Teacher Raises, Ivy Numbers, and Our River
Cheers RVA!
Today will be sunny with a modest high of 82. Enjoy the slightly cooler day as later this week we head back to the 90’s.
the juice:
A new budget year starts today in Virginia. The two-year $175 billion budget includes a 3% increase for state employees and teachers.
A raise for teachers is always good, especially in the Richmond area where it seems there is a shortage every year, particularly in RPS.
However with raises, or lack thereof, it’s always important to compare salary to annual inflation to understand true spending power.
Below is the annual inflation rate for the last 10 years, with 2024 based on a 12-mo rate:
An additional $2.5 billion in the budget is included for public schools.
Regardless of the inflation rate, congratulations to those teachers receiving raises this month, you deserve it.
the pulp:
Beloved chef and restaurateur Stella Dikos has passed away, from channel 6. Dikos owned the Village Cafe, established 1956, and Stella’s, established 1983, and her recipes and inspiration can be found at a number of other Richmond restaurants.
The Richmond Ivy hosted over 5841 fans last Friday night for the final game of the season, via channel 8. The Ivy lost 4-2 and finished 6-5-1, 4th in the mid-Atlantic division of 8 teams. The average attendance at City Stadium in their inaugural season was 4811, slightly higher than the Kickers’ average (4786 fans) in 2023.
the dive:
Pat Calvert of the Virginia Conservation Network, which aims to protect Virginia’s natural resources, writes a commentary for the RTD on the success made improving the health of the James River, and the continued work that needs to be done.
The James is not only the “crown jewel” of Richmond but connects us to the region, and the health of the Chesepeake Bay is a reflection of the river here locally.
Calvert notes the history of the James being identified as one of the most polluted rivers in the country due to Allied Chemical’s roach poison Kepone being dumped into the waterways in 1974.
The river was subsequently closed for 13 years to commercial fishing due to chemical pollution.
His call to action is for Virginia to recommit to the Chesepeake Bay Agreement:
Make no mistake, a great deal of money is on the line. Virginia has received tens of millions of dollars in federal funding to implement conservation projects. Continued funding for water quality improvement projects is at risk if our leaders don’t recommit to the bay restoration effort.
Read the full article here.
the vibe:
A CheersRVA reader sent this picture from the Guggenheim in NYC.
Have an ethically-sensitive day RVA!
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