Javaid Siddiqi, Midlothian’s representative on the School Board, addressed overcrowding at J.B. Watkins Elementary School during a community meeting last week at Midlothian Middle (Credit: James Haskins/Chesterfield Observer)
Monday is the voter registration deadline for Virginia
Monday is the deadline for Virginians to register to vote in the Nov. 8 elections. If you’re unable to vote in person on Election Day, you can vote absentee by mail, or in person. To register, update your registration or find out what is on your ballot, go to the Department of Elections website at https://elections.virginia.gov/ You can call local voter registration offices in Richmond at (804) 646-5950; in Chesterfield County at 748-1471; Hanover County at (804) 365-6080 and Henrico County at (804) 501-4347.
CITY OF RICHMOND
With elections looming, Richmond school system pushes for action on funding before end of year
Public officials and education advocates in Richmond have fresh — and extremely unpleasant — memories of the long budget battle that unfolded in May. The process played out over three consecutive days of City Council deliberations, included multiple rallies and marches in and around City Hall, and culminated in 76 parents, teachers and students lining up at a final hearing to plead for more cash. In an effort to avoid a repeat next year, a loose coalition of school administrators, City Council members and supporters of the school system is pushing to take action now.
CHESTERFIELD
Can Midlothian schools keep pace with housing growth?
Overcrowding has been a problem at J.B. Watkins Elementary School for the better part of the past 30 years. In 2013, with more than 900 students enrolled in a school built to accommodate 750, Chesterfield County Public Schools completed a $6.3 million renovation that increased the building’s functional capacity by 190 seats. But not long after the final coat of paint dried on that project, local school officials again found themselves struggling with space issues at Watkins.
GOOCHLAND
BOS approves borrowing plan for operations center, towers
Goochland County Supervisors voted unanimously on Sept. 9 in favor of borrowing just over $9 million to fund a new emergency operations center, new emergency communication equipment and six radio towers located throughout the county. According to County Administrator John Budesky, who presented the resolution to the board, the county had considered spending existing funds on the project rather than borrowing the money. Budesky said that the county’s financial advisor has suggested that they borrow, however, because the new operations center and towers would be considered a long-term asset. They were also advised that dipping into reserves would put unwanted pressure on the county’s fund balance ratios.
HANOVER
New Ashland District representative on Hanover County School Board
She’s humble, enthusiastic, driven and, most of all, she is committed to the children of Hanover County Public Schools. Ola Hawkins recently was appointed to the Hanover County School Board by Faye O. Prichard, Ashland District representative on the Hanover County Board of Supervisors, to fill the seat previously held by Hank Lowry. This is her first experience in public office.
HENRICO
Record number of Henrico County schools denied accreditation
Five more Henrico County schools were denied state accreditation, marking the first time in the district’s history that more than one school has failed to meet state benchmarks for student achievement. In addition to L. Douglas Wilder Middle School, which had its accreditation denied each of the past three years, three other middle schools and two elementary schools in were not accredited by the Virginia Department of Education for the 2016-17 academic year. Those schools are: Elko, Fairfield and John Rolfe Middle schools, as well as Glen Lea and Montrose Elementary schools.
NATIONAL
The new American suburb: diverse, dense, and booming
American suburbs are far from a static set of cookie-cutter housing developments, the rows of infamous “ticky-tacky little boxes” popularized as soon as the postwar housing boom started. But a forthcoming new report, Demographic Strategies for Real Estate, suggests that this archetypical part of the American landscape, which has constantly been evolving, is in for some massive changes over the next decade that will reshape planning, land-use, and the real estate market. Compiled by John Burns Real Estate Consulting for the Urban Land Institute (ULI), the report lays out a vision of suburbia at odds with the Betty Draper stereotype of the ‘50s. Powered by social and demographic shifts involving young workers, immigrants, working women, and retirees, suburbs will get denser, more diverse, and more urban. While the urban renaissance that has reshaped U.S. cities isn’t stopping, a massive move by millennials in family mode to more affordable suburban markets will create an upswing in household formation. Suburbs will need to get denser, in part because demographic shifts forecast for the next 10-15 years will bring many new arrivals. Millennials will begin to form households in masse, millions of Baby Boomers will retire and seek out multi-generational neighborhoods, and immigration will continue to grow and evolve.
ELECTIONS
Congressional races: McEachin, Wade square off in revamped 4th District
The race for the open congressional seat in Virginia’s revamped 4th District features a trial lawyer and Democratic leader in the General Assembly and the long-serving Republican sheriff of Henrico County. State Sen. A. Donald McEachin, D-Henrico, and Henrico Sheriff Mike Wade are looking to succeed Republican Rep. J. Randy Forbes. Forbes has held the seat for 15 years, but he bolted the district this year when court-ordered redistricting of the neighboring 3rd District forced changes in the 4th.
At forum, Richmond mayoral hopefuls hear from millennials
Millennial voters put their questions to Richmond’s mayoral candidates Wednesday night, drawing spirited exchanges between the race’s front-runners. The forum, sponsored by Virginia Union University’s Student Government Association, drew five candidates from the seven-way race who found common ground on the need to provide more internships for students and improve transit so they could get to jobs. Former Venture Richmond director Jack Berry, former Secretary of the Commonwealth Levar Stoney, City Council member Jonathan Baliles and architect Lawrence Willliams were joined late by former Del. Joseph D. Morrissey.
In first attack ad of campaign, Mosby says she wouldn’t trust Morrissey with her daughter
Richmond City Council President Michelle Mosby took a hard shot at former Del. Joseph D. Morrissey and his reputation as a champion for black voters in the first attack ad of the mayoral campaign, which began airing on local radio stations Tuesday. “Joe’s the 57-year-old boss who claimed innocence but took an Alford plea for having sex with his employee — a 17-year-old black girl — and then lied about it to keep himself out of jail,” Mosby says in the ad. “Joe’s been taking advantage of us for far too long. I wouldn’t trust Joe Morrissey with my daughter, and I’m asking you not to trust him with our city.”
Anne Holton endorses Levar Stoney for mayor of Richmond
Anne Holton, wife of Tim Kaine, the Democratic nominee for vice president, is endorsing Levar Stoney for mayor of Richmond. Holton and Stoney previously worked together in Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s Cabinet. Holton was secretary of education and Stoney was secretary of the commonwealth. “I have been a passionate fan of Richmond for my entire life and I have a strong sense of what it takes to be an effective mayor of this great city,” Holton said in a statement released by Stoney’s campaign.