Undelivered Mail, Janitorial Service Workers Strike, and 'Slot Machine' Tax Revenue
Cheers RVA!
Today will be sunny with a high of 63, and windy with potential gusts of 25+ mph. The evening will be cold with a low of 31.
the juice:
Stacks of undelivered mail were found in two trash cans at Good Shepherd Baptist Church in Church Hill on Tuesday.
The Postal Inspection Service is actively investigating the failure of delivery, which included medicine, W-2’s, checks, and bills.
The missing mail is expected to be delivered today at the latest.
the pulp:
More than 150 Richmond janitors contracted by City Hall went on strike Tuesday morning to protest alleged treatment and benefits, via WWBT. One worker who has cleaned the city hall building for the last six years said she hasn’t taken a vacation during that time since her employer Nu-tech doesn’t allow paid time off.
South Richmond News reports on the locations of license plate readers known as ‘Flock Safety Falcons’ on Southside, including links to maps displaying a portion of the 90+ surveillance cameras located around the city.
The Dave Matthews Band is set to play two shows in mid-July at the new Allianz Ampitheater at Riverfront. Originally from Charlottesville, DMB played often at the Flood Zone in the early 1990’s, and even played the Homecoming Dance at St. Christopher’s in 1993. Tickets will go on sale to the general public February 21.
the dive:
A Virginia Senate committee voted 10-5 on Tuesday to reject a bill that would have generated millions in tax revenue from the local Rosie’s gaming facility, according to Graham Moomaw at the Richmonder.
Tax revenue is currently split 50/50 between the City or County where the Rosie’s facility is located and New Kent County, as the “slot machines” are technically powered by old historical horse racing data.
Originally the tax split was designed to support the Colonial Downs Racetrack (located in New Kent) affiliated with Rosie’s facilities.
Moomaw writes:
The bill that failed in the Senate would have increased Richmond’s share to 75 cents of every local tax dollar from the slots-like devices, technically known as historical horse racing machines. It would’ve dropped New Kent’s allotment to 25 cents. The bill — which would have affected all localities with a Rosie’s — didn’t alter the overall tax rate on gambling at Rosie’s, meaning it didn’t impact the bottom line of Churchill Downs, the parent company of Rosie’s and Colonial Downs.
Another Rosie’s location is set to open on Staples Mill in Henrico County, meaning any changes in tax legislation could soon affect Henrico’s tax revenue as well.
The article notes that off-track Rosie’s are far more profitable than live horse racing, and New Kent brings in more revenue from the Richmond location than it does from machines in its own county.
Read the full article here.
the vibe:
Have a flowing day RVA!