Mayor Levar M. Stoney today announced the creation of the City of Richmond Eviction Task Force, an advisory body charged with addressing the causes of evictions in Richmond and prescribing preventative solutions. The task force will work alongside the city’s Eviction Diversion Program, a first-of-its-kind within the Commonwealth of Virginia mediation program providing rental assistance, pro bono legal support, financial counseling, and supportive service referrals to residents already in the court system for rent-due cases and facing housing insecurity. The Eviction Diversion Program, launched in October 2019 in partnership with Housing Opportunities Made Equal of Virginia, Central Virginia Legal Aid Society, Firms in Service and the court system, is poised to thwart hundreds of potential evictions in its first year. “The Eviction Diversion Program will make a real impact in the lives of some of our most vulnerable community members...

During its November 12 meeting, Richmond City Council unanimously passed an ordinance requiring any person who loses a gun or has one stolen in the City of Richmond to report the loss or theft to the Richmond Police Department. The ordinance, proposed by Mayor Stoney and introduced on October 14, intends to prevent the trafficking of lost and stolen guns, which are more likely to be used in criminal offenses. At the time of introduction, 354 firearms had been reported stolen in the City of Richmond. The legislation aims to prevent gun crimes before they occur by requiring   gun owners to report lost or stolen firearms to police within 24 hours of realizing a loss or theft has occurred.   The reporting requirement became effective upon passage. “I’m thankful   City   Council took this important step to   help   prevent gun violence in Richmond,” said Mayor Stoney. “This reporting requirement isn’t a fix-all, but   this additional leve...