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...

The Richmond City Circuit, located in the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit will hold a commencement ceremony on Friday, November 8, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. at the Richmond Police Academy, 1202 Graham Road, Richmond, Virginia. The Court will recognize 13 participants who have successfully completed the 18-month Richmond Adult Drug Treatment Court program. This event is open to the public. Event speakers will include: Presiding Judges C.N Jenkins Jr. and W. Reilly Marchant and Dr. Peter Coleman of the Coleman Institute, who specializes in providing prevention, screening, intervention, and treatment for substance use and addiction. The Richmond Adult Drug Treatment Court program provides treatment and supervision services to non-violent drug defendants instead of requiring them to serve an active jail sentence. In exchange for successful completion of the treatment program, the court may dismiss the original charge, terminate the defendant from probation, or reduce a felony to a misde...

Throughout November, the city will hold a series of town hall meetings on the Navy Hill redevelopment proposal. Each of the four meetings will consist of a presentation by the mayor and city officials as well as an opportunity for the public to ask questions.  Additionally, the mayor will join Navy Hill Development Corporation and Spectra representatives for a brief presentation and meet and greet after the November 2 Navy Hill Advisory Commission meeting.   Mayor Stoney to host meet and greet with NHDC and Spectra representatives: Saturday, November 2 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. Hickory Hill Community Center 3000 E. Belt Blvd. Mayor Stoney and city officials to host Navy Hill town halls: Thursday, November 14 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Carver Elementary School   1110 W. Leigh St. Sunday, November 17 4:00 – 5:30 p.m. Peter Paul Development Center 1708 N. 22 nd   St. Monday, November 18 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. Hickory Hill Community Center 3000 E...

Mayor Stoney today announced the appointment of Mona Adkins-Easley to serve as Interim Director of the City of Richmond’s Department of Human Resources. Ms. Adkins-Easley is an experienced human resources executive who has spent more than 34 years in public service, including serving as the Associate Vice President for Human Resources at Virginia State University for 17 years and in the same title at Norfolk State University for four years, until her retirement in 2018. Ms. Adkins-Easley also worked for nearly four years at the United States Department of Agriculture as the Director of Higher Education Initiatives, overseeing three national scholarship programs and working with minority and women farmers.  She also worked for five years in various HR roles at Southside Virginia Training Center and served as the second director of the Virginia Council on Human Rights, from 1990 to 1994. “We’re grateful to have Mona Adkins-Easley come out of ...

Click here to watch a video about rides to the polls For the second consecutive year, the City of Richmond, in partnership with the Greater Richmond Transit Corporation, will provide free rides within the city’s GRTC transit network on November 5, 2019 in order to encourage participation in the state and local election. Richmond residents will be able to use any GRTC bus route within the limits of the city, including the GRTC Pulse and CARE, to reach their polling location, free of charge. “Democracy is not a spectator sport,” said Mayor Stoney. “This measure removes lack of transportation as an obstacle to civic participation. Regardless of your politics, I encourage you to get in the game. And now it’s as easy as hopping on the bus to get to the polls.” GRTC Chief Executive Officer Julie Timm said, “GRTC connects with nearly every single polling location in the City of Richmond, with more than 400 bus stops within a short walk. We are pleased to partner again this yea...

On Wednesday, October 22, 2019, the City of Richmond successfully closed on its $150 million tax-exempt general obligation (GO) bonds, Series 2019A in order to issue new debt for city and schools projects and refund existing debt service for interest rate savings. Through this bond sale, the City is avoiding over $40 million in additional interest payments over the next 20 years, compared to previous borrowing assumptions. The overall true interest cost of funds for the city’s 2019A bonds was approximately 2.22 percent, which is believed to be the lowest cost of long-term GO bonds for city and schools projects in Richmond’s history other than federally subsidized Build America bonds issued many years ago. The bond sale follows Mayor Stoney’s meetings with all three credit rating agencies in New York in July. Each firm affirmed the city’s strong bond ratings, attesting to the city’s strong financial management. Fitch and S&P reaffirmed their strong ratings on the city’s 2...