A CSX train rolls through the Town of Ashland as the debate continues on a proposed high-speed rail between Washington, D.C., and Richmond. (Credit: Jim Ridolphi, Mechanicsville Local)
CITY OF RICHMOND
Richmond council finds $3.6 million for schools, resumes debate Tuesday
After eight hours of debate and discussion Monday about how to find additional funding for the city’s school district, Richmond City Council members once again delayed any major decisions on their amendments to Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ proposed budget. The council members will revisit the issue at a 4 p.m. meeting today, at which point they will hear a report from city administrators about how much uncollected tax revenue a beefed-up city collections department could generate. The council is running up against its May 13 legislative deadline to pass a budget for the school system and so far has been able to find only $3.6 million in additional funding for the district.
Richmond City Council reaches budget compromise; unclear if school closures will be avoided
The Richmond City Council closed out its long-running budget negotiations Tuesday, agreeing to give the city’s school system an additional $9.5 million in operating and capital funds over the $280 million Mayor Dwight C. Jones proposed in his initial funding plan. But it wasn’t immediately clear whether the additional cash will head off the closure of five schools, including Armstrong High School — a step school administrators said would be necessary if their funding requests weren’t met. “The School Board would take that up as soon as the vote is finalized,” said School Board Chairman Jeff M. Bourne. “I’m hesitant to say one way or the other what impact it has on any cost-saving or efficiency recommendations we’ve received.”
Richmond School Board Chairman: ‘We’ll try to avoid closing schools at any and all costs’
Despite the fact that Richmond Public Schools’ full budget request to the city will not be met, School Board Chairman Jeff M. Bourne said Wednesday the school system will still work to avoid the possible closure of five schools. “I don’t speak for this entire School Board if I can ever avoid it, but I would be willing to go out on a limb and say there’s not one of us out of the nine that wants to close schools, and we will look at every option and use any other budget strategy or savings strategy that we can to keep schools open,” he said at a news conference called by the school district. “We’ll try to avoid closing schools at any and all costs because it is disruptive to communities.”
CHESTERFIELD
Chesterfield’s incoming schools chief named to superintendent in state
Less than two months before he takes over as chief of Chesterfield County’s schools, James F. Lane has been named the state’s top schools superintendent. Lane, now head of schools in Goochland County, was named Superintendent of the Year by the Virginia Association of School Superintendents this week. He beat out superintendents from seven other Virginia regions and is nominated for the national award. “Dr. Lane is one of those people who exudes passion, and when you have such an authentic love for learning, it’s hard to not share that passion with others in a way that motivates them to work hard and achieve more,” said Carrie E. Coyner, vice chairwoman of Chesterfield’s School Board.
HANOVER
Planning Commission gives residential chickens stamp of approval
Hanoverians living in some residential areas may soon be able to raise chickens on their property. A proposed change to the county’s zoning ordinance would allow residents to keep a maximum of six chickens in their backyards. Recently, the Planning Commission gave the proposal its stamp of approval at an April 21 meeting—the case will go before the Board of Supervisors May 11. This proposal only applies to individuals who are living in single-family detached homes. Property owners are limited to only owning female chickens, or hens. In addition, the change would require residents provide a coop and an enclosure—at least 15-feet from all rear and side property lines—for the chickens.
Residents, faith group scramble after Ashland motel that was home to many shuts down
The last of the stragglers hovered in the cigarette butt-littered parking lot. It was Tuesday afternoon, hours after Hanover County cut water to the Apple Garden Inn, and every room at the beleaguered roadside motel had to be vacated within two days. There was Richard Sharpe, 48, who still was figuring out how he and his brother, who has cancer in his thyroid and lungs, would manage until the week of May 20, when he was expecting his next paycheck from Fuddruckers. “I hope and pray. That’s all I can do,” he said.
Supervisors: More study needed on route options for railroad
Just the mention of high-speed rail draws a crowd here, and that was certainly the case as a number of residents packed last week’s meeting of the Hanover County Board of Supervisors. The board considered a resolution regarding the proposed high-speed rail between Richmond and Washington, D.C., a proposal that has drawn criticism from a number of county residents. Early this year, county administrator Cecil R. “Rhu” Harris Jr. presented a letter to the Virginia Department of Rail, stating the county’s support for the western route option regarding a proposed high-speed rail route.
STATE/REGIONAL
Realtors association loan to VCC will benefit the community
The Richmond Association of Realtors announced Monday that it has invested $1 million through a loan to Virginia Community Capital to support quality, affordable housing and economic development projects in the commonwealth. Virginia Community Capital is a nonprofit community development financial institution and state-chartered banking entity with offices in Richmond, Christiansburg and Norfolk. “RAR has a long history of advocacy on behalf of, as well as philanthropic support of, both affordable housing and public education,” said Dawn Bradley, 2016 president of the Richmond Association of Realtors and managing broker at the Long & Foster Grove Avenue office. “Given the scale of the challenges, we felt now was the time to deepen our commitment and create an ongoing source of income to support the initiatives we care deeply about.”
James City County planning commission recommends denial of applications for Airbnb rentals
The planning commission recommended against granting a special use permit to a couple who want to rent three bedrooms in their Lakewood division home via the popular service Airbnb. Bruce and Katherine Williamson applied for the permit for their home, which they have lived in for three years. The issue has come under scrutiny, with the General Assembly considering several bills in its most recent session that would address private resident’s ability to rent out their homes. James City County opposed a bill under consideration during the last session that would expand homeowners’ ability to offer the rental services. Local officials worried it would have a negative impact on the tourism industry the region is so dependent on, including local hotels. Katherine Williamson told commissioners they invited neighbors over to discuss their plans last Saturday.
Alexandria raises property taxes to fix schools, aging buildings
Alexandria City Council unanimously passed a three-cent property tax hike Thursday to pay for expansion and repairs to schools and aging city buildings. The tax rate, now set at $1.073 for each $100 of assessed value, will cost the owner of an average home more $155 per year, in addition to $119 more because of increased property values. The $678.5 million general fund budget and $1.6 billion in capital improvements Thursday will go into effect July 1.
Virginia Beach grapples with Airbnb rentals after deadly shooting at College Weekend party
When Yuanming He rented out his townhome on Airbnb two weeks ago, the Old Dominion University student who booked it promised there would be no parties and no more than three people on site. Instead, witnesses said, around a hundred people showed up at the two-bedroom house a couple of miles from the Oceanfront during College Beach Weekend. Police were called there twice: once for a report of gunshots and again three hours later for a shooting that left 20-year-old Darren Campbell dead. The homeowner, who lives in China, didn’t know what had happened at his place south of Interstate 264 until he was contacted by The Virginian-Pilot.
NATIONAL
Hoarding issue likely to become worse as boomers age
A person doesn’t become a hoarder overnight. “It takes time to be a really good hoarder,” said Matt Paxton, author of “The Secret Lives of Hoarders,” who was the lunch speaker Monday at the Governor’s Conference on Aging. About 400 people attended the event, presented by the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services at the Hilton Richmond Hotel and Spa in western Henrico County. Paxton, a Chesterfield County native and founder of Clutter Cleaner, has appeared as the cleaning expert in 68 episodes of the television show, “Hoarders.” The documentary series debuted in 2009 on the Arts & Entertainment network depicting real-life trials of people who suffer from the compulsive disorder.
Study: adding low-income housing to poor neighborhoods lowers crime and boosts property values
If there’s one things absolutely everybody knows about urban politics, it’s that nobody wants low-income housing built in their neighborhood. Breaking up concentrations of poverty by building subsidized housing in affluent areas sounds like a great idea, but rich people veto it. So instead we build it in neighborhoods that are already lower-income and disenfranchised, where it creates further burdens on already troubled places. So when possible, poor neighborhoods also veto creating new low-income housing – which leaves the very poorest residents with nowhere to go. Except a study from Rebecca Diamond and Timothy McQuade of Standford Business School finds that fear of building low-income housing in poor neighborhoods is entirely misplaced.
NATIONAL
Cuccinelli rules out run for governor in 2017
Former Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli will not run for governor in 2017, saying in an interview Saturday that, when he finishes working with the presidential campaign of Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, he’ll return to practicing law. “I’m working a campaign this year as hard as I ever have,” Cuccinelli said at the Republican Party of Virginia convention in Harrisonburg. “And I’m not going to do two in a row.” Cuccinelli’s announcement removes a key potential rival for the two announced contenders for the GOP nomination — Ed Gillespie, former chairman of the Republican National Committee, and Rep. Robert J. Wittman, R-1st — but it appears they’ll face a new contender.
Justin Fairfax running as Democrat for lieutenant governor
Justin E. Fairfax, a lawyer who nearly captured the Democratic nomination for attorney general in 2013, has filed to seek the party’s nomination for lieutenant governor next year. Fairfax is the first Democrat who has filed to seek the post. Three Republican candidates have announced bids for lieutenant governor: state Sens. Jill Holtzman Vogel, R-Fauquier, and Bryce E. Reeves, R-Spotsylvania, and Del. Glenn R. Davis Jr., R-Virginia Beach.
Graziano’s aide enters race to fill her Richmond City Council seat
Councilwoman Kathy C. Graziano’s political aide of three and a half years, Tim Grimes, has entered the race to replace her when she retires at the end of the year. Grimes said he was motivated to run because, as a longtime political operative, he’s worked around politicians for years and felt like he was ready to lead a campaign of his own. He said his work in the 4th District, which stretches from Forest Hill to Stony Point in South Richmond, has helped him understand the needs and concerns of city residents.
Four battle for GOP nomination in 5th Congressional District
The decision by three-term Rep. Robert Hurt to not seek re-election has created an opening in Virginia’s Republican-tilted 5th U.S. House District — once occupied by James Madison — that four men are eager to occupy in 2017. State Sen. Thomas A. Garrett, R-Buckingham, a former prosecutor; Bedford businessman and developer Jim McKelvey; Navy veteran and former Capitol Hill staffer Joe Whited; and Albemarle County-based tech executive Michael Del Rosso are vying for the GOP nomination. The mostly rural, inverted boot-shaped district covers 21 counties and two cities — an area the size of New Jersey — and runs from horse country and Warrenton in Northern Virginia to tobacco country and Danville in Southside along the North Carolina border.