Allan-Charles Chipman

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, I am glad to have the endorsement and support of the Sierra Club for our campaign’s dedication to protecting our sacred historical sites and expanding access to greenspace.

As I talk with residents from Hull St, to Dove St, to Whitcomb, many of our residents who suffer from a lack of greenspace and the health impacts of environmental racism are requesting for parks and prioritizing land use that creates parks and green space in lieu of development and gentrification. I through implementing the Equity Assessment Index will advocate for land use that allows for city parks to help remedy the lack of green space in historically marginalized communities as Jeremy Hoffman’s study at the Science Museum of Virginia has shown. Advocating for racial equity and land use for more parks and greenspace are not separate fights. This is a fight for what land will be zoned and reserved for public use and increasing the budget of Parks. It is currently one of the lowest funded department in the city. The James River plan also calls for charging parking for the majority of visitors that don’t live in the city and to utilize a shuttle from dedicated parking. I would like to extend the shuttle route (once safe in light of the pandemic) to go communities and schools in the area (i.e. on Saturdays) to expand access to the James River. I think we need to honor the history of the James River and what it means to our Indigenous and African-American residents as well and properly contextualize the space as Elegba Folklore Society and other commemorative justice historians have done. I believe this could also be a shared funding stream through Richmond Region Tourism and the History & Culture Commission. 

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?

Per SB1064, it is of the utmost importance that we set a timeline to seriously start funding a way (hopefully with funds from SB1064 as well) to stop the sewage drainage into the James River. I anticipate the actions suggested by the DEQ by July 1,2021 to determine what actions need to be made. We have until July 1, 2025 to begin the construction activities necessary into compliance but we must be compliant by July 1, 2027. After talking with a city employee Duwan Spencer who works in waste management, he verified we are looking at a price tag of at least $400 million dollars for all the repairs needed.  This is also a negative effect on the climate as at least 3.3 billion gallons of untreated waste water has flown in to the James because of our CSO. I am thankful for Senator Stuart for promising to involve statewide funding support as well as an annual cost consideration by the Governor and GA to assist compliance.

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?

First, I would like to thank the Sunrise Movement’s endorsement of our campaign for our dedication to making climate justice a reality in our city. It is important that we bring back the Urban Forestry Commission and the Urban Tree Canopy initiative. I also in hopes to transfer to clean energy for our public transportation fleet would seek to make sure all new vehicles purchased are clean energy vehicles to grandfather out those that emit harmful emissions that also effect heat related illnesses such as Asthma. In  my conversations with Jeremy Hoffman regarding his landmark study, it is a keypoint to notice where a lot of the ambulance responses to heat-related illnesses were dispatched at bus stops due to the exposure to heat without proper coverage. As we expand GRTC per the Richmond 300 plan for the North to South GRTC pulse expansion we must make sure we are providing proper coverage for our neighbors that rely on public transportation. A good example of this is the new developments at Bainbridge near Brewer’s Café. There is parking in the back for those who rely on private transportation but the bus stops don’t have seating areas or proper canopy for those who rely on transportation. We cannot develop everything BUT the points where our residents with multi-modal transportation needs are experiencing environmental racism.

I would propose in the new Regional Transit Authority we ask for additional funding to deal with climate change and environmental racism to provide the proper canopies over bus stops. We also need to have a push as a region to grandfather out our bus fleets that don’t utilize clean energy.

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?

As I alluded to earlier committing to transitioning our city-owned fleet of vehicles and transportation to clean energy electric vehicles is a goal of mine. The U.S. PIRG Fund had a 2018 study that found while electric transit buses costs around $200,000 more than diesel buses, lifetime fuel and maintenance savings of electric transit buses are around $400,000 and suggested transit agencies should commit to transitioning to 100% all electric bus fleets by 2030. To deal with the upfront cost they also recommend ceasing the purchase of diesel buses so that the market can change and help make the pricing of electric fleets more feasible by the 2030 deadline.

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?

I think we need to remain committed to the CPACE (Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy) regulations. I was disappointed to see the attempt to have city council back out from these agreements. I think we need to start prepping the way for the upcoming mandates and moratoriums in HB 77 The Green New Deal Act. The measure also requires that at least 80 percent of the electricity sold by a retail electric supplier in calendar years 2028 through 2035 be generated from clean energy resources. In calendar year 2036 and every calendar year thereafter, 100 percent of the electricity sold by a retail electric supplier is required to be generated from clean energy resources. I think in our development deals that we should have EBA’s (Environmental Benefit Agreements) and CBA’s (Community Benefit Agreements). We should set as a council an Urban Tree Canopy (UTC) goal and require cooperation from all developments seeking public land or public subsidy. Beyond subsidies, in order to prep for compliance with new laws coming into effect we must set requirements that we have the capacity to enforce to ensure we are building the power infrastructure of the future. I think a great part of this is educating the private sector on the Federal Solar Energy Tax Credit (ITC) program available that allows them to deduct up to 26% of the cost of solar equipment from their taxes. Virginia also has a law stating that solar energy equipment can be exempt from local property taxes. I would like to explore the feasibility of Richmond joining our neighbor Chesterfield enter into that agreement.

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, I am thankful for the CDC issuing a federal moratorium on evictions. This demonstrates that they understand the vital connection that we have no hope of getting a handle on Covid-19 if we can’t house our residents. Governor Northam also released $50 million in rent relief funds to help make up the gap however we must make sure people are aware and that the qualifications don’t exclude anyone that may need help. In the emerging “gig” economy, we can’t have eligibility requirements that still reflect the one job one source of income economy. People can be working 2 or 3 jobs and lose a portion of their income and not be able to make ends meet. If they are being misclassified and don’t have access to health insurance and contract Covid-19 that can be a more devastating loss than losing a job. Also I am concerned as are housing organizers such as Pastor Hodge and RISC concerning the requirement of the landlord to participate and how that may leave so many of our residents vulnerable to source of income discrimination. If our Richmond Delegate has been fighting to end source of income discrimination at the state level why would we build our eviction diversion program with that vulnerability. I think we need to expand the strategy of the Federal CARE funds to just more than temporary shelter. The CARE funds allow for funding city initiatives of moving to transitory housing.  This is why I am eager to bring HUD’s Housing Plus Pilot program to Richmond. It is a more long-term plan to help those families already evicted prior to the CDC moratorium and the thousands on the waiting list for public housing. We need to utilize the vacant city housing stock to help people recover in the second highest city in the nation for evictions instead of selling them to developers that will only destabilize our housing market even more.

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?

As I stated earlier, I am running to implement the Equity Assessment Index that would work in tandem with the new department of transportation to set a baseline of services such as sidewalk and ADA compliance city wide to make sure we are properly prioritizing our residents with mobility challenges. We also have a deep need for an overhaul in our storm water drainage systems. A combination of increased torrential downpour due to climate change coupled with still having an outdated storm water drainage and in some areas a combined sewage water overflow we have put off the inevitable for far too long. Some overflow is due to things as simple as less frequent cleanings of drains due to litter and clutter. We also must admit what many people are stating in the southside and the less developed areas of the city. The tax money for repairs are following where the developers are prioritizing and we still see RVA getting paved streets while Richmond is getting delayed service.

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, I would like to thank Northside RVA for their endorsement of our campaign for having an effective plan of dealing with the displacement we are seeing in our Northside neighborhoods and beyond. I support expanding the scope and eligibility of the VA homestead exemption program to reflect the model in California and developing a city funded community stabilization fund as seen in Pittsburgh, GA. This should be expanded to reflect more of California’s program. California’s program can either give a tax credit that reduces the assessment value of the house used to calculate the real estate tax (i.e. 75k for single household, 100k for a head of household, up to 175k for seniors). I was speaking to a resident who has benefited from the tax abatement program and the historic tax credit who would like to see a homestead program that depending based on income threshold, rate of appreciation in the area, or length of residence at the location that keeps assessment taxes closer to the original sale price of the home. Black historic neighborhoods such as Pittsburgh in Atlanta, GA have started a model of Community Stabilization funds that assist seniors and community members that are going through a process that they have coined “equity theft.”  I think it is important that we talk about the racial wealth gap in light of the legacy of redlining and restrictive covenants to note that gentrification is a war on generational black wealth and it is not just seniors that are being displaced. “Equity Theft” is a calculated action of a city incentivizing (typically through tax breaks to developers) cost-burdening seniors with higher assessments and code enforcement thus leaving them vulnerable to the predatory quick sale market that encourages them to undersell their home to “alleviate” them from soaring taxes and enforcement fees. As I walk through these gentrifying neighborhoods I too see the signs of these “Equity theft” developers who target black seniors on fixed income.  There have been reported problem from the Stoney Administration despite expanding the deadline to October 31st that there is a significantly lower amount of seniors taking advantage of the relief fund from last year. As I stand with seniors in court and talk to their neighbors that have seen them get priced out, I am concerned that the amount is lower because many of these seniors have already been priced out or bought out in the process of “equity theft.” This is why any solution going forward must include dedicated housing stability funding to help our long-term residents and their descendants stay in their homes and neighborhoods. We must not build the new “Affordable” RVA on the back of displaced Richmond and have the audacity to call it “equity and opportunity for all.”  We also need to introduce a form of rent control for our Seniors living on fixed income as one of my constituents Ms. Lois specifically requested as she doesn’t have much relief available as a senior who doesn’t own her home. I would love to hear more about the long-term owner occupant program in Philadelphia but we cannot talk about comparisons of gentrification of Richmond to North Philadelphia without connecting the expansion of both Temple University and VCU and the disparate impact of displacement of black long-term residents. In 1968, Temple’s Black Free Press named this pattern in their April 4th issue stating “All over Philly “City projects” are springing up…This movement is a concentrated effort on the part of the City Hall system to break-up our community and lump us into convenient, easy to handle, “projects”.  This is the direct result of discriminatory practices on the part of City Hall, because it is only we who are forced to move when they decide that they need room.” In 2016 Philadelphia had two of their neighborhoods rank as the most gentrified zip codes in the Nation. A lot of its genrtrification stemmed from the the expansion of universities such as UPenn, Drexler, and Temple. Two city council candidates Nicholas DaSilva and current VCU SGA President Taylor Maloney have long been raising awareness of this trend of displacement in our city through the expansion of VCU and the VCUPD. Over the past years VCU has expanded to an unsustainable rate for both our historic residents and our city coffers. We need to set a limit on how much they can expand within city limits and introduce a Payment In Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program to make sure they are paying their fair share to remedy the displacement their expansion has caused.

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, I would like to thank the Richmond branch of Our Revolution for endorsing our campaign for prioritizing making affordable and inclusive zoning a reality in our city. First we must acknowledge a historical and a recent truth. Historically we must accept that the Euclidean Zoning that shapes the zoning of our city is based in a racist decision in Amber Realty vs Euclid, Ohio that set up restrictions on what can be built in certain sections of a locality based on the city of Euclid restricting a realty company of building homes for African-Americans because it would have been built in a mostly white area of town. Now for a recent truth, the majority of the 6th district is still zoned for single-family exclusionary zoning and the incumbent has incentivized this type of development throughout her term. A majority of housing in the district is still zoned for single family households and this limits density and access to developing more affordable multi-family housing. Beyond special permitted usage here and there we need to move away from Euclidean based zoning to a more form-based and agile zoning area that 1. creates less of a permitting back up for those who want to build multi-family and 2. Allows us to increase density and greater accessibility to truly affordable housing. We also must make sure that we are not simply displacing long-term residents and justifying their displacement by building higher density replacements on their family homes. Development without displacement is possible. I believe rezoning some vacant industrial zones to be able to be residential where safe and multi-use zoning is implemented.

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?

This question is not a hypothetical for me. Last year I worked with Creighton court residents, Legal Aid Justice Center, and Senator Jennifer McClellan to help pass SB708 that gives tenants a right to at least 12 months of notice from Housing Authorities before they can even apply for demolition or take any action toward disposition of the housing stock. This legislation requires a robust, transparent, and genuine community input process that notifies tenants of their legal rights, the plan for their relocation, and connection with organizations that can assist them in the process. It is tragically the case that displacement of our neighbors in public housing is not just the history of the RRHA in actions such as Urban Renewal, it is also the current plan of the RRHA. In their 2020-2021 PHA plan they are proposing to apply to demolish ALL 3,155 units of public housing projects in the city in November 2020 to circumvent the fair process SB708 would require of them when it takes effect in January 2021. They are not supporting 1:1 Brick and Mortar replacement as is the best practice and the request of the late and beloved community organizer Lillie Estes. Instead they are looking to sell this to the private market and send people out into a market known to discriminate on the basis of source of income. I have submitted public comment to the RRHA’s annual plan, notified Senator McClellan’s office of the RRHA’s attempt to circumvent our equitable legislation, and encourage everyone to write your city council member, state senator, delegate, and Congressman to tell the RRHA to at least wait until SB708 is in effect to apply for demolition. I am running to ensure under my watch such deceit and lack of transparency doesn’t go without proper consequence. Seeing how much the profit motive of the redevelopment authority has consistently threatened the livelihood of their tenants in order to sell to the highest bidder, I would propose beginning the process of separating the Redevelopment Authority from the Housing Authority as cities such as Baltimore, MD did after seeing similar patterns of conflicts of interest.

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?

Absolutely. I support divesting from police and reinvesting into systems of care. This means BOTH reassigning responsibilities AND resources from police. It means the $96 million given to police needs to have money and resources redistributed to health and social services which receives 56 million in the budget to deal with substance abuse and mental health. It means reinvesting in our city parks and recreation to help provide alternatives to youth. It means we no longer fund the police 99x higher than the office of minority business development. Policing is not the model of the future and cannot seem to divorce itself from its racist roots. We must fund the model we want to see and have a strategic transition to a new model for public safety.

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 support ban the box. I have had the pleasure of working with several community leaders that serve our returning citizens such as Sonia Staples of From Prison to Promise, Sheba Williams of NoLefTurns, Inc with a 0% recidivism rate in their program, and Paul Taylor of RVA League for Safer Streets. I will bring back the city program in city services that gave returning citizens a chance to reintegrate in society while efficiently delivering trash cans, clearing street alleys, clearing tree overgrowth and more. Many residents want this program back as it was more efficient than currently waiting months just to get a trash can delivered. Beyond city services, many of our returning citizens are solutions to their community when given the chance and opportunity. I also will note the disenfranchisement that happens to our returning citizens as we examine disparate impact through the Equity Assessment Index.

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 I will! First, I would like to thank Virginia Justice Democrats for endorsing our campaign for its bold commitment to setting up meaningful, effective, community-led accountability of police.

In addition to your listed priorities:

  1. I will introduce the police transparency act that will require police to report at least quarterly data on their stops by:
    1. Race
    2. Geographic Area of the city the stop was performed
    3. (For stops regarding Civil Asset Forfeiture and other Highway Interdiction programs) what assets were taken and what reasoning justifies the stop and acquisition of property. What departments within police and other city departments or branches benefit from the funds acquired?
    4. If force was used, what level of force was used and whether it was consistent with use of force training? 

This report will be published publicly minus the personal identifiable information of civilians. It will also be reported to statewide authorities per the guidelines of HB1250 to bring attention to police practices that have a disparate impact on historically marginalized communities as well as to the Independent Civilian Oversight Body with subpoena power once established.

  1. I will support the legislation that bans use of tear gas, kinetic impulse projectiles, and asphyxiating gases as tear gas is a prohibited weapon of war per United Nations General Assembly Resolution 2603
  2. I will reallocate responsibilities from police and resources from police to models that have effectively dealt with community violence, mental health, poverty, lack of opportunity, and substance abuse. I will give an option of reallocation of the police budget to community led organizations in the participatory budgeting process when established and implemented.
  3. I will support fully funding and equip localities to provide residents with a civilian review board independent of police with subpoena power funded by at least 1% of the police budget.
  4. I propose redirecting civil asset forfeiture funds to support for over policed communities instead of police budgets until we can reform or end the process at the state and federal level.  Civil Asset Forfeiture and other Highway Interdiction programs create an incentive for police to discriminate. As stated by President Obama’s Administration, Former Attorney General Eric Holder, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Justice Clarence Thomas, and even Senator Rand Paul Civil asset forfeiture consistently violates the 4th, 5th, and 14th amendment rights  It also creates a problem as some of these funds are shared with the Commonwealth Attorney’s office to purchase her office furniture and computer equipment per her admission in response to my testimony in favor of an ordinance to require the Richmond Police Department to report quarterly on their 5 civil asset forfeiture funds.  That is the most we can do until we can end or greatly limit the practice of civil asset forfeiture at the state and federal level.
  5. Body cameras ought to be mandatory and police out to be penalized if they do not comply. The same shall be true of officers that refuse to at least give their badge numbers to residents that request to make a complaint to internal affairs or the civilian review board.

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?

Yes and Yes. I am committing to meeting with our Everyday Solidarity taskforces to meet consistently with and involve our most directly impacted residents in the solution making process. One of our teams is the Youth Agenda and alternatives to incarceration. I have been working with 6 Pic, Community 50/50, and Rise for Youth to build the trust for the youth to engage with government.  I will also commit to support stipends for youth. I also have been out marching, and speaking to the youth about the need for meaningful accountability and transformation in this moment in our city’s uprising against systemic racism. In my public comments to support Ord 2020-155 on developing a taskforce to advise starting a Civilian Review board, I sought to expand protections to make sure that in order to meet a quorum (of 5 currently) that the legislation added that at least one of people of the 3 marginalized categories have to be present in order for quorum to be established. Their perspective will be key in forming this process. I am sad to see there hasn’t yet been an application from an individual in public housing to sit on the task force. However, this may be a telling sign of where the community trust lies in the current leadership and police department.  We must also make sure accessibility to the forum where this will be held is as available as possible.

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 and I also believe in fully funding the board with at least 1% of the police budget. 

As a minister and faith leader, I understand the power of accountability. My dad always used to tell me, “People don’t do what you expect. People do what you inspect.” Commonwealth’s Attorney Collette McEachin came to the conclusion that (despite seeing video evidence of police running over protestors with police vehicles, on multiple occasions, and from multiple angles) that she saw nothing criminal. We later discovered by her own admission that she gets a portion of civil asset forfeiture funds from police to pay for her office equipment and office furniture. Mayor Stoney ,caught on video by a police lawyer, told a room full of police that he saw “nothing criminal” about police running over protestors with their car and was simply conducting an investigation to “calm things down.” The current police chief of staff of police killed a black man named Jeramy Gilliam and the family was told in 2002 Officer Blackwell was no longer on the police force. Our Mayor made him chief of police in 2020 and now currently chief of staff. Protestors and residents exercising their First amendment right to address their grievances are by police being arrested, partially blinded, teargassed, pepper sprayed, and threatened with charges. The police have even dared to attack 2 members of city council who proposed legislation on police reform and have received no consequence.  How is it that some 57 years ago John Lewis spoke about the police brutality in Virginia and those cries persist now from hundreds of protestors and good trouble makers sitting in the city jail today? The answer rings true in the words of my father, ACCOUNTABILITY. 

We need leadership that isn’t allergic to accountability. If we don’t create meaningful accountability, as my father said, we will be creating a more dangerous police department. 

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?

First, we have to call out the elephant in the room know as systemic racism and our cities persistent confederate outcomes. The condition of our transportation still exists under these racist priorities. As exciting as the GRTC Pulse has been, it’s rollout once again displays the tale of two cities. As I talk with thousands of residents from Bellemeade to some of our Northside neighborhoods they see the development of Manchester and RVA at the expense of a Richmond that has long felt forgotten. At the onset of the pulse expansion the NAACP leadership at the time sued due to it being funded by attempting to cut vital bus stops and services to areas such as Whitcomb Court. This is why I am proposing the Equity Assessment Index that provides a rubric of decision making for the city that examines where disparate treatment and disparate impact in public policy affects historically marginalized communities and prioritizes getting equitable funding in city investment. 

I would use the Equity Assessment Index to set up a baseline assessment to make sure we prioritize the basic walkability of each of our districts at least before we fund our typically prioritized areas of the city.

As stated earlier we must reduce our negative impact on the climate and the environmental racism in exposure to harmful emissions that can cause asthma, and even cancer with our current fleet of public transportation. 

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 support Alexsis Rodger’s original proposal to establish a department of transportation in Richmond. 

I support the planned efforts proposed in the Richmond 300 plan to expand the pulse to our long-neglected neighborhoods in the Southside. However, in our expansion we must make sure that we expand equitably before an area is considered a “growth node.” The oversight required would definitely need the dedication of a department. To be clear, I absolutely support becoming a city that is conducive to multi-modal transportation that our residents use but we can’t talk about opportunities for all when right in the 6th district we have some areas of our cities that are fighting for more bike lanes while some of our black neighborhoods in the 6th district and southside of Richmond are fighting for the basics like sidewalks and the proper ADA compliance for those differently abled and seniors to get to their local store or even their voting location. Go to Bainbridge near Brewer’s care and you will see everything developed except proper seating and canopies for the bus stops.

Also as we have clean energy goals we need to dedicated our public fleet of GRTC buses to begin the transition to Electric Vehicles. A department of transportation with a dedicated position to finding the state and federal level assistance to help fund a clean energy transition can be of great help as well.

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 believe our top priority in expansion is making sure our least walkable areas aren’t left behind.  As we have to reallocate funds to replenish what was prematurely cut by GRTC some of those funds should also be used to increase the budget for new sidewalks in the least walkable areas of our city. As we are also expanding and changing streets per the Richmond 300 plan we should be more innovative in how we repurpose those existing roadways.

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?

Well first I wouldn’t approve a budget that cuts the GRTC budget in half for a promise of funds from a new entity that has yet to officially convene. As someone trained in risk management that is just gross negligence. Thankfully through the Federal CARES act GRTC received 26.1 million dollars. FY2021-2022 we will need to restore a portion of the funding cut in light of a more realistic assessment of what the CVTA will be able to supplement our city in the age of Covid-19.

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 will work with the school board to make sure that 13 million allocated by federal relief is used for support services for our low-income areas. I also will use my network as an organizer to be able to build a coalition of non-profit and faith-based feeding services are available to assist our schools. I think we also have a vibrant urban farming community here in Richmond that can be better embedded into our schools to introduce children and families to a plant-based lifestyle for health benefits and environmental benefits as it reduces dependency on animal agriculture industry. I also beyond the pandemic will make sure that we are not risking school funding on risky tax schemes such as the Tax Increment Financing mechanism that would have cost public schools $100 million dollars in lost state funding over the life of the project.

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?

I have met with long term education advocates such as Rev Ben Campbell and elected officials such as Sen Ghazal Hashmi’s team to talk about how we can make our schools community hubs of care especially in the area of early education. As someone who mentored children in the Mosby court area for a while, I see how childcare could have helped one of my students who had to miss school to take care of his young sibling when his mother didn’t come home some nights. This meant my friend had to miss out on education because he didn’t have a trusted place at school that would care for and educate his younger sibling. This is why my campaign’s launching pads and landing pads policy seeks to expand the services of schools to residents of the surrounding community. We can provide early childhood education as we know much of the knowledge centers of the brain begin to form in those vital ages of pre-k and we can provide opportunities for residents to earn certifications, trades, and even college credits in our schools. I look to incorporate community college workforce alliance and their fast forward program to be able to both make classes taught to our students more rigorous and competitive as well as providing parents and residents with the ability to skill up and achieve their goals. Being able to provide childcare and pre-k would mutually benefit each of these processes. Frederick Douglass said “It is easier to build strong children than it is to repair broken men.” I say with the right strategy we can do both!

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?

As a peacebuilder and trust builder, I understand one of the key elements of safety is who gets to define what constitutes violence. I was invited by Richmond Public Schools to speak after the brilliant and brave RPS students declared that police/ School Resource Officers in schools and cultural erasure in text books were acts of violence and it didn’t make them feel safe. I support the call of the RPS children and the superintendent to remove SRO officers from school and redirect that money to school counselors. Also the disturbing accounts that have been shared by the brave staff at “Black At RPS” reveals the need to improve the work culture for our teachers. That being said we also need to get the teacher retention rates promised after year 1 of Dreams 4RPS. After more than 2 years and a FOIA request from an advocate we need to have the teacher retention rates whatever they may be so we can have an objective baseline from which to measure results. Accountability is an act of love that gives us the opportunity to become the highest quality version of ourselves. 

I believe increased collaboration between the Mayor, Council, and School Board is essential especially during the Covid-19 pandemic.

High Quality Education in Covid-19 is especially challenging as learning is taking place in the facility of student’s homes. As I canvass, I am hearing from concerned special needs teachers concerned about how students with IEP’s will be able to get a quality education. I am talking to parents who had to quit their job to be able to maintain the expanded responsibilities of learning from home. I would encourage the school board to use the 13,251,928.45 from the CARES act funding to support our special needs students and to use the funding provided to pay for adequate cleaning of the facilities for those that must be in the building including PPE and use the funds to ensure equitable access to the internet for our most marginalized students.

Despite these pressures the first priority in safety is maintaining life and schools must only open when it is safe. 

To create much needed funding streams in crisis in addition to the federal relief, it is time that we implement a Payment In Lieu of Taxes program so that we can collect payment from VCU that is reflective of its expansion throughout the city. As a capital city with 30% of land that cannot be taxed, we couldn’t afford expansion and development that delayed year one collection of real estate and property taxes prior to Covid-19. We certainly can’t afford and sustain these drains on our city coffers in the midst of an economic crisis. I also stand with Virginia Educators United and the Fund Our Schools Initiative in calling on the State to use rainy day funding to release $600 million to help schools deal with the pandemic and restore the $500 million of previously approved funding. At the city level, I would also like to make sure that money supplemented by the Federal or State funding doesn’t result in a cut to city funding schools. 

Ellen Robertson

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?

The City Council adopted the James River Plan ensuring a commitment to implementation and funding. In partnership with the Friends of the James River Park Association, grants and additional resources are always being sought to protect the environmental and water quality of the Park, as well as safe use of the river and park area. 

The MasterPlan 300 addresses the need for more park and green space within walking distances of all neighborhoods. In the past week, new parks have been established and this trend will continue.

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 goal is to eliminate the CSO overflow into the river by 2035, with specific actions taken annually to achieve this goal. In compliance with the DEQ, changes include identifying land to provide increased storage space for treatment, while taking measures to not increase users rate beyond affordability.

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?

The City is continually increasing green space, alternative clean energy sources and working with Dominion Energy to increase solar energy. I will support and encourage increased forestry between housing communities and the highways. 

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 Office of Sustainability has been requested to present Council a detailed annual budget and implementation plan to achieve these goals.

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.

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?

The solution to preventing eviction is affordable housing and reducing poverty. Policies which restrict both have to be removed to allow affordable housing, density and increase income without HUD control for the low income families.

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 City infrastructure needs are different by locations and neighborhoods. I will revisit the plan of action presented the the Council and determine if the budget and timeline needs to revised due to COVID-19.

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?

Both programs would help. Establishing inclusive zoning would resolve segregation by income and spatial isolation.

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?

Richmond is responding to the need for density through the Richmond 300 Master Plan, zoning in downtown, and the rapid transit zone. I have also requested zoning by right for shelters and transitional housing. The surplus property request this year has earmarked the city own land for affordable housing. This is in compliance with my Ordinance which requires 30% affordable housing for all city real estate transitions which include the development of 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 majority of RRHA housing communities are in the 6th district. I will set up a special council to meet with the tenant council monthly as part of the OCWB to be advised of the RRHA plans and to get direct exchanges with both. In addition, I will create a youth housing policy council of juniors and seniors of RRHA residents to partner with the HBA to create housing policies and learn the trade of housing development to provide for future diversity in Real Estate Developers in the city. 

The RRHA has responded to all comments about the 2020-2021 Annual plan and address the participation of residents in making decisions in their communities redevelopment plan. The Tenant Bill of Rights will be done by policy with all RRHA future developments.

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?

Certainly, this is the most effective way to prepare families to resolve and be the resource within their homes and communities.

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?

City adopted the “ban the box” legislation several years ago. I will request a report on our success and recommendations in order to achieve desired results. Currently, the city works with the sheriff to provide training and job placement for residents of the Justice Center. Plans are in process to expand the numbers of participants.

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?

Absolutely, a requested profile of such a report has been made to ensure the accurate information is included.

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?

Yes, I will. I welcome a proposal for youth to make this happen. 

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?

This is in process as we speak. 

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?

Richmond needs a regional transportation system. Increased ridership and stronger networks are key to providing a reliable, efficient transit service. The regional transportation board has met in the last month and consists of State and local government representatives. This is encouraging. More efforts are needed to strengthen federal dedication and commitment of funding.

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?

We should re-establish the Department of Transportation that Richmond once possessed.

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?

Sidewalks in Richmond’s annexed Southside and Northside communities lack infrastructure. The cost per-block of sidewalk limits our capacity to address this need in a timely manner. Alternative options must be considered. A Special Task Force should be appointed to make recommendations to the city.

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?

Richmond is monitoring the funding received and has agreed to work with the State to address any short falls to avoid any reductions in services.

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?

PRS must present the City with a revised budget to indicate where revenues and expenditures have changed and make a request to address gaps, as needed. I will forward this request to staff immediately.

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?

Of the total of 9,500, only about half are of age to go to school. Additionally, many parents don’t want to send their children to school before the age of four. A more careful review of need could mean more funding available to increase enrollment and cost for additional slots for families of poverty.

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?

Richmond has obligated general funds at a guaranteed rate of general fund, currently at 57% of real estate taxes and a dedicated increased meal tax to RPS. Annual review of the Dreams 4 RPS plan and quarterly meeting with RPS, City Council and the Mayor provide evaluation on the improvement in academic performances and the successful attainment of goals. This process will provide essential data for review and reconsideration as needed.

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