Around 5:45 this morning, many Oregon Hill residents were waked up by the sound of gunfire. Maybe 20 to 30 shots.
From the police blotter:
11/05/2020 05:44 RPD Precinct 4 412A1 RANDOM GUNFIRE , INVESTIGATE 700-BLK S PINE ST Enroute
11/05/2020 05:44 RPD Precinct 3 312A6 RANDOM GUNFIRE , INVESTIGATE W 24TH ST/RIVERSIDE DR RICH Arrived
There were reports from resident across the river also.
This reminded many Oregon Hill neighbors of a disturbing incident this past summer.
This Wednesday is a “Red Wednesday”, which means trash and recycling pickup. Please go over what can be recycled. Ideally, rolling recycling containers are stored and deployed in the back alleys along with trash cans. Please make sure you pick up containers after pickup tomorrow night.
If you have not done so already, don’t forget to sign up for your Recycling Perks.
In order to take your recycling to the next level, read this: 10 ways to improve your recycling.
And, hey, RECYCLE THOSE POLITICAL SIGNS! Click here to learn more.
Cherry Street neighbor Todd Woodson took a bunch of pretty flower photos. The hope is that these will continue to beautify and nourish life on the Hill.
This turtle is well camouflaged in the autumn leaves.
The demonic doll Lily
While many Halloween activities have been cut due to COVID-19 concerns, Richmond Ghosts has made their popular ghost tour of Richmond, VA and Shockoe Bottom available across the country using GhostFlix, an on-demand streaming platform for haunted experiences across the country. Since launching in July, hundreds of viewers have tuned in to walk with local guides through over fifteen cities across the US to visit their most haunted locations and hear their most terrifying stories. Viewers no longer have to travel across the country to experience Richmond Ghosts tours, or explore other haunted destinations across the nation. Guests can type questions and hear answers from passionate local guides who lead the in-person tours or experience past ghost tours in the city of their choice on demand. Shows start at $13 for on-demand tours, or $15 for live streamed tours.
To watch a tour, viewers may visit www.rvaghosts.com/ghostflix.
Close to home,
“The haunted hot-spot in that area is Hollywood Cemetery. It’s a massive, 130-acre field that predates the Civil War by about 20 years. Entombed there are James Monroe, John Tyler, Jefferson Davis, and J.E.B. Stuart… all four of which are said to haunt the area. It also has a rather unique statue in the middle dedicated to the Confederate Dead; a rock pyramid built to commemorate the more than 18 thousand Confederate Soldiers buried nearby. There are countless tales of disembodied moans, screams, and even marching band music coming before dusk from the area around the statue.
Still, this being the 21st century, the most famous ghost, the one everyone talks about is a DOG. Two President, one faux-President, one Confederate General, an Army of phantom soldiers, and the one that takes the spotlight is a dog. The story goes that on February 1862, a two-year-old named Florence died of Scarlet Fever. Her father or a shopkeeper decided to position a black-cast iron Newfoundland dog on the right side of her grave. There are two theories as to why the dog was placed there. 1. A shopkeeper in town had a dog and Florence loved to play with it, hence he bequeathed the family the statue as a gift. 2. Her father was a pacifist, crafted the dog out of iron so it wouldn’t be used for bullets. Anyway, the dog statue has a tendency to move and howl at the night sky, and if someone comes near Florence’s grave with ill-intentions or is disrespectful near it, folks say the statue growls.
The final story concerns the Richmond Vampire or Ghost, folks aren’t exactly sure what it is. A foreigner died in Richmond, a man by the name of W.W.Poole, at the turn of the 20th century. Folks thought he had magical abilities, so, when he died they were certain that his spirit was haunting the cemetery. Others believed he never died because, well, he was a vampire. He’s one of the most famous ghosts in the Richmond area and many attribute the 1925 cave-in at Tunnel Hill to him.”
Photo by Charles Pool
Expecting rain tomorrow and Friday, but Halloween weekend should be dry. Due to rising pandemic infections locally, nationally, and around the world, the All The Saints Halloween parade has been cancelled this year and, while not banned, trick-or-treating is discouraged.
Message from City Hall:
DEADLINE IS THIS WEEK – City Offering Contactless Pick Up of Application and Recertification Materials for the Extended Tax Relief for the Elderly and Disabled Program through Wednesday, October 28th, 2020
In response to the continuing COVID-19 Epidemic which disproportionately threatens Richmond’s more vulnerable populations, the City of Richmond’s Department of Finance is offering curbside contactless document pickup for new applicants and those recertifying for the Tax Relief for the Elderly and Disabled Program. We understand that COVID-19 represents very real barriers to participation with regards to transportation and public health. Continuing and new participants in the program are encouraged to call (804) 646-6015 to arrange for curbside document pickup.
It is the goal of the City of Richmond to include as many eligible participants in this program as possible. To that effect, contactless pick up has been paired with an extension to the application and recertification period through Friday, October 30th. Contactless curbside pickup will be available through Wednesday, October 28th.
Links for all application, recertification, and informational materials can be found using the link below:http://www.richmondgov.com/Finance/index.aspx
Tax Relief for the Elderly & Disabled Application and Information
Tax Relief for the Elderly & Disabled – Recertification Form
Tax Relief – Authorization Form – 3rd Party or Consent
Tax Relief Brochure
If you have any questions about the program, your eligibility, or wish to arrange for contactless curbside pickup, please call (804) 646-6015 or e-mail us at taxrelief@richmondgov.com as soon as possible.
With national and international concerns rising over surges in COVID-19 cases, the annual All The Saints Halloween Parade has officially been cancelled by organizers.
While disappointed, most if not all the Oregon Hill neighbors seem to appreciate and understand the decision.
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
Thanks to all the volunteers who helped put this new bed in.
