Mayor Dwight C. Jones issued the following statement today: "I am saddened by the loss of this groundbreaking leader, the former Virginia Supreme Court Justice Leroy Rountree Hassell, Sr., the state's first black chief justice. He was a well-respected justice and his passing represents a loss to the legal profession. Our hearts are with his family during this very difficult time." ###

On Thursday, February 3, Mayor Jones delivered his second State of the City Address to hundreds at Jackson Ward's Hippodrome Theater. Address highlights included the development of an outcomes-based budget for the upcoming fiscal years, improving the city's aging infrastructure, continuing work to revitalize neighborhoods, reducing poverty, and a new emphasis on tourism. Click here to read the Mayor's speech. Click here to watch the video of the State of the City Address.

~City would be proactive in adopting ordinance to deal with the potential of private liquor stores~ Mayor Dwight C. Jones and City Councilman Charles R. Samuels today announced their joint proposed ordinance to manage the location of private liquor stores, should the State move to privatize ABC stores in the future. The purpose of the ordinance is to distinguish “retail sales of liquor” from other retail stores, to require a conditional use permit in certain districts, and to establish specific conditions to the operation of such stores. The conditional use process is specifically designed to promote neighborhood review and input, through the conduct of public hearings by the Planning Commission and City Council. The proposed ordinance would have a three-part approach: 1) defining “retail sales of liquor” to distinguish it from other retail stores, and distinguishing it from the sales of other alcoholic beverages (such as beer and wine, which are not changed from their current statu...

~City provides assistance with applications at various locations - New dates and location added~ The City of Richmond Department of Finance is offering personnel 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 taking our assistance efforts straight to the community to make it easier for the elderly and disabled to complete the application process,” said Finance Director Barbara Reese. City finance staff will be available during the following times and locations to provide personal assistance with the real estate tax relief application process. No appointment is necessary. The locations and days are: o Wednesdays, February 9 and 16 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Southside Community Services Center 4100 Hull Street Road (in the Southside Plaza Shopping Center) o Wednesdays, January 26 and February 23 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. East End District Center 701 N. 25th Street ...

~City is only locality in State with authority to offer tax payment break~ At his monthly meeting with Richmond City Council, Mayor Dwight C. Jones announced his administration's desire to implement a tax amnesty program for Richmond city tax payers. The Jones Administration sought and won the authority to offer the amnesty program during the 2010 General Assembly and would like the relief to be offered between February 15 and April 15. This is the second time in history that the city of Richmond has been authorized to have a tax amnesty program. The first time was in 1994 and was championed by then-Delegate Dwight C. Jones. The current authority was sponsored by Delegate Jennifer McClellan at the City's request. The Jones Administration will introduce a paper at tonight’s City Council meeting to implement the authorized amnesty program. "Our first amnesty program will cover past-due real estate taxes, and it would waive any penalties to the real estate taxes owed by a p...

Richmond Mayor Dwight C. Jones congratulates Richmond City Council President Kathy Graziano and Vice President Ellen Robertson, both of whom were re-elected today. "I look forward to our continued cooperative work with City Council. This re-election of the council leaders reaffirms that we can make progress in Richmond and continue addressing the critical issues that face our city. Over the past two years, we have taken important steps toward becoming a Tier One City , and I look forward to working with Kathy, Ellen and the entire City Council to Build a Better Richmond ." ###

Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ resolution to validate the City Administration’s process for completing a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) was adopted by Richmond City Council during its final session of 2010. The CEDS was completed by the Jones Administration this fall, and included public and private participation and leadership. CEDS is an analytical document, which considers important economic development assets and opportunities, such as infrastructure, workforce development, target industries, and others. It makes strategic recommendations based on this analysis, and provides a framework and timeline for implementation of those recommendations. While the CEDS is an important tool to help the City achieve its economic development goals, it is also a prerequisite for access to many of the funding opportunities available through the EDA. Richmond's approved CEDS strategy has now been submitted to the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the U.S. Department of Co...