Theft Mitigation and a Slot Rant
Cheers RVA!
Today will be hot with a high of 96. Expect potential afternoon/evening thunderstorms, and if you know for sure, please update Rosie’s customers’ current historical odds.
the juice:
The Richmond Police Department’s midyear report on crime noted an increase in theft, specifically shoplifting, with over half of incidents occurring in ABC stores.
As a response, the location at 1217 West Broad Street is shifting to a package store, where product is behind a barrier and retrieved by the retail associate.
The design change will not have glass but an extended counter.
Chief Edwards notes he would like all ABC stores to be of that design:
I’d like them all to be package stores. So I know the ABC director will lose a lot of money, but that would make my life easier.
From a design point of view this approach is smart.
Yes, there is the downside of traditional retail aisle browsing, but it’s an ABC store in the heart of the city.
Shoplifting is an example of a petty crime mitigated through common sense design rather than reactive law enforcement engagement.
the pulp:
The Pink Room in Churchill has temporarily closed as zoning issues are resolved, via rvahub. Apparently the building was zoned half commercial, half residential.
Channel 6 reports on 5 recent shootings in Richmond with 14 victims. Charles Willis, local community leader and regular speaker at Richmond School Board Meetings notes:
There are still people that believe in resolving conflicts by using the force of violence and that's a shame. But there are times where people are dealing with the heat structure, dealing with unpleasant structure, dealing with homelessness. You know, all of that plays a factor in why people want to participate in crime
the tangent:
Churchill Downs wants slots wherever they can put’em.
What would be the positive externalities of a slot-machine parlor at Staples Mill and Glenside?
Tax revenue redistributed locally, ok?
Of course the County Commissioners would like to frame Churchill Downs’ bold move to skirt the law for greed’s sake as a public input issue rather than stating the obvious:
Yes, gambling generates enormous revenue streams for municipalities and corporate greed alike. What are the overall effects on the local community?
The political argument is actually legitimate:
Virginians voted on a bill in 1992 that might bring live horse racing to Virginia.
The impetus of the bill was for horse racing in Virginia, not slot machines in an undeveloped commercial sector of Henrico County in 2024.
There is no Positive Expected Value in any form of gambling (player v house), but regulated gambling can provide a basic social element, as compared to slot machines which efficiently exploit human behavior behind a screen, discouraging basic human interaction.
the vibe:
Afternoon thunderstorm outcomes are unknown.
Have a thunderous day RVA!