Mayor Announces RVA Shoppers’ Shuttle

Courtesy Service to Combat Food Deserts

Mayor Dwight C. Jones today announced a new monthly grocery shuttle offering transportation for Richmond residents to local grocery stores. The courtesy service is being piloted for residents in areas of the city considered to be in food deserts – areas without access to healthy, nutritional, fresh food.

A transportation support system is one of the preliminary recommendations of the Mayor’s Food Policy Task Force. “This is a recommendation that we can act on right away,” said Mayor Jones. “Helping city residents access healthy and fresh food options tie right in with the City’s healthy lifestyle focus.”

The food desert areas that have been focused on for this pilot project include Hillside Court, Fay Tower, Creighton Court, Fairfield, Mosby and Whitcomb. The pilot project will run for a six month period and then the City will access its usefulness and sustainability.

The Mayor’s Food Policy Task Force is presently working on recommendations for a comprehensive food delivery system in the city of Richmond. Several community meetings are set to take place to receive additional ideas about how to help ensure that the city is a healthy and accessible environment for all.

The RVA Shoppers’ Shuttle will run the first Tuesday and first Saturday of each month beginning on Saturday, February 4th, 2012.

Click here to view the RVA Shoppers' Shuttle Pick Up-Drop Off Schedule.

Mayor Dwight Jones 2012 State of the City Address | January 31, 2012

On Tuesday, January 31, Mayor Dwight C. Jones delivered his third State of the City Address at Thomas Jefferson High School. Address highlights included the review of previous year accomplishments, focus on making Richmond a Tier One city, reducing and de-concentrating poverty, exploring options for education, improving sustainability and improving access to the city’s riverfront. Click here to read the Mayor's speech. Click here to view the Accomplishments of 2011 video.

Mayor Jones and U.S. Secretary LaHood Tour I-95 Bridge Restoration Project

Mayor Jones welcomed Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to Richmond today for a first-hand look at the I-95 Bridges Restoration project. Nine of eleven bridges undergoing the restoration are in the city of Richmond.

Secretary LaHood, Mayor Jones and other state officials visited workers at the site of the Lombardy Street Bridge. “Anyone who has driven the Lombardy Street Bridge knows the amount of work that stretch of road has needed,” said Mayor Jones. “We welcome this infrastructure investment not only for the much needed road repairs, but for the jobs it brings to the area.”

“It is projects like this and others all across the country that will improve our infrastructure and spur economic growth,” said Secretary LaHood. “We have the best highway system in the world, and we need to keep it that way. Spending on roads and bridges is one of the wisest investments our nation can make.”

Construction on the seven-mile-long project began in late 2010 and is scheduled for completion in 2014. According to Archer Western Contractors, the project – which relies on $90 million in federal funds – is estimated to create jobs for approximately 130 workers. When completed, the project will improve safety for the route’s estimated 150,000 daily drivers and extend the lifespan of the bridges by at least 50 years.

Mayor Jones and City Officials Break Ground on New Justice Center

Mayor Dwight C. Jones was joined by Sheriff C.T. Woody, City Council President Kathy Graziano, and City Council Vice President Ellen Robertson today in a ground breaking ceremony for the city’s new Justice Center. The ceremony marks the start of construction on the $134.6 million Justice Center project.

“We want this to be a facility that actually yields positive results, rather than a facility that drains resources and pulls a community downward,” said Mayor Jones. “This is an issue that I did fight for because building this new justice center is right thing to do.” The facility will be located at the current jail site and will have a rated capacity of 1,032 beds. The new Justice Center will be more efficient, provide more humane treatment of inmates, better conditions for the employees and visitors, and will cost taxpayers less money over the life of the facility. The Jones Administration is also focused on finding alternative solutions for non-violent offenders and for those suffering from mental illness.

The Virginia Board of Corrections unanimously approved the City’s plans to build a new jail in December of 2011. “Today, after many starts and stops, we are here to officially start a long overdue project,” said City Council President Kathy Graziano. “This will be a city jail that will not be a blight on the surrounding neighborhoods and that will provide its residents with humane conditions.”

“While the journey to this moment was long and riddled with distractions, our efforts will yield a new facility which enhances the lives of the employees who work here, the community members who volunteer here and the citizens who visit here,” comments Sheriff C.T. Woody.

“By choice today, we are making a decision to end mass incarceration. By choice, we are making a decision to view drugs as a health issue greater than a crime issue,” said City Council Vice President Ellen Robertson. “By choice, we promise alternatives to incarceration. This is a day of appreciation to honor the sheriff and his staff and to provide them a decent place to work.”

Tompkins/Ballard Joint Venture, the winning vendor for the construction of the new Justice Center, proposed a single-phased approach so inmates would not need to be moved out of the existing jail during construction. The proposal also was under budget and exceeded Mayor Jones’ goal of a 40 percent minority participation rate, as the proposal had a 50.2 minority business inclusion percentage and included 13 local area minority business firms as part of the construction team.

The facility is slated to open in January of 2014 and to be fully completed by the final quarter of 2014.

Mayor Jones Announces Transition in Leadership at Richmond Juvenile Detention Center

Mayor Dwight C. Jones today announced changes at the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center (RJDC).

Effective January 16, 2012, the superintendent of the Richmond Juvenile Detention Center has been relieved of her duties and Jack Scott, Executive Director of the Crater Youth Commission in Petersburg, has been named interim superintendent. Chuck Kehoe, director of the Richmond Department of Justice Services (RDJS) will serve as the lead for the RJDC organization’s Correction Action Plan. Also, Charles Lampkin from RDJS has been named as the interim assistant superintendent.

“Our aim is to get the Center in order quickly. We want to end our probation as soon as possible and provide the proper care for those in need of services,” said Mayor Jones. “Leadership and management are responsible for getting the Center back on track. We have made the necessary changes for that to be accomplished.”

Aside from the personnel changes, RJDC staff has begun mandatory retraining. The training is expected to continue over the next eight weeks. Building repairs and maintenance needs are continuing to be readily addressed.

Homicides and Commercial Robberies Lead Decline in Violent Crimes for 2011

Overall, crime was up last year in Richmond – by 1 percent – compared to the same statistics for 2010. This slight increase was driven by property crimes, which were up by 2 percent.

However, there was a significant reduction in violent crimes, with homicides and commercial robberies leading the decline, down 10 percent and 14 percent, respectively. Aggravated assaults also were down 3 percent. Rapes generated the only increase, up 16 percent from 43 in 2010 to 50 in 2011.

“Violent crime, and crime in general, is down in Richmond because the residents and police officers have joined forces to combat the criminal element,” said Mayor Dwight C. Jones. “The police cannot and have not done it alone. It takes all of us, as stakeholders, working together.”

“I am particularly pleased with the drop in violent crimes, which was even better than last year’s historic low,” said Chief Bryan T. Norwood. “However, despite our success in this area, there’s still work to do – in particular in the area of property crimes.”

The only decline in the property crimes category was under larceny, which includes thefts from buildings and vehicles, as well as shoplifting, pick-pocketing and purse snatching, down 1 percent for 2011. Arson had the largest increase, up 35 percent from 43 in 2010 to 58 in 2011. Burglary and auto theft were both up 7 percent.

“With the help of our residents and community partners, we have a handle on violent crimes,” Chief Norwood said. “Now we’re going to use those same resources to drive down property crimes – from our Neighborhood Watch Associations to business owners to the average man or woman on the street. Our mantra: If you see something, say something.”

Elderly and Disabled Tax Relief Assistance Available

Beginning Tuesday, January 10, 2012, City staff will be available at various locations to offer assistance to elderly and disabled residents who may qualify or need to re-certify for real estate tax relief. “We are bringing City staff to the community to make it easier for residents to complete the application process and get the assistance they need,” said Interim Director of Finance Wayne Lassiter.

Staff from the City’s Department of Finance will be available to provide personal assistance with the real estate tax relief application process. No appointment is necessary. The locations and days are:

City Hall – 900 East Broad Street, Room 103
Every Tuesday and Thursday from January 10 through March 29 from 8 a.m. to Noon

Southside Community Services Center – 4100 Hull Street Road
The following Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to Noon
January 18
February 1, 15 and 29
March 14 and 28

East End District Center – 901 North 25th Street
The following Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to Noon:
January 11 and 25
February 8 and 22
March 7 and 21

Richmond Police Training Academy – 1202 West Graham Road
Tuesday, January 24, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, February 7, 9 a.m. to Noon
Thursday, February 23, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Tuesday, March 13, 9 a.m. to Noon

Free parking is available at the Southside and East End locations. All locations with the exception of the East End District Center are served by GRTC bus routes. An application can be downloaded from the City’s website at www.RichmondGov.com/finance.

For more information call the City of Richmond at 3-1-1 or 646-5700.