Mayor Stoney visited the Department of Public Works (DPW) crews paving along Richmond’s segment of Chippenham Parkway Tuesday evening.   The Chippenham Parkway paving project spans nearly 20 lane miles and constitutes a $1.5 million investment in the roads of the Southside. To minimize congestion along the major thoroughfare, the bulk of the paving is being done at night.     The mayor also provided a summary of paving progress made throughout FY2020, noting that light traffic during the COVID-19 pandemic facilitated efficient work.   “I’m all about looking for the silver lining in this new normal, determining how we can work together to turn a bad situation into a productive one,” said the mayor. “The work done on our roads is a great example of that.”   In FY2020, the city paved over 320 lane miles. That work constituted a roughly $22 million-dollar investment : $15 million from the CIP budget, $1 million in state revenue funds and $6 million in various DPW an...

In light of the recent extreme temperatures in the area, the Stoney administration is extending cooling station hours from 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. to 11 a.m. – 8 p.m. while a heat advisory is in effect in the City of Richmond.   When the cooling station is open, but a heat advisory is not in effect, visitors will be welcome from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.   “This is a change rooted in compassion and common sense,” said Mayor Stoney. “I know how hot this city can get during the summer. Nobody should risk heat stroke because they are experiencing homelessness or lack access to adequate air conditioning.”   “It’s the city’s job to step in, reach out a helping hand and prioritize public health.”   During the extent of the governor’s mask mandate, all residents who wish to use the cooling shelters must wear face coverings and practice social distancing where possible.   For more information regarding cooling assistance services, city residents should contact the city’s Department of...

A residential parking district will begin operating soon in the Historic Jackson Ward. From September 1, 2020 through August 31, 2021, the two-hour parking time limit is from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturday,  except for vehicles displaying a valid permit . Permits must be renewed annually.   This permanent change in parking is the result of a vote by the Historic Jackson Ward Association in 2019 to create a residential parking permit district. On May 26, 2020 City Council adopted ordinance No. 2020-112 to establish the district and limit parking on the block faces as set forth in the ordinance.   Parking decals for residents of the restricted parking district will be available for sale starting August 1, 2020 and will cost $25 each . Decals are limited to three per house or building address. Residents and property owners must display the permit on their cars to park more than 2 hours . Annual Visitor Passes, which co...

Stoney administration launches rent relief program for qualified immigrant families Today, the city launched a program to provide rent and mortgage assistance to non-citizen and mixed immigration status households in Richmond. This program is designed to support those Richmonders excluded from federal assistance due to their immigration status.   The program is made possible by a $250,000 grant from the Open Society Foundations, a non-profit organization based in New York dedicated to providing assistance to groups excluded from federal assistance, such as non-citizens, mixed-status families and those with limited English proficiency working in domestic service jobs and other essential industries.   To assist as many households as possible, funds per household will be limited to $1500 or up to two months of rent, whichever is less. This support program is intended to aid households who are having trouble paying rent due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Applicants who ha...

Today Mayor Stoney announced the members of the Task Force to Reimagine Public Safety and outlined his primary requests of the diverse group of professionals. The majority of task force members stood with the mayor for the announcement.   “There is a lot of work ahead of us, but this group’s diversity of expertise and lived experiences is a key asset on our path forward,” said the mayor. “I am thrilled to have this team help our city heal.”   The members of the task force bring an array of perspectives from  activist, legal, academic, law enforcement, emergency services, artistic, healthcare and other fields. At the close of a 45-day period, the task force will bring the mayor a set of actionable steps forward to build a safer city for all.    “After additional conversations and review of actions taken in other cities, I do not believe we can wait to begin acting on reform recommendations,” said Mayor Stoney. “I have asked this task force to report back with ini...

As of July 1, firearms are prohibited in city-owned buildings, parks, recreational facilities and community facilities. This includes, but is not limited to: City Hall, community centers, the two Department of Social Services locations and all public parks.   Richmond City Council passed the mayor’s ordinance to prohibit guns in city buildings and parks in July 2019 . However, the prohibition did not go into effect until July 1, 2020 because the state only recently voted to give municipalities the power to limit guns in certain spaces.   “No Richmonder should ever be threatened by gun violence,” said Mayor Stoney. “This is especially true in public spaces like parks and community centers, where residents expect to enjoy public amenities, not fear for their lives.”   “Paired with our reporting requirement on illegal guns, this key legislative change is a model we should replicate and a foundation we should build on,” continued Mayor Stoney. “Carrying the memory of Markiya ...

El miércoles 1 de julio, la Ciudad de Richmond pasará a la Fase Tres del plan de reapertura estatal, “Forward Virginia”.    “A la luz de los datos que estamos viendo y la accesibilidad para hacerse las pruebas y para obtener un aislamiento seguro, me siento cómodo dejando que nuestra ciudad entre en la Fase Tres de “Forward Virginia” junto con el resto del estado”, dijo el alcalde Stoney.    “Sin embargo, sabemos que para seguir avanzando en el proceso de recuperación, tenemos que mantener las mismas actitudes y prácticas cautelosas y respetuosas que hemos estado normalizando durante los últimos tres meses", continuó. "Use su máscara, mantenga su distancia y hágase la prueba”, agregó el alcalde.   Desde mediados de marzo, la ciudad de Richmond ha funcionado bajo varias etapas de cierre mientras adoptaba prácticas básicas que han demostrado combatir la propagación de COVID-19: el uso de mascarillas, mantener la distancia personal mínima, la desinfección de manos ...