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Nov. 19 Newsletter: Wish list

Weather: High of 62. The rain leaves early but will return this weekend.

On this date in 1962, The Hotel John Marshall barber shop adds hair coloring to its list of services as the trend gains traction nationally.

Today's newsletter sponsored by Virginia Commonwealth University: As a top 20% global university, Virginia Commonwealth University is an unparalleled powerhouse of innovation and creative problem solving. VCU attacks challenges as opportunities. It's truly a university unlike any you’ve ever seen.

Avula says he hopes Democratic election wins will bring action on gun violence, housing affordability

The city has issued a draft of its "wish list" for the upcoming state legislative session. Among the requests:

  • Police Chief Rick Edwards has pushed for state legislation that could penalize gun owners $500 for leaving firearms unsecured and visible in a vehicle.
  • The city supports the idea of a Long-term Owner Occupancy Program, a tax relief initiative used elsewhere to shield longtime homeowners from rising tax bills as their property value increases.
  • One of the biggest-ticket items is Avula’s request for $80 million in state funds to help shore up the city’s water system.

RPS also laid out its priorities, including the ability to ask voters for a 1% sales tax increase earmarked for schools. Read more here.

A lawyer for the city said he didn’t ask for the sealing of a court document. Emails tell a different story.

Last week, The Richmonder ran a story which noted that the city does not keep full digital backups of staff cellphones, potentially in violation of record retention laws. The story cited a court document.

During the reporting of that story, the document was "sealed" by the court, making it inaccessible to citizens and media. The lawyer representing the city in the case told reporter Graham Moomaw at the time he didn't ask the judge for it to be sealed.

  • However, newly surfaced emails show the attorney — Jimmy F. Robinson Jr. with Ogletree Deakins — did, in fact, request that the document be sealed.

Circuit Court Judge Claire G. Cardwell read out portions of the emails from Robinson about the sealing in court on Tuesday, indicating she found the statement by Robinson to The Richmonder contradictory to the emails Robinson had sent to her office.

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It's still unclear how much the lawsuit is costing taxpayers, because the law firm hasn't billed the city since June. Robinson said that was due to a technical issue, though The Richmonder has obtained an invoice sent to a different client by the firm during that time.

Read more on the situation here.

Richmond's second draft of the code refresh is out

The city of Richmond released the highly anticipated second draft of its code refresh, the first comprehensive overhaul of the city’s zoning laws since the 1970s.

The city will stage three open houses on Wednesday and Thursday to explain the maps and collect feedback.

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Most notably, the city has removed a provision that allowed the construction of two housing units on any residential property. In the new plan, an additional unit is allowed only if the original house is preserved.

The Richmonder will continue to have full coverage of the code refresh in the coming days.

VCU hangs tough, falls late against N.C. State

The Rams scheduled two opportunities for marquee victories early in the season, but lost both in the final minute of each game.

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On Monday night, it was a feisty game against former coach Will Wade in Raleigh, where the Rams proved they could hang with a team expected to be among the nation's best.

But in the zero-sum game of college sports, the losses may be used against them, and the Atlantic 10 conference, when March rolls around. Read more here.

Today's sponsor:

VCU is pursuing the acquisition of the Altria Center for Research and Technology

The 450,000-square-foot center would replace outdated facilities and accelerate VCU's groundbreaking research and cutting-edge health sciences programs.

Key takeaways:

  • Replacing older buildings will accommodate transdisciplinary teaching and research and eliminate nearly $400 million in deferred maintenance.
  • Acquisition is five to nine years faster and less than one-third the cost of new construction.
  • Includes state-of-the-art research labs and academic space at a fraction of the cost to build new.
  • Modern research and teaching space is essential to keep Virginia at the forefront of medical innovation and education.

Read more.

In other news

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Reminder: We'll be in Manchester on Friday morning at Brewer's Cafe buying coffee for readers and chatting about whatever's on your mind. Come join us from 8:30 to 10 a.m.

The editor's desk

The new Squirrels uniforms are sharp, though it's always going to be tough to compete with the time they dressed as waffles for a brunch game.

Michael Phillips, founding editor
mphillips@richmonder.org

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