In remembrance A6
Richmond Free Press © 2024 Paradigm Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
VOL. 33 NO. 23
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
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Meet this week’s Personality B1
JUNE 6-8, 2024
Land trust makes homeownership affordable Maggie Walker Community Land Trust set to make its 100th home sale soon By Barry Green Jr.
When Michael Haggins’ credit score disqualified him for mortgage preapproval in 2021, he was crushed. A single father who grew up in Richmond, Haggins dreamed of owning a house in his hometown where his two sons could play freely. A shortage of just five credit score points — plus systemic inequities and a national housing crisis — left them all living with his mother. But today, Haggins is the proud owner of a home in Church Hill, thanks to Richmond’s Maggie Walker Community Land Trust and its pioneering model for creating permanent affordable housing. “I don’t think I could’ve done it without their help, honestly,” Haggins said. Being selected for the community land trust’s lease-to-own pilot was a “blessing,” he said. “The program is geared toward helping individuals such as myself, who are right at the line of homeowner-
ship but can’t seem to cross it.” It’s all part of the land trust’s mission to develop and steward permanent affordable home properties to foster racially equitable communities, said Lark Washington, the MWCLT’s chief operating officer. Since its founding, Richmond’s community land trust has sold 89 homes to income-eligible homebuyers, with a few more homes currently under contract and 150+ properties in their pipeline. They’ll soon be completing construction on their first subdivision, Ettrick Landing, in southern Chesterfield County about 30 minutes south from Richmond. The MWCLT also is undergoing infrastructure work for a 21-unit subdivision in nearby Henrico County. It’s on pace to close on its 100th home in under a decade this coming fall — a pace enabled by its threepronged approach to making homeownership more
Photo courtesy of MWCLT
An owner of one of the homes sold by the Maggie Walker Community Land Trust. Left, a Maggie Walker Community Land Trust home on Lawson Street.
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More charges reduced in death of Irvo Otieno By George Copeland Jr.
Photo by Julianne Tripp Hillman
Community members return to the former Richmond Community Hospital for another “Community Church on the Lawn” meeting. The purpose of the meetings is to advocate for the preservation of the historic structure.
Community gathering focuses on future of former hospital By George Copeland Jr.
Hazel R. Stamps, Viola Johnson, Hazel N. Robinson, Ida Ruth Robinson. These nurses and others were remembered during the third community gathering at the former Richmond Community Hospital on Sunday morning. “We honor their efforts to alleviate suffering,” said Viola Baskerville, co-founder of the Save Community Hospital group. “We
honor their dedication. We honor them.” A dozen residents of various ages assembled on the building’s front lawn at 11 a.m. The meetings are part of an effort to preserve the historic building amidst redevelopment plans by Virginia Union University. The importance of recognizing and remembering these nurses and their accomplishments was a major part of the gathering. This was Please turn to A4
Murder charges against three people for their role in the death of Irvo Otieno have been downgraded to involuntary manslaughter. Court records showed an amended indictment was filed last Wednesday with reduced charges for two Henrico County sheriff ’s Mr. Otieno deputies and a worker at Central State Hospital. Otieno was transported to Central State Hospital during a mental health crisis, and where he died after being held down by multiple deputies and hospital employees for over 10 minutes last year. The three charges are the last ones remaining from the 10 people initially charged for involvement in Otieno’s death. Charges against five sheriff’s deputies were withdrawn last month at the request of Dinwid-
die County Commonwealth’s Attorney Amanda Mann. The dismissal of those charges are part of what Mann has said was a strategic effort to resubmit the charges in a way and time that works better for the prosecution. “The current elected commonwealth’s attorney does not find the order to be sound and competent prosecutorial
decision making,” Mann wrote in the motion. “The order in which the defendants are tried is of strategic importance to the Commonwealth.” Two charges against hospital employees had been previously dropped by Mann’s predecessor. Otieno’s family reached Please turn to A4
NAACP hosts ‘Day Out’ against gun violence By George Copeland Jr.
The Richmond Branch NAACP will bring its efforts to end gun violence to the places most affected in the city this Friday, during National Gun Violence Awareness Day, as they and over 15 city and community partners participate in a “Local Day Out.” The civil rights group, alongside local officials, representatives from Richmond Public Schools, several churches and other organizations, will stage simultaneous events focused in over a dozen locations throughout the city that have been identified as “hot spots” of gun violence, including Mosby Court, the Belle Summit Apartments, Gilpin Court and Hillside Court. Those involved in organizing these events will provide food, surveys and information resources for families in these areas Please turn to A4
As hurricane season begins, officials urge preparation By Charlie Paullin
Photo by Charlie Paullin/Virginia Mercury
Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaks with members of the press about hurricane season forecasts on May 24.
In September 2003, Hurricane Isabel slammed the East Coast and thrashed Virginia and North Carolina most severely, prompting widespread power outages, 4-to 6-foot storm surges, flooding, and billions in damage. The storm caused at least 50 direct and indirect deaths. Lasting memories of that disaster now loom large, as the federal government forecasts this year’s hurricane season, June 1 to Nov. 30, will be a tumultuous one. “We can have 27 storms in a year,” said Shawn Talmadge, state coordinator at the Virginia Department of Emergency Management. “Only one storm can cause devastation across the commonwealth.” Ahead of the active hurricane season,
state leaders are urging Virginians to prepare as environmental groups call for stronger policy addressing storms that are increasing in frequency and intensity. The increase in storms coincides with a climate pattern switch, from the drier El Niño season to the stormier La Niña season. This year, the federal government has projected a range of 17 to 25 storms that have wind speeds of 39 miles per hour or higher. These storms will be named, which helps scientists keep track of the events. Of those, eight to 13 are forecasted to become hurricanes, with winds of 74 miles per hour or more. Of those, four to seven are expected to be major hurricanes, reaching categories 3, 4 or 5, with wind speeds of 111 miles per hour or higher.
“With another active hurricane season approaching, NOAA’s commitment to keeping every American informed with life-saving information is unwavering,” said NOAA Administrator Rick Spinrad, Ph.D. Specific information on implications for Virginia was not included in the NOAA’s forecast, but an outlook for this summer shows that Virginia has an above normal chance of precipitation for the season. This year, the federal government has projected a range of 17 to 25 storms that have wind speeds of 39 miles per hour or higher. These storms will be named, which helps scientists keep track of the events. Virginia also will cooperate with neighboring states to address evacuation Please turn to A4