Willie Hilliard

Environment

Visitation to parks and green spaces has increased since the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic, but access to them is inequitable. How will you approach funding and implementation of the James River Park System Master Plan and the creation of parks and greenspaces in communities that currently have poor access?

First, we need to fully fund the maintenance and preservation of our city’s parks to the level called for by the JRPS Master Plan*. I do have concerns about acquisition of new land in the current fiscal climate, but if the city sees a deal on a plot that would make for prime parkland in an otherwise underserved community, it should be willing to make the investment. 

The largest way that I would increase access to parks is through an overhaul of our city’s transportation system to provide Richmonders with less expensive, more practical, and greener ways to get around than they currently have. Please see my responses in the Transportation section of this document for more on that subject. 

Please see my response to the questions about the urban heat island effect for more on the expansion of non-park greenspaces.

*Throughout this questionnaire, whenever I call for something to be fully funded and/or for funding to be increased, unless noted otherwise I would source additional revenue from implementation of split-rate real estate taxation. This policy, in brief, lowers the tax rate on improvements made on land such as buildings. Depending upon the lot in question and the nature of the improvement, it may altogether abolish the taxes applied to this portion of the current (flat) real estate tax. To make up for the loss of revenue, it raises the tax rate on the unimproved value of the land on the lot. 

My support for this reform stems from the agreement among economists and urban planners that it would allow the city to raise enough revenue to fund necessary city services in a fairer way while also doing far less damage to Richmond’s economy than the current tax system. 

Properly implemented with safeguards including but not limited to the targeted use of grandfather clauses, the vast majority of working- and middle-class Richmonders would see their property taxes hold steady or go down. Only those Richmonders who can truly afford to contribute more will be asked to in order to fund city programs like RPS, the GRTC, and other vital investments in our present and our future.

Given the increasing magnitude of heavy rain events as a consequence of climate change and the passage of Senate Bill 1064 earlier this year, how will you approach Richmond's combined sewer system and stormwater management in general?

While working with our Richmond-area delegation to get the state of VA to assist Richmond and other C.S.S.-owning jurisdictions to the maximum extent possible in modernizing, further funds may be required from the city beyond what have already been identified. The remaining third of the city served by the combined sewer system needs to be caught up to where the other two thirds are as soon as possible, with wastewater and stormwater handled separately from one another. 

While this work is done, a major part of reducing overflows lies in installation of organic and artificial water retention areas and other green infrastructure around the city to slow the amount of stormwater that floods into the Combined Sewer/Stormwater system. Lastly, we should make investments in our city’s wastewater treatment plant to increase the volume of water it can process in a given period of time. 

The above items should be fully funded for the sake of public health and the environment, in Richmond and downstream.

Richmond's formerly redlined neighborhoods - neighborhoods that continue to be predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods - experience disproportionate climate impacts. These neighborhoods see surface temperatures nearly 5 degrees hotter during the summer. They have 36% less tree canopy and have poorer air quality due to their proximity to highways. All of these factors contribute to higher instances of asthma and heat-related illness. What policies would you support to encourage climate resiliency and reduce urban heat island effects? How will you ensure funding for these proposals?

To increase greenspace generally on the City Council I will push for the inclusion of more trees alongside roads throughout the city and give the Urban Forestry Division the funds it needs to do so, beyond its current (unmet) goal of 65% of identified sites on city property having been planted. I would sponsor a resolution to establish an Urban Tree Canopy goal. 

Additionally, the experience of many other cities during the pandemic in converting the use of some space between buildings to pedestrian use offers valuable lessons for our city. Richmond should seriously study which roads, if any, could benefit from having a lane converted to an expanded, joint- pedestrian-space and greenspace. 

City Council recently adopted the Net Zero Resolution (2020-R024) which updated the City's carbon reduction commitment from 80% by 2050 to 100%. Emissions from transportation and gas utilities are a major barrier to achieving this goal. What specific steps will you support in fulfilling this commitment and how will you support the Office of Sustainability's efforts to reduce emissions?

The transition of our energy grid to being renewable-powered is largely a federal and state issue. For actions the city can take, please see my answers regarding energy efficiency in the city and transportation equity.

Energy efficiency presents a highly cost-effective way to work towards Richmond's emissions reduction goals. What specific steps will you take to support energy efficiency in city infrastructure and buildings? Will you support updating energy efficiency standards across the City?

City buildings should be upgraded to higher efficiency standards. On the City Council, I would support a resolution to investigate what opportunities for upgrade the city should prioritize. Additionally, as a broader matter, under my property tax and zoning reform

plans, the overall pace of construction as well as the renovation of existing buildings will increase significantly, giving more opportunities to update the energy efficiency measures installed in a given building.

Neighborhoods

Richmond had an eviction crisis before COVID-19 and the pandemic has only exacerbated the problem. To put the looming catastrophe in perspective, consider the following: during July 2020, landlords were awarded an average of $1,787 in each unlawful detainer case. At the time of this writing, there were over 1,200 unlawful detainer cases scheduled to be heard in September. Assuming the average judgment remains roughly the same, this amounts to a total of over $2 million in unpaid rent in September. Not every household facing eviction participates or is eligible for the EDP, nor do they necessarily receive the full 50% of back rent the EDP provides; however, these numbers are illustrative nonetheless. The FY2021 budget allocates $485,000 to the EDP for the entire year. Those funds will be exhausted in roughly two weeks given the current numbers. Will federal and state programs cover this gap? If not, how will you adequately fund this essential program? What additional solutions do you propose to address the coming wave of evictions?

First we must request that the state do their part by increasing funding to the EDP. There has to be a strengthening of the Tenant/Landlord relationship that can lead to amicable negotiations that will satisfy both parties. There has to be a plan enacted to satisfy these landlords while allowing the tenants to stay put and work on improving their station in life through education and quality employment.

One of the most rudimentary functions of local government is to provide residents with adequate public facilities. Yet, despite paying the highest property tax rate in the region, flooding is routine on the Southside, in Brookland Park, and across the city. Backyards are falling into eroded and unmaintained alleys in the West End. Where sidewalks do exist, they are often inaccessible to people with mobility challenges. How will you make sure these basic and essential services are fulfilled by City Hall? What will you do differently?

The problem is to a certain degree one of administration of existing funds. To the extent that it is, I will push on the city council for transparency and efficiency in that administration. To a larger degree, the problem is one of underfunding in comparison to the needs at hand, which is what also needs to change.

What kind of policy would you seek to help maintain Richmond’s economic and racial diversity? Are there existing programs that are underutilized, for example the Real Estate Tax Relief Program, that could be leveraged more effectively? Would you support a longtime owner occupant program similar to Philadelphia’s?

First and foremost needs to be improvements in our educational system that would qualify people for family supportive waged employment. There also has to be education on how to maintain a home. I believe that there are programs that need to be repurposed, such as the Tax Abatement program. The savings from this program should be put into a fund that will assist long term and low income homeowners to remain in their homes without fear of being taxed out of their residences. Philadelphia’s LOOP program has some great tenets that definitely can be used here to help people offset rising property taxes.

Richmond was denser in 1950 than it is today. Increased density cuts housing costs for residents, preserves the City's limited greenspace, and saves the City money on providing essential services. What changes, either administratively or via ordinance, can the City make to help create dense residential development? What steps can Richmond take to entice, encourage, and facilitate additional residential development? How do we ensure a diversity of housing stock that is accessible to Richmonders at all income levels?

First, do no harm. We can begin by legalizing the construction of affordable housing, with the recognition in mind that housing will not be affordable until there is enough of it. I support the Richmond 300 Draft Plan with regard to housing, and further legalizing the construction of ‘missing middle’ housing throughout the city.

While the City of Richmond and the Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority (RRHA) are subject to federal regulations and budget allocations, there is nothing preventing the full engagement and partnership between these governing bodies and the residents they serve. Unfortunately, the history of public housing in Richmond is a history of distrust, betrayal, and silencing of public housing residents themselves. Like many cities across the nation, Richmond intentionally built highways to segregate and isolate public housing from the rest of the city, effectively preventing its residents from participation in the city's prosperity. Richmond used Urban Renewal to demolish public housing units without a one-to-one unit replacement which resulted in the physical and emotional destruction of public housing neighborhoods. While this is the history of Richmond's public housing, there is nothing that mandates that it also be the future. If elected, how will you work with public housing residents? How will you ensure that residents get to decide their own collective futures rather than having a government entity decide what is best for them?

I am a housing affordability/fair housing advocate that is already working with public housing residents to improve their station in life. There has to be more resident participation on the board of RRHA, with actual authority to make decisions on behalf of themselves and their neighbors. I will constantly advocate for them having a bigger voice in the decision making process that actually affects their lives.

Public Safety

Many in the City of Richmond have called for the reallocation of funding to support community based public safety response strategies. Do you support allocating funds to support training and resources for resident/community-led efforts in trauma prevention, intervention, and crisis response?

Yes, I support implementation of the Marcus Alert and similar programs. 

Sustainable, living wage employment opportunities are strong deterrents to crime. Felony convictions are a huge barrier to employment, including employment with the City of Richmond. Will you support incentivizing employers to participate in strategies such as "Ban the Box" and work within City Hall to review hiring practices for the re-entry population?

Yes, I would support implementation of such practices.

Accountability and transparency are critical in rebuilding trust and healing relationships between our public safety agencies and the community. Will you prioritize the ongoing need for quality policy data, reformed policing practices, and increased transparency and accountability in reporting?

Unequivocally yes; we cannot address problems until we know what they are in detail.

This summer, we have heard and seen our communities and in particular, our young people, organize and advocate for justice and for change. If elected, will you commit to empowering and engaging young people from diverse backgrounds and experiences, who have been impacted by the criminal justice system to help inform policy? Will you commit to allocating funds to support stipends for youth serving in these roles?

I absolutely believe that we need to empower our youth to help with forming policy that affects their growth. I will commit to allocating funds to support stipends for these youth. They all just want a fair chance at thriving within this society.

Our city advocates demand a formalized process by which citizens play a strong role in investigating and reviewing claims again police misconduct. Do you support the creation of an independent civilian review board with subpoena power and the ability to investigate claims of police abuse? If not, what solutions do you support to ensure that all Richmonders are empowered to challenge they system where it fails and that police are held accountable?

Yes, an independent civilian review board with subpoena power and investigatory discretion is a necessary check on potential police abuse of power.

Transportation

When we look at our transportation network as a whole, large swaths of the city do not have sidewalks, the bike network has grown has only a handful of protected bike lanes - which are a key factor in making the average person feel comfortable biking. Additionally, GRTC has the lowest public transportation funding per capita compared to our peer cities. Walking, biking, and transit are more equitable and cleaner modes of transportation. What policies would you support and what specific steps would you take to prioritize funding for transportation infrastructure and services that would close these network gaps?

If we’re going to be serious about Vision Zero, we need to demonstrate it with action. Study after study shows that non-protected bike lanes are only somewhat better than nothing in terms of cyclist safety. I support investing in cyclist and pedestrian infrastructure to the extent that the resulting network is truly comprehensive. Furthermore, I support making the GRTC free of charge beyond the duration of the pandemic.

In the last five years, our peer cities have reorganized to pull transportation oversight of public works or planning departments into a focused department of transportation. "The department is particularly necessary now because the nature of transportation planning has changed. Transportation isn't a maintenance activity anymore. It's really keeping up with new design standards and meeting the really rapidly changing and growing needs of travelers," said Matt Nicholas, Oakland's transportation policy advisor about creating the Oakland DOT in 2016. Would you support establishing a Department of Transportation to comprehensively address Richmond's multifaceted needs? Why or why not?

I do support a Richmond-specific Department of Transportation on the grounds that having a portion of the city’s bureaucracy dedicated to a broad and multifaceted challenge is necessary to ensure that a sufficiently-holistic solution is implemented.

Richmond's average WalkScore is 51 out of 100, or "Somewhat Walkable," with the most walkable areas being Church Hill, Downtown, Carytown, and VCU. Richmond has dedicated roughly $2 million in the annual budget for new sidewalks. The average cost for a mile of sidewalk is roughly $500,000. How much will you commit to new sidewalk funding annually to ensure our most vulnerable users can travel safely? How will you prioritize more affordable and immediate options to provide walk/rollways to neighborhoods that need them by repurposing existing roadways?

I will commit to supporting as much funding as is needed to universalize sidewalk coverage in Richmond. As to repurposing existing roadways in the short term, I would support temporarily selecting some lanes on major thoroughfares to connect residential areas to the nearest commercial area.

The Virginia General Assembly passed legislation this year to create the Central Virginia Transportation Authority (CVTA) and providing new, dedicated revenue sources for the Richmond Region. The bill requires that 35% of funds be used for regional transportation related purposes, 15% of funds will be distributed to GRTC, and 50% will be given back proportionally to each locality to be used for local mobility, which can include construction, maintenance, or expansion of roads, sidewalks, trails, mobility services, or transit located in the locality. How will you ensure that the CVTA prioritizes additional funding for regional transit and equitable mobility throughout the region? Additionally, in anticipation of this new revenue source, Richmond cut its budget allocation to GRTC in half; however, it is clear that because the CVTA relies on gas and sales tax to raise funds, the expected $8 million will not be available this fiscal year. Unless the funding gap is filled, transit service in Richmond will be reduced. What steps, if any, will you take to restore Richmond's funding for GRTC to 100% of FY2020 levels?

No additional taxpayer dollars from the CVTA’s revenue stream should go to promoting the use of cars beyond the level they are used today.

Youth & Family

RPS has served more than 750,000 meals since schools closed in March. What will you do to ensure RPS has the support they need to continue feeding students during the duration of the pandemic and beyond?

The Council owes RPS the provision of those funds needed to continue this service. 

Prior to the pandemic, 9,500 children in Richmond under the age of five, live at or below 200% of the federal poverty level; however, there are only 3,500 seats in both private and public early education centers in the city. What can you do to create more early educational opportunities for our most vulnerable children?

Council has to increase funding for early education services in our city. Partnerships have to be established with public and private providers to assist in this effort. Every child should have access to early education opportunities to give them a solid foundation once they enter school. Our children don’t get the foundation that they need because most parents can’t afford to send them to early education programs.

Schools are the heart and soul of our neighborhoods. How do you propose the Mayor's Administration and Council should work with RPS and the School Board to ensure that every student has access to a high quality education and safe facilities to learn in? What funding streams would you like to see leveraged to support Richmond Public Schools' strategic plan?

Council and the Administration must make an earnest effort to help every student in this city acquire a quality education in a safe and nurturing environment. New funding streams need to be created to bolster the funding already being allocated. One of my proposals is a real estate tax reform that will increase revenue to our tax base and create a streaming fund to assist our schools.

Anne-Frances Lambert

Environment

Visitation to parks and green spaces has increased since the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic, but access to them is inequitable. How will you approach funding and implementation of the James River Park System Master Plan and the creation of parks and greenspaces in communities that currently have poor access?

When it comes to funding I would look at the mandated requirements from the State and the City’s Charter first. Community input will be necessary and a possible solution could be to re-purpose industrial land that can be created for community parks or innovative green spaces (i.e. In the 3rd district by First Tee, there is industrial land that can be developed for this purpose.)

Given the increasing magnitude of heavy rain events as a consequence of climate change and the passage of Senate Bill 1064 earlier this year, how will you approach Richmond's combined sewer system and stormwater management in general?

This issue has been something that I personally worked on when I was part of the Office of Intergovernmental Relations Dept. with the City of Richmond. This project addresses the old infrastructure under our streets, and how our sewer system needs millions in funding to address the issue. Since the organization Virginia First Cities was established in 2003, efforts to receive funding was dismal. Within the last few years there was a significant increase in funding, but more has to happen. I will work with Virginia First Cities and other coalition building partners and help educate the citizens on contacting our representatives to take action on issues important to our city. 

Richmond's formerly redlined neighborhoods - neighborhoods that continue to be predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods - experience disproportionate climate impacts. These neighborhoods see surface temperatures nearly 5 degrees hotter during the summer. They have 36% less tree canopy and have poorer air quality due to their proximity to highways. All of these factors contribute to higher instances of asthma and heat-related illness. What policies would you support to encourage climate resiliency and reduce urban heat island effects? How will you ensure funding for these proposals?

I have a development plan for the North Jackson Ward area which will include trees being planted to beautify the area.  I would like to see a horticulture or landscape design program for our RPS students. We can incorporate solutions to address the heat index in these areas and provide a path for our students to learn about business and landscape design. Depending on how much the pandemic will affect our revenues, we can look at other funding methods like the non-departmental  budgets or the capital improvement projects to fund climate resiliency proposals.

City Council recently adopted the Net Zero Resolution (2020-R024) which updated the City's carbon reduction commitment from 80% by 2050 to 100%. Emissions from transportation and gas utilities are a major barrier to achieving this goal. What specific steps will you support in fulfilling this commitment and how will you support the Office of Sustainability's efforts to reduce emissions?

I fully support the Net Zero Resolution and plan to work closely with the Office of Sustainability in offering solutions for carbon reduction.  

I plan to bring a vertical farm to the North Jackson Ward Area to address the food dessert concerns. This initiative will provide fresh fruits and vegetables to the community and feeding programs. The initiative will also provide wholesale produce for local restaurants and hotels and lessen the carbon footprint from deliveries outside of the City.

Energy efficiency presents a highly cost-effective way to work towards Richmond's emissions reduction goals. What specific steps will you take to support energy efficiency in city infrastructure and buildings? Will you support updating energy efficiency standards across the City?

Yes! I’m in full support of energy efficiency standards. Adding Solar panels to our city buildings will help defray energy costs. We need to look into more energy efficient City vehicles that are being used by City Employees especially if they do not live in the City. I support updating energy efficiency standards.

Neighborhoods

Richmond had an eviction crisis before COVID-19 and the pandemic has only exacerbated the problem. To put the looming catastrophe in perspective, consider the following: during July 2020, landlords were awarded an average of $1,787 in each unlawful detainer case. At the time of this writing, there were over 1,200 unlawful detainer cases scheduled to be heard in September. Assuming the average judgment remains roughly the same, this amounts to a total of over $2 million in unpaid rent in September. Not every household facing eviction participates or is eligible for the EDP, nor do they necessarily receive the full 50% of back rent the EDP provides; however, these numbers are illustrative nonetheless. The FY2021 budget allocates $485,000 to the EDP for the entire year. Those funds will be exhausted in roughly two weeks given the current numbers. Will federal and state programs cover this gap? If not, how will you adequately fund this essential program? What additional solutions do you propose to address the coming wave of evictions?

I would support more funding into the Eviction Relief Fund. Tax abatement incentives for landlords and landowners.  I would explore using the regulatory powers that City Council has and look into rezoning some areas to improve affordable home ownership options. The current Mayor recently announced $10 million in a new tax revenue by 2025 to address the Affordable Housing crisis in the City.

One of the most rudimentary functions of local government is to provide residents with adequate public facilities. Yet, despite paying the highest property tax rate in the region, flooding is routine on the Southside, in Brookland Park, and across the city. Backyards are falling into eroded and unmaintained alleys in the West End. Where sidewalks do exist, they are often inaccessible to people with mobility challenges. How will you make sure these basic and essential services are fulfilled by City Hall? What will you do differently?

First we need to hire qualified employees that can do the job. Right now the City uses quite a bit of temporary workers and this is an issue as to why some City services are falling through the cracks. The hiring process needs to be revamped and it should not take 10 months for an approval to just post a job position.

What kind of policy would you seek to help maintain Richmond’s economic and racial diversity? Are there existing programs that are underutilized, for example the Real Estate Tax Relief Program, that could be leveraged more effectively? Would you support a longtime owner occupant program similar to Philadelphia’s?

No answer provided.

Richmond was denser in 1950 than it is today. Increased density cuts housing costs for residents, preserves the City's limited greenspace, and saves the City money on providing essential services. What changes, either administratively or via ordinance, can the City make to help create dense residential development? What steps can Richmond take to entice, encourage, and facilitate additional residential development? How do we ensure a diversity of housing stock that is accessible to Richmonders at all income levels?

No answer provided.

While the City of Richmond and the Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority (RRHA) are subject to federal regulations and budget allocations, there is nothing preventing the full engagement and partnership between these governing bodies and the residents they serve. Unfortunately, the history of public housing in Richmond is a history of distrust, betrayal, and silencing of public housing residents themselves. Like many cities across the nation, Richmond intentionally built highways to segregate and isolate public housing from the rest of the city, effectively preventing its residents from participation in the city's prosperity. Richmond used Urban Renewal to demolish public housing units without a one-to-one unit replacement which resulted in the physical and emotional destruction of public housing neighborhoods. While this is the history of Richmond's public housing, there is nothing that mandates that it also be the future. If elected, how will you work with public housing residents? How will you ensure that residents get to decide their own collective futures rather than having a government entity decide what is best for them?

No answer provided.

Public Safety

Many in the City of Richmond have called for the reallocation of funding to support community based public safety response strategies. Do you support allocating funds to support training and resources for resident/community-led efforts in trauma prevention, intervention, and crisis response?

No answer provided.

Sustainable, living wage employment opportunities are strong deterrents to crime. Felony convictions are a huge barrier to employment, including employment with the City of Richmond. Will you support incentivizing employers to participate in strategies such as "Ban the Box" and work within City Hall to review hiring practices for the re-entry population?

No answer provided.

Accountability and transparency are critical in rebuilding trust and healing relationships between our public safety agencies and the community. Will you prioritize the ongoing need for quality policy data, reformed policing practices, and increased transparency and accountability in reporting?

Yes. We need to make sure our public safety agencies are being held accountable when it comes to bias training for officers. Transparency is essential in restoring trust with our lower income communities.

This summer, we have heard and seen our communities and in particular, our young people, organize and advocate for justice and for change. If elected, will you commit to empowering and engaging young people from diverse backgrounds and experiences, who have been impacted by the criminal justice system to help inform policy? Will you commit to allocating funds to support stipends for youth serving in these roles?

No answer provided.

Our city advocates demand a formalized process by which citizens play a strong role in investigating and reviewing claims again police misconduct. Do you support the creation of an independent civilian review board with subpoena power and the ability to investigate claims of police abuse? If not, what solutions do you support to ensure that all Richmonders are empowered to challenge they system where it fails and that police are held accountable?

No answer provided.

Transportation

When we look at our transportation network as a whole, large swaths of the city do not have sidewalks, the bike network has grown has only a handful of protected bike lanes - which are a key factor in making the average person feel comfortable biking. Additionally, GRTC has the lowest public transportation funding per capita compared to our peer cities. Walking, biking, and transit are more equitable and cleaner modes of transportation. What policies would you support and what specific steps would you take to prioritize funding for transportation infrastructure and services that would close these network gaps?

No answer provided.

In the last five years, our peer cities have reorganized to pull transportation oversight of public works or planning departments into a focused department of transportation. "The department is particularly necessary now because the nature of transportation planning has changed. Transportation isn't a maintenance activity anymore. It's really keeping up with new design standards and meeting the really rapidly changing and growing needs of travelers," said Matt Nicholas, Oakland's transportation policy advisor about creating the Oakland DOT in 2016. Would you support establishing a Department of Transportation to comprehensively address Richmond's multifaceted needs? Why or why not?

No answer provided.

Richmond's average WalkScore is 51 out of 100, or "Somewhat Walkable," with the most walkable areas being Church Hill, Downtown, Carytown, and VCU. Richmond has dedicated roughly $2 million in the annual budget for new sidewalks. The average cost for a mile of sidewalk is roughly $500,000. How much will you commit to new sidewalk funding annually to ensure our most vulnerable users can travel safely? How will you prioritize more affordable and immediate options to provide walk/rollways to neighborhoods that need them by repurposing existing roadways?

No answer provided.

The Virginia General Assembly passed legislation this year to create the Central Virginia Transportation Authority (CVTA) and providing new, dedicated revenue sources for the Richmond Region. The bill requires that 35% of funds be used for regional transportation related purposes, 15% of funds will be distributed to GRTC, and 50% will be given back proportionally to each locality to be used for local mobility, which can include construction, maintenance, or expansion of roads, sidewalks, trails, mobility services, or transit located in the locality. How will you ensure that the CVTA prioritizes additional funding for regional transit and equitable mobility throughout the region? Additionally, in anticipation of this new revenue source, Richmond cut its budget allocation to GRTC in half; however, it is clear that because the CVTA relies on gas and sales tax to raise funds, the expected $8 million will not be available this fiscal year. Unless the funding gap is filled, transit service in Richmond will be reduced. What steps, if any, will you take to restore Richmond's funding for GRTC to 100% of FY2020 levels?

No answer provided.

Youth & Family

RPS has served more than 750,000 meals since schools closed in March. What will you do to ensure RPS has the support they need to continue feeding students during the duration of the pandemic and beyond?

I plan to work with whomever is elected as the School Board rep. And ensuring we are taking care of our students.

Prior to the pandemic, 9,500 children in Richmond under the age of five, live at or below 200% of the federal poverty level; however, there are only 3,500 seats in both private and public early education centers in the city. What can you do to create more early educational opportunities for our most vulnerable children?

No answer provided.

Schools are the heart and soul of our neighborhoods. How do you propose the Mayor's Administration and Council should work with RPS and the School Board to ensure that every student has access to a high quality education and safe facilities to learn in? What funding streams would you like to see leveraged to support Richmond Public Schools' strategic plan?

No answer provided.

Elaine Summerfield

Environment

Visitation to parks and green spaces has increased since the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic, but access to them is inequitable. How will you approach funding and implementation of the James River Park System Master Plan and the creation of parks and greenspaces in communities that currently have poor access?

As a reflection of my personal passion for accessible green spaces, I currently represent the 3rd  District on the Richmond Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities Advisory Board. I want  every Richmonder to be able to enjoy our beautiful parks and natural beauty. Beyond green  space, parks provide opportunities to access team sports, dance, arts & culture, summer camps,  and more. All Richmonders deserve to access these benefits. 

Increasing our city parks will look different depending on the district. We have large-scale  traditional parks, pocket parks, and greenways. I will ensure an assessment of unused city owned parcels is completed with a lens to where there are the best options of increasing public  parks and green space, especially in neighborhoods that would benefit from greenlining. 

The development of the James River Park Master Plan is an example of public/private partnership  that can be replicated in other planning efforts in the future. Volunteers from the Friends of the  James River Park provided leadership to raise the necessary funds and helped to ensure an  inclusive planning process. The result is a meaningful plan developed with city government and  residents in partnership. 

The James River Park is Richmond’s largest park and has an estimated impact on the City of  $33.5 million each year. We need to invest in this incredible asset. The Capital Improvement  Plan currently provides funds for basic infrastructure updates. I would continue the City’s  collaboration with a number of groups, starting with FOJRP, to continue prioritization of the  identified strategies and assist with raising funds and volunteers to complete specific goals. It is  exciting to see some accomplishments such as increased ADA access to the river at Huguenot  Flatwater. To expand the James River Park system, I would reach out to the Capital Region Land  Conservancy to explore opportunities for conservation easements, and partner with City Council  colleagues for continued SE expansion of James River Park amenities.  

Given the increasing magnitude of heavy rain events as a consequence of climate change and the passage of Senate Bill 1064 earlier this year, how will you approach Richmond's combined sewer system and stormwater management in general?

The RVA Clean Water Plan, released in 2017, provides a solid framework for where to devote  resources to address our stormwater management and combined sewer system. The plan goes,  literally, upstream to use a watershed approach with mitigation efforts, as well as improvements to  gray infrastructure. We should work in partnership with nonprofits, “Friends of” groups, and  community members to ensure we are protecting and restoring urban streams and waterways,  implementing green infrastructure such as riparian buffers and trees, and removing invasive  species. These efforts go hand-in-hand with the James River Park Master Plan. I would also engage  and educate the public about ways to take action in their own homes to improve the health of waterways. One such approach is to create an outreach team to work with residents that are  eligible for upgrades to water efficient fixtures, which also results in reduced utility bills.  

In addition, we can look to creative examples such as the Environmental Impact Bond developed in  D.C. to finance the green infrastructure that is necessary to mitigate stormwater runoff. Through a  shared risk approach with investors that based returns on the project’s success, this serves as a  model for how local governments can leverage private capital to support solutions for stormwater  management.  

Richmond's formerly redlined neighborhoods - neighborhoods that continue to be predominantly Black and Brown neighborhoods - experience disproportionate climate impacts. These neighborhoods see surface temperatures nearly 5 degrees hotter during the summer. They have 36% less tree canopy and have poorer air quality due to their proximity to highways. All of these factors contribute to higher instances of asthma and heat-related illness. What policies would you support to encourage climate resiliency and reduce urban heat island effects? How will you ensure funding for these proposals?

There is no doubt that climate change is a racial equity issue. Not only are fewer trees a factor, but  also proximity to highways, which were built by destroying historic African American neighborhoods  and creating physical barriers between White and Black Richmond.  

I will prioritize programs to expand tree cover and green spaces in lower income communities of  color. RVA Green 2050 (Office of Sustainability) has developed a Climate Equity Index that is helpful  in prioritizing where trees are needed most. Using this tool and the Chesapeake Bay’s Green  Infrastructure tool that looks stormwater runoff can help to determine the most advantageous  places to plant trees to benefit people and the environment.  

In order to do this effectively, we need additional support for the city’s Urban Forestry division. The  City of Richmond needs an Urban Forest Master Plan, which I would support. With assessment of  existing tree canopy, determination of high priority neighborhoods, and an intentional and inclusive  public input process, we could develop the framework to address needed green infrastructure. In  addition, the City would benefit from an updated tree ordinance that would focus on native species  and design guidelines to enhance sustainability. Like so many other issue areas, the City has great  partners to work with on this issue such as Capital Trees and the Richmond Tree Stewards. Let’s find  ways to have citizens lend support and resources so we can achieve these goals together.

City Council recently adopted the Net Zero Resolution (2020-R024) which updated the City's carbon reduction commitment from 80% by 2050 to 100%. Emissions from transportation and gas utilities are a major barrier to achieving this goal. What specific steps will you support in fulfilling this commitment and how will you support the Office of Sustainability's efforts to reduce emissions?

I am in full support of RVAGreen2050 (Office for Sustainability) and their equity-centered approach  to climate action and resilience planning. It will require the whole community to acknowledge the  climate crisis to reach our Net Zero Resolution, and I will support and encourage how  RVAGreen2050 is reaching out and building networks of climate action from the ground up. 48% of  the city’s carbon emissions are coming from transportation. By expanding public transportation and  multi-modal transportation networks, we can cut down on our city’s carbon emissions. I would also  pursue capital funds to enhance use of solar for schools and other public buildings and would  support an ordinance that any new public building include solar. This would help reduce our carbon  emissions caused by commercial buildings, which make up almost 30% of our city’s carbon emissions. 

Energy efficiency presents a highly cost-effective way to work towards Richmond's emissions reduction goals. What specific steps will you take to support energy efficiency in city infrastructure and buildings? Will you support updating energy efficiency standards across the City?

Yes, I support increasing efficiency standards across the city. There are opportunities to  increase Richmond’s energy efficiency across our City infrastructure. In regards to  transportation, we could adopt a policy that increases use of alternative/electric vehicles in  city fleet. For our City buildings, we could adopt an energy efficiency policy or Operations &  Maintenance (O&M) standards for all city buildings. We can also create Richmond  government-wide policies that promote standards for increased efficiency and reduced  energy consumption in city buildings. We should consider options with non-city properties by establishing tax breaks for energy efficiency, promote residential weatherization, and lower  permit fees for alternative energy installations. Initial costs will be high, but the long-term  benefits are immense.

Neighborhoods

Richmond had an eviction crisis before COVID-19 and the pandemic has only exacerbated the problem. To put the looming catastrophe in perspective, consider the following: during July 2020, landlords were awarded an average of $1,787 in each unlawful detainer case. At the time of this writing, there were over 1,200 unlawful detainer cases scheduled to be heard in September. Assuming the average judgment remains roughly the same, this amounts to a total of over $2 million in unpaid rent in September. Not every household facing eviction participates or is eligible for the EDP, nor do they necessarily receive the full 50% of back rent the EDP provides; however, these numbers are illustrative nonetheless. The FY2021 budget allocates $485,000 to the EDP for the entire year. Those funds will be exhausted in roughly two weeks given the current numbers. Will federal and state programs cover this gap? If not, how will you adequately fund this essential program? What additional solutions do you propose to address the coming wave of evictions?

We should build on what we already have in place rather than starting over again. We have  agencies such as ACTS that are pooling charitable resources from area churches – and we were  able to expand their program with additional CARES Act funds from the City.  

Other groups, such as RISC, have been focusing their voice and advocacy on this issue for a  long time. That’s what it takes to ensure leaders will fulfill community priorities. We need a  receptive City Council to hear this message. Ensuring people remain housed during the  pandemic, and on the other side of this all, will be a budget priority for me.  

And we need to ensure accountability with one of our largest landlords – RRHA. Thanks to  advocate pressure, RRHA has changed some administrative practices related to rent payments and fees in order to prevent some unlawful detainers, but I have heard time and time again  about the antiquated accounting system used, misapplied payments, and the overall lack of  trust. As a public agency, we’ve got to hold RRHA accountable for keeping their own house in  order before throwing someone out of their home. 

One of the most rudimentary functions of local government is to provide residents with adequate public facilities. Yet, despite paying the highest property tax rate in the region, flooding is routine on the Southside, in Brookland Park, and across the city. Backyards are falling into eroded and unmaintained alleys in the West End. Where sidewalks do exist, they are often inaccessible to people with mobility challenges. How will you make sure these basic and essential services are fulfilled by City Hall? What will you do differently?

The question mentioned several issues, including the flooding that we experience in the 3rd  District. We have to be sure we are implementing mitigation strategies like green infrastructure  and also updating the aged combined sewer system. The question is truly addressing basic city  services. While speaking with 3rd District residents, I have heard consistent frustrations with City  services and feeling that the City of Richmond government is not accountable to the people they  serve. We need to rebuild trust and confidence in City government. We should revisit the  Performance Review that was conducted in 2017 and update its findings. This can be used as a  tool for real, performance-based budgeting. On City Council, I would propose we invest in a lead  point person in the Office of Budget and Strategy to see performance management ideas through  and lead the implementation of performance-based approaches to the budget.  

We also have a great opportunity for community engagement, trust building, and oversight with  the participatory budgeting structure passed by City Council in September 2019. Though it will be  piloted with a relatively small pool of funds, it is a meaningful way to empower neighborhood  leaders and community members. It can also be used as a tool to re-engage the TEAMS structure  of pulling civic associations together and encourage more engagement in the work of the city. The  more people that are engaged, the better results for all of us. 

What kind of policy would you seek to help maintain Richmond’s economic and racial diversity? Are there existing programs that are underutilized, for example the Real Estate Tax Relief Program, that could be leveraged more effectively? Would you support a longtime owner occupant program similar to Philadelphia’s?

Part of what people love about the 3rd district is our long-term neighbors. We want to ensure  our long-term residents can stay in their homes. Assessments are rising and that puts a strain on  fixed incomes. As mentioned, we currently have programs in place to help our long term  residents but these programs are not widely utilized. We should work with partners such as VCU and establish neighborhood outreach teams to distribute information regarding the Real Estate  Tax Relief Program and other programs that benefit our senior residents.  

Philadelphia’s Longtime Owner Occupants Program is something I think we should explore to  ensure our long-term residents are able to stay in the neighborhoods they know and love. We  would have to adjust for annual income level and also budget for what the program cap would  be reasonable given our city’s budget, but I believe this type of program would greatly benefit  Richmond residents. 

Richmond was denser in 1950 than it is today. Increased density cuts housing costs for residents, preserves the City's limited greenspace, and saves the City money on providing essential services. What changes, either administratively or via ordinance, can the City make to help create dense residential development? What steps can Richmond take to entice, encourage, and facilitate additional residential development? How do we ensure a diversity of housing stock that is accessible to Richmonders at all income levels?

We are able to approach rezoning through the Richmond 300 Master Plan and update zoning by  ordinance to more efficiently allow greater density, especially in priority growth nodes. I support  Goal 1, Objective 1 of Richmond 300, to rezone the city to align with our shared vision of future  land use. The vision of walkable mixed-use neighborhoods with easy access to transit is what we  

see in the VUU/Chamberlayne Neighborhood Plan released in 2015, and comprehensive rezoning  according to a plan will make it more efficient to accomplish those goals. We also have  opportunities to preserve the historic neighborhoods that we love, while increasing density by  making it easier to put in a mother-in-law or accessory dwelling unit. 

As we consider developments that depend upon city-owned land or public investment, we need to  use the tool of Community Benefits Agreements (CBA) to ensure the developer provides equitable  contributions to the City and its residents. Within CBAs, we can outline specific commitments such  as mandatory minimum units of affordable housing, community-targeted hiring for businesses developed in the area, project labor agreements, green infrastructure standards, minimum wage  requirements, and more. These commitments would be determined by community members  through a process of intentional engagement. The CBA would create transparency, show where  taxpayer dollars are being used, and ensure benefit to the greater community, including expansion  of affordable housing. 

While the City of Richmond and the Richmond Redevelopment & Housing Authority (RRHA) are subject to federal regulations and budget allocations, there is nothing preventing the full engagement and partnership between these governing bodies and the residents they serve. Unfortunately, the history of public housing in Richmond is a history of distrust, betrayal, and silencing of public housing residents themselves. Like many cities across the nation, Richmond intentionally built highways to segregate and isolate public housing from the rest of the city, effectively preventing its residents from participation in the city's prosperity. Richmond used Urban Renewal to demolish public housing units without a one-to-one unit replacement which resulted in the physical and emotional destruction of public housing neighborhoods. While this is the history of Richmond's public housing, there is nothing that mandates that it also be the future. If elected, how will you work with public housing residents? How will you ensure that residents get to decide their own collective futures rather than having a government entity decide what is best for them?

The only way we can claim success in redevelopment of public housing is to ensure resident  involvement in the decision-making, and ensure no resident is displaced in the process. Gilpin  Court is Richmond’s largest, oldest public housing community and it is located within the 3rd  District. In recent years, RRHA’s redevelopment plans for Gilpin Court have been rejected by HUD  due to lack of community participation, not providing enough consideration in its plan for the  housing needs of public housing applicants and tenants, and missing information.  

Richmond public housing residents deserve safe communities to live in, which requires updating  our aging public housing infrastructure, but before we get to redevelopment we have a lot of 

work to do. There is widespread distrust of City government and RRHA due to historical examples  of residents being unvalued such as with the demolition of nearly five thousands Black residences  during the construction of the Downtown Expressway.  

Affordable housing and empowering our public housing communities are both issues that I hold  very close. For just over two years (ending December 2019), I served as Executive Director for  Richmond Opportunities, Inc.. Their mission is to support community transformation by creating  pathways to self-sufficiency for people residing in Richmond’s public housing communities,  ensuring individuals and families thrive in safe, healthy housing.  

I entered this role to assist with organizational start-up, knowing that it is critical to have a  people-centered approach when it comes to public housing redevelopment. Through this role, I  partnered with RRHA, City Council members, City administration, nonprofit providers, and funders  to ensure ongoing commitment to people facing housing insecurity or other challenges due to the  redevelopment process.  

While at ROI, I supported the Family Transition Coach program – a team who work with Creighton  Court residents to forge relationships and provide resources related to jobs, housing options,  health care, and other avenues to thriving. These wrap-around services are vital in ensuring  people can continue to benefit during their housing transition. I worked to address the day-to-day  challenges of people dealing with RRHA and regularly advocated on residents’ behalf. However,  that’s not how it should be – it should not require an outside party to advocate for residents.  Residents themselves should be heard and respected. Some ways we ensure residents are  themselves deciding on their future include: 

  • Revitalize the RTO (Richmond Tenant Organization) to take on a more direct role of  holding RRHA accountable 
  • Enforce the Resident Bill of Rights for Redevelopment and demand meaningful  participation in decision-making by residents and one-for-one replacement of  affordable housing units. As the Board of Commissioners recruits the next CEO, a  requirement for new hire should be a promise to uphold the Resident Bill of Rights. 
  • Work in collaboration with legal justice groups to ensure tenants know their rights and  are empowered to exercise them 
  • Create a vehicle for regular dialogue between Council and RRHA Board of  Commissioners to ensure accountability and build alignment between the City’s housing  goals and the objectives of RRHA 
  • Ensure provision of a robust people-centered network of support for residents,  especially those facing redevelopment, to be successful through housing transformation
Public Safety

Many in the City of Richmond have called for the reallocation of funding to support community based public safety response strategies. Do you support allocating funds to support training and resources for resident/community-led efforts in trauma prevention, intervention, and crisis response?

Yes, I am in support of a full budget and outcomes review of RPD. We need to align how  resources are allocated with the community’s needs and our goals, which will likely mean  deploying some resources to cover other services. These services should include a team of  “social work” responders for people who may just need to be connected to resources, trained  mental health professionals to respond to mental health crises with a Marcus Alert, and  training for dispatchers and officers to ensure these community-based resources are accessed  and used appropriately. We should also support the Trauma Response second responders  team, which is an evidence-based best practice that has been provided through ChildSavers.  They ensure there are professionals present during a traumatic event to provide support for  children and establish pathways for ongoing support, which helps reduce toxic stress that leads  to so many other challenges for children and families.

Sustainable, living wage employment opportunities are strong deterrents to crime. Felony convictions are a huge barrier to employment, including employment with the City of Richmond. Will you support incentivizing employers to participate in strategies such as "Ban the Box" and work within City Hall to review hiring practices for the re-entry population?

Yes, I will work within City hall to support hiring practices that provide opportunities to  returning citizens. An example of how we can do this is by using the Parks & Rec model. They  have a workforce development program that will be located at Annie E Giles Center, focused on  jobs that we need to fill in the City. The workforce development program receives referrals from  programs that serve returning citizens as well as referrals from the OCWB. These types of  programs help us combat recidivism. We also have partners like NoLefTurns, REAL Life Center, and Help Me Help you, that are contributing to this extremely important work. Beyond  employment, we also need to focus on housing for our returning residents.

Accountability and transparency are critical in rebuilding trust and healing relationships between our public safety agencies and the community. Will you prioritize the ongoing need for quality policy data, reformed policing practices, and increased transparency and accountability in reporting?

I support accountability in all areas of public service, including our police. With this data we are easy  to identify policies. Building knowledge through data collected by an independent civilian review  board will develop a more clear picture of the type of force used and provide more clear definitions  of police actions that include use of force. The ability to review policy related to law enforcement  will hold our department accountable to the people they serve.  

Transparent data will also help to hold leaders accountable for ensuring fair and equitable services.  For example, according to the Richmond Transparency & Accountability Project’s Policing in  Richmond report, when data is available for analysis, we can see that an overwhelming number of  people who come into contact with Richmond Police Department are Black, though African  Americans make up 45% of the overall population of the City. This demonstrates what the  community has been telling leaders for years – overpolicing leads to unjust application of the rule  of law. Using data will help to disrupt the school to prison pipeline by pinpointing areas for  improved training as well as identify the need for different approaches or different professionals  (such as mental health) to respond to calls.

This summer, we have heard and seen our communities and in particular, our young people, organize and advocate for justice and for change. If elected, will you commit to empowering and engaging young people from diverse backgrounds and experiences, who have been impacted by the criminal justice system to help inform policy? Will you commit to allocating funds to support stipends for youth serving in these roles?

When we come in contact with youth who have been a part of the criminal justice system, we  need to empower them to be a part of the solution. There’s incredible work going on currently,  such as with the Richmond City Health Department’s Youth Violence Prevention Program’s Inspire  Workgroup, which identifies strategies and programs that can be used by youth in Richmond to  reduce youth violence. The group works with partners like Communities in Schools of Richmond,  Peter Paul, YWCA, Greater Richmond SCAN, and Richmond Public Schools to implement evidence based practices. By creating cross-organizational partnerships and a collective impact approach to  community challenges, we can ensure youth are part of the solutions to our city’s greatest  challenges.  

Art 180’s Performing Statistics program is another great example of youth using their voice,  creativity, and imagination to influence policy and create change in their communities. I believe  the Mayor’s Youth Academy is a great way for us to continue these programs with stipends for  the youth. We should have a specified number of these program slots available in youth serving  organizations that are going to be directly working on policy issues that affect their generation. 

Our city advocates demand a formalized process by which citizens play a strong role in investigating and reviewing claims again police misconduct. Do you support the creation of an independent civilian review board with subpoena power and the ability to investigate claims of police abuse? If not, what solutions do you support to ensure that all Richmonders are empowered to challenge they system where it fails and that police are held accountable?

Yes, I seek accountability and transparency in all areas of the government, and support a fully  independent Civilian Review Board with subpoena power in this spirit. Civilian oversight (via  establishing a civilian review board) will provide objective review of individual infractions to ensure  our civil liberties are upheld, and make it possible to have transparent review of complaints and  determine if there are patterns of police misconduct or use of force that need specific interventions  such as disciplinary actions, trainings, or changes in policy. Building knowledge through data collected by an independent civilian review board will develop a more clear picture of the type of  force used and provide more clear definitions of police actions that include use of force. I believe  the CRB can also be helpful for the police to identify where best to allocate resources, such as  trainings or other practices. The accountability and transparency will help to rebuild trust and  mutual respect between the community and RPD.  

I recognize the need for police within our communities but I am in favor of reforms that will support  community-based models of safety, support, and crime prevention. When making our communities  safe, we need to be sure to also allocate resources upstream in community issues such as mental  health, education, minority-owned business development, and employment. 

Transportation

When we look at our transportation network as a whole, large swaths of the city do not have sidewalks, the bike network has grown has only a handful of protected bike lanes - which are a key factor in making the average person feel comfortable biking. Additionally, GRTC has the lowest public transportation funding per capita compared to our peer cities. Walking, biking, and transit are more equitable and cleaner modes of transportation. What policies would you support and what specific steps would you take to prioritize funding for transportation infrastructure and services that would close these network gaps?

In the 3rd District we are fortunate to have a number of bike lanes, but we need to better  connect the network across the city. Fortunately, we do not have to reinvent the wheel: we  have the Bike Master Plan to serve as our guide with measurable objectives so we can  manage success across Richmond. I support construction of new infrastructure related to  equitable transportation and I believe that other parts of the city, such as the Southside,  require more attention in terms of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. I would partner  with my colleagues from the 8th and 9th districts to encourage and promote the continued  development of the Bike Master Plan and additional sidewalks and crosswalks to move  Richmond closer to its Vision Zero commitment.  

I also support restoring funding for GRTC that was removed upon the creation of the Central  Virginia Transportation Authority so we can expand services, stops, and frequency.  

In the last five years, our peer cities have reorganized to pull transportation oversight of public works or planning departments into a focused department of transportation. "The department is particularly necessary now because the nature of transportation planning has changed. Transportation isn't a maintenance activity anymore. It's really keeping up with new design standards and meeting the really rapidly changing and growing needs of travelers," said Matt Nicholas, Oakland's transportation policy advisor about creating the Oakland DOT in 2016. Would you support establishing a Department of Transportation to comprehensively address Richmond's multifaceted needs? Why or why not?

Yes, I would support work to establish a Department of Transportation while serving on  City Council. I believe the lens of transportation, of how we connect with places and with  each other, will provide the attention we need to develop equitable transportation for  Richmond. A focus on connecting via transit and multi-modal transportation options will  reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and provide opportunities to advance wellness. It can  also lend to efficiency as jobs within City departments are more clearly aligned with specific  functions. Peer cities, such as Raleigh, have organized many functions under a Department  of Transportation and demonstrated that it is a sound approach. Establishing such a  department will require thoughtful reorganization to ensure alignment of functions and  resources. Such a change may not happen quickly, but we need to start the conversation to  make it feasible.

Richmond's average WalkScore is 51 out of 100, or "Somewhat Walkable," with the most walkable areas being Church Hill, Downtown, Carytown, and VCU. Richmond has dedicated roughly $2 million in the annual budget for new sidewalks. The average cost for a mile of sidewalk is roughly $500,000. How much will you commit to new sidewalk funding annually to ensure our most vulnerable users can travel safely? How will you prioritize more affordable and immediate options to provide walk/rollways to neighborhoods that need them by repurposing existing roadways?

When I ask residents of the 3rd District why they love to call it home, many people talk  about our walkable neighborhoods. We are fortunate to have many sidewalks and streets  with limited traffic, but there are still areas of our district where people do not feel safe  walking or bicycling, especially when along or intersecting with major thoroughfares. Much  of the need for sidewalks is in other portions of the City, such as the 8th and 9th Districts. I  would support prioritizing other areas that suffer from more injury and loss of life due to  lack of infrastructure. I see this as an opportunity to ensure equity across Richmond. We  could use more cost effective options such as stamped asphalt and curb stops as temporary walking place holders before we have the resources for full sidewalks. I’d maintain at least  the $2 million budget and explore grant opportunities like with the Department of  Transportation to create Complete Streets that promote multi-modal transportation.

The Virginia General Assembly passed legislation this year to create the Central Virginia Transportation Authority (CVTA) and providing new, dedicated revenue sources for the Richmond Region. The bill requires that 35% of funds be used for regional transportation related purposes, 15% of funds will be distributed to GRTC, and 50% will be given back proportionally to each locality to be used for local mobility, which can include construction, maintenance, or expansion of roads, sidewalks, trails, mobility services, or transit located in the locality. How will you ensure that the CVTA prioritizes additional funding for regional transit and equitable mobility throughout the region? Additionally, in anticipation of this new revenue source, Richmond cut its budget allocation to GRTC in half; however, it is clear that because the CVTA relies on gas and sales tax to raise funds, the expected $8 million will not be available this fiscal year. Unless the funding gap is filled, transit service in Richmond will be reduced. What steps, if any, will you take to restore Richmond's funding for GRTC to 100% of FY2020 levels?

I believe this is the core purpose of CVTA: ensuring that our funding is meeting the objectives  that were established in creating the organization. We can ensure equitable mobility  throughout the region by having meaningful City representation on the authority Board. I  would like to see the 50% used primarily to expand transit and support the equitable  transportation goals identified in the Richmond 300 plan, including road improvements to  support multi-modal options. 

For many people in Richmond, GRTC provides the most reliable and affordable option to get to  work. To better serve riders, GRTC should continue regular surveys to determine the needs as  expressed by the people who rely on GRTC for transportation. This could translate to  additional service on high priority routes, more express lines, and amenities such as shelters  and benches. While serving on City Council, I’ll work to reinstate funding to GRTC that was cut  upon the creation of the new authority. I also support use of the funds returned by the  authority for infrastructure such as sidewalks and multi-use roads to achieve our Vision Zero  goal.

Youth & Family

RPS has served more than 750,000 meals since schools closed in March. What will you do to ensure RPS has the support they need to continue feeding students during the duration of the pandemic and beyond?

We know that without proper nutrition, children will experience many challenges, including  difficulty with learning. To ensure RPS has the support they need to continue feeding students,  we should use resources from the local to the national level. Richmond Public Schools benefits  from USDA and state as core funding for the nutrition program. We should continue to partner  with nonprofits such as NoKidHungry to ensure breakfast program continues, and strengthen  partnerships with FeedMore to continue the “backpack” program, once we are back in the  school buildings. 

Prior to the pandemic, 9,500 children in Richmond under the age of five, live at or below 200% of the federal poverty level; however, there are only 3,500 seats in both private and public early education centers in the city. What can you do to create more early educational opportunities for our most vulnerable children?

It’s critical that we support young children as a community. The National Forum on Early  Childhood Policy and Programs has found that high quality early childhood programs can  yield a $4 – $9 dollar return per $1 invested. A 2009 study of Perry Preschool, a high-quality  program for 3-5 year olds developed in Michigan in the 1960s, estimated a return to society  of between about $7 and $12 for each $1 invested. It’s a good investment, but it’s also the  right thing to do. 

We’ve got to take advantage of state resources that are available for early childhood  education and get fully enrolled. Many seats would be covered by existing programs and  funding streams if families were aware of VPI and Head Start. We must support outreach to  families so they can be aware of and enroll in these invaluable resources. Specifically in the 3rd District, we have examples of wonderful early childhood education such as the Mary  Scott Preschool. I believe the Sprout School provides an exciting model for high quality early  childhood programming provided on a sliding scale, depending upon family income. I’d love  to see similar models deployed across the city. 

Schools are the heart and soul of our neighborhoods. How do you propose the Mayor's Administration and Council should work with RPS and the School Board to ensure that every student has access to a high quality education and safe facilities to learn in? What funding streams would you like to see leveraged to support Richmond Public Schools' strategic plan?

Education is a huge priority for me, and not just because I’m an RPS parent. Education is where we can  provide opportunity for everyone to discover their dreams and talents and begin to chart a course for  their life. It’s necessary for the Mayor, City Council, School Board, and RPS administration to work in  partnership to pass a budget that will fund our goals. We need to pass RPS’ strategic plan to get the  results and educational outcomes for our students that we all seek.  

School board has the power to set policy and budget priorities and I respect that authority. I’ll work in  collaboration with our school board to ensure we are funding the highest priorities through funding  decisions. Using that spirit of collaboration, we need to be working in partnership to ensure the  priorities that result in the best outcomes for the most students, that’s where we need to focus. We  need to listen to School Board to determine what the priorities are.  

For funding streams, I know the meals tax was controversial but it has resulted in high quality schools  that our students need. I would love for every student to have that type of learning environment. We  should also work with our partners like Richmond Education Association (REA) to lobby the General  Assembly to address the Local Composite Index (LCI) formula used to fund schools. Our RPS  community has a high percentage of students living in poverty and schools are equipped to do a lot,  but we could do even more with additional financial support.  

Translate »