Oct. 30 Newsletter: Tax rate can kicked again
Weather: Things are heating up, with a high of 80 today.
On this date in 1824, Major General Marquis de Lafayette visited Richmond as part of a tour celebrating the 50th birthday of the United States. Masons Hall is staging an anniversary reenactment tonight.
Today's newsletter sponsored by: Virginia Commonwealth University. As a top 20% global university, Virginia Commonwealth University is an unparalleled powerhouse of innovation and creative problem solving. VCU attacks challenges as opportunities to do what others can’t or won’t. It's truly a university unlike any you’ve ever seen.
Council scraps special meeting on taxes; administration warns that a lower rate could kill project in Trammell's district
The Richmond City Council canceled a special meeting that was supposed to be held Monday night for the purpose of finalizing a decision on whether the city's real estate tax rate should stay the same or be reduced by 4 cents.
It's now likely that the issue won't be settled until post-election, denying voters the ability to see where their representatives stand.
8th District Councilor Reva Trammell has led the push to reduce the rate. She was told last week that if the rate is reduced, the city might cancel its plans to purchase a proposed casino site and turn it into a public park.
- “When we realized we needed to find $4 million in cash… this is the only source we could identify,” CAO Lincoln Saunders said. “It’s unfortunate that it seems like it’s pitting these two issues against each other.”
Read more from Graham Moomaw here.
Rizzi reflects on transformative school board experience while Taylor lobbies for a return to the seat in 5th District race
One of the most intriguing school board races pits former board member Mamie Taylor against incumbent Stephanie Rizzi in the 5th District.
Rizzi was part of a group that consistently opposed Superintendent Jason Kamras, but told Sarah Vogelsong she had a change of heart after becoming board chair.
“It started really to dawn on me that outwardly opposing administration in board meetings was counterproductive to my goals, and it set a really difficult example for our communities,” she said.
Also today, read about the 9th District City Council race, between Nicole Jones and Stephanie Starling. And check out all the races in our Voter Guide.
Campaign finance reporting issues pop up in mayoral race at final pre-election deadline
Campaign finance reporting has taken on a new importance in light of allegations against Tavares Floyd, but two mayoral candidates had issues with their final filings.
- Andreas Addison's filing arrived a few minutes late, according to his campaign team, and was not available with the others for viewing on Tuesday.
- Michelle Mosby's filing didn't have her expenses listed, only her revenues. She said it was a technical issue, and an amended report was filed a few hours later.
Meanwhile, Harrison Roday and Danny Avula continued to lead the fundraising pack, with Roday's haul boosted by a $100,000 contribution from his mother, retired attorney Lisa Roday. Read more on the reports here.
Meanwhile, this was the first report post-controversy for Floyd, who listed just $300 in campaign contributions in this cycle.
Richmond's history gives it plenty of haunted legends
With Halloween approaching, Tim Wenzell digs into the ghost stories that have been handed down through Richmond's generations.
From the vampire that emerged from the Church Hill tunnel collapse, to the Poe Museum and the ghost of a former Byrd Theatre manager who haunts the balcony, there's plenty to spook you - if you dare. Read more here.
Today's sponsor:
VCU College of Engineering adding six minors in cutting-edge disciplines
Programs in artificial intelligence, aerospace engineering, nuclear engineering, software engineering, cybersecurity and data science emphasize a transdisciplinary approach to engineering and prepare students for high-demand fields.
“The College of Engineering at VCU is undergoing transformational changes to offer unique and exciting experiences to our students,” said Azim Eskandarian, DSc, Alice T. and William H. Goodwin Jr. dean of the college. “Among these critical changes are six new minor programs, enhancing the student experience and serving the regional and national engineering industry with a much-needed, expertly trained workforce.” Read more.
In other news...
- Thalhimer now leading Diamond District solo after development partner bows out (BizSense)
- Diversity Richmond unveils new Virginia license plate design (Virginia Mercury)
- Henrico police officer hospitalized after car crash while leading funeral procession (Times-Dispatch)
- Petersburg residents weigh in on proposed casino (NBC 12)
The editor's desk
A kerfuffle over presidential endorsements at the Washington Post led to an op-ed from owner Jeff Bezos this week. I won't wade into the controversy itself, but Bezos offered an interesting statistic in his piece, noting that in the 1990s more than 80% of D.C. households received the Post.
He didn't offer today's numbers, but he didn't have to - we all see where newspaper circulation is heading. Bezos said of the Post and New York Times, "increasingly we talk only to a certain elite. More and more, we talk to ourselves."
We're not yet two months old, but at The Richmonder, we know what we want to be - a trusted source of connection for the whole community, not just the news junkies or the well-off. That means accessible articles about city politics, but also news and features from the rest of the region as well.
It's a lofty ideal, but we believe we can lay the groundwork for a better city if we are successful. Thanks for joining us on that journey.
Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org
