A Mayoral Poll, a Correction, and Revitalizing the Arts District
Cheers RVA!
Cooler temperatures remain today with some clouds in the morning giving way to sunny skies in the afternoon, with a high of 61, and a low of 42. Warmer afternoons are expected this weekend and we could hit 80 again next week.
the juice:
A recent survey of 400 likely Richmond voters shows Danny Avula with a sizable lead over Michelle Mosby as compared to polling back in July.
The Richmonder obtained the internal memo from outside any of the campaigns, but says the data has been circulating among Avula supporters.
Graham Moomaw from the Richmonder notes the numbers should be taken with skepticism since internal polls have an incentive to show potential donors they are building strength.
Additionally, Avula’s TV ad campaign started earlier than Roday’s and Mosby’s, whose ads have just recently started airing, meaning the impact may not have been captured in the survey conducted Oct 7 - 9.
According to the memo, the polling was conducted by landline, cell phone, and text to web, across factors such as gender, age, geography and race.
The memo also acknowledges a small sample size within each district and a high margin of error, and notes 27% of respondents were undecided.
To win the election, a candidate must win a plurality of votes in five of the nine districts. Early voting is open and Election Day is November 5.
the pulp:
CORRECTION: Yesterday’s newsletter cited a channel 12 story about a shooting in Churchill on the 2900 block of East Broad street and an officer being shot. According to channel 12, Richmond police responded to a mental health call at the location, with reports a man had a knife. After talking with a woman who was unable to come outside, the officers heard screaming, entered the dwelling and one officer fired on the suspect, who later died Wednesday morning. The officer is on administrative leave per RPD policy. Cheers to the reader who reached out regarding this story.
Jonathon Spiers interviewed candidate Michelle Mosby in the 3rd part of the Q&A series.
R. Anthony Harris, the creator of RVA Magazine and “the guy that promoted the ‘RVA’ brand citywide before the city adopted it as its official moniker”, recently wrote an editorial on revitalizing the Richmond Arts District and what the next mayoral administration can do to prioritize one of the crown jewels of Richmond. He includes ideas such as increasing beat cops to the area, improving lighting, adding speed bumps to prevent drag racing, and bringing back street closures for First Fridays. Harris says:
The recent mayoral forum on arts and culture didn’t offer much in the way of actionable solutions, just broad stroke talking points that left many feeling like whoever is the next mayor has no clue what to do either. But if we’re serious about making Richmond a place where both residents and tourists want to spend their time, the next mayor must prioritize the Arts District and unlock its full potential.
the dive:
If you missed the community open house this past Monday on the Westward extension of the Pulse line, you can still provide feedback via this survey here.
Bus Rapid Transit is a high capacity transit system designed to be more reliable and convenient than traditional bus routes.
The Pulse line was opened in 2018, with a 7.6-mile route from Rockett’s Landing to Willow Lawn. The extension will run from Willow Lawn to Parham Rd. along Broad St., with six potential stations currently being considered.
Henrico County notes there is a need for improved crossings, sidewalks, and transit infrastructure, which it is actively addressing.
The plan would likely reduce regular thru traffic to two lanes, with a third dedicated bus lane painted red, as it is in the current route, but with stations on the sides of the road rather than in the median.
According to sources in the county, there have been conversations about potentially making the bus lane a shared bus/bike lane.
Learn more about the project here and take the survey here. It’s short and none of the questions require a response.
the vibe:
Have a rapid but relaxing day RVA!
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