May 21 Newsletter: More info on tax snafu

Weather: Morning rain gives way to a cool and cloudy afternoon. High of 68.

On this date in 1952, a potato shortage briefly hits the region, with prices spiking from 5 cents a pound to 15 cents a pound, after the government phases out some potato subsidies.

Today's newsletter sponsored by:

Trustward powers over 100 nonprofits and mission-driven businesses with our outsourced finance and accounting services. We bring clarity, efficiency, and integrity to organizations’ finances, so they can focus on serving our community.

Richmond’s interim CAO initially said erroneous real estate tax bills were sent on purpose

Sabrina Joy-Hogg told City Council on Friday night that residents with mortgages received property tax bills as an improved form of communication from the city.

“We believe this to be a good financial practice and further promotes the transparency initiatives of the city,” she wrote in a text message.

• The bills weren't intentional, and caused confusion for many residents, including Mayor Danny Avula.
• Joy-Hogg said in a statement to The Richmonder that she "was attempting to give council a quick answer as I navigated the issue."

Read more on the issue, and what you need to know moving forward, here.

Rep Theatre director feeling optimistic ahead of site sale; new season will focus on crowd-pleasing hits

The Virginia Repertory Theatre is days away from finalizing a contract to sell its Hermitage Road location, providing hope after a financially turbulent season.

A reduced lineup for next year includes well-known shows that the group hopes will prove a hit at the box office. Read more here.

‘Faster is definitely better’: GRTC and Dominion Energy showcase five new electric charging stations for public ride-hailing service

Dominion Energy installed faster Level 2 chargers for GRTC's fleet of LINK vans, which provide on-demand transit in five areas of the city not accessible by bus routes.

• The service, which began in October 2023, will pick up riders for free within the five zones.
• The service may expand to Fulton Hill and Rocketts Landing in the coming months.

Read more here.

Also today in The Richmonder:

RPS posts job opening for a chief talent officer months after investigation into Clemmons

Superintendent Jason Kamras said an “independent third party” would conduct an investigation into the allegations.

The RichmonderVictoria A. Ifatusin

Richmond puts $128K toward keeping local AmeriCorps program afloat after federal cuts

According to the city, the 25 members have provided services to over 8,000 Richmond residents in the second quarter of the year alone.

The RichmonderSarah Vogelsong

Today's sponsor:

With the growing challenges facing nonprofits and mission-driven businesses, accurate accounting and strong financial systems are more important than ever. Trustward is helping over 100 organizations meet these challenges by serving as their outsourced bookkeeping, accounting, and finance solution.

The nonprofits and businesses we serve work in affordable housing, education, advocacy, and other essential areas. If an organization you care about needs help with finance and accounting, Trustward is here to help. We focus on the books — so you can focus on the mission! Learn more here.

In other news

• Manchester market under investigation for possible price gouging during water crisis (CBS 6)
• Richmond weighing adoption of first citywide preservation plan (BizSense)
• Garden Grove Brewing to close in June, the third local brewery closure of the month (Axios)

The editor's desk

I'll admit that a recent visit to Legend Brewing was my first in more than a decade. Richmond's brewery bubble appears to have come and gone, but 30 years later, Legend remains remarkably consistent.

Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org

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