May 14 Newsletter: The tattoo capital
Weather: Expect an afternoon shower or thunderstorm, then the heat moves in starting tomorrow. Full forecast:
Sean Sublette
On this date in 1846, Judge Robert Stanard, a major figure in Richmond’s legal community, dies. His son was friends with Edgar Allen Poe, and the poem "To Helen" is about Judge Stanard’s wife, who Poe had romantic feelings for.
Tattoo artists continue to flock to Richmond as its reputation grows
Did you know that Richmond hosted one of the first tattoo festivals, in 1988? The city remains a bustling hub for tattoo artists, and some say the quality is just as high as it is in major cities like New York.
Most Richmond tattoo artists work as independent contractors, which can create logistical issues with insurance and taxes, among other things. Read more on the scene here.
10 takeaways from the new Richmond budget
Reporter Graham Moomaw has everything you need to know about the new Richmond budget, which accounts for $3 billion in spending over the next fiscal year.
- Expect about $13 in utility bill increases.
- There is a projected 6% growth in home assessments.
- The People's Budget will continue to be funded.
Read more, including why some councilors want the process changed next year.
Richmond’s inspector general is out at City Hall. Leaders aren’t explaining why.
The Richmond official in charge of investigating waste, fraud and abuse at City Hall has been quietly dismissed from his job, according to a member of City Council.
The reason for Jim Osuna’s departure is unclear. The City Council has held several closed meetings recently to discuss personnel issues, but did not publicly discuss Osuna’s status or take a public vote to part ways with him. Read more here.
Water regulators say Richmond’s system wasn’t set up to get accurate fluoride data
Yes, we're still talking water.
The state is asking Richmond to send out a modified press release clarifying that it cannot know how high fluoride levels potentially got during a recent plant malfunction.
The report focused more on the communication, or lack thereof, about the incident, which occurred on the heels of the water crisis. Read more here.
In other news
- A new Virginia law requires all car passengers to wear seatbelts on highways. Previously, adults in the back seat were exempt. (CBS 6)
- A Vegas-style wedding chapel is opening in Richmond (Axios)
- Why is the City Bus So Slow? (What's Next, Richmond?)
The editor's desk
After writing about capital improvement projects in the most recent Donor Q&A, I was pointed to a dashboard the city keeps that maps out all currently active projects. Similar to the road quality map from a few weeks ago, I love a good visual, and I'm glad the city is keeping this info.
Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org
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