B2
Richmond Free Press © 2018 Paradigm Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.
VOL. 27 NO. 51
RICHMOND, VIRGINIA
www.richmondfreepress.com
ee Fr
Fr ee
‘Most cherished holiday memories’
DeCEMBER 20-22, 2018
Groundbreaking RPS and city officials celebrate the start of construction of 3 new city schools By Ronald E. Carrington
It was a day for smiles, celebration and looking to the future Wednesday as Mayor Levar M. Stoney, Richmond Schools Superintendent Jason Kamras and elected city and School Board officials broke ground for three new city schools. The ceremonies, each held at the new sites on the hour from 9 to 11 a.m., marked the start of construction on two new elementary schools and a new middle school to replace three of the city’s many dilapidated and overcrowded buildings that have become a major cause for concern for school administrators, teachers, parents and local residents alike. Totaling $110 million, the construction projects will replace aged George Mason Elementary School, built in 1881, at 28th and M streets in the East End; overcrowded E.S.H. Greene Elementary, built in 1954, in the 1700 block of Catalina Avenue in South Side; and the former Elkhardt Middle School, 6300 Hull St. Road in South Side, which was shut down in February 2015 because of mold and other environmental issues hazardous to the health of children. The schools are being funded largely from a 1.5 percent addition to the city’s meals tax, which started July 1 and is expected to generate $9.1 million annually to help repay construction loans. The new buildings are to be completed in time for the start of classes in the fall of 2020. The ceremonies on Wednesday drew small crowds, the largest being about 50 people at the George Mason Elementary site. At each ceremony, Mayor Stoney and Mr. Kamras thanked the Please turn to A4
Bump stocks banned Reuters
WASHINGTON The Trump administration on Tuesday banned the high-power gun attachments of the type used in last year’s Las Vegas shooting massacre of 58 people, giving the owners of “bump stocks” 90 days to turn in or destroy the devices and blocking owners from being able to register them. President Trump’s Republican Party typically supports gun ownership, and its members have fiercely fought off perceived threats to the U.S. Constitution’s Second Amendment guaranteeing people the right to bear arms. His administration, though, is sidestepping any potential debate in Congress in issuing a final rule on Tuesday that adds bump stocks to a definition of machine guns written 80 years ago during the heyday of gangsters’ use of “tommy guns.” The attachments use a gun’s recoil to bump its trigger, enabling a semiautomatic weapon to fire hundreds of rounds per minute, which can transform the firearm into a machine gun. The U.S. Justice Department’s regulation follows the lead of many states and retailers that imposed stricter limits on sales of guns and accessories after a deadly shooting in February at Parkland High School in Florida. Gun Owners of America said Tuesday that it was going to By Jeremy M. Lazarus court to fight the new rule and would seek an injunction. The Virginia Union Univergroup said the department was sity is pushing back against a attempting to rewrite laws, the student-written letter and online regulation would lead to bans petition calling for an investigaon other weapons, and bump tion and the removal of VUU President Hakim J. Lucas and Please turn to A4 Dr. W. Franklyn Richardson,
Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press
Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney, center, asks Superintendent Jason Kamras, second from right, to lead Wednesday’s groundbreaking ceremony at E.S.H. Greene Elementary School in Spanish in recognition of the large Spanish-speaking population at the South Side school. Mr. Kamras offered some of his remarks to the small crowd of students, school officials, School Board and City Council members in Spanish.
City Council approves commission to review $1.4B Coliseum project By Jeremy M. Lazarus
City Councilwoman Kim B. Gray scored a signal victory in securing an 8-1 vote Monday in support of her plan to create a commission of citizen experts to review the $1.4 billion plan to replace the Richmond Coliseum and redevelop at least 10 blocks of Downtown near City Hall. The City Council vote capped nearly two hours of Ms. public hearing and debate on a night when the governing body also directed the administration to start creating a strategic plan to deal with homelessness. On the North of Broad development, the council overrode objections from Mayor Levar M. Stoney and city Chief Ad-
ministrative Officer Selena Cuffee-Glenn who see the commission as a potential delay tactic. The vote approving the commission came after the council heard from citizens that projections stating the project would be a revenue bonanza for the city are inflated and that using incremental increases in taxes to cover costs rarely pay off. “We need to do more than kick the tires,” Ms. Gray, 2nd District, said in agreeing with speakers who called Gray for City Council to take its time reviewing the plans and not be stampeded into approving a project that the council and residents might later regret. “We need to open the hood. We need to look at the motor, transmission … and make sure we’re making the most sound decision” on the largest development project ever proposed in Central Virginia, she said. Councilman Michael J. Jones, 9th District, cast the lone opposition vote largely because resignations of the VUU he felt it was premature. leadership. Three members, Council “This is a righteous Vice President Cynthia I. fight,” Rev. Jefferson wrote Newbille, 7th District; Andreas in a statement to the Free D. Addison, 1st District; and Press. Ellen F. Robertson, 6th DisMs. Cox appeared to trict, joined the majority after confirm Rev. Jefferson’s being told that the council also claim in at least one in- would approve spending up to stance regarding Dr. Corey $95,000 to hire an independent D.B. Walker, who resigned consulting firm to conduct a effective Dec. 31 as a VUU review. vice president and dean of the Others voting for the comtheology school. mission included outgoing Rev. Jefferson claimed that Council President Chris A. Dr. Walker resigned in part be- Hilbert, 3rd District; Kristen cause he was barred from filling N. Larson, 4th District; Parker six staff vacancies because of a C. Agelasto, 5th District; and
VUU spokesperson blasts claims by doctoral student as ‘false, ill-advised, arbitrary and capricious’ chair of the VUU Board of Trustees. In a four-page letter to the Free Press on Dec. 13, VUU spokeswoman Pamela H. Cox rejected the claims circulated by the Rev. Lafayette Jefferson, a doctoral student in the Rev. Jefferson Ms. Cox private Baptist-affiliated institution’s School of Theol- VUU mismanagement of a ogy. grant, a hiring freeze and other The Free Press reported on issues as “false, ill-advised, some of the allegations in Rev. arbitrary and capricious.” Jefferson’s letter in the Dec. 13However, Rev. Jefferson 15 edition, but did not identify stands by the claims he made him at his request. He ended his and has not removed the petirequest for anonymity after Ms. tion on Change.org that he said Cox identified him in her letter 300 people have signed calling and called his claims alleging for an investigation and the
Please turn to A4
Please turn to A4
Probe finds Trump illegally used foundation as ‘a checkbook’ for his campaign, business Free Press wire reports
Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press
Leave it to Santa Skye Cook, 6, tells all her Christmas wishes to Soul Santa during a recent visit to the Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia in Jackson Ward. Soul Santa is always a big hit at the museum on December weekends leading up to the holiday. In just a few days, the youngster will see if Santa truly delivered.
NEW YORK President Trump’s charitable foundation reached a deal Tuesday to go out of business, even as the president continues to fight allegations he misused its assets to resolve business disputes and boost his run for the White House. New York’s attorney general and lawyers for the Trump Foundation agreed on a court-supervised process for shutting down the charity and distributing about
$1.7 million in remaining funds to other nonprofit groups. The agreement resolved one part of the legal drama surrounding President Trump, whose campaign, transition, inauguration and real estate empire are all under investigation. New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood’s lawsuit alleging President Trump and his family illegally operated the foundation as an extension of his businesses and his presidential campaign
will continue. The lawsuit, filed last spring, seeks $2.8 million in restitution and a 10-year ban on President Trump and his three oldest children — Donald Jr., Eric and Ivanka — from running any charities in New York. In a statement Tuesday, Ms. Underwood said a 21-month probe uncovered “a shocking pattern of illegality involving the Please turn to A4