Fluoride in the Water, Erroneous Tax Rebates, and Another Vape Shop
Cheers RVA!
Today will be mostly sunny and breezy with a high of 84 and a low of 64. Tree pollen remains high, but will subside in the coming weeks, while grass pollen remains moderate.
the juice:
The City of Richmond released a statement Monday saying installation of a new fluoride pump at the water plant caused the levels of fluoride to temporarily rise last Wednesday, but that the water was safe for consumption.
The EPA recommends .7 milligrams per liter (mg/L) of fluoride as the optimal amount to add to public water systems.
The City said the rate rose to 2.67 mg/L, below the maximum contaminant level of 4.0 mg/L.
While the city’s water system is also connected to the surrounding counties, officials in Hanover and Henrico say they were not notified until Sunday, with Mayor Avula issuing the following apology:
I'm disappointed with our failure to communicate. This incident damages the work we're doing to rebuild trust — not only with the residents of Richmond, but our communities, and our regional partners, including Henrico, Chesterfield, and Hanover. We must do better.
Since 1962, the United States Public Health Service (PHS) has recommended public water supplies contain fluoride to help prevent tooth decay.
the pulp:
A man was hit by a car and killed at the intersection of West Broad Street and Pemberton Road in Henrico, via WTVR. The driver remained at the scene and the incident remains under investigation.
Virginia Lieutenant Governor candidate John Reid is refusing to step down, despite a request from Governor Youngkin after Reid was linked to a social media account with explicit images, via the Mercury. Reid has argued he is being unfairly targeted because he is the first openly gay person to run for statewide office in Virginia.
the dive:
Graham Moomaw of the Richmonder dives into the recent resignation by the City revenue director after thousands of erroneous tax rebate checks were sent out last month as part of a rebate program awarding a four-cent reduction on personal property tax.
An estimated 8300 checks of a near 60k total checks issued were sent to the wrong address or listed the wrong recipient.
Moomaw writes:
The city has been in the middle of a contentious budget season, with Mayor Danny Avula's administration pushing for across-the-board, 3.25% raises for city employees. Several City Council members have questioned giving even higher pay to top City Hall officials, a conversation that has touched on the broader question of whether ever-growing salaries will improve City Hall's performance or add to the perception that there's little accountability for the city's at-times lackluster service.
Read the full article here.
the vibe:
Another vape shop set to open with Thomas Jefferson High School in the background:
Have a responsible day RVA!
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