An Old Switchgear, a Grace Period, and the GA
Cheers RVA!
Today will be mostly sunny with a high of 47 and a low of 20 in the evening. The week ahead looks similar, with highs in the 40’s and frigid evenings with temperatures in the teens.
the juice:
The part which failed at the city water plant and caused the water crisis in Richmond had not been replaced in two decades, and the city had put out three solicitations for bids to upgrade the switchgear going back to 2016, according to Samuel Parker at the RTD.
When the primary source of power to the plant went out, the switchgear should have automatically switched power input to the plant’s secondary source of power.
The failure of the component caused a lack of valve control which in turn caused flooding, further exacerbating the problem, resulting in thousands of residents and businesses without access to water for multiple days last week.
the pulp:
The City of Richmond is providing residents a five-day grace period for bills due in January with no late penalty or interest.
VDOT is warning Monday morning commuters to beware of a potential refreeze as snow that melted Sunday may have frozen overnight creating ice on some roadways in the area. They suggest: planning ahead, leaving early, slowing down, and increasing follow distances.
The General Assembly officially convened last Wednesday, but adjourned until today for the first full day of work. As 2025 is an odd-numbered year, the session will last 30 days, but could be extended to 45 days. Check out the schedule here.
the dive:
With the General Assembly set to begin work, Jahd Kahlil from VPM breaks down some the ambitions of this year’s session.
The entire house of delegates is up for reelection this year, with primaries slated for June 18.
The budget can only be amended this year, with Governor Youngkin hoping to eventually eliminate Virginia’s Car tax.
Democrats have proposed three constitutional amendments, including legalizing abortion on the state level. Any proposals that pass would need to be approved again in the next legislative session in the fall, and then voted on via referendum in 2026.
Education funding, data centers, and regulation of automated license plate readers are also expected to be debated this session.
Read the full article here.
the vibe:
Have a defrosted day RVA!
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