landmark. (Remember when the City of the Future was supposed to be mainly about renovating and building new schools?)

Many Oregon Hill residents have questioned the Center Stage project from the beginning. Now as it gets closer to opening day, more and more people are raising questions. And yet, even more amazing, this sad, wasteful story just keeps growing.

The Landmark renovations will most likely get finished no matter what, but if this rumor proves true then what other public priorities is Center Stage distracting money and attention from?

Student Rental Trash

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The end of July means moving for many people. Unfortunately, for far too many renters and landlords that means pile up your trash on the sidewalk and leave town, and let others deal with their trash. Although I posted before about the problem on Idlewood and Cherry, here is what will greet the Byrd Market attendees this afternoon:
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Again, in the Idlewood situation, an easy solution would be to create a trash containment area along the alley which goes north behind the residences just a few yards away, and make sure residents use it. City trash trucks are supposed to be picking up from the back alleys in the neighborhood.

Unfortunately, this is not the only place where this happening, as the following pictures will attest. In every single case, it involves VCU student renters of absentee landlords. All of these places are repeat offenders. While not every Oregon Hill residence has a back alley access due to the way the lots are laid out, all of these places in the pictures have back alley access. There are other trash problems in the neighborhood, but I find these particularly egregious because they block front sidewalks. Personally, I suggest the City increase fines against the landlords, who are easier to identify and locate. I would be in favor of landlord licenses, not unlike what other university towns have implemented.

In the meantime, I will go out this morning since I have the day off from work and try to at least tidy the sidewalk trash on my block. Maybe this will stop the City from fining me for not mowing along my back alley while I was away on vacation.

614, 616 S. Laurel St.

614, 616 S. Laurel St.


500 block of S. Laurel Street

500 block of S. Laurel Street


100 block of S. Cherry Street

100 block of S. Cherry Street


800 block of Holly Street

800 block of Holly Street

Councilperson Jewell’s “Rippin'” Fundraiser

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Word on the street is that, following the passing of the Downtown Master Plan, 5th District Councilperson Marty Jewell will be holding a fundraising party this Wednesday, hosted by the Ripp family.

Some background here, here, and here.

Hopefully the Downtown Master Plan will be one topic of discussion at tonight’s Oregon Hill Neighborhood Association meeting.

Silver Petitions City Council On Behalf Of Bicyclists

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Candidate Silver Persinger is at it again. In his own words:

I created this petition to Richmond City Council. A friend was recently stopped by police for not having a light on her bicycle and fined $100. Sign this petition to reduce the fine and pass it along to your friends. If several hundred people sign it, we may have a shot.

Click here to sign the following petition.

Petition to Reduce Fine for Riding a Bicycle without a Light in Richmond, Virginia

We, the undersigned, request that Richmond City Council reduce the fine for bicyclists who ride a bicycle at night without lights from $100 to $15.

Whereas, bicycle riding is a healthy form of transportation that is good for rider and the environment; the City Council should value and encourage the contribution that bicyclists make to reducing the impact of transportation to the city and the environment.

Whereas, bicycles are predominately ridden with young people, students, and the low income; a $100 fine presents a financial hardship for the majority of bicycle riders. On July 24, 2009 the Federal Minimum Wage was raised to $7.25. A $100 fine represents over 13.5 hours of labor at minimum wage, or over a third of an employee’s weekly wages.

Whereas, most bicycles are equipped with reflectors, the bicycles are visible at night by reflecting the headlights of oncoming automobiles.

We object to the $100 fine and request the City Council to create an ordinance which would reduce the fine to $15.

LUHT Agenda- It Matters

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Often, the resolutions that come before City Council have their basis in one of the committees that meet before City Council. One of the most important of those Council committees is the Land Use, Housing, and Transportation Committee, which usually meets monthly on a Tuesday afternoon (for example, July 21, at 3 pm in Council chanbers at City Hall).

Here are a few items from the agenda for the upcoming LUHT Committee meeting that may be of interest to Oregon Hill residents and Richmond citizens in general:

Presentation(s)

Monroe Park Improvements Planned by Monroe Park Advisory Council – Larry Miller,
Project Management Analyst, Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities.

Central VA Waste Management Authority (CVWMA)Presentation – Kim Hynes, Executive
Director, CVWMA

Papers for Consideration

Public Works

4. Ord. No. 2009-138 (Patron: Mr. Hilbert) – To amend *** the Code *** for the
purpose of establishing procedures and guidelines for the maintenance and removal of
trees on City-owned property and to establish an Urban Forestry Commission.

The Spigot Is Turning…

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I am very glad to hear from Richmond Water Utility officials that, according to initial estimates, VCU will pay for 2,356 ERUs resulting in an annual stormwater utility charge of approximately $106,000. I am told this involves 185 parcels. This is a lot better than nothing, which is what I was initially lead to believe and I do appreciate their willingness to answer questions. Now, how does this compare to average annual residential charge of $45? And what is VCU doing to actually solve its stormwater runoff issues? More scrutiny is not a bad thing.

In the meantime, a few more notes:

The stormwater utility issue is refocusing attention to the water rates issue. Silver, as usual, is doing a lion’s share.

Its great to see more neighbors using rainwater barrels, some of them bought at the Byrd Market. It’s also good to see the City getting with the program…

I would love to see Richmond establish a ‘Green Alley’ program like Chicago’s (not to be confused with Oregon Hill’s Green Alley)

Now, what about micro-hydroelectric and grey water systems?

Silver on Water Rates: 1st District Gets Special Treatment?

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Oregon Hill resident Silver Persinger continues to cover AND challenge City Council. This time he takes on a topic dear to other Oregon Hill residents- water rates!

I spoke in opposition to ordinances 2009-113 and 2009-114 which exempt 836 residential water customers [ most who live in the “affluent first district,” Mr. Tyler’s district ] from higher water rates for having water meters larger than 5/8 inch.

DPU conducted a survey of over 200 of the 836 households and found that they all had appropriate sized meters for the type and number of water fixtures used by the customer. 93% of the 836 households [ 777 ] would have had to pay less than $20 a month additionally on their monthly water bill.