Vote for the People's Budget, Bike Month Planning, and Diversity at VCU
Cheers RVA!
Today will be mostly cloudy, breezy with a high of 81 and potential thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening. Temperatures are expected to drop down to around 50 at night. The week ahead looks a bit cooler early in the week and then highs in the mid-80’s Thursday and Friday.
the juice:
Voting for the Richmond People’s Budget begins today.
The participatory budgeting process is an opportunity for citizens age 14 and older to vote on how $3 million of the city’s budget is spent across the nine districts.
Each district has a list of 5-10 projects and residents are able to vote for three of their preferred projects.
The final ballots were narrowed down from over 1900 proposals based on equity and impact, with district delegates sending between 10-20 projects each to be discussed with various city department officials.
Some proposals are still less detailed than others. For example, the ballot for the 2nd district includes multiple individual bus shelters at various locations, for an estimated cost of $50k apiece.
A ballot measure in the 8th district plans to: “Plant Trees and Native Plants to Combat Urban Heat Islands” throughout the 8th district, without specific details but in collaboration with Parks and Rec and the RVAGreen2050 plan.
Many of the proposals revolve around public mobility, but a few mural projects remain as well as “Welcome to Southside” signage and upgrades to local skating rinks.
Each district is allocated between $200k - $500 based on need according to the RVAGreen2050 social vulnerability map.
While the $3 million intended for the People’s Budget was not directly included in Mayor Avula’s initial budget proposal, the mayor “did however commit to aligning funding to support the proposals that will come out of the voting process,” according to 2nd district councilmember Katherine Jordan’s newsletter.
Voting is ranked-choice with three selections per ballot.
Vote online here, or at various libraries throughout the city on select dates, from now until April 15.
the pulp:
A man was shot and killed in Mosby Court early Friday evening, via WTVR. A suspect was later arrested shortly after the incident which involved a dispute. Chief Edwards stated that the use of license-plate readers and video of the incident allowed police to act quickly in apprehending the suspect fleeing on I-64.
Another homicide occurred over the weekend when a man was shot and killed in Shockoe Bottom in the 1800 block of East Main Street early Sunday morning, from WRIC. An investigation remains ongoing.
Sportsbackers is hosting it’s annual bike month planning party on Wednesday, April 2nd at its new office on Lakeside Avenue, beginning at 5:30 pm. Participants are encouraged to bring their ideas for group rides and events for the 12th annual RVA Bike Month in May.
the dive:
Michael Paul Williams offers an opinion column on the recent resolution by the VCU Board of Visitors which voted 11-4 to end the Office of Diversity Excellence.
The rector of VCU’s board Todd Haymore noted the decision was necessary to ensure compliance with Federal Law.
Williams, who has been working at the Richmond Times-Dispatch since 1982 and won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 2021, writes:
Diversity is a brand at VCU, where 57% of its undergraduates have minority backgrounds and 37% of its incoming freshmen are first-generation college students.
Diversity — as much as the arts, medicine, Rams basketball and the shock-rock band GWAR — is VCU’s brand.
In embracing exclusion, it imperils its identity.
Read the full column here.
the vibe:
A bus shelter on Grace Street from 1983:
Have a marvelous day RVA!
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