Last Minute Election Shenanigans, Francine, and Successful Housing Rehab
Cheers RVA!
Today will be sunny with a high of 71, with wind earlier in the day. Temperatures are expected to drop to 40 in the evening.
the juice:
Michael Paul Williams from the RTD recently wrote an opinion column on Tavares Floyd, candidate for the 6th District, noting that five donors who reportedly donated to his campaign had in fact not, including a $20k donation from a businessman in Chicago who denies even knowing Floyd.
Williams questions the reasoning:
If Floyd is reporting money that he doesn’t actually have, how does that benefit his campaign? You might say this is about appearances; a flex in his attempt to unseat longtime 6th District incumbent Ellen Robertson, for whom he served as a liaison. But how many voters bother to look at campaign finance reports?
The $140k in campaign contributions reported is unusually high for a local election.
the pulp:
The Richmonder reports a recent Harrison Roday TV ad attacking Avula doesn’t include the required verbal statement by Roday that his campaign supports the ad. Negative campaign ads in Virginia must include a statement spoken aloud from the candidate declaring they sponsored the ad.
South Richmond News reports a flyer is making the rounds suggesting Frank Wilson, who is challenging incumbent Reva Trammel in the 8th district for city council, does not live in the district. The City Charter requires candidates reside in the district in which they serve. Wilson has rebutted the claim, stating (Gordon Avenue) “is the residence I established in order to qualify to run for office.”
Francine the cat from Lowe’s got a corporate mention and now has campaign signs on Monument Ave.
With almost no rain since October 1 and potential wind gusts of 20 mph+, Central Virginia is under an elevated wildfire threat, via channel 12. Shout-out to the CheersRVA readers who fight wildfires in Virginia.
the dive:
Strong Towns dives into successful housing rehab in Detroit over the last five years.
Detroit has invested over $1 billion in affordable housing in that period, generating 4600 affordable homes, and is looking for another $1 billion over the next five years.
The article zooms in on a neighborhood in the Midwest neighborhood, and notes factors such as local ownership and the Detroit Land Bank have contributed to the progress:
Much of the inventory for rehab here seems to have been supplied by Detroit Land Bank sales: 77 of 125 reoccupied homes were owned by the Detroit Land Bank circa 2019. These homes are much cheaper and more accessible than those held by private actors, especially those who may want to charge higher prices as they see increased investment in the neighborhood around their speculatively held properties.
The article also stresses the importance of family and community networks in the rehabilitation process of homes, with DIY solutions keeping overall costs down.
Citing a report on Immigration and Neighborhood change in Detroit, examples of how various immigrant communities have collaborated are included:
One participant described how the “Cuban community” had made the necessary rehab repairs for her home. This community, as she described it, which was spread across the Detroit metro area, contained many skilled tradespeople and they looked out for each other. Cuban community members performed free labor on her home and/or traded for their services. A Dominican respondent described how a fellow Dominican had installed a furnace in his home and allowed him to repay over time without interest. Bangladeshi focus group members described the existence of a network of contractors within the Bangladeshi community who could be trusted to help with repairs.
Read the full article here.
the vibe:
The Maymont Garden Glow is underway and takes place every evening (except Mondays) until November 10.
Have a glowing day RVA!
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