June 1 Newsletter: Linking local life

Weather: Pleasant temperatures continue. Sunny with a high of 81.

On this date in 1943, as World War II soldiers return home injured, plans are announced for what is now the McGuire VA Medical Center. The land was previously used as a horse-racing track.

Today's newsletter sponsored by Manchester Spotlight: Manchester’s vibrant, walkable food scene is filled with local flavor, from soulful seafood to mouthwatering barbecue, perfect for your next date night.

Finding community just became easier with new online directory

Risa Gomez sees what many Richmonders do: Chatting with each other online is a poor substitute for actual community. But she's doing something about it.

Gomez started collecting information on how and where Richmonders are meeting up, which ultimately became the Social Connectory website.

The site debuted in March and now includes 11 categories — from civic engagement opportunities to coworking spaces to theater and music calendars, as well as places to volunteer. Read more here.

Three years after renaming, School Board member seeks to honor George Wythe again

Board member Emmett Jafari wants RPS to declare July as "George Wythe Month."

• The school bearing his name was changed three years ago, along with others that had ties to the Confederacy and slavery.
• Jafari noted that while Wythe owned slaves, he freed them later in life and pushed for emancipation.
• He said he doesn't want to rename the school back to George Wythe yet, but may pursue that down the line.

Richmond’s School Board meets tonight, but it’s unclear how much support Jafari has for his motion. The member who represents the school's district said the renaming process had extensive community input, and the matter is closed. Read more here.

Code refresh opponents air AI-generated ad showing woman with a ‘bacterial infection’ from the James River

The Richmond Civic League, led by former City Council member Marty Jewell, paid to air an anti-code refresh advertisement showing a digitally-generated woman growing unsightly sores after swimming in the James River.

Jewell said the story in the ad is true, but did not provide a name or other proof. There are no news stories over the timeframe cited that match the content of the video. Read more, and see the video, here.

Little resolution in sight in fight over who should handle medical 911 calls

Since February 2025, the Richmond Ambulance Authority and the city’s Department of Emergency Communications have been locked in a struggle over who should field 911 calls for medical emergencies. 

• The dispatch center, which currently fields calls, notes that average call times are down 34% since its takeover.
• The ambulance authority says calls are being incorrectly processed, with 29% marked as noncompliant by a standards board.

Whether returning calls to the RAA has support remains unclear. Many of the financial figures remain in dispute, and councilors have struggled at times to parse the technical data on response quality. Read more here.

Photos: Officials raise pride flag in City Hall ceremony

June is Pride Month, and the city marked its beginning on Friday with a ceremony recognizing Richmond's LGBTQ+ community.

Several more events are scheduled throughout the month, including a block party lunch next Friday at City Hall. Participating local restaurants will also offer "Dine Out for Pride" from June 21-27. Read more here.

Today's sponsor:

A Taste of Manchester

Manchester’s food scene is friendly, easy to explore, and packed with great options. Learn more about eating out in Downtown Richmond’s Manchester neighborhood!

In other news

• One day after Squirrels owner’s lawsuit, the city announces agreements with VCU, but uncertainties remain
  • Richmond Mayor Danny Avula announced that the city’s EDA has executed key agreements with VCU that were holding up development of the Diamond District project.
  • However, the city did not make those documents available, and VCU officials were unable to immediately confirm key provisions.
• James River defeats Douglas Freeman in 11-inning thriller
  • Sophomore Drew Acuto stroked a sacrifice fly to right field in the bottom of the 11th inning to send Jayden Grant home with the deciding run.
• Shooting suspect in custody after 2 officers injured in Chesterfield neighborhood, police say (CBS 6)
  • Officers were responding to a domestic situation in the Clover Hill Farms neighborhood.
• Some Richmond parking spots too narrow to avoid buffer fines (Axios)
  • Richmond will resume ticketing drivers Monday for parking fully or partially in bike-lane buffer zones, but some of the spaces don't meet city minimums for width.
  • A spokesperson told Axios that as an old city, some lanes might be narrower than standards, and drivers whose cars don't fit "should find an alternate parking location."

The editor's desk

Super inspired by today's lead story, and glad we could play a small role in a great new website!

Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org

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