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Feb. 7 Newsletter: First Fridays turns 28

Weather: One nice day before the cold starts; high of 64.

On this date in 1987, a total of 226 graves are moved in Chesterfield to clear the land that became the Village Marketplace Shopping Center. The graves were unmarked, with experts opining that they were likely coal miners killed in mining accidents.

First Fridays turns 28; one studio owner reflects on its beginnings

Galleries, shops, restaurants and nonprofits across downtown's Arts District open their doors monthly in celebration of art in the Richmond community. The event enters its 28th year tonight.

Anne Hart Chay, a studio owner, said it took several tries to get the popular event off the ground. Read more on the event here.

18 RPS employees call for removal of human resources chief

They are accusing Maggie Clemmons of creating a hostile work environment, discriminating against employees of color, violating division policy and law and being unqualified for her job. 

  • An RPS spokesperson said the district cannot comment due to legal requirements, but "takes all employee grievances and allegations of workplace misconduct seriously."

As some of the staffers presented their allegations to the School Board Tuesday night, numerous other RPS employees in the audience held up signs reading “Solidarity with the Talent Office” and “Solidarity with the Finance Department.” 

Read more on the allegations here.

COO for Richmond Public Schools heading to Hanover

Richmond Public Schools’ chief operating officer is leaving to become Hanover County’s new director of general services and capital projects. 

In a statement from RPS, COO Dana Fox, a Hanover resident, cited a desire to devote more energy to her family. 

In a brief interview with The Richmonder, Fox described the COO position as a “24/7, around-the-clock, every day, every holiday commitment.” 

“It’s become very taxing on my family and my own personal health,” she said.

Read more on her decision here.

City says former DPU director isn't getting severance pay, but won't release document with details

Richmond officials say former Department of Public Utilities director April Bingham isn't receiving severance pay after she stepped down from the job in the aftermath of last month’s water plant failure, but the city is refusing to release a document that might contain details on any severance arrangements that were considered.

  • In response to a Freedom of Information Act request filed by The Richmonder seeking copies of “any agreements in which the city committed to pay severance to former DPU director April Bingham related to her resignation,” city officials said they had one document matching that description. 

That response indicated a severance deal was put on paper at some point, but a city spokesperson later said Bingham isn't receiving severance. The spokesperson would not comment further and would not explain the differing responses.

Read more on the dispute over whether the document should be made public here.

Also today in The Richmonder

Avula sets hiring limits as City Hall braces for financial hit from water crisis
Richmond Mayor Danny Avula has imposed new hiring restrictions at City Hall in an attempt to prepare the city budget for the financial impact of last month’s water plant failure.
The RichmonderGraham Moomaw
Judge rules ex-FOIA officer’s case against Richmond can move forward
A whistleblower lawsuit brought by Richmond’s former public records official against the city and its former communications chief can go to trial, a judge ruled Wednesday.
The RichmonderSarah Vogelsong
New rules for promotions leave some VCU faculty unhappy
The policy drew criticism from longtime professors who do not hold terminal degrees and would find themselves ineligible for promotions going forward.
The RichmonderKatie Farthing
Anti-Trump protest, part of nationwide wave, draws hundreds to Capitol Square
The rally, which had been granted a required permit by the Virginia Department of General Services, took place with little incident.
The RichmonderSarah Vogelsong

In other news

The editor's desk

During "Sunday Night Football" broadcasts, the players introduce themselves with their name and what college they attended. Three weeks ago, Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Mekhi Becton chose instead to introduce himself as being from Highland Springs.

"Right now, you don't see a lot of people from Richmond doing the things I'm doing, so any chance I get I want to shout out my hometown," he told me yesterday.

Becton has a chance to win a Super Bowl ring on Sunday, though the opposing Chiefs have their own local tie — they're named after former Kansas City Mayor H. Roe Bartle, who was nicknamed "The Chief." He grew up in Richmond.

Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org

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