The administration of Mayor Levar M. Stoney today appointed current Richmond Police Department Acting Chief William C. Smith to serve as Interim Chief of Police following the retirement of Chief Alfred Durham on Dec. 31. Smith, 50, began his law enforcement career with RPD in 1995 and has risen through the ranks of the department over a 23-year career. He was promoted to the rank of sergeant in 1998, lieutenant in 2003, captain in 2007 and major in 2016. Smith was recently promoted to Deputy Chief and then designated as Acting Chief of Department by Chief Durham. “Chief Smith is an experienced law enforcement professional who brings a sense of duty and an analytical approach to his work,” said Mayor Stoney. “He understands the unique demands and responsibilities of this important job, and I have confidence in his ability to manage the Richmond Police Department during this transition period.” Chief Smith will run the department until a permanent chief of police is selected. Prior to

Since 2009, state funding for K-12 education is down 9%, while overall student population has grown by 5%. Today, local elected officials from across the Commonwealth are joining the call for more state funding for K-12 public education.     Leaders from a number of localities have signed on to support the March For More, which was announced on Wednesday by Mayor Levar Stoney, Richmond Public Schools leadership and education leaders from the across the region. March For More will take place on December 8 th starting at Martin Luther King, Jr. Middle School in Richmond and end at the State Capitol steps. The March is also supported by a growing number of organizations committed to increasing state funding for education, including the Virginia Education Association, Virginia Municipal League, Virginia First Cities, and the NAACP, to name a few. Leaders from across the Commonwealth, representing a diversity of Virginians, support the March For More and are encouraging paren

Additional $1.2 billion over 30 year dedicated to Education (50%), Housing (15%) and the Arts (1%)   Mayor Stoney announced his intention today to dedicate significant portions of the surplus revenues from the Navy Hill Redevelopment Project to his core priorities of education and housing. The Mayor’s proposal, which will be included in the ordinances submitted to city council in the coming weeks, would direct 50 percent of surplus revenues from the Tax Increment Financing district to support Richmond Public Schools, 15 percent to support housing opportunities and homeless services and 1 percent for art, history and cultural opportunities. The remaining 34 percent would remain in the general fund for investments in public safety, public works and other core city services. “By dedicating significant portions of the surplus revenues that this project will create to our top priorities of education, housing opportunities, and arts and culture, we are following through on my commit

Mayor Levar M. Stoney announced today the appointment of Reginald E. Gordon to the position of Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services. Mr. Gordon has served in the interim capacity since August, 2018, and simultaneously as the Director of the Office of Community Wealth Building. He will permanently assume the position of Deputy Chief Administrative Officer (DCAO) on Monday, November 26, 2018 . The DCAO of Human Services is responsible for the proper administration of government with a portfolio including direct oversight over the Departments of Social Services, Justice Services and Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities. DCAO Gordon will also serve as the liaison to the quasi-independent and state agencies including the Richmond City Health District, Richmond Behavioral Health Authority and the Richmond Public Library. “Reggie’s extensive background in human services and numerous successes in community wealth building and related initiatives serving our citizen

Retirement at year’s end caps 31 years of distinguished service in law enforcement, four years as Chief of RPD      After more than 31 years of distinguished public service in law enforcement, Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham today announced his intention to retire from his job as Chief of Police, effective December 31, 2018. The chief’s retirement will conclude nearly four years of service to the City of Richmond as police chief, and caps a law enforcement career that began in 1987 with the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, following four years of active duty with the U.S. Marine Corps. “Public service is, and has been, my life,” said Chief Durham, 55. “It has been my highest privilege to serve the men and women of this department and the citizens of this great city. I would like to thank Mayor Stoney for believing in me and for his unwavering support in allowing me the opportunity to strengthen the department and its bonds to the community. It has been both an

Mayor Levar M. Stoney today announced that the City of Richmond has reached an agreement, in principle, with the nonprofit NH District Corporation for the development of the Navy Hill neighborhood north of Broad Street. Pending final negotiation and satisfactory resolution of several outstanding details, the administration will submit ordinances to the Richmond City Council in the coming weeks for consideration and public deliberation. The independent, third-party analysis of the proposed North of Broad project by Hunden Strategic Partners, Inc. can be found here - https:// bit.ly/2SIXH52   Below are Mayor Stoney’s remarks from earlier today: North of Broad Project Announcement Remarks (As Prepared for Delivery) by Mayor Levar M. Stoney November 1, 2018 Good afternoon. Thank you for coming. Almost one year ago, I stood on the Observation Deck of City Hall to announce our plans to seek proposals to redevelop a forgotten neighborhood, and to revitalize underutiliz

Click   here   to view the announcement video. Today, Mayor Levar M. Stoney launched Richmond’s Census 2020 Complete Count Committee. The Committee has been established to ensure that no citizen in the City of Richmond goes uncounted. “For each person uncounted, the city and organizations miss out on $2,000 worth of funding each year until the next census,” said Mayor Stoney. “That’s $20,000 for each uncounted person over a ten-year span. Our team will use its networks and expertise to make sure we reach every square foot of Richmond.” The Mayor also stressed the values of being counted and encouraged every Richmonder to participate. The Complete Count Committee will keep residents informed and ensure the most robust representation of our city in the 2020 Census. Members of the Complete Count Committee can be found  here . For more information please contact Chelsi Bennett, J.D., Chair, Complete Count Committee at   Chelsi.Bennett@Richmondgov.com   or (804) 646-79

Mayor Stoney is proud to announce that the City of Richmond received the highest Municipal Equality Index scorecard in the Commonwealth of Virginia as determined by the Human Rights Campaign. Out of the 11 municipalities scored in Virginia, Richmond received a   94 . Out of the 506 municipalities scored in 2018, the City of Richmond experienced the most significant score increase nationwide. Richmond was named a “MEI All-Star” and spotlighted as a “city boldly leading the way to equality” in the Human Rights Campaign’s 2018 MEI   report .   “I am thrilled that Richmond has taken so many positive steps to protect and support our LGBTQ community,” said Mayor Stoney. “I have always said that no matter the color of your skin, the neighborhood you live in, or who you love, that you are welcome in the City of Richmond – and Richmond’s 2018 MEI scorecard echoes that message.” Each year the Human Rights Campaign rates cities across the United States based on their initiatives to suppor