Meet this week’s Personality B1
Richmond Free Press © 2021 Paradigm Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
VOL. 30 NO. 18
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
www.richmondfreepress.com
Jackpot? By Jeremy M. Lazarus
A key figure in the competition to develop a Richmond casino was an early contributor to 9th District City Councilman Michael J. Jones’ now ended campaign for the House of Delegates. In January, Alfred Liggins, chief executive officer of Urban One, contributed $5,000 to Dr. Jones’ then fledgling effort to challenge incumbent Delegate Betsy B. Carr in the June 8 Democratic primary.
Mr. Liggins
Dr. Jones
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Oscar goes to people of color B2
APRIL 29-MAY 1, 2021
Councilman Michael Jones defends $5,000 campaign contribution from potential casino operator
Mr. Liggins, the son of media mogul Cathy Hughes, has spearheaded Urban One’s proposal to build a $517 million casino-resort in South Side. The Black-owned media company, which operates several radio stations in Richmond and TV One, also has a small ownership stake in the MGM National Harbor casino-resort in Maryland. On Wednesday, Dr. Jones confirmed the donation that has raised some eyebrows given that City Council soon will face a vote on whether to send
to Richmond voters the question of approving the city’s preferred operator and site for the gambling operation. One reason the donation has come under question: Urban One’s proposal appears to have emerged as the front-runner among the two finalists that an internal city panel is evaluating before sending its final recommendation to City Council. Please turn to A4
Price of new Wythe High School skyrockets to $140M By Jeremy M. Lazarus
The price tag to replace aging George Wythe High School has jumped to $140 million, a 40 percent hike from the previous estimate of $100 million. Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s administration issued the estimate and recommended that City Council increase the total amount available in the city’s capital budget for the school replacement from $100 million to $200 million, just in case, with the appropriation to become available July 1, 2023. City Council is still considering that recommendation. The increased price for a new 2,000-student school to replace the 61-year-old, 1,500-student capacity high school in South Side has emerged as City Hall and the Richmond School Board spar over control of construction. Backed by a state law and a three-year-old City Council policy encouraging the School Board to develop new schools, the School Board has rebuffed the Stoney administration’s request to continue maintaining construction control the city was first granted 10 years ago. According to the Stoney administration, the School Board’s action has blocked the city’s plan to issue a request for proposals from architectural firms to design the new building in setting a goal of having the school built and opened by Aug. 23, 2023. Please turn to A4
Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press
Corey Stuckey, a senior at George Wythe High School, leads several dozen community members in a rally and march on April 23 in Downtown, demanding that city and school officials expedite plans to build a replacement for the dilapidated school in South Side. The group also called for students to be at the table for decision-making. The march went from the Maggie L. Walker statue at Adams and Broad streets to City Hall at 9th and Broad streets.
Families want answers in latest police shootings in Va. and N.C. Free Press wire report
Families in North Carolina and Virginia are still demanding answers from law enforcement authorities following separate shootings by sheriff’s departments that left one man dead and another fighting for his life in intensive care. A judge in Elizabeth City, N.C., refused Wednesday to release body camera video showing Pasquotank County sheriff’s deputies shooting and Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press
And the winner is … Mahki Jefferson handily wins his qualifying race last Sunday at the Richmond BMX Gold Cup Races at Gillies Creek Park in Fulton. The 1,050-foot track, with its “cursive M” layout featuring turns and straightaways, includes a variety of jumps for riders of all skill levels. Mahki went on to win the Gold Cup 6 Expert competition. Andrew Brown
Free COVID-19 testing Free community testing for COVID-19 continues. The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations: • Thursday, April 29, 2 to 4 p.m., Eastern Henrico Health Department, 1400 N. Laburnum Ave., Eastern Henrico. Drive-thru testing. • Thursday, May 6, 2 to 4 p.m., Eastern Henrico Health Department, 1400 N. Laburnum Ave., Eastern Henrico. Drive-thru testing. Appointments are encouraged by calling the Richmond and Henrico COVID-19 Hotline at (804) 205-3501 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through
Please turn to A4
Jonathon Gruenke/The Virginian-Pilot via AP
Isaiah Brown
killing 42-year-old Andrew Brown Jr., ruling that making the video public at this stage could jeopardize the investigation into his death on April 21. However, Judge Jeffery Foster ordered authorities to allow Mr. Brown’s family to privately view five videos from body cameras and one from a dashboard camera within 10 days, with some portions blurred or redacted.
Attorney Ben Crump stands with members of Andrew Brown Jr.’s family as he speaks to the media Monday outside of the Pasquotank County Public Safety Building in Elizabeth City, N.C. Mr. Brown’s son, Khalil Ferebee, wearing sunglasses, was among family members allowed to watch a 20-second clip from body camera footage. He said his father, who was unarmed, had his hands on the steering wheel when he was “executed” by sheriff’s deputies who opened fire.
Mr. Brown’s family previously had been allowed earlier this week to view only a 20-second clip from a single body camera. Judge Foster said he believed the videos contained information that could harm the ongoing investigation or threaten the safety of people seen in the footage. He said the video must
remain out of public view for at least 30 days, but he would consider releasing it after that point if investigations are complete. “The release at this time would create a serious threat to the fair, impartial and orderly administration Please turn to A4
Richmond to get millions under federal American Rescue Plan package By Jeremy M. Lazarus
The American Rescue Plan, which provided a $1,400 check to almost every adult in the country, is about to rain even more money on City Hall. At the least, Richmond and its public school system are poised to a gain a massive $236 million infusion from the $1.9 trillion ARP package President Biden pushed through Congress on March 11, City Council was told Monday.
At this point, the city is to receive $113.7 million from the ARP pool for cities, equal to $496 for each of the city’s 229,074 residents. Richmond Public Schools is to receive $122.8 million, or $536 per person. If U.S. Sens. Tim Kaine and Mark Warner of Virginia get their way, Richmond, as an independent city, also will receive an additional $45 million from a pool reserved for counties. The city’s total then would jump to $158 million if it also gets county money, or $692 per person, according to the 15-page report the council received from
its lobbyist, Ron Jordan. The total is far larger than the federal CARES Act dollars issued last year. Richmond received about $40 million, the lion’s share of which went to eviction prevention and homeless services, while the school system gained $72 million. The Jordan report indicates the ARP money could be paid out over two years, with the first share of the city’s Please turn to A4
Mr. Jordan