June 17 Newsletter: Finding lost money
Weather: High of 90, mostly sunny
On this date in 2009, Food Lion overtakes Ukrop’s as the area’s top grocery store by sales volume, the first time Ukrop’s is not No. 1 in more than two decades.
Today's newsletter sponsored by Virginia Commonwealth University: As a top 50 public research institution, Virginia Commonwealth University has an unparalleled drive to discover, innovate and create. VCU impacts the human experience and tackles the problems of tomorrow. It's a university unlike any you’ve ever seen.
Richmond expects millions in unbudgeted taxes from Airbnb rentals. It’s unclear where the money will go
Three days after City Council closed the books on the budget, Mayor Danny Avula’s administration announced the city would be getting millions of dollars in previously uncollected revenue by fixing a tax issue with short-term rentals.
While the announcement showed progress in the city’s efforts to more aggressively collect unpaid taxes, the timing also raised eyebrows for some Council members pushing for clearer insight into how the city collects and spends money.
Councilor Nicole Jones said she doesn’t see the short-term rental issue as the administration intentionally keeping the Council in the dark about how much money it has. But, she said, it shows the process could be improved through better planning. Read more here.
Martin Agency and ex-exec settle #MeToo-era lawsuit out of court
The Martin Agency and former Chief Creative Officer Joe Alexander settled a long-running lawsuit stemming from his ouster in 2017 amid allegations of sexual harassment. Neither side would comment on the resolution.
AdWeek reported at the time that “he left the company after several sexual harassment claims about him were made with the agency.”
Alexander has consistently denied the harassment claims and told the Wall Street Journal at the time that one of the allegations was “a consensual incident I am not proud of.” Read more here.
Two more city properties, including former school once earmarked for Planned Parenthood, could be surplused for affordable housing
Right now, no specific proposals are on the table. Instead, officials are planning to issue a request for qualifications this summer to find developers who can put forward potential visions for what the properties could be.
Those moves would continue a push by Mayor Danny Avula’s administration to tap into the pool of unused or underused properties the city owns to encourage their development into affordable housing. Read more here.
Bernie Henderson, advisor to governors and ‘the very epitome of an engaged citizen,’ dies at 75
Bernard “Bernie” Henderson, a longtime figure in Richmond and Virginia Democratic politics who served under several state governors and was a fixture in the local funeral home industry in his later years, died on June 8 at age 75.
Former Mayor Levar Stoney described Henderson as “one of the kindest men I ever met in political life” and “a gentleman to his core with an unwavering love for the Commonwealth of Virginia.”
Former Governor Tim Kaine said “if there was something big and unusual that maybe we didn’t have a playbook for, Bernie would always get asked by the chief of staff to come in and help.” Read more here.
DPU suspends water cutoffs as billing glitches continue
Some customers are still experiencing billing problems as the department works to transition to new backend systems.
Officials said customers who have already submitted a payment and “received confirmation that it was processed” should not send the payment a second time. Read more here.
Today's sponsor:
NEXT Step VCU expands
The dual-admissions program, which now includes three college partners, provides transfer students with personalized support, cost savings and a clear route to a VCU degree.
“The NEXT Step partnership reflects the future of public higher education: institutions working together and serving the public good,” said VCU President Michael Rao. “At VCU, we believe higher education should expand opportunity and eliminate barriers. We see talent everywhere and in everyone, and our responsibility is to help more hard-working students clear the path for the completion of a degree that leads to a meaningful career in a timely way.”
In other news
- Sen. Tim Kaine opens National Speech and Debate Tournament
- Kaine imparted the two “most important communication lessons” he has learned over the years: creating genuine connections with audiences and becoming a better listener.
- Tiffany & Co. closing its only Richmond store at Stony Point Fashion Park (CBS 6)
- Earlier this year, Saks Fifth Avenue closed its Stony Point location after the store's parent company filed for bankruptcy.
- Kickers head coach Darren Sawatzky leaving club after seven seasons (8News)
- Assistant Coach Brian Ownby will take over as Interim Head Coach for the rest of the 2026 USL League One season.
The editor's desk
Greetings from Pittsburgh and the annual Institute for Nonprofit News conference. For the first time ever, local-focused outlets now outnumber national outlets as INN members, an encouraging industry trend.
Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org
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