Richmond Free Press March 17-19, 2022 edition

Jayem wins!

Richmond Free Press © 2022 Paradigm Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

VOL. 31 NO. 12

Mayor Stoney

A10

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA

www.richmondfreepress.com

‘Toothless’

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Meet this week’s Personality B1

MARCH 17-19, 2022

Ms. Blanding

Dr. Coston

Dr. Pelfrey

Critics assail Mayor Stoney’s proposal to give a new civilian review board only limited authority in handling complaints against city police version that some are describing as “toothless.”

Under his proposal, the city’s civilian review board, or CRB, Richmond could soon have its first civilian board to review would be an advisory board attached to the Richmond Police serious complaints against police officers.

Department with very limited authority.

But the proposal now before Richmond City Council would Essentially, the mayor rejected recommendations issued last be a far cry from the powerful, robust and independent board September by a city-created task force, but which never gained that initially was envisioned. any traction with City Council. None of the council members introduced any legislation in response to the recommendations.

Those recommendations called for a strong board that could hear all complaints against officers, have its own investigators, be vested with subpoena power and have

By George Copeland Jr. the authority to issue binding Three years ago, Greta Randolph’s work to disciplinary decisions. meet the needs of the Richmond community The task force also called for “exploded,” she says, as a novel disease began spending $2.4 million a year to creating upheaval and disruption. create a new, fully staffed city As the directional leader for outreach for department with investigators The Saint Paul’s Baptist and policy analysts to support Church, she saw requests the board — or 10 times the for help increase dramat$200,000 the mayor is proposing to invest in his plan. Under Related stories his proposal, the board would be assisted by a member of on A2, A7 the staff of the city’s inspector ically after March 2020, general. when the coronavirus Members of City Council was declared a global and the Richmond Police have pandemic. remained mum on their views of In response, Ms. Randolph led church memthe mayor’s plan. Two council bers as they aided around 1,500 families weekly committees will begin a review through food distribution and other services aimed of the proposal next week. at helping people achieve stability. That rise in The proposal the task force demand led Ms. Randolph and others at Saint advanced is just the kind of Paul’s to respond to the host of impacts the disease review board that the Richmond caused in people’s lives, from homelessness to a Branch NAACP wants to see, collapse of livelihood as businesses closed. She according to its president, James began collaborating with other organizations that Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press E. “J.J.” Minor III. also were seeking to deal with the distress.

Ajnadeen Dahman, 17, is among a dozen youth volunteers helping to distribute diapers, baby formula In a statement Tuesday While she reports that the demand for help and other giveaways during the Islamic Circle of North America Relief Richmond’s Drive-Thru Diaper on behalf of the branch, Mr. On Monday night, Mayor Levar M. Stoney introduced the first legislation to install civilian oversight of police, a process that began nearly two years ago in the wake of the protests that erupted in May 2020 following the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

To the dismay of advocates, the mayor’s proposal rejects recommendations for a strong board and, instead, offers a weakened

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

As COVID-19 continues, community needs grow along with programs to help

Living 2 years under

COVID

Please turn to A4

Distribution last month at the ICNA Relief Resource Center in Henrico County. More than 150 cars drove through to pick up items that also included fresh fruits and vegetables and bread.

Please turn to A4

Marking the milestone of COVID-19 in city

By George Copeland Jr.

Richmond officials recognized the milestones— good and bad — and ongoing challenges of COVID-19 during a news conference Tuesday afternoon marking two years since the city first began its response to the pandemic.

The Richmond and Henrico health districts’ emergency response to COVID-19 was launched March 14, 2020, three days after the World Health Organization declared the virus a global pandemic.

In the ensuing months, RHHD expanded their operations to begin a containment process and plan the first of many large-scale health events in the city and surrounding localities.

While those efforts helped to protect the public from the potentially fatal virus, many changes have taken place in the years since. Health officials announced Wednesday that the Arthur Ashe Jr. Athletic

Center community vaccination site will be shuttered beginning Friday, March 25. It is just one of several recent major closures as public demand for vaccination has waned, officials said, and the department has shifted to mobile vaccination events.

However, COVID-19 continues to take a toll on the Richmond community. Since 2020, the City of Richmond has reported 479 deaths; while Henrico County has experienced 891 deaths; Chesterfield County, 741; and Hanover County, 272.

Hospitalizations and cases have spiraled into the thousands during that time.

“The cost has been steep,” Mayor Levar M. Stoney, himself a two-time COVID-19 survivor, said during Tuesday’s news conference. “We need to continue to do the things we’ve been doing to keep everyone safe. That means vaccinations, that means testing and also following common sense health guidance based in science.”

City Hall has been lighted with red during the evenings throughout this week in memory of those lost during the past two years to COVID-19. Mayor Stoney said trees will be planted again this spring at the Powhatan Community Center on Fulton in their memory.

RHHD Nurse Manager Amy Popovich reported at the news conference that 240 COVID-19 testing events have been held in the city since 2020. More

than 21,000 people have been tested in Richmond and 290,000 people vaccinated through collaborative efforts with partner localities and organizations, she said.

These initiatives have contributed to 57.7 percent of the city’s population now being fully vaccinated and 62.7 percent receiving one dose. Health officials are looking to improve those numbers moving forward.

“We’re integrating our vaccination and our testing events into our regular health department activities, ensuring that their work can be sustained and can follow any ebbs and flows that happen with any potential Please turn to A4

Free COVID-19 testing, vaccines Free community testing for COVID-19 continues.

The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following location: • Friday, March 18, 4 to 6 p.m. – Southwood Pool House, Southwood Parkway and Clarkson Road.

Call the Richmond and Henrico COVID-19

Please turn to A4

President Obama

Obama, Emhoff test positive for COVID-19 Free Press wire report

Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff has tested positive for COVID-19, the White House announced Tuesday.

Vice President Kamala Harris tested negative, but is curtailing her schedule as a result of her husband’s positive test.

The announcement came Please turn to A4

Longwood basketball again travels glory road to NCAA Tournament Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Buying power Nine-year-old twins Kian, left, and Kai Alexander, who were browsing the wares being sold last Sunday at the Richmond Children’s Business Fair, stop to play a game sponsored by the Barry Farmer Morning Show with Sharon Lizzy that is on digital radio. Gift cards were given to the winners. The pair were at the annual youth business fair at the Science Museum of Virginia with their mother, Allison Leak.

Please see more photos, A6.

By Fred Jeter

When the 1979-80 basketball season began, the fan base of Longwood College, as it was known then, didn’t extend much past Perini Pizza directly across from campus on Main Street in Farmville.

Longwood was a program still on training wheels. Despite a high level of talent, the fledgling Lancers basketball team players were practically strangers on their own campus.

Then came the “Madness.” By March 1980, the Lancers had carved out an against-all-odds national reputation. “March Madness” had come

to downtown Farmville.

Randy Johnson, a 6-foot-5 forward out of Richmond’s George Wythe High School, was among those aboard a magic carpet ride all the way to the NCAA Division III Final Four in Rock Island, Ill. Looking for a college hoops home, Johnson was told of Longwood through a former Bulldogs teammate.

“I hadn’t even heard of Longwood when someone first told me about it,” said Johnson, who played under Coach Bob Booker at George Please turn to A4

Randy Johnson, who played on the Longwood team in 1979-80 that went to the NCAA Division III Final Four, holds the Big South Tournament trophy won March 6 by Longwood, giving the team a berth in the NCAA Division I Tournament this week.

Richmond Free Press

A2 March 17-19, 2022

Local News

Cityscape Slices of life and scenes in Richmond

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Forget traffic lights at the Maury Street interchange with Interstate 95. Instead, a $7.9 million roundabout has been installed, making it easier to exit the highway and move onto city streets in this section of South Side or get on the ramp to the interstate. This engineering initiative that has been in the works for more than five years and was designed to end the backup of vehicles at traffic lights during peak traffic hours. The work has taken a year and is virtually complete.

Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground to receive historic designation

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

City seeks court order authorizing 2nd casino referendum

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

City Hall is rushing to secure a Richmond Circuit Court order to authorize a second casino referendum in November before the General Assembly can block it through budget language, the Free Press has learned.

Interim City Attorney Haskell C. Brown III filed a suit seeking the order on March 10 after the Virginia Lottery Board, the state’s casino regulatory agency, raised no objections following a 45-day review.

So far, no suit remains unchallenged.

Expectations are for the case to be assigned to Chief Circuit Court Judge W. Reilly Marchant. No hearing date has been set.

The city’s move is the latest twist in the saga to locate a casino in Central Virginia.

Last November, Richmond voters narrowly rejected a proposed casino in South Mayor Stoney Side by a 1,500-vote margin. However, with the backing of Mayor Levar M. Stoney and advocates, City Council authorized in January a second chance to secure the projected $565 million project for Richmond.

During the General Assembly session, both the House of Delegates and the state Senate killed bills aimed at preventing Richmond from holding a second casino referendum before Petersburg is given an opportunity to vote on whether to open a casino.

However, language was inserted in the Senate version of the budget bill that would bar Richmond from holding a second vote until November 2023.

The language requires Richmond to wait while the legislature’s fiscal watchdog, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, completes a study to determine if Petersburg would be a viable site and whether Central Virginia could support two casinos.

But the General Assembly adjourned last Saturday without passing a new two-year budget, though talks are continuing behind the scenes. Still, Gov. Glenn A. Youngkin is expected to call a special session to get the budget process back on track and prevent a government shutdown on July 1 when the new 2022-24 budget must be in place.

Even if the budget is completed and the casino language remains intact, it would not become effective until July 1.

City officials believe that having a court order in place before the budget is approved and becomes effective could render irrelevant any language to suspend a vote this November.

Mask mandate for public transit extended to April 18 Keep those masks on if you want to fly, ride a train or take a GRTC bus in Richmond.

On March 10, the Biden administration extended the mask mandate through Monday, April 18, or an additional month.

The current mask mandate, in place since January 2021, was set to expire Friday, March 18.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Transportation Security Administration agreed to the extension, even though mask mandates have expired to shop, go to the movies or attend schools.

Dr. Graham Snyder, an expert on preventing the spread of disease, said the extension for public transport made sense.

Planes, trains, buses and subways are “designed to efficiently put a lot of people in one place, and that increases the risk of disease spread,” he stated.

Those who flout the mandate, particularly on flights, can be hit with fines of $1,000 for first-time offenses and up to $3,000 for repeat offenders, according to the TSA.

A long lost Black Richmond cemetery that has an interstate highway and railroad tracks running through it is about to gain designation as a state and federal historic site.

On Thursday, March 17, the state Board of Historic Resources and the State Review Board are expected to cap a nearly twoyear process and approve the inclusion of the 31-acre Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground on state and federal registers of historic sites.

Elected federal, state and local officials have all endorsed the historic designation for the cemetery that operated from 1816 to 1879. The City of Richmond has reacquired a small piece of the burial ground, bounded by 5th, 7th and Hospital streets, that was long used as an auto shop.

The designation would crown the efforts of Lenora McQueen, a Texas woman who championed the cemetery and pushed for full recognition of what may be the nation’s largest public cemetery for Black people. Her efforts generated support from professors, national and local preservation groups, as well as Mayor Levar M. Stoney

and Richmond City Council.

But Ms. McQueen sees this victory as marred by what she calls the “continued desecration” of the site where she has relatives buried.

Ms. McQueen In the past two weeks, Ms. McQueen noted that a company called Segra, a technology firm that connects private and public operations to its high-speed internet connections, has trenched a new line through the cemetery.

Ms. Queen said the company gained permission from City Hall and rail giant CSX, which owns the tracks and land adjacent to it. That land was once part of the cemetery and is included in the area to be designated historic.

She has appealed to Gov. Glenn A. Youngkin, Lt. Gov. Winsome E. Sears and Attorney General Jason S. Miyares to help protect the last resting place of 22,000 people, given that the historic designation does not prevent new development on the site.

She noted that after the cemetery closed in the late 1800s, it “was purposely made to disappear from the visible landscape and be almost completely erased from memory” as city officials divided up the land and disposed of it for a variety of projects.

“As a person with ancestors buried in the Shockoe Hill African Burying Ground, I cannot condone construction or activities of any kind that would desecrate their final rising place.”

She urged the three top state officials to put protocols in place to require notification of interested parties, most notably the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, when work is planned to ensure a proper evaluation is undertaken before the work is authorized, along with requiring full remediation.

The emphasis, however, should be on avoidance because it is a burial ground, she stated. She urged the governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general to use their authority to provide attention and protection for the cemetery that is “not only a place of local importance, but of state and national significance as well.”

She said she has not received a response to her request.

Dr. Melissa Viray steers local health departments through changing state COVID-19 policy

By George Copeland Jr.

In the midst of shifts in Virginia’s COVID-19 policies, Dr. Melissa A. Viray is looking to continue the evolution and expansion of Richmond and Henrico County’s public health response as the new acting director of the Richmond and Henrico health districts.

Having served since 2017 as the districts’ deputy director, Dr. Viray is not in unfamiliar territory. She had taken on the lead role last year while former director Dr. Danny T.K. Avula served as statewide vaccine coordinator under former Gov. Ralph S. Northam.

With Dr. Avula now chosen by Gov. Glenn A. Youngkin to head the state Department of Social Services, Dr. Viray Dr. Viray is again taking the reins as the search for a permanent director is underway by the state Health Department and the two local offices during a time of change and refocusing.

Dr. Viray is overseeing a shift in Richmond and Henrico health district operations from large-scale COVID-19 testing and vaccinations events to smaller mobile opportunities. She said the shift is a way to better cater the pandemic response to the needs, demands and lives of the public.

Dr. Viray also takes the helm as the health districts refocus efforts to address the root causes of health inequity and the social determinants underlying community health issues, from gun violence to opioid overdoses and infant mortality. These issues have become even more important since the pandemic, but were left under-addressed as health officials focused largely on the coronavirus pandemic.

Dr. Viray said the health districts want to rectify that now as they try to balance handling long-standing health issues “alongside helping our community navigate COVID.” “One of the challenges that I think our districts have faced all throughout this time

is that as COVID has evolved, we’ve had to evolve alongside it,” Dr. Viray said. “I don’t know that we’re adapting yet because I don’t think this virus is done yet. So we just have to evolve right alongside it.”

Dr. Viray believes the virus eventually will become endemic and a part of everyday life, but she said that point has not yet been reached locally, statewide or globally.

Still, she believes it is paramount for the community to acclimate to a future with the virus.

As a result of COVID-19’s ongoing presence, Dr. Viray also expects that safety guidelines will need to be reinstated and relaxed as variants of the virus emerge, spread and wane. And while she couldn’t predict the possibility of another surge, Dr. Viray stressed the importance of following best practices to avoid infection and readying the community for these changes regardless of what comes next.

“It’s still going to be a little bit of an evolution over time because we don’t know exactly what’s going to come down the pipeline,” Dr. Viray said. “That’s the kind of challenge that we’re looking at in terms of helping our communities to face what it looks like to take this next step forward where it’s not going to be something we get rid of.”

On the first day of his administration in January, Gov. Youngkin signed an executive order banning mask mandates in public schools, which had been put in place by former Gov. Northam, a physician. The order was later codified by the General Assembly by a law requiring Virginia to follow guidance from the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which still recommends masks in schools.

But Gov. Youngkin has said that parents “have a fundamental right to make decisions for their children,” and ordered the mandate to be dropped. His order, however, was met by public outcry and several lawsuits filed around the state by parents who called it unconstitutional and said he was putting at risk the health and safety of their children and teachers.

In bolstering the new governor’s position, the General Assembly in turn passed a bill in February ending mask mandates in Virginia public schools. Gov. Youngkin signed the bill and included an emergency amendment making the ban effective March 1.

Another amendment approved by the legislature clarifies that the governor would retain emergency powers to reinstate a mask mandate if needed.

Republican lawmakers also proposed bills during the session that would prohibit state government from requiring COVID-19 vaccines or “discriminating against any citizen based on their vaccine status.” While these bills failed to be approved, Gov. Youngkin continues to state that vaccination against COVID-19 should be encouraged, not mandated.

The possibility of the Richmond and Henrico health districts recommending or implementing a COVID-19 policy that would go against the state administration seemed far-fetched to Dr. Viray, who served as the deputy state epidemiologist in Hawaii before coming to Richmond.

She also previously worked as an epidemic intelligence service officer at the CDC. She cited the close collaboration between the local health districts and the state Health Department and “commonalities” in their approach to health in general as factors that would supersede any other directives or changes that come from state authorities.

Ultimately, Dr. Viray sees the health districts as an entity that seeks to provide “the best science and recommendations so that folks can make the best decisions going forward.”

“The mission I have for Richmond and Henrico is not different from the mission we had when Danny Avula was at the helm,” she said. “There are a lot of things that we need to move forward, and I think those are the things that I’m looking to move forward in the near term.

“When we see ultimately who the new director is, I’m hoping that we will find that they are similarly aligned.”

Living 2 years under

COVID

Richmond Free Press

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Richmond Free Press

A4 March 17-19, 2022

News

Critics assail Mayor Stoney’s proposal to give a new civilian review board only limited authority in handling complaints against city police Continued from A1

Minor, also a city employee, noted that the NAACP has “strongly advocated for the creation of civilian boards to review complaints against law enforcement officers.”

“We are not anti-police,” his statement continued, “but methods should be in place to hold police accountable,” including having review boards that are independent and have the authority to hear cases and make decisions.

Mr. Minor is urging that the mayor’s proposal be rejected and a new proposal be advanced.

That’s also the view of Princess Blanding, a former gubernatorial candidate who has been engaged in such issues since a Richmond Police officer fatally shot her brother, Marcus-David Peters, a 24-

year-old biology teacher, in May 2018 as an unarmed and naked Mr. Peters suffered what has been described as a mental health crisis.

The mayor’s proposal “is missing a lot of vital components,” including subpoena power, Ms. Blanding said Tuesday in a telephone interview.

“What is the purpose of doing this if we are not going to give the board the teeth it needs to adequately review reports of police misconduct?” she asked. Instead of the bold recommendations the task force put forward, “the mayor is proposing a weak and watereddown version,” she said.

“During the uprising (after the killing of George Floyd), we made it very clear what we wanted a civilian review board to look like to be effective,” she said. “The mayor’s plan is not doing it right.”

Obama, Emhoff test positive Continued from A1

days after former President Obama announced his own positive test results in a social media post last Sunday.

“I’ve had a scratchy throat for a couple days, but am feeling fine otherwise,” President Obama wrote in a social media post.

“Michelle and I are grateful to be vaccinated and boosted, and she has tested negative.”

Vice President Harris shared a similar sentiment in a post Tuesday evening: “Doug is doing fine and we are grateful to be vaccinated and boosted. I have tested negative and will continue to test.”

Vice President Harris and Mr. Emhoff both received their first doses of the Moderna vaccine weeks before taking office and their Mr. Emhoff second dose just after Inauguration Day in January 2021. They received booster shots in late October.

The White House did not immediately respond when asked if Mr. Emhoff was recently in close contact with President Biden or First Lady Jill Biden. Before Mr. Emhoff’s test results were made public, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said President Biden had tested negative for COVID-19 on Sunday.

Free COVID-19 vaccines Continued from A1

Hotline at (804) 205-3501 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for more information on testing sites, or go online at vax.rchd.com.

The Virginia Department of Health also has a list of COVID19 testing locations around the state at www.vdh.virginia.gov/ coronavirus/covid-19-testing/covid-19-testing-sites.

Want a COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot?

The Richmond and Henrico health districts are offering free walk-up COVID-19 vaccines at the following locations: • Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. – Community Vaccination Center, Arthur Ashe Jr. Athletic Center, 3001 N. Arthur Ashe Blvd., Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.

• Monday, March 21, 4 to 7 p.m. – Crestview Elementary School, 1901 Charles St., Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.

• Tuesday, March 22, 9 to 11 a.m. – Chippenham Place Apartments, 5833 Orcutt Lane; 1 to 3 p.m. – Oakland Village Apartments, 1400 Old Bronze Road, Pfizer and Moderna.

• Wednesday, March 23, 9 to 11 a.m. – Mosby Resource Center, 1543 Coalter St; 1 to 3 p.m. – Hillside Resource Center, 1500 Harwood St., Pfizer and Moderna.

Children ages 5 to 17 may only receive the Pfizer vaccine.

Vaccinations and booster shots are available on a walk-in basis. No appointment is needed, but those interested in scheduling an appointment can make one online at vaccinate. virginia.gov or vax.rchd.com, or by calling (804) 205-3501 or (877) VAX-IN-VA (1-877-829-4682).

VaccineFinder.org and vaccines.gov also allow people to find nearby pharmacies and clinics that offer the COVID-19 vaccine and booster.

Those who are getting a booster shot should bring their vaccine card to confirm the date and type of vaccine received.

Richmond and Henrico health district officials announced Wednesday that the Community Vaccination Center at the Arthur Ashe Jr. Athletic Center will be shut down Friday, March 25. They attributed the closure to low demand for the vaccine.

A total of 1,222 new cases of COVID-19 were reported statewide Wednesday for the 24-hour period, contributing to an overall state total of 1,657,990 cases since the pandemic’s outbreak. As of Wednesday, there have been 448,178 hospitalizations and 19,392 deaths statewide. The state’s seven-day positivity rate dropped to 4 percent on Wednesday.

Last week, the positivity rate was 5.5 percent.

On Wednesday, state health officials reported that 72.3 percent of the state’s population has been fully vaccinated, while 81.1 percent of the people have received at least one dose of the vaccine.

State data also showed that more than 2.8 million people in Virginia have received booster shots or third doses of the vaccine.

Among those ages 5 to 11 in Virginia, 303,181 children have received their first shots, accounting for 41.8 percent of the eligible age group in the state, while 256,596 children, or 35.4 percent, are fully vaccinated and 427 have received a booster shot or third dose.

As of Wednesday, fewer than 137,000 cases, 864 hospitalizations and eight deaths have been recorded among children.

State data also shows that African-Americans comprised 22.4 percent of cases statewide and 23.3 percent of deaths for which ethnic and racial data is available, while Latinos made up 12 percent of cases and 5.2 percent of deaths.

Reported COVID-19 data as of Wednesday, March 16, 2022 Cases Hospitalizations Deaths Richmond 43,977 1,056 479 Henrico County 63,759 1,388 891 Chesterfield County 71,696 1,360 741 Hanover County 21,533 467 272

Civilian review board proposal Two City Council committees are gearing up to review Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s proposal for a citizen review board to handle complaints against police.

The council’s Public Safety Committee, led by 8th District Councilwoman Reva N. Trammell, will get the first crack. That committee is scheduled to meet at noon Tuesday, March 22, and will be accepting public comments.

The proposal also will be considered in council’s Government Operations Committee at 2 p.m. Wednesday, March 23. That committee, led by 4th District Councilwoman Kristen Nye, also will be accepting public comments.

Information: City Clerk’s office, (804) 646-7955.

Still, it is unclear how much a robust board is needed. According to Richmond Police Department data, Internal Affairs receives between 60 and 110 complaints against officers each year, with the majority generated by the department over violations of general orders or service protocols. Only a small fraction involved potentially serious offenses.

In 2021, the department reported that it was investigating four complaints alleging officers’ use of excessive force.

Mayor Stoney’s plan would create a seven-member board whose main job would be to review results of police department probes of officers for “accuracy, completeness and impartiality and the sufficiency

of any discipline.”

His proposal also would allow the board to review only departmental investigations in cases in which officers engage in shootings, cause deaths or injuries or are alleged to have subjected individuals to verbal or physical abuse. The board also could hear appeals from city residents whose complaints to the department were deemed unfounded or unsubstantiated.

Under the mayor’s plan, the board, after conducting its review, could only offer to the police chief, City Council and the mayor recommendations on possible changes to policy, practices and procedures and discipline in specific cases.

The proposal also would

largely require the board to conduct its reviews behind closed doors and would bar the board from beginning its work while the Richmond Police Department is investigating, while the commonwealth’s attorney is conducting a criminal probe or pursuing charges or while a civil case is being pursued in court.

Dr. Eli Coston, an assistant professor at Virginia Commonwealth University and a co-chair of the task force, said the task force’s recommendations followed model recommendations from national organizations that focus on civilian review boards.

Rebuilding the trust between police and community will require a board that is outside of police control, Dr. Coston wrote in a Facebook post. “We have had deaths of individuals at the hands of police and injuries of citizens, but many more incidents that have fueled mistrust between police and the public.

“The scope and authority of the CRB recommended by the Task Force was cognizant of that history” Dr. Coston wrote. “Our community would be better served by proactively creating a CRB that has true oversight authority.”

However, the mayor relied

on the guidance of another VCU professor, Dr. William “Will” Pelfrey Jr. to present a proposal to create a board that is believed to be able to operate given the complex legal issues that are involved.

In response to a Free Press request for comment, Dr. Pelfrey, a criminal justice expert who has been a consultant to other police departments, called the mayor’s plan to create a relatively limited review board “reasonable relative to the history of policing in Richmond.

There is not a need for an allpowerful CRB.” Dr. Pelfrey noted that the Richmond Police Department is one of the few in the country that are accredited and that the U.S. Justice Department has never investigated or sought a consent decree for the department as it has in other cities.

Instead of creating “the most expensive, most powerful CRB in the country,” Dr. Pelfrey stated, the mayor’s plan provides a clearly articulated “process and powers,” recognizes the legal pitfalls such a board can face with regard to personnel matters and authorizes findings that “are advisory to the chief, which is consistent with the vast majority of CRBs.”

As COVID-19 continues, community needs grow along with programs to help Continued from A1

has declined from the rise seen in 2020, Ms. Randolph said that Saint Paul’s has remained on the front lines in helping the community. That includes creation of a new food distribution event that began last Friday, March 11, at Martin Luther King Jr. Middle School in the East End that was organized with help from a school employee and friend of Ms. Randolph.

That initial event at the middle school, held a full two years since the pandemic first struck the United States, served around 250 families. The initiative will continue it on the second Friday of each month.

“We’re doing what we were called to do,” Ms. Randolph said. “Whatever the community is asking (for) and they need help with, we’re just trying to step into the gap and fill some of those spaces.”

Saint Paul’s Baptist Church is one of many outreach groups in Richmond that have worked to address the shifting needs of the community and weather the demands of the pandemic. All are looking to further their efforts in 2022 as the city — and the nation — moves tinto its third year with COVID-19.

Feed More, which distributes food through 277 partner food pantries, soup kitchens and nonprofits across 34 cities and counties in Central Virginia, has seen a 15 percent increase in food insecurity across its service area in Central Virginia since 2019, officials said. More than 165,000 residents have been served in 2022.

Nearly 40 million pounds of food was distributed last year through both its distribution center and its own Meals on

Wheels program, which delivered meals to people on 92 routes.

“Just over the last two years, we’ve increased to over 100 different routes,” said Margaret Dodson, Feed More’s field operations supervisor. “We’ve seen a lot more folks needing the services that we provide.”

For RVA Community Fridges, which seeks to alleviate food insecurity by placing refrigerators throughout the Richmond area for free community use, working to meet that need has produced a positive response from the public.

The organization recently celebrated a full year since the placement of its first community refrigerator at Pomona Plants at 2025 Venable St. “Regardless of how crazy COVID has gotten, people are still aware that there are some people who might not have access to some of the things that we do to be safe,” said founder Taylor RaShon Scott. “Being able to get help to people is still a great priority and thought on people’s minds, which is awesome. We really appreciate everything.”

The Richmond Ephesus Seventh-day Adventist Church in South Side also has worked to aid the public through its Community Service Ministry, which has been running for more than 20 years.

Aid has included not just food distribution, but programs for youths and families focused on sports, writing and more. The church also has shared its unused resources with nearby churches and other groups, according to Johnny Goodman, the ministry’s assistant director.

The Richmond branch of the Islamic Circle of North America, which started its

outreach during the pandemic, has been able to adjust to the challenges and pitfalls that have emerged in the past year.

For ICNA Relief Richmond, the group has benefitted from partnering with area schools and the Henrico County government.

A recent distribution event they held saw people in more than 150 cars picking up diapers, baby formula and other supplies.

“I would definitely say that in early January, we were wondering where we were heading,” said Hamna Saleem, outreach coordinator for ICNA Relief Richmond. “But now we have a strong hold on it. We see a lot of our projects coming to life.”

For Saint Paul’s, the new food distribution program at King Middle School is just the start of their effort to help the school’s students and their families. In the works are special initiatives on workforce development and basic finance and parenting skills.

The church also is collecting donations for re-entry and homeless services agencies, nursing homes, juvenile correctional center and the families of the incarcerated this month, Ms. Randolph said.

All of the groups said support from the public is essential for them to meet their service goals.

“We welcome any and all help, regardless of what resources people can offer, what knowledge people can offer,” said Qui Nguyen, a supporting administrator for RVA Community Fridges.

“If you want to help and you want to make a difference, talk with us and see where your strengths and your passions can fit into our mission, because I guarantee you, we’ll figure it out.”

Marking the milestone of COVID-19 in city Continued from A1

surges,” Ms. Popovich said. “We’re really focusing on the goal that every Richmonder who wants to get vaccinated has the access and the ability to get that vaccine.”

Dr. Melissa A. Viray, acting director of the Richmond and Henrico health districts,

cautioned that vigilance is still essential as the city gets closer to “a less disruptive phase of this pandemic.”

She stressed the importance of preparation by health officials and of the public following health guidelines to ensure the best outcome when it comes to the coronavirus.

“There are going to be challenging stretches, there are going to be more variants, there are going to be more outbreaks,” Dr. Viray said. “But we have tools now that we didn’t have before, and I think that helps us to figure out how to ride these waves that are coming down the pipeline.”

Longwood again travels glory road to NCAA tourney Continued from A1

Wythe. “I didn’t know where it was.”

That’s understandable. It was only the fourth season Longwood had fielded a men’s team and just the second year under the NCAA umbrella. The Lancers were independent, with no conference affiliation.

Many still considered it more of a mostly white all-women’s school.

Also suiting up that year for Longwood Coach Ron Bash was Thomas “T” Alston, a backup junior forward from Richmond’s Huguenot High School.

The Lancers began winning, and it became contagious.

“We had a blast. It was an amazing season.

We came together in so many ways,” said Johnson, now retired and doing a lot of fishing after working 32 years at Philip Morris.

Longwood finished the 1979-80 season 28-3, losing to eventual champion North Park University of Illinois 57-55 in the NCAA Final Four semifinals and then 48-47 to Wittenberg University of Ohio in the consolation game.

Named to the NCAAfield as an at-large entry, Longwood College took Region No. 1 near Boston and then won its quarterfinal matchup against Potsdam State University of New York at nearby Hampden-Sydney College.

There was a story behind the story. The Lancers were a predominantly Black team coming from various parts of the country, including New Jersey from where Coach Bash hailed. They seemed an odd fit in Farmville, a Virginia community with a dismal racial reputation.

From 1959 to 1964, Farmville and surrounding Prince Edward County shut down their public schools rather than integrate. It was the epicenter of “Massive Resistance” in Virginia, in a county that had helped force school desegregation nationally by the lawsuit Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County. That case became part of the landmark 1954 Brown v.

Board of Education decision by the U.S. Supreme Court that ruled the “separate but equal” doctrine of school segregation was unconstitutional.

Johnson could still feel the friction

years later.

“It was like going back in time,” he said of the atmosphere in Farmville. “The campus was our safe space. But when we’d go to town, people would look at us funny. Storekeepers would follow us around to make sure we didn’t shoplift. It was very racist.”

So much has changed. In 2002, Longwood became a university. Its basketball team, no longer a novelty, is part of the Big South Conference.

Johnson was among the alumni who traveled to Charlotte, N.C., to root on the Lancers as they won the Big South title on March 6 and their first-ever bid to the NCAA Division I Tournament.

“It’s amazing to see how far Longwood has come,” Johnson said.

Perini Pizza is wedged into Lancers’ history. Owner Tony Perini used to ride the team bus on road trips and helped sponsor the basketball program for decades.

The pizzeria remains a go-to destination for celebrating Longwood hoops. Only now the Lancers’ cheering section spreads much farther.

Richmond Free Press

March 17-19, 2022 A5

Your Blood Donation Can Save Lives.

Every 2 seconds in the U.S., a person needs blood. If you think of the nation’s blood supply like the gas in your car’s tank, you’ll understand why regular refills are so important.

Why donate?

Donating blood is a simple, safe way to help save lives in our community: • A single donation of 1 pint – or “unit” – can potentially save up to 3 lives • Almost 29,000 units of red blood cells are needed every day in the U.S. • A single car accident victim can use as many as 100 units of blood • Patients with sickle cell disease, occurring in 1 of every 365 African Americans, often need lifelong blood donations

What can you donate?

There are four types of donations. Each type has its own eligibility guidelines.

• Whole blood – The most common donation, taken as 1 pint of your blood • Red cells – A concentrated donation of red blood cells, which can have a greater impact on patients • Platelets – The tiny cells that form blood clots • Plasma – The part of your blood used to treat patients in emergencies

Are you ready to donate?

Find donation sites at RedCrossBlood.org and use these tips when you donate:

Before...

• Eat iron-rich foods such as meat, fish, poultry, spinach, iron-fortified cereals, or raisins • Get a good night’s sleep and drink extra liquids

During...

• Bring a photo ID and a list of your prescription or over-the-counter medicines • If you’ve been vaccinated for COVID-19, let the staff know the vaccine manufacturer’s name

After...

• Relax with a snack for a few minutes • Drink 4 extra 8-ounce glasses of liquids and avoid alcohol for 24 hours

The health and safety of our community is our primary focus.

To learn more, visit vcuhealth.org.

© 2022 VCU Health. All rights reserved.

Sources: VCU Health; American Red Cross; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Richmond Free Press

A6 March 17-19, 2022

Local News

About their business

COUNTY OF HENRICO, VIRGINIA COUNTY OF HENRICO, VIRGINIA PROPOSED BUDGET FOR FISCAL YEAR ENDING PROPOSED BUDGET FOR JUNE 30,FISCAL 2023 YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2023

Who said you have to be an adult to have a business?

More than 50 young entrepreneurs between the ages of 5 and 17 sold their products and services last Sunday at the annual Richmond Children’s Business Fair at the Dewey Gottwald Center at the Science Museum of Virginia.

The event, sponsored by the Youth Business Exchange and the Metropolitan Business League, drew families, customers and even more budding businesspersons who explored the various wares being sold.

Right, Ryleigh Cheyeene, 12, of Inked by Ry carefully applies a henna tattoo to the forearm of Deja Powell, 18, and when finished, reveals the intricate design.

Below, Anna Fountain, left, and her children, Olivia, 9, and Josiah, 6, stop to purchase Slime, a toy product from Kayla Whitfield, 10.

Photos by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

The County Manager’s recommended budget synopsis is prepared and published solely for the purposes of The Manager’s recommended synopsis and published solelyorfor the purposes of fiscalCounty planning and public information.budget Budgeted itemsisdoprepared not represent commitments obligations of the fiscal and public information.

Budgeted items do not represent or obligations of the Boardplanning of Supervisors to appropriate funds for those items.

The budget commitments consists of estimates and requests Board of Supervisors to appropriate funds for those items. The budget consists of estimates andcannot requests submitted to the County Manager and his recommendations concerning those requests.

Funds be submitted the Countyuntil Manager and his recommendations concerning those requests. Funds cannot be allocated ortodistributed they are appropriated by the Board of Supervisors. allocated or distributed until they are appropriated by the Board of Supervisors.

The Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing for the purposes of public information and fiscal The Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing will for be theheld purposes of public information andatfiscal March 22, 2022, 6:00 planning regarding the proposed budget.

The hearing on Tuesday, planning regarding proposed hearing will be held on Tuesday, 22,Parham 2022, at 6:00 p.m., in the Board the Room at the budget.

Henrico The Government Center, Hungary Spring March and East Roads, p.m., in County, the Board Room at the Henrico Government Center, Hungary Spring and East Parham Roads, Henrico Virginia.

Henrico County, Virginia.

The public hearing is also for the purpose of allowing the public to question and comment on the proposed The publicand hearing is also for the allowing the public to question and comment on the the proposed operating capital budgets.

Allpurpose citizensofhave the right to attend and share their views on proposed operating and capital budgets. time All citizens to attend share their views on the proposed budgets within such reasonable limits ashave shallthe be right determined by and the Board of Supervisors. budgets within such reasonable time limits as shall be determined by the Board of Supervisors.

The members of the public are invited to attend the public hearing. . Individuals who would like to speak The membersatofhttps://henrico.us/services/citizen-participation-registration/. the public are invited to attend the public hearing. . Individuals would like to speak can register Afterwho registering, individuals can register aatconfirmation https://henrico.us/services/citizen-participation-registration/.

After registering, Participants individuals will receive email with instructions. Registration is not required to participate. will who receive registerainconfirmation advance willemail speakwith first.instructions. Registration is not required to participate. Participants who register in advance will speak first.

OPERATING BUDGET OPERATING BUDGET ESTIMATED RESOURCES: $1,538,607,058(*) RESOURCES: $1,538,607,058(*) General Property Taxes ESTIMATED $ 578,420,000 Charges for Services

$ 180,564,237 General Property Taxes $ 578,420,000 Charges forRevenue Services $ 180,564,237 Other Local Tax Revenue 185,060,000 Meals Tax 10,000,000 Other Local Tax Revenue 185,060,000 Meals Estimated Tax Revenue 10,000,000 Licenses, Permits, Fees 7,828,905 Total Revenue $ 1,715,214,636 Licenses, Permits, Fees 7,828,905 Total Estimated Revenue $ 1,715,214,636 Use of Money & Property 3,440,536 Use Money & Property 3,440,536 StateofAgencies 484,851,393 State Agencies 484,851,393 Federal Agencies 71,001,434 Fund Balances/Reserves/Adj. 21,445,295 Federal Agencies 71,001,434 Fund Balances/Reserves/Adj. 21,445,295 Miscellaneous Revenue 19,943,599 Interdepartmental Billings (127,704,873) Miscellaneous Revenue 19,943,599 Interdepartmental Billings (127,704,873) Recovered Costs 174,104,532 Transfers to Capital Projects (70,348,000) Recovered Costs ESTIMATED RESOURCES 174,104,532 Transfers to Capital Projects (70,348,000) TOTAL (Operating Budget) $ 1,538,607,058 TOTAL ESTIMATED RESOURCES (Operating $ 1,538,607,058 (*) - Includes anticipated revenue to be used to fund car Budget) tax relief for qualifying vehicles.

Relief is estimated for -- Includes anticipated revenue to be totofund car taxcar relief forrelief qualifying vehicles.

Reliefatis$1,001 estimated (*) Includes anticipated revenue toorused be used fund taxqualifying forvehicles qualifying vehicles.

Relief isforestimated qualifying vehicles valued at $1,000 less betoat 100%, for valued to $20,000 to befor at qualifying valued atat$1,000 oror less bebe at 100%, for for qualifying vehicles valued at $1,001 $20,000 to qualifying vehicles valued $1,000 less to ator100%, qualifying vehicles valued at $1,001 to $20,000 to be at 40%, and vehicles for qualifying vehicles valued atto $20,001 more to be at 40% on the first $20,000 oftovalue only.

EH DW DQG IRU TXDOLI\LQJ YHKLFOHV YDOXHG DW RU PRUH WR EH DW RQ WKH ÀUVW ? RI YDOXH RQO\ 40%, and for qualifying vehicles valued at $20,001 or more to be at 40% on the first $20,000 of value only.

ESTIMATED REQUIREMENTS ESTIMATED REQUIREMENTS GENERAL FUND: $1,063,596,822 $1,063,596,822 $ GENERAL 1,221,982 FUND: Finance

Board of Supervisors Board Supervisors $ Public of Library Public SheriffLibrary Sheriff Circuit Court Clerk Circuit Circuit Court Court Clerk Services Circuit Court Services Commonwealth’s Attorney Commonwealth’s Attorney General District Court General District Court Magistrate Magistrate Juv./Dom. Rel. Court Services Juv./Dom. Probation Rel. Court Services Probation Juvenile Detention Home Juvenile ElectoralDetention Board Home Electoral Board County Manager County Manager Public Relation Public CountyRelation Attorney County Human Attorney Resources Human Resources Employee Benefits Employee Benefits Police Operations Police Police Operations Communications/Radio Shop Police Shop AnimalCommunications/Radio Protection Animal Fire andProtection EMS Fire and EMS

1,221,982 22,389,665 22,389,665 47,418,558 47,418,558 2,951,383 2,951,383 866,311 866,311 6,504,951 6,504,951 494,777 494,777 6,286 6,286 111,025 111,025 23,072 23,072 2,727,484 2,727,484 2,212,172 2,212,172 1,935,704 1,935,704 2,274,217 2,274,217 3,005,188 3,005,188 5,503,948 5,503,948 1,628,801 1,628,801 83,544,880 83,544,880 8,125,776 8,125,776 2,226,038 2,226,038 79,693,202 79,693,202

$ 16,320,453 Finance $ 16,320,453 Emergency Management 1,059,447 Emergency Management 1,059,447 General Services 16,090,056 General Services 16,090,056 Internal Audit 708,991 Internal Audit 708,991 Information Technology 18,535,074 Information Technology 18,535,074 Agriculture/Home Extension 420,787 Agriculture/Home 420,787 Recreation & ParksExtension 23,331,970 Recreation & Parks 23,331,970 Sports and Entertainment Authority 665,347 Sports Entertainment Authority 665,347 Public and Health 2,967,497 Public 2,967,497 Public Health Works 58,418,365 Public Works 58,418,365 Economic Development 18,585,699 Economic 18,585,699 Tax Relief Development Programs 11,000,000 Tax Relief Programs 11,000,000 Cooperative Projects 2,611,424 Cooperative Projects 2,611,424 Other Non-Departmental 1,610,747 Other Non-Departmental 1,610,747 Sandston Recreation Center 14,000 Sandston Recreation Center 14,000 Building Inspections 5,420,220 Building 5,420,220 Planning Inspections 5,139,389 Planning 5,139,389 Permit Centers 1,089,218 Permit Centers 1,089,218 Community Revitalization 2,086,661 Community 2,086,661 Education Revitalization 602,656,057 Education 602,656,057

SPECIAL REVENUE FUND: $219,235,025

School Cafeteria $ Grant Programs - Education Education/CSA Grant Programs – General Gov’t Community Corrections Program Social Services Social Services/CSA Capital Region Workforce Partnership VJCCCA/USDA Victim Witness Special Drug Prosecutor W & S Operations

25,641,197 70,060,512 14,400,000 500,000 2,557,442 25,877,642 5,517,238 4,813,545 1,109,967 1,328,303 193,412

Police Public Works Mental Health Solid Waste Operations Street Lighting, S.D.#2 Street Lighting, S.D.#3 Street Lighting, S.D.#3.1 Street Lighting, S.D.#12 Street Lighting, S.D.#23 Street Lighting, S.D.#63.1

WATER & SEWER ENTERPRISE FUND: $110,860,892 $ 79,669,884 W & S Debt Service

INTERNAL SERVICE FUNDS: $183,385,660 Central Auto.Maint./Motor Pool $ 23,501,360 Technology Replacement Risk Management 10,524,109 Healthcare General

$

DEBT SERVICE FUND: $78,452,484 28,268,479 Education

$

$

1,688,115 897,000 46,306,618 18,259,934 23,600 29,800 3,800 23,100 2,800 1,000

$

FIDUCIARY FUNDS: $4,600,000 2,750,000 Line of Duty 600,000

TOTAL ESTIMATED REQUIREMENTS (Operating Budget) Less Interdepartmental Billings TOTAL ESTIMATED REQUIREMENTS (Operating Budget)

$

3,532,947 145,827,244

$

50,184,005

ESTIMATED REQUIREMENTS: $178,298,000 $ 1,250,000 Recreation and Parks 4,650,000 Public Works 6,000,000 Community Revitalization 3,500,000 Education 2,100,000 Water & Sewer Projects

$

1,250,000

$ 1,666,311,931 (127,704,873) $ 1,538,607,058

$

1,750,000 10,150,000 60,450,000 15,000,000 2,000,000

11,000,000 34,098,000 2,750,000 37,500,000 75,450,000

A copy of the proposed operating and capital budgets is available for public inspection in each of the A copy of the proposed operating and capital budgets is available for public inspection in each of the County’s &RXQW\¶V EUDQFK OLEUDULHV DQG WKH RI¿FH RI WKH &OHUN RI WKH &LUFXLW &RXUW RI WKH &RXQW\ RI +HQULFR DQG branch libraries and theviewed office of of the Circuitat: Court of the County of Henrico, and is also available to is also available to be onthe theClerk County’s website

be viewed on the County’s website at:

http://henrico.us/budget/proposed-budgets/

http://henrico.us/budget/proposed-budgets/

1.

Assessment Increase: Total assessed value of real property, excluding additional assessments due to new constructions or improvements to property, exceeds last year’s total assessed value of real property by 11.27 percent.

2.

Lowered Rate Necessary to Offset Increased Assessment: The tax rate which would levy the same amount of real estate tax as last year, when multiplied by the new total assessed value of real estate with the exclusions mentioned above, would be $0.78 per $100 of assessed value. This rate will be known as the “lowered tax rate.”

3.

Effective Rate Increase: The County of Henrico proposes to adopt a tax rate of $0.85 per $100 of assessed value. This is $0.02 per $100 of assessed value lower than the tax rate that as was in effect in 2021. The difference between the lowered tax rate and the proposed rate would be $0.07 per $100, or 9.0 percent.

This difference will be known as the “effective tax rate increase.” Individual property taxes may, however, increase at a percentage greater than or less than the above percentage.

4.

Proposed Total Budget Increase: Based on the proposed real property tax rate and changes in other revenues, the total operating budget of the County of Henrico will exceed last year’s by 7.4 percent.

Calendar Year

Real Estate

Personal Property

Aircraft

2021 Levy 2022 Proposed Levy

$0.87 $0.85

$3.50 $3.50

$0.50 $0.50

Computer Equipment and Peripherals Disabled Used in a Veterans’ Calendar Year Data Center Vehicles 2021 Levy $0.40 $0.01 2022 Proposed Levy $0.40 $0.01

Fire & Rescue Vols.’ &, Va. Machinery Defense Force & Tools Members Vehicles $0.30 $0.30

Machinery & Tools for Semiconductor Manufacturers $0.30 $0.30

$1.00 $1.00

Motor Vehicles Specially Equipped to Provide Transportation for Physically Handicapped Individuals $0.01 $0.01

Equipment Used in a biotechnology Calendar Year Business 2021 Levy $3.50 2022 Proposed Levy $0.90 The Board of Supervisors will also fix a levy on all classes of property in Sanitary Districts #2, #3, #3.1, #12, #23, and #63.1 for street lights: Real Estate Calendar Year 2021 Levy 2022 Proposed Levy

Sanitary District #2 $0.003 $0.003

Sanitary District #3 $0.010 $0.010

Sanitary District 3.1 $0.031 $0.031

Sanitary District #12 $0.010 $0.010

Sanitary District #23 $0.010 $0.010

Sanitary District #63.1 $0.019 $0.019

Sanitary District #12 $0.001 $0.001

Sanitary District #23 $0.001 $0.001

Sanitary District #63.1 $0.001 $0.001

Personal Property(*)

CAPITAL BUDGET ESTIMATED RESOURCES: $178,298,000 General Fund Reserves $ 40,100,000 Motor Vehicle License Fees $ General Fund – Ed. Meals Tax 14,000,000 Designated General Fund Balance Cen. Va. Transit Auth. – Revenues 27,500,000 Water & Sewer Fees Cen. Va. Transit Auth. – Reserves 5,000,000 Water & Sewer Fund Balance General Fund – Stormwater Dedication 2,348,000 General Fund Revenues

Sheriff Police Fire General Services Information Technology

The County of Henrico proposes to increase property tax levies.

31,191,008

JAMES RIVER JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER AGENCY FUND: $6,181,048 JRJDC Operations $ 6,081,048 JRJDC Facility Maintenance $ 100,000 Other Post Employment Benefits Long-Term Disability

COUNTY OF HENRICO, VIRGINIA NOTICE OF PROPOSED REAL PROPERTY TAX INCREASE

Calendar Year 2021 Levy 2022 Proposed Levy

Sanitary District #2 $0.001 $0.001

Sanitary District #3 $0.001 $0.001

Sanitary District 3.1 $0.001 $0.001

*Applies to all classes of personal property including aircraft, fire & rescue volunteers’ vehicles, members of the Virginia Defense Force vehicles, disabled veterans’ vehicles, motor vehicles specially equipped to provide transportation for physically handicapped individuals, computer equipment and peripherals used in a data center, equipment used in a biotechnology business, machinery & tools, and machinery & tools for semiconductor manufacturers.

All levies are per $100 of assessed valuation at fair market value.

The Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the proposed tax rates and levies for calendar year 2022 on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, at 7:00 p.m., in the Board Room at the Government Center, Hungary Spring and East Parham Roads, Henrico County, Virginia. The Board of Supervisors shall permit persons desiring to be heard an opportunity to present oral testimony within such reasonable time limits as shall be determined by the Board.

Following the public hearing, but also on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, during the 7:00 p.m. meeting, the Board of Supervisors may fix an appropriate tax levy for real estate, personal property, aircraft, qualifying fire & rescue volunteers’ vehicles, Virginia Defense Force members’ vehicles, disabled veterans’ vehicles, motor vehicles specially equipped to provide transportation for physically handicapped individuals, computer equipment and peripherals used in a data center, equipment used in a biotechnology business, machinery & tools, and machinery & tools for semiconductor manufacturers for calendar year 2022.

The Board of Supervisors is not obligated to adopt the proposed tax rates but may increase or decrease them as it deems necessary, provided that before any rate may be increased, the proposed increase shall be advertised and the public given an opportunity to appear before and be heard by the Board on the proposed increase. The Board may adjourn to subsequently meet and fix tax levies no later than June 30, 2022.

A copy of the proposed budget is available at https://henrico.us/budget/proposed-budgets/ Given under my hand this 9th day of March, 2022.

Tanya Brackett, Clerk Henrico County Board of Supervisors

Richmond Free Press

March 17-19, 2022 A7

Local News

Credit union members’ participation in governance hampered by rules

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

Credit unions are supposed to be owned by the members who have opened accounts.

But that doesn’t mean that members are equal when it comes to voting rights.

The Virginia Credit Union, one of the state’s largest, is being cited as a prime example of the way a small group of members serving on the board of directors have gained full control of operations in concert with the professional executives who manage the day-to-day affairs.

The rest of the VACU members are confined to voting at an annual meeting on proposals or nominees presented solely by the board.

As confirmed by VACU spokesman Glenn Birch, the current bylaws of the credit union authorize the board to select replacements to fill vacancies. The board’s slate has to be ratified at the annual meeting, now set for Wednesday, March 23, but the VACU rules bar challengers from being nominated by petition or from the floor.

In addition, Mr. Birch also confirmed that the rules bar members from submitting propos-

als to be voted on at the meeting. Only items approved by the board can be considered and voted on, the rules state.

“Member-owners are being cut out of participation in any meaningful sense. That’s not how it is supposed to work,” said Jake Schlacter, executive director of We Own It, a national nonprofit that is seeking to infuse more democratic values in member-owned institutions of all kinds.

Started in 1928 as a nonprofit financial cooperative for state employees, VACU has grown far beyond its roots. Though still tiny by the standards of major banks, VACU is now a $5 billion institution serving more than 310,000 member-owners.

The closed governance at VACU has long gone unnoticed but became an issue after four VACU members applied to fill seats on the board but were rejected. The four now are seeking to raise awareness of the situation.

Frank Moseley II, founder of a nonprofit education and training initiative to increase Black presence in the creation and ownership of renewable energy businesses, said he submit-

ted his application in November, but “I never received a response.”

That was pretty much the experience of the three other candidates, Kati Hornung, Torian Jones and Richard Walker.

“I’m a longtime business member of the credit union,” said Mr. Walker, founder and chief executive of Bridging the Gap in Virginia, a nonprofit that serves people released from prison. “I felt downright disrespected that the board did not even interview me. They already knew who they were going to elect, never mind the members.”

Ms. Hornung, co-founder and executive director of VoteEqualityUS that is pushing ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment, called it time for VACU members to “organize for change.

The board can ignore some of us, but they can’t ignore all of us. We own it.”

The VACU rules appear to be perfectly legal for a credit union chartered under state laws.

The state laws on credit unions as well as the state administrative code do not include any requirement for credit unions to allow challengers for board seats or for the submission

of proposals from members.

That is not the case with federally chartered credit unions that fall under the aegis of the National Credit Union Administration.

NCUA rules and regulations, as posted on the website, include model bylaws that provide for challengers to the board’s slate of nominee and for member-owner initiatives.

Mr. Schlacter noted that credit unions that have opened the door to competition “have received an overwhelming response.” He cited one example where 33 people were on the ballot.

Still, he acknowledges that the General Assembly would need to amend state law to allow for such open competition. Both he and the three other rejected candidates are expected to begin addressing their concerns with legislators ahead of the next session of the General Assembly.

“A credit union’s board members have a legal fiduciary duty to the member-owners,” he said.

“It’s hard to see how VACU’s board is acting in good faith or in members’ best interests in denying members their right to run or vote for board members of their choice.”

New studies boost claims that nasal flushing may help protect against COVID-19

By Jeremy M. Lazarus Mr. McCoy

McCoy loses libel suit

By Jeremy M. Lazarus

For the past two years, LaSalle J. McCoy Jr. has been seeking payback for what he calls damage to his reputation, but the former president of the Chesterfield County Branch NAACP has come up emptyhanded.

The case dates back to 2019 when Mr. McCoy faced a charge of misdemeanor embezzlement of funds from the Chesterfield NAACP during his tenure as the branch’s top elected official. The charge was dismissed within months after no evidence was found to support it, according to a special prosecutor called in to handle the matter.

Mr. McCoy, later removed in 2019 by the national NAACP as the Chesterfield organization’s president, sued the branch’s treasurer, Nicole ThompsonMartin, for libel.

He alleged that she made sworn statements that resulted in county authorities issuing a warrant and arresting him.

In one statement, Ms. Thompson-Martin alleged that Mr. McCoy used money from the branch for “illegal and unauthorized transactions,” although the county investigation found no supporting evidence.

Initially, Mr. McCoy won an $18,000 verdict in Chesterfield General District Court in his libel case against Ms. Thompson-Martin. But she appealed the case to Chesterfield Circuit Court.

Last week, a seven-member jury in the civil trial rejected Mr. McCoy’s expanded claim for $150,000 in damages for what his suit described as “per se libel.”

Instead, the jury found Ms. Thompson-Martin blameless at the end of the daylong trial on March 9, so she will have to pay nothing.

Mr. McCoy said Monday that he was “disappointed, but I’m moving on.”

While he is no longer a member of the Chesterfield Branch NAACP, the retired DuPont technical assistant for Kevlar remains active. He is the editor of the twice-yearly magazine of the Prince Hall Masons Virginia Grand Lodge and is secretary of the Civic and Progressive Action Association of the Matoaca Magisterial District. He also is a trustee of Second Baptist Church at Chester.

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Richmond Free Press

on social media.

New studies support a Richmond man’s claims that flushing your nose daily can protect against COVID-19 and other diseases that develop in the nose and sinuses.

Photographer and home builder Robert S. Liverman, 54, has been spreading that information on social media sites such as TikTok, Instagram and Twitter, as the Free Press first reported in October 2020.

Since then, separate yearlong studies at Vanderbilt University and the Medical College of Georgia have independently verified Mr. Liverman’s insight that a daily nose spray can be effective even for those who are not vaccinated.

The findings are significant given that COVID-19 infections continue in Richmond and across the nation despite a significant reduction in caseloads.

Dr. Kyle Kimura of Vanderbilt University began championing the idea of nasal flushing early in the pandemic. He first posted his view in April 2020 and began a study in August 2020.

Dr. Kimura reported in October 2021 that clinical testing found that using overthe-counter nasal sprays “can decrease viral shedding” from the coronavirus, and that adding a tiny amount of baby shampoo to the spray “would further neutralize the virus.”

“While a unanimous treatment has yet to be discovered,” Dr. Kimura wrote in his paper, a number of studies “looking at the effect of nasal saline (found) decreased virus shedding in patients treated with saline irrigation compared to the control group.” In other words, the nasal irrigation reduced the viral infection and a person’s ability to spread the disease, he stated.

Living 2 years under

COVID

A similar result emerged from a multidisciplinary medical research team at Augusta University, the Medical College of Georgia, Georgia State University and Edinburgh Napier University.

In a clinical paper issued in August 2021, the sevenmember team reported that “nasal irrigation offers a safe and over-the-counter measure with potentially vital public health impact.”

Their 12-month clinical trial involving 79 people ages 55 and older demonstrated that the

use of nasal spray resulted in a significant reduction in deaths and severe illness in the “high risk age group with pre-existing conditions,” the team stated.

Based on their findings, the team estimated that widespread use of such nasal sprays could have kept 1.2 million people infected with COVID-19 out of hospitals, an 18 percentage point drop, that would have resulted in reduced “pressure on Intensive Care Unit capacity as well as stress and risk to health care providers.”

Mr. Liverman, who has never been vaccinated and has worn a mask only when a store or business made it mandatory, welcomed the confirmation.

He said he came up with the idea after reading reports on 2020 research soon after the pandemic began that found that the nose was the invasion point for COVID-19 and that the virus developed in nasal cavities over seven to 14 days before

becoming a potential threat to the person’s health.

“It just came to me,” he said. “To stop the disease from developing, why not just do a daily nose flush like people do for allergies?”

To cut the cost, he created his own formula. He said he mixes a half teaspoon of salt and a teaspoon of baking soda with a gallon of distilled water, fills a nasal spray bottle and squirts.

The video demonstration he created called “Flush for Life’ has received more than 1 million views on TikTok, Instagram and Twitter since he posted his idea in 2020.

“We have received frightening messages about this disease from the government. We’ve seen the hospitals packed with patients,” Mr. Liverman said.

“And all along, there was a simple solution that could have saved everyone a lot of grief.”

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Richmond Free Press

Forsythia in the West End

Editorial Page

A8

March 17-19, 2022

No puppets It has no teeth.

That was our reaction after reading Mayor Levar M. Stoney’s plan for a new civilian review board to investigate serious complaints lodged against police, including allegations of abuse, brutality, misconduct and shootings involving officers.

But the board Mayor Stoney proposes would not have subpoena power — instead having to request subpoenas from a circuit court judge. And the board’s findings and determinations for punishment would only be recommendations to the police chief.

That is no power at all.

We call for Mayor Stoney to go back to the drawing board and come back with a plan to deliver true police reform as demanded by the people of this city when they took to the streets day after day in 2020 following the police murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis.

The people have called for creation of an independent citizen review board to oversee the police, a department of roughly 700 officers and detectives who are sworn to serve and protect the public and whose salaries are paid by the taxpayers of this city.

Instead, Mayor Stoney has delivered a plan aimed at placating a police chief who believes he should have ultimate control.

Yes, we believe Chief Gerald M. Smith, or whoever is in the leadership role in the Richmond Police Department, should have authority over his or her sworn officers and other employees. And we believe the department’s Internal Affairs Division should investigate any and all complaints lodged against officers by the public.

But the ultimate oversight should rest with an independent body whose members are neither beholden to nor dependent upon Chief Smith or Mayor Stoney for their employment. They should have the freedom — and power — to look anywhere and everywhere their investigation takes them and question anyone and everyone needed to determine the truth. And their resulting findings and recommendations should be binding.

Public trust in the Richmond Police Department can be built only by having an independent panel to review incidents such as the violent arrest on March 7 of Alecia Nelson, a 33-year-old mother who was shopping for snacks for her child’s elementary school class at the Family Dollar store on Westover Hills Boulevard in South Side, when she was taken down by Officer Graham Lang, allegedly for shoplifting.

We are grateful to Joshua Carter, a shopper who had the presence of mind to pull out his cellphone and record the ugly incident, which has gone viral on social media.

We acknowledge that the video doesn’t capture what happened before Ms. Nelson was on the ground with Officer Lang on top of her. The police department stated that it has launched its own investigation.

No shoplifting charges have been filed against Ms. Nelson; she was charged with felony assault against a police officer. And she has filed her own official complaint with the Richmond Police Department against Officer Lang, who has been with the department for 21 years.

This situation screams out for review by an outside panel that is independent of the police department. A citizen review panel’s investigation would carry more weight in the community and leave fewer doubts about an outcome.

Without a review panel, we urge witnesses to present their information to the public, as well as to the police.

And we call on Richmond City Council to reject the toothless proposal put forth by Mayor Stoney and, instead, to create an authentic civilian oversight panel with subpoena power and real authority.

We cannot be timid or faint-hearted about change when it comes to moving our city forward. Instituting a toothless police review panel is akin to putting up contextual signs by Confederate statues and thinking you’ve accomplished something. It accomplishes nothing.

Richmond must embrace real change — like it did when it finally removed the Confederate monuments — if we are to have progress.

A strong, powerful and independent review panel — not a police department puppet — would signal real change.

Living with COVID-19 Our nation is marking the start of the third year living with COVID-19.

For most, COVID-19 has been a painful and dramatic adjustment in our daily lives, including our work, school, social and religious routines and interactions. We have lived behind masks and remained closer to home in an effort to remain healthy and safe.

More than two years in, many of us have lost family members and friends to the virus, which has claimed the lives of more than 960,000 Americans and more than 19,300 Virginians.

In Richmond and the counties of Henrico, Chesterfield and Hanover alone, more than 2,380 people have died of COVID-19 and its complications since the pandemic began in March 2020.

An estimated 23 millionAmericans now are living with COVID-19’s after-effects, known as “long COVID,” which, according to experts, can impact the lungs, heart, brain, neurological and digestive systems and possibly all of the above. Medical studies are being conducted on long COVID at research institutions across the country, including VCU Health System.

We urge people who have lingering symptoms from a COVID-19 infection to participate in these clinical studies to help expand the body of knowledge about this disease and treatment options for those who currently are impacted and for those to come.

We must remain vigilant against COVID-19 and the array of variants health officials are seeing now in parts of Europe and China that are expected to infiltrate the United States in the next few months. The unvaccinated of all ages continue to be at greatest risk of contracting the virus, as well as people who are age 65 and older and those who are immunocompromised or who have underlying health conditions.

Officials at Pfizer and Moderna are discussing the possibility of a second booster — or a fourth shot of the vaccine — to give many people in those categories greater protection.

We all long for the day when life can return to normal, or at least closer to what it was before COVID-19 struck in March 2020.

While mask mandates have fallen to political whim and those who equate going maskless as a freedom statement, we encourage people to continue to wear masks in public settings and in groups even around relatives. Masks, hand washing and social distancing remain our only defense against getting sick and/or transmitting the virus to others, including our loved ones.

As we enter the third year of living with COVID-19, we are seeing some shifts on the state and local levels as free mass vaccination and testing centers shut down. Federal officials currently are exploring ways to shift costs for many of these free services to insurance companies. It is uncertain what that will mean for those who lack health insurance or those who are underinsured.

Federal officials also are pushing Congress for an additional $22.5 billion in funding to help pay for testing, treatment and enough vaccine to cover a fourth dose for all Americans.

There are many unknowns on the road ahead with COVID-19.

Our hope is that our fellow Americans and Richmonders will travel it safely.

Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press

Herstory once again By now, everyone understands that the month of March has been designated as Women’s History Month. This observance shares a great deal with Black History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month, Asian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month and other ethnic and “special” observances. They serve as occasions when marginalized groups can honor their ancestors and predecessors and celebrate the contributions of their respective groups to the prosperity and general wellbeing of what has been called the greatest nation in recorded history.

Consistent with the negative consequences of other observances, Women’s History Month provides those who are party to or sympathetic with the marginalization of women an opportunity to trivialize or minimize the significance of women’s contributions. The metric they use to assess the importance of women’s partici-

pation in the life of our nation is the amount of time dedicated in their honor each year.

As absurd as that attitude might be, even more absurd is how the word history is treated contextually. For far too many, the word “history” is perceived to only refer to white people. In the perception of others and the

Dr. E. Faye Williams context of racism, the contributions of Black women to this nation are frequently disregarded and considered as unsubstantial or nonexistent.

From the time the first Africans set foot on what would become the United States in 1619, Black people, and Black women specifically, have played an integral role in the growth and success of this nation. Reading this will make thousands of white people “uncomfortable” and, in the minds of many of them, disqualify the legitimacy of this information. But for more than 200 years, enslaved women were nursemaids for generations of white babies. Black women could sustain white babies with their life-giving breast milk, but

neither they, nor their offspring, could enjoy the liberties of free and autonomous people.

Enslaved Black women not only gave life to white babies, their free labor gave life to a fledgling economy that would eventually grow to become the largest in world history. Cotton was king and the commodity which would lead the United States to the pinnacle of world economies. The Black woman was larger-than-life in her contribution to that economy.

Were it not for strong Black women, the destruction of the Black family would have been absolute and permanent. Enslavement and the forced conditioning of behaviors inconsistent with our African ancestry caused irreparable damage in many.

But the quality of character that strong Black women were able to instill in most of their children prevented the extinction of humanity in a people – in OUR people.

The Black woman (mother) was the parapsychologist of our communities. She saw how the weight of the negativity of our existence distorted our interaction with each other and the larger community, and she did all that

was within her power to help us heal the physical and emotional wounds of our treatment. She told us that things would get better and convinced us to believe that we would overcome. She told us to hold on and not give up – that we could achieve anything we put our minds to.

We could attempt to name her, but her DNA runs too broadly among us. We see her in the enthusiasm of Michelle Obama. Hers is the legal brilliance of Sherrilyn Ifill. We see her expertise and mother-wit in the respected midwife skills of Jennie Joseph. And her endurance is seen in Allison Felix, seven-time Olympic gold medalist.

She is the Black woman, the rock and foundation upon which our hopes rest.

The writer is national president of the National Congress of Black Women Inc.

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Smollett’s sideshow mocks real tragedies

True to his profession, actor Jussie Smollett reacted to his sentence of jail time for his hatecrime hoax, with the passion of a courtroom drama.

As he was being escorted out of the courtroom in Chicago to begin serving 150 days in custody, he seemed to call up his own inner Atticus Finch from “To Kill a Mockingbird” to say, “I am not suicidal.”

“OK,” said Judge James Linn, as sheriff’s deputies closed in to take him into custody. But Mr. Smollett repeated his declaration twice as he added that he respected the judge and his decision but, “Jail time? I am not suicidal. ... If anything happens to me in there, I did not do it to myself.”

Say what? Was this another paranoid vision dreamed up like his hate-crime hoax? Or was he reaching for martyrdom references to add a little drama before the final curtain on his misadventure?

At least he could have said he was sorry. A spoonful of contrition for the trouble he had caused at taxpayers’ expense might have helped him to avoid jail time.

Besides the five months Mr. Smollett was sentenced to serve in Cook County Jail, Judge Linn also sentenced the actor to three years of probation and ordered him to pay $130,160 in restitution to the city to cover the more than 1,000 hours in police

overtime it took to investigate his false report.

In the end, the judge said jail time was warranted because of the serious damage he’d inflicted on the city as well as the true victims of hate crime.

That sounds appropriate. The whole wackadoodle scheme defied plausibility from the beginning.

The city will not soon forget how, in the frigid early hours

Clarence Page during the polar vortex in January 2019, the now-former “Empire” star who is Black and gay claimed he had been viciously attacked.

Two masked assailants yelled homophobic and racist insults and declared “This is MAGA country,” he said, as they beat and kicked him, put a makeshift noose around his neck and “poured an unknown liquid” on him before he managed to fight them off.

But even as his case sparked national outrage as a metaphor for systemic racism, it unraveled like a cheap sweater as police combed the city on a fruitless search for suspects.

Mr. Smollett’s story fell apart after two of his acquaintances, brothers Abi and Ola Osundairo, told police he had paid them $3,500 to carry out the fake attack.

Unlike Mr. Smollett’s account, the brothers’ version was backed up by security camera videos.

Mr. Smollett lost his “Empire” role and in December was found guilty by a jury of five of six counts of felony disorderly conduct for filing a false police report.

“Mr. Smollett, I know that there is nothing that I will do here that will come close to the damage that you’ve already done to your own life,” Judge Linn said. “You’ve turned your life upside down by your misconduct and your shenanigans.”

True enough. His shenanigans also took public attention and valuable resources away from real violent crime that continues to plague Chicago, among other cities.

Mr. Smollett’s sentencing occurred on the same day that Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot met with the Tribune Editorial Board to discuss, among other issues, the cost of violent crimes that have made recent headlines.

Among others, she remembered the death of Melissa Ortega, an 8-year-old girl fatally shot while walking with her mother in the Little Village community in what police described as a feud between rival gangs.

At one point, the mayor apologized and fought back tears as she remembered meeting with Little Village mothers whose children were killed by gang violence. Their tragedies reminded Mayor Lightfoot of her own family’s struggle with her older brother who, for a time, was “lost to the streets.”

No need to apologize, I said.

I felt her pain. It’s heartbreaking for reporters who have to cover such tragedies year after year. Most don’t get nearly the attention of Mr. Smollett’s trumped-up case ironically because they occur so often. But that’s precisely why they should get our attention—and action.

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Richmond Free Press

March 17-19, 2022 A9

Commentary

Race, democracy and Ukraine Just when you say it can’t get any worse, it gets worse.

After two years, we are still in the midst of a deadly pandemic resulting in the loss of more than 900,000 American lives. Last year, we witnessed our fellow Americans attack the U.S. Capitol to overturn a presidential election. Now, due to Russia’s premeditated and unprovoked attack on its sovereign neighbor, the world is watching as war crimes are being carried out daily against innocent civilians.

Russia’s unjust invasion of Ukraine is constantly compared to Adolf Hitler’s 1939 invasion of Poland.

Governments have ways of shifting over time. In the past, two neighboring countries— Poland and Ukraine—were ruled by Communist governments. Today, those governments are free democracies.

Democracy in and of itself is not a flawed system of government, but many individuals who hold positions of authority within a democracy can be morally deficient. The principles of democracy can be weakened — internally and externally — at the hands of people with little or no respect for the rule of law, fair elections or humanity. As a result, innocent people needlessly suffer or die with no just cause.

As refugees seek to leave Ukraine for safety, we are again reminded that the suffering met by people of color is often compounded in any negative situation. It’s a sad but proven truth.

Many international students wanting to study medicine were drawn to Ukraine because of its strong reputation for medical schools. Now

those same Indian and African nationals living in Ukraine are reporting discrimination and hostility while attempting to flee the country.

As they reach the Polish-Ukrainian border, they are being turned away and not allowed to cross.

Even during this vast humanitarian crisis, the color of a person’s skin remains a disqualifying criterion, which, in this case, puts human lives further at risk and in danger.

While democracy is a form of unity, unity includes fundamental rules of empathy and

David W. Marshall compassion where “no one gets left behind.” Ukraine, like America, has its areas of moral strength and those of

moral weakness.

But democracy requires moral leadership.

Everyone who holds a leadership position is not a leader. Leaders who cannot inspire others often resort to manipulation. Whenever you manipulate and intimidate people, you are no longer a true leader — you have become a dictator.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is a dictator who hates democracy. He also hates NATO because it represents a coalition of nations standing on the concept of freedom and unity.

Unfortunately, there are people in America who are attracted to the authoritarian character of dictators. For that reason, we are seeing a growing number of pro-Russia Americans at

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A Message from Senator Jennifer McClellan 2022 General Assembly Update: That’s a Wrap! For Now… On Saturday, the 2022 General Assembly Session adjourned “Sine Die” without an agreement on the biennial budget. Gov. Youngkin is expected to call legislators into a special session, and the budget and several bills pending in conference committees were carried over to that special session. This means there is still more work to do.

While the House prioritized tax cuts, the Senate prioritized significant investments in education, natural resources, public safety, and human services, leaving about a $3 billion difference in spending between our respective budgets. The Senate agreed to repeal the state tax on groceries and essential personal hygiene products and referred Gov. Youngkin’s tax proposals to a joint committee for a comprehensive review. The House adopted several of the Governor’s proposals so now budget conferees will negotiate these differences. I will continue advocating for funding our schools, including construction and mental health services for kids, in the budget process.

This session, Senate Democrats stood as a brick wall against Republican efforts to roll back the generational progress made in the 2020 and 2021 sessions on expanding access to abortion and reproductive rights, voting rights, criminal justice reform, breaking the school-to-prison pipeline, combating climate change, strengthening worker protections, addressing gun violence, and strengthening Virginia’s anti-discrimination laws and extending them to the LGBTQ+ community.

House Republicans killed proposed constitutional amendments related to restoration of voting rights and marriage equality, keeping them off the ballot this November. House Republicans also killed establishing a regulated retail marijuana market on September 1, 2022. As you may recall, in 2021, the General Assembly passed legislation eliminating criminal penalties for simple possession of marijuana effective July 1, 2021. The bill also established a legal framework for the regulated retail market beginning in 2024, subject to re-enactment this year. For now, the status quo remains, and it is frankly more important that we establish a regulated retail market carefully and equitably rather than to do so quickly.

Enable Virginians to stay in their homes during the eviction appeals process by allowing judges to waive the requirement of an appeal bond; Preserve evidence from sexual assault for at least 10 years;

levels never seen before. It symbolizes part of a global cultural war where many far-right extremists accept Russia as the last bastion of white purity. This is an image Moscow has deliberately shaped through its propaganda.

And while others still have their guard up toward Russia and Mr. Putin, they, too, are drawn to the authoritarian manner by which bullies maintain political power, wealth and control even at the detriment of American democracy.

As Poland and Ukraine went from being an authoritarian government to a free democracy, America appears to be doing the opposite. The United States is still a nation of laws, and no one, not even an elected president, is above the law.

Democracy’s rule of law is seriously being threatened when Republican lawmakers warn that any U.S. Department of Justice prosecution of former President Trump will turn into a political war and be seen as politically motivated.

Republicans also have warned that any federal prosecution of former President Trump would likely be answered by congressional investigations of President Biden and his son, Hunter, if Republicans take over the U.S. House of Representatives and possibly the U.S. Senate in the 2022 midterm elections.

This is what a democracy headed toward a form of dictatorship looks like. Political bullying and intimidation while disregarding facts and legal evidence are what authoritarian rulers and their followers do.

It takes a certain measure of courage to confront domestic and foreign authoritarianism. By no means is the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, a coward when it comes to putting his life on the line when fighting for democracy and standing up against attacks and intimidation.

Will Republican and Democratic officeholders exhibit the same type of courage in defending the rule of law, or will they fold under pressure from bullies? Will Republican and Democratic voters who claim to be American patriots speak out and demand accountability for the Jan. 6 insurrection by having the same courage as Russian citizens who publicly speak out against Mr. Putin concerning an unjust war?

Democracy also requires its leaders and citizens to be conscience-driven. In one week, the Ukrainian president survived three assassination attempts due to anti-war intelligence officers in Russia’s Federal Security Services giving Ukrainian forces tips that saved the president’s life. These Russian officers were conscience-driven individuals.

Many people who worked in former President Trump’s administration and campaign are like those Russian officers. They have first-hand knowledge of both the past and future intentions. Can America depend on just a few of them to be conscience-driven public servants who will step up and stop the coming political madness?

The writer is the founder of the faith-based organization TRB: The Reconciled Body.

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Strengthen prevention programs for atrisk youth; Protect Virginians from unwanted digital flashing; and Enable preservation of historic AfricanAmerican cemeteries established between 1900 and 1948.

Four more of my bills will be addressed in the special session, including Remaining recommendations from the Commission on School Construction and Modernization that I chair to create a School Construction Fund and Program and strengthen school construction loans from the Literary Fund; Legislation to implement portions of the Board of Education’s recommended Standards of Quality related to the number of specialized student support positions – such as school social workers, school psychologists, and school nurses – in schools across the Commonwealth; Legislation to establish the Center for Firearm Violence Intervention and Prevention to work across public safety and public health sectors to collect data and publish reports on violence caused by firearms, including suicide, and provide holistic support to address the underlying caucuses of such violence.

There is still more work to do on these outstanding issues and I look forward to addressing these problems facing Virginians in the special session.

This year I have passed 12 bills so far, including measures to: Expand access to the Virginia Health Benefit Exchange to lower health care costs PAID FOR AND AUTHORIZED BY FRIENDS FOR JENNIFER MCCLELLAN

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The City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities recognizes

Virginia Flood Awareness Week

March 13 - 19

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We stand

for Equality Justice Opportunity Freedom

and we fearlessly fight for Equality Justice Opportunity Freedom

Richmond Free Press The People’s Paper

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Richmond Free Press

A10 March 17-19, 2022

Sports Stories by Fred Jeter

John Marshall High wins the crown!

There are 52 Class 2 high schools in Virginia, but there is only one John Marshall High School.

Showing that it’s in a class by itself in terms of basketball talent, Richmond’s John Marshall Justices dominated Radford High School 82-43 in the 2A State finals last Saturday at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center.

The Justices finished 22-4, winning 18 of their last 19 games mostly by lopsided margins.

John Marshall’s average winning margin in seven regional and state victories was a staggering 38 points.

The Justices also won state titles in 2014,

2018 and 2020 under Coach Ty White and likely would have won a year ago had not Richmond Public Schools opted out of the season because of COVID-19.

“People ask the question all the time: ‘What’s been the best team?’” Coach White said. “It might have been last year’s team that didn’t get to play.”

Relying on a relentless full-court press that created 19 Radford turnovers and countless rushed shots, John Marshall led 42-26 at the half and 72-40 after three periods. Coach White kept the press on until the final minutes, but eight different Justices played at least 13 minutes.

Radford High School Coach Rick Cormany was short on words at the postgame news conference. Asked about the baseline-to-baseline pressure defense, he said, “They pressed well.”

Asked how he felt, he said, “I don’t think I’ve ever felt like this in 40 years.”

Asked if John Marshall High School was the best team he has faced, he said, “I don’t want to talk about other teams. I just want to talk about my team.”

Coach Cormany, who has won some 800 games at Radford High in 40 seasons, later referred to his program as “Little ol’ Radford that does it right.” If there was any secret meaning behind that, he didn’t say.

Radford, with multiple state titles under Cormany, finishes 20-5 and ranks with the state’s top programs in Class 2.

John Marshall was led by sophomore guard Damon “Lil’ Redd” Thompson and 6-foot-6 junior Dennis Parker Jr. Thompson, an opposing guard’s worst nightmare with his blurring speed and bottomless stamina, had 17 points, seven assists and two steals. He hit five of six from beyond the arc.

Parker had 24 points, 10 rebounds and made six of eight from the distance.

Later, the Justices credited their “Orange Ball” for some of their outstanding 13 for 25 accuracy on 3-pointers. The “Orange Ball,” harder and bouncier than a real ball, is a training device to improve accuracy.

“It’s harder to score with the Orange Ball,”

Photos by Julianne Tripp

The John Marshall Justices celebrate their fourth state title since 2014. The Justices blew out Radford High School 82-43 last Saturday to claim the state 2A crown. Left, John Marshall’s Dennis Parker Jr. dunks the ball during the state championship game against Radford High School at Virginia Commonwealth University’s Siegel Center. Parker finished the game with

Parker said. “It’s got to go straight in or it bounces out.”

Parker, among the most heavily recruited ever from John Marshall, added two steals, two assists and two blocks. The versatile, do-it-all athlete was asked what his best position was.

“It’s a question mark,” Parker replied. “I’m not a guard, forward or center. So the other team has to question what I am.”

It’s a “question” they so far have no answers for.

Reggie Robertson, a senior, fourth-year varsity player under Coach White, had 10 points, seven rebounds, two assists and nailed two of four 3-pointers.

As overpowering as John Marshall was this season, it may be even stronger in 2022-23.

Parker, Thompson, Steve Stinson (nine points and eight rebounds against Radford) and Ashaun

Moore return among the starters, and there is always a conveyor belt of talent running through the North Side. Tyler Mason, a 6-foot-10, transfer sat out this year’s state tournament but adds a lot of life to any basketball party.

One player the team will lose is strongman Malachi Dark. The 6-foot-7, 285-pound senior scored an oh-my-gosh, two-hand dunk in the late going that not only rattled the rim, but the backboard as well. It seemed even the Siegel Center foundation quivered.

John Marshall’s last loss was Feb. 5 against Hayfield Secondary School in Alexandria at Virginia State University. Hayfield went 32-0 this season en route to the state Class 6 title.

Perhaps the best matchup of the entire state tournament was one that never occurred – John Marshall versus Hayfield. As for Class 2, it was a one-team show.

Varina and Highland Springs high schools also take home state titles This was a banner season for area code 804 high school basketball.

In addition to John Marshall High School winning the state Class 2 title, Henrico County’s Highland Springs High School claimed the Class 5 crown and Varina High School was the Class 4 champion.

Also, Petersburg High School was state runner-up in Class 3.

All the action was last weekend at the Siegel Center at Virginia Commonwealth University.

Varina finished 25-1 under Coach Ken Randolph with a 61-35 victory over Loudoun County High School in the grand finale.

VCU-commit Alphonzo Billups led the Varina Blue Devils with 18 points, including several emphatic dunks.

Varina won the Class 5 title in 2018.

The Blue Devils’ only loss this season came to Eastern Henrico rival Highland Spring High on Feb. 11.

The Highland Springs High Springers, finishing 23-4, won the Class 5 title with a 63-62 win over Maury High School of Norfolk. A free throw by High Springs’ Khristian Martin with 8 seconds left was the difference.

Dorian Davis led the Springers with 30 points and sophomore

Danzelle Coles added 20 for Coach Reggie Tennyson’s squad. Quanye Veney was outstanding as a ball handler and defensive stopper.

Petersburg High, looking for its first state title since the Moses Malone era, lost to Cave Spring High School of Roanoke 76-75 in the Class 3 final.

Petersburg won back-to-back titles with Malone in 1973 and 1974. Petersburg was a state finalist in 1985, 1989 and 2010.

Chris Fields, a 6-foot-5 junior, scored 25 points to pace the Petersburg Crimson Wave that finished 22-4 under Coach Ryan Massenberg.

NSU going to NCAA ‘Big Dance’ for second consecutive year

Randy Singleton

Howard women win MEAC The Howard University women’s basketball team hold their tickets to the NCAA Tournament after defeating Norfolk State University 61-44 last Saturday to clinch the MEAC crown. As winners of the tournament, they receive an automatic bid to the NCAA, where they will play University of the Incarnate Word of Texas in the first round in Columbia, S.C., at Free Press press time on Wednesday night. Howard’s Destiny Howell, a 6-foot sophomore, was named MVP of the MEAC Tournament, while Coach Ty Grace was named Outstanding Coach.

4 Virginia teams headed to the ‘Big Dance’ Call it matinee madness.

All four entries from Virginia in the NCAA “Big Dance” will be opening with afternoon contests.

Longwood University qualified for its first Division I tournament by winning the Big South Conference title March 6 in Charlotte, N.C. Norfolk State University punched its ticket to a second straight NCAA by capturing the MEAC crown last Saturday at the Norfolk Scope Arena.

Virginia Tech is in the Big Dance for a second straight year after claiming its first-ever ACC Tournament title last Saturday in Brooklyn, N.Y. Of all the 68 schools entered in the tournament, the University of Richmond may be the most surprising. The Spiders squeezed into the field by winning the Atlantic 10 Conference title last Sunday in Washington, D.C. Seeded sixth, UR defeated the University of Rhode Island, Virginia Commonwealth University, the University of Dayton and top-seed Davidson College on consecutive days.

In the NCAA Tournament, winners from the opening games on Thursday will play Saturday, March 19, in the Round of 32. Friday’s winners will advance to Sunday, March 20.

Culminating the three-week event, The Final Four will be held at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans.

NCAA Tournament brackets set The Virginia qualifiers are: N o. 1 6 N o r fo l k S t a t e University versus No. 1 Baylor, Thursday, March 17, 2 p.m. in For t Wor th, Texas. Game broadcast on TBS. No. 15 Longwood University versus No. 2 Tennessee, Thursday, March 17, 2:45 p.m. in Indianapolis, Ind. Game broadcast on CBS N o. 1 2 U n i v e r s i t y o f Richmond versus No. 5 Iowa, Thursday, March 17, 3:10 p.m. in Buffalo, N.Y. Game broadcast on truTV. No. 11 Virginia Tech versus No. 6 Texas, Friday, March 18, 4:30 p.m. in Milwaukee, Wis. Game broadcast on TBS.

Start the music.

Norfolk State University’s history at the NCAA Big Dance is relatively short, but most exciting and filled with big-name dance partners. And it’s the same snappy beat this year.

The NSU Spartans, by virtue of winning the MEAC championship last Saturday, will play defending national champion Baylor University on Thursday, March 17, in Fort Worth, Texas.

Baylor is 26-6 and seeded No. 1 in the NCAA East Region. NSU, 24-6, is the region’s 16th seed.

A year ago, the Spartans won the MEAC and then defeated Appalachian State University 54-53 in the NCAA First Four in Dayton, Ohio. Next came a 9855 loss to national No. 1 overall seed Gonzaga University.

In 2012, NSU busted brackets across the land by defeating third-seed University of Missouri, 86-84. The Spartans, seeded 14th that year, then lost to the University of Florida in the second round.

The current Spartans, under Coach Robert Jones, will carry a six-game winning streak to Fort Worth after dumping Delaware State, Morgan State and Coppin State universities, in that order, in the MEAC Tournament at the Norfolk Scope Arena.

Joe Bryant had 23 points in the finale against Coppin State and was named MVP. Bryant, a 6-foot-1 senior from Norfolk’s Lake Taylor High School, was also the regular season MEAC MVP. Bryant and Kyle O’Quinn (in 2012) are the only Spartans to earn both individual titles in the same season.

Bryant is an all-round performer who ranks with the best foul shooters in the nation. He is 127 for 138, or 92 percent, heading to Texas.

Another headliner in green

Randy Singleton

Forward Dana Tate Jr. of Norfolk State University goes sky high above Coppin State University players for a dunk during the MEAC title game last Saturday at the Norfolk Scope Arena. The Spartans are scheduled to face NCAA defending champion Baylor University on Thursday in Texas.

and gold at the Scope was 6-foot8 Dana Tate Jr., a transfer from the University of Rhode Island. Tate had 13 points and eight rebounds against Coppin State.

It’s a shame NSU can’t play Baylor somewhere in Norfolk.

The Spartans were 11-0 at Joseph G. Echols Memorial Hall on campus this season and 3-0 at the Scope. The Spartans, enjoying a NCAA brackets watch party at Echols Hall on Sunday evening, got some national exposure when their name was called on CBS. Should NSU stun Baylor in an upset for the ages, the next game would be Saturday, March 19, against the winner of the game between the University of North Carolina and Marquette University, now led by Coach

Shaka Smart, the former coach at Virginia Commonwealth University and the University of Texas.

CIAA champ loses in NCAA first round

Fayetteville State was oneand-done in the NCAA Division II basketball playoffs.

The Broncos, seeded eighth, lost 65-49 to No. 1 seed and host Indiana University of Pennsylvania last Saturday.

Cress Worthy led Fayetteville State with 18 points. The Broncos, who qualified for the NCAA by winning the CIAA Tournament in Baltimore on Feb. 26, finished 21-9.

March 17-19, 2022 B1

Section

B

Richmond Free Press

Happenings Personality: William F. ‘Bill’ McGee

Spotlight on president of Richmond Chapter, Southern Christian Leadership Conference William F. “Bill” McGee’s life has been closely connected to the fight for civil rights.

While born in Richmond, he spent his youth in Atlanta, attending elementary school alongside Yolanda King and Martin L. King III, the children of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. He graduated from the same high school Dr. King attended – historic Booker T. Washington High in Atlanta – and later taught at Dr. King’s alma mater, Morehouse College.

He also attended Ebenezer Baptist Church, the historic church in Atlanta where Dr. King and his father both were pastors.

He participated in marches and other social justice actions as a youth.

Fast forward a few decades and Mr. McGee is now president of the Richmond Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, a civil rights organization started by Dr. King and other pastors in Atlanta in 1957 that is committed to nonviolent action to achieve social, economic and political justice.

As president, a role he took on Feb. 11, Mr. McGee is looking to tap into the same enthusiasm for progress and equality among the youths that powered the movement he has been immersed in for much of his life, and to sustain the organization for future generations.

“The SCLC is too important to the civil rights community to fade away,” says Mr. McGee when asked why he accepted the top volunteer job with the local chapter. “We need a strong SCLC, NAACP, CORE (Congress of Racial Equality) and Urban League just as much now as we did in the 1950s and 1960s.”

To ensure Richmond SCLC’s strength and future, Mr. McGee is seeking to increase youth membership and to get younger Richmonders involved in addressing

and combating injustice.

To reach this goal, Mr. McGee and the local SCLC chapter want churches and other local organizations to sponsor at least seven youth members from each congregation in the city and the surrounding counties. They’re also reaching out to fraternity and sorority groups to encourage college students to sign up with a commitment to activism, community service and social justice.

“We are going to lead the nation in revitalizing the organization by getting youth involved, empowering them, motivating them and allowing them to lead the way,” Mr. McGee says.

“We will be talking to youths groups about the importance of activism and advocacy in the face of bigotry, injustice, voter disenfranchisement and violence being perpetrated every day in Central Virginia and all around the country,” he says.

Mr. McGee says voter registration, education, mobilization and motivation are major focuses for the current year. With the midterm elections in November and potential redistricting further shifting the balance of power statewide, Mr. McGee is intent on the organization doing its part to “offset the damage done in the most recent election, and prevent any further decline in Virginia’s progress.

A major membership drive is set to begin during the first week of April, Mr. McGee says.

“Bigotry and hatred have been used to oppress and intimidate people of every color, religion, gender preference or culture,” Mr. McGee says.

“Everyone benefits when people stand together against discrimination and injustice.”

Meet the newest leading local voice in the fight for civil rights, William F. “Bill”McGee: No. 1 volunteer position: Presi-

dent, Richmond Chapter of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, or SCLC. Occupation: Educator, musician and activist.

Date and place of birth: 1952 in Richmond.

Where I live now: Richmond.

Education: Booker T. Washington High School in Atlanta; Morris Brown College, Atlanta; bachelor’s in music, Virginia State College; and master’s in education, Norfolk State University.

Family: Wife, Wanda Tisdale McGee; three children; and nine grandchildren, including 12-yearold triplet boys.

Southern Christian Leadership Conference is: A civil rights organization.

National president: Dr. Charles Steele Jr. When and why SCLC Richmond chapter was founded: Like all the chapters and local affiliates, the Richmond Chapter was formed to address discrimination and the Jim

Crow-era prejudice and bigotry that were rampant in this, the birthplace of the Confederacy and the nation. Segregation was strong in Virginia as was the determination to stand up and address the injustice in a nonviolent manner.

Dr. King spoke in Richmond one week after the Montgomery bus boycott ended successfully. It was just three weeks later that the SCLC was founded in Atlanta by Dr. King and representatives from 10 states, Virginia being one of the original states with representatives in attendance.

Richmond founders: The foundation of the SCLC in Central Virginia points to the Rev. Milton Reid, Dr. Samuel D. Proctor, Rev. Curtis Harris, Rev. Wyatt Tee Walker and other notable established ministers from Richmond who worked with and supported Dr. King on his many trips to Virginia Union University, Virginia State College (now University) and the cities of Richmond, Petersburg and Hopewell throughout the 1950s.

Many of the Richmond movement leaders were first members and active in the NAACP, the Virginia Teachers Association and the Richmond Crusade for Voters. All of these organizations contributed to Virginia’s involvement in the SCLC, which was founded in 1957.

SCLC Richmond chapter and Dr. King: Since the early 1950s, Dr. King and Richmond, Petersburg and Hopewell were closely associated. In 1953, a very young Dr. King came to speak in Richmond at VUU where he met the Rev. Wyatt Tee Walker, Rev. Milton Reed, Rev. Walter Fauntleroy and Dr. Samuel DeWitt Proctor. At that time, a great bond was formed that

is documented in the many personal letters he shared with these colleagues. A special friendship was formed with Rev. Walker and Rev. Curtis Harris that lasted until Dr. King’s assassination in April 1968 in Memphis.

No. 1 goal or project as SCLC president: To increase youth membership and to empower youth to get involved in addressing injustice by voting and standing up for their rights.

Who benefits from SCLC Richmond Chapter: Everyone benefits when people stand together against discrimination and injustice. While the SCLC is a Christian-based organization, we stand with other organizations, not based on race, gender or religion, because while it may be this person today, tomorrow it could be your child or your family member. Bigotry and hatred have been used to oppress and intimidate people of every color, religion, gender preference or culture. The labor movement has proved that we all benefit when we stand together in solidarity.

How the SCLC’s Richmond Chapter seeks to remain relevant in 2022: We’re going to have to turn out voters all over the Commonwealth to offset the damage done in the most recent election. It should be noted that the young progressive incumbent delegate in Petersburg, a Virginia State University graduate, lost by only 512 votes. That should never have happened.

A perfect day for me is: Spending quality time with my family, working on a fix-it project and having a little time left over to work on music in the studio.

What I am learning about myself during the pandemic: I don’t need most of the clothes I own. I haven’t worn a pair of Stacy Adams in two years.

Something I love to do that most people would never imagine: I am a Mister Fix-it. I like to fix any and everything around the house and on the cars. I’ve rebuilt engines, torn down walls and remodeled a bathroom. I repair computers and all types and kinds of technology. I recently repaired several items of furniture that the kids broke. I have been a vegetarian since 1977.

Quote that inspires me: “To whom much is given, much is required.”

Friends describe me as: Straightforward and direct. I sometimes have a sharp tongue. They also know I have a kind heart.

At the top of my “to-do” list: Finish my fifth solo CD as a jazz artist and write a book on the HBCU influence on the entertainment industry.

Best late-night snack: Ginger ale and a small Hershey’s chocolate bar or a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. Best thing my parents ever taught me: That growing up without two parents is rough on a kid and that education is the great equalizer. I am a fourthgeneration HBCU graduate.

Person who influenced me the most: My grandmother, Lorraine Odom Wiggins, a 1923 graduate of Shaw University.

Book that influenced me the most: “Nigger: An Autobiography” by Dick Gregory and Robert Lipsyte and “Things Fall Apart”

by Chinua Achebe.

What I’m reading now: “I’d Still Say Yes: A Dreamers Account of Surviving the Entertainment Business” by Joyce Irby and “Then There Was One” by Ray N. Smith Jr. Next goal: Promoting prostate cancer awareness and PSA testing. I am a seven-year cancer survivor.

ST RIES ABOUT OUR STATE & OUR STATE OF MIND. Watch Thursdays at 8 p.m. vpm.org/focalpoint

Richmond Free Press

B2 March 17-19, 2022

Happenings

Fascination with Teslas prompts second-grader with autism to write book

By Ronald E. Carrington

“Uziah Wants a Tesla.”

That is the title and focus of the new book by 8-year-old author Uziah Smith-Bashir of Henrico.

The main character woke up one morning wanting a Tesla, an electric car that starts at $45,000, paid for by his parents.

The book’s storyline also challenges young readers to save and invest their money.

In real life, Uziah is obsessed with Tesla cars. It started when he saw a fellow student being dropped off at their school, Thales Academy, a private school in Glen Allen that goes through the third-grade. The car, a Tesla, has double-hinged, “falcon-wing” doors that rise up to open.

Photos by Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press

Uziah Smith-Bashir, 8, visits the Tesla dealership on West Broad Street in Glen Allen with his parents, Nafeesa Bashir-James and Torrey James. The second-grader at Thales Academy is enamored with the electric vehicles and the “falcon-wing” doors that open like bird’s wings and has written a book about it that will be launched March 26. Far right, Uziah checks out his favorite Tesla model, Model X, and its “falcon-wing” doors.

“I love Tesla cars because they have doors that go up like wings,” Uziah told the Free Press. “You can play games in them.

You can fit in the trunk and they have a lot of power.”

That was the start of Uziah’s fascination and what prompted him to write a book.

Producing it was a labor of love, as well as an indication that Uziah was growing in many other ways. People didn’t know Uziah was diagnosed with high-functioning autism, which is characterized by repetitive behaviors, speech and nonverbal communication and challenges with social skills.

Since working on the book, however, those typical autistic behaviors have changed for the second-grader, according to his mother.

“Now to see him doing so well with reading, writing and being with other students while he is around them, as well as gaining expanded knowledge and understanding, was impressive,” his mother, Nafeesa Bashir-James, said proudly about his advancements.

Like the character in his book, Uziah thought his parents should buy him such a wonderful, unique car when he grows up. However, his mother, a real estate agent, and his father, Torrey James, a manager at Supported Employment of Virginia, an agency that helps people with disabilities find community-based employment, enlightened their young son about the value of saving for his dream.

That was the catalyst for Uziah’s book to go from idea to reality.

“I am saving my money and finding ways to invest for my future,” Uziah said, as he demonstrates the advice he gives in his book. “If you are spending your money, you are not investing,” Uziah said. “That’s why I wrote the book.”

Uziah also includes his stepbrother, Dakari Fleming, as a character in his book.

Ms. Bashir-James said for every school story assignment, no matter the subject, Uziah used Teslas as the subject.

Writing “Uziah Wants a Tesla” was a combined effort of Uziah’s family, as well as his teacher at Thales Academy. They all assisted with writing and dialogue, layout and artwork design.

“The characters in my book also look like my family,” Uziah said.

“Uziah was interested in the design and technology of making the car,” his mom said. “We took him to the Tesla dealership on West Broad Street. They were so impressed with Uziah and his book.”

Uziah’s opportunity to see his dream car up close was exciting.

“Uziah sat in the driver’s seat, with a full left-to-right cheek smile,” his father said.

The youngster inspected the car inside and out and talked

‘Black Panther’ director mistaken for bank robber in Atlanta

Associated Press

ATLANTA M o v i e d i r e c t o r Ry a n Coogler was briefly handcuffed by Atlanta police after a bank teller mistook him for a robber when he passed her a note while trying to withdraw a large amount of cash from his account, police said.

The “Black Panther” director, who is Black, walked into a Bank of America branch Jan. 7 and passed the teller a withdrawal slip with a note written on the back asking her to “be discreet when handing him the cash,” according to a police report.

He was trying to withdraw more than $10,000, and the teller “received an alert notification” on her computer and quickly alerted her manager that Mr. Coogler was trying to rob the bank, the report says.

The bank employee is a Black woman, the report says.

Police responding to the bank branch in the upscale Buckhead neighborhood saw a black Lexus SUV parked out front with the engine running. An officer talked to the male driver who said he was waiting for Mr. Coogler, who was inside the bank. A female passenger gave police the same information.

A description of Mr. Coogler given by the driver matched the description of the man reported to have been trying to rob the

Atlanta Police Department via Associated Press

A police officer detains “Black Panther” director Ryan Coogler at a Bank of America branch in Atlanta in this Jan. 7 image taken from Atlanta Police video. Mr. Coogler was mistaken for a bank robber at the bank.

bank, the report says. The officer detained both the driver and passenger in the back of a police vehicle but they were not placed in handcuffs.

Two other officers had gone inside the bank and led Mr. Coogler out in handcuffs.

Body camera video released by police shows officers approaching Mr. Coogler from behind as he stands at the counter wearing a light gray hooded sweatshirt, a black cap, sunglass and a white mask. As an officer pulls his gun and another tells him to put his hands behind his back, Mr. Coogler says, “Whoa, whoa, what’s going on?”

As he’s led from the bank, Mr. Coogler tells them he’s just trying to take money out of his own account.

Police determined the whole

thing was a mistake by the teller and Mr. Coogler “was never in the wrong,” the report says, The handcuffs were immediately removed and the other two people were released from the back of the patrol vehicle.

Police can be seen on body camera video explaining to Mr. Coogler that they were responding to a call of a bank robbery and had to take appropriate precautions.

Still sitting in the back of the police SUV, Mr. Coogler is seen on video looking down and shaking his head as the officer explains.

Mr. Coogler explained to the officers that a medical assistant who works for him prefers to be paid in cash. When he withdraws a large sum to pay her, he said, he passes the

Singer Traci Braxton of ‘Braxton Family Values’ dies at 50 Free Press wire report

of sisters Toni, Traci, Tamar, Trina and NEW YORK Towanda and their extended families.

Singer Traci Braxton, who was Traci Braxton was an actress and featured with her family in the realsinger who released albums in 2014 ity television series “Braxton Family and 2018, with the singles “Last Call” Values,” died at age 50 on Saturday, and “Broken Things” her best-known March 12, 2022. songs.

Her sister, Toni Braxton, and family She spent much of her time doing said Ms. Braxton died “this morning social work for children with disabilias the snow was falling.” According ties, according to her website. to reports, Traci Braxton had been She was married to Kevin Surratt, Ms. Braxton fighting esophageal cancer. with whom she appeared on the TV “Needless to say, she was a bright light, a won- series “Marriage Boot Camp.” Their son, Kevin derful daughter, an amazing sister, a loving mother, Surratt Jr., said on Instagram last Saturday that wife, grandmother and a respected performer,” the his mother fought to the end. family said. “We will miss her dearly.”

“I love my mother forever and this hurts so “Braxton Family Values” aired for seven seasons much but I’m at peace knowing she’s not in starting in 2011 on WeTV. It focused on the lives pain anymore,” he said.

teller a note because he doesn’t want the cash run through a money counter right there because it attracts attention and makes him feel unsafe.

“I don’t know who made what call, who did what, but I just had guns drawn on me for taking money out of my own account,” Mr. Coogler told police.

“This situation should never have happened,” Mr. Coogler said in a statement to The New York Times, but he added that Bank of America “worked with me and addressed it to my satisfaction and we have moved on.”

with the sales staff about the car—and his new book.

“We stayed there for more than an hour and a half,” Mr. James said. “He didn’t want to leave.”

Uziah told the Free Press he now wants to buy two Teslas when he grows up – one for himself and one for his parents.

His parents laughed.

“We try to instill in our children that if you want something, you have to go get it,” Mr. James said. “We just laid the foundation on how to be responsible and believing in yourself. If you don’t believe in yourself, no one will believe in you.”

Those are lessons Uziah wants to pass along to friends, his classmates and readers of his new book.

Uziah and his family are holding a book launch 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, March 26, at Launch Trampoline Park, 10903 Hull Street Road in Midlothian.

A list of his upcoming book signings is available at uziahllc. com.

Sa’ad El-Amin to speak March 18 at Richmond Public Library Former Richmond City Councilman Sa’ad El-Amin will be the featured guest at the Africana Lecture Series scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Friday, March 18, at the Richmond Public Library’s Main Library, 101 E. Franklin St., it has been announced.

Mr. El-Amin is to discuss his life as an activist, civic leader and former attorney with King Salim Khalfani, criminal justice reform organizer for Mr. El-Amin the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and a former executive director of the Virginia State Conference NAACP. The event, titled “Honoring Our Warrior,” is free and open to the public.

March 21-23, 2022 Bishop Rudolph W. McKissick, Jr. Senior Pastor of the Bethel Church Jacksonville, Florida

WORSHIP begins at 7:00 PM Combined Mass Choir from City of Richmond and surrounding counties

Streaming o�:

� s i l a v i ReAllv 3 Nights

Website www.csbcog.org Facebook Cedar Street Facebook Live Facebook Baptist Ministers Conference of Richmond & Vicinity Youtube https://youtube.com/channel/UCFDoQZDJe4n9ddRF2MrykNQ

Rev. Dr. Emanuel C. Harris, BMCRV President

Richmond Free Press

March 17-19, 2022 B3

Faith News/Directory

Report: AME Church suspends payments to retirees, investigates missing pension funds Religion News Service One of the nation’s largest Black Protestant denominations has stopped making payments to retired ministers on its pension plan, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal.

The paper reported March 10 that the African Methodist Episcopal Church, which has reported as many as 2.5 million members in the past, suspended payments to retirees after discovering possible financial irregularities involving the denomination’s pension fund. In a statement, the church told the Journal that it was working with law enforcement to investigate a possible crime.

“The AME Church takes this crime seriously,” the church told the Journal. “We are also committed to making every fund participant whole by restoring their full investment plus interest.”

The AME’s Department of Retirement Services, based in Memphis, Tenn., could not be reached for comment.

Concerns about the pension fund had been circulating for months. In December, church leaders told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that problems with the pension fund were discovered during a leadership transition in the retirement services department, which serves about 5,000 retired clergy and church workers.

“Out of an abundance of caution, we immediately engaged outside legal counsel and forensics experts to conduct an independent and comprehensive investigation into holdings managed by the Department of Retirement Services,” church leaders told the Atlanta newspaper in August.

The denomination’s Council of Bishops also published a statement in October about problems with the pension fund, saying the pension department had “reported a material loss in the value of one or more of its departmental funds.” The statement also said that the church had requested a detailed report from an independent law firm

Screen grab from Google Maps

The African Methodist Episcopal Church’s annuity investment department located in Memphis, Tenn.

and accountants investigating the matter and that the report “will be made available publicly upon its receipt.”

As of 2017, the church had about $120 million in retirement assets, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Unlike other private retire-

ment plans, church pension funds are exempt from federal laws regulating such funds and are not covered by federal insurance, according to the Pension Rights Center. In 2017, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that federal pension laws do not apply to affiliated hospitals.

Riverview Baptist Church

Bishop Jeffrey N. Leath of the AME’s 13th Episcopal District has been critical of how troubles with the pension plan have been handled. On his personal blog, he said that the pension fund was “overvalued by as much as 70%” in past years and described the issues with the pension fund as a crisis that will cost millions.

“The fix will be large, painful, and not loved by anyone.

Let’s gird up our loins and DO IT,” wrote Bishop Leath, who did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Founded by Black Methodists who were part of the Free African Society in the late 1700s, the AME Church now has members in 39 countries, organized into episcopal districts.

Decisions in the denomination are made primarily by the AME’s 21 bishops, according to the denomination’s website.

2 0 2 2

Sunday, March 20, 2022 Worship Service: 11:00 AM THEME: Celebrating the Trails of Women who follow Jesus Scripture: Luke 8:1-3 SERMON: Rev. Dr. LaVerne J. Briggs Featuring:

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2604 Idlewood Avenue 5LFKPRQG 9D (804) 353-6135 ZZZ ULYHUYLHZEDSWLVWFK RUJ

Broad Rock Baptist Church 5106 Walmsley Blvd., Richmond, VA 23224 804-276-2740 • 804-276-6535 (fax) www.BRBCONLINE.org

“The Church With A Welcome”

“Due to the Corona Virus Pandemic, Services Are Cancelled, until further notice; but, please join us, by visiting BRBCOnline.org or YouTube (Broad Rock Baptist Church).”

Sharon Baptist Church 500 E. Laburnum Avenue, Richmond, VA 23222 www.sharonbaptistchurchrichmond.org (804) 643-3825 Rev. Dr. Paul A. Coles, Pastor

“MAKE IT HAPPEN”

Sunday, March 20, 2022

Pastor Kevin Cook

10:00 AM - Morning Worship th

Worship With Us This Week!

26 Anniversary of

Pastor, Rev. Dr. Paul A. Coles

First Lady Mrs. Rebecca P. Coles and Congregation Theme: “By His Grace and Mercy, I’m Still Here” Guest Speaker: Elder Michael L. Coleman Sr. (Zion Apostolic Temple)

2901 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Richmond, VA 23223 (804) 648-2472 ~ www.mmbcrva.org Dr. Price London Davis, Senior Pastor

Thirty-first Street Baptist Church

C

Triumphant

e with Reverence elevanc R g in Rev. Dr. Joshua Mitchell, Senior Pastor bin ❖ om

Baptist Church

The doors of the church are open for worship!

No registration required.

Join us in person or online on Facebook or YouTube

2003 Lamb Avenue Richmond, VA 23222 Dr. Arthur M. Jones, Sr., Pastor (804) 321-7622

10:30 a.m. Sundays

“Due to the Corona Virus all services at Triumphant Baptist Church are suspended until further notice.”

Join us on Sundays at 12 noon via Conference Call: 1(503)300-6860 Code:273149#

823 North 31st Street Richmond, VA 23223 (804) 226-0150 Office

Good Shepherd Baptist Church 1127 North 28th St., Richmond, VA 23223 s Office: (804) 644-1402 Dr. Sylvester T. Smith, Pastor “There’s A Place for You”

Moore Street Missionary Baptist Church

1408 W. Leigh Street · Richmond, Va. 23220 (804) 358—6403

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Dr. Alonza L. Lawrence, Pastor

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Keyboardist/ Psalmist

www.ourcfbc.org

Director of Children and Youth Salary Commensurate with Experience

8LIQI 1SFMPM^MRK *SV 1MRMWXV] 6IJVIWLMRK 8LI 3PH ERH )QIVKMRK 8LI 2I[ We Embrace Diversity — Love For All! Come worship with us!

Back Inside Sundays Join us for 10:00 AM Worship Service Live on Facebook @sixthbaptistrva Live on Youtube @sixthbaptistrva Or by visiting our website www.sixthbaptistchurch.org 400 South Addison Street Richmond, Va. 23220

(near Byrd Park)

Rev. Dr. Yvonne Jones Bibbs, Pastor

Covenant Fellowship Baptist Church

One Sunday a month for CFBC worship services (9am - 10:15am) and some Wednesdays at 7:00pm.

Able to play, sing, lead, and teach traditional and contemporary Gospel as well as traditional hymns.

Email resumes to admin@ourcfbc.org for details.

https://youtu.be/qqzhnIEQyQc for inspirational messages from Pastor Smith

A 21st Century Church With Ministry For Everyone

Faith Employment Opportunities

(804) 359-1691 or 359-3498 Facebook Fax (804) 359-3798 sixthbaptistrva www.sixthbaptistchurch.org

“Your Home In God’s Kingdom”

fÑÜxtw à{x jÉÜw To advertise your church events in the Richmond Free Press call 644-0496

DŽƵŶƚ KůŝǀĞ ĂƉƟƐƚ ŚƵƌĐŚ ŝŶ 'ůĞŶ ůůĞŶ ŝƐ ƐĞĞŬŝŶŐ Ă ƉĂƌƚͲƟŵĞ ŝƌĞĐƚŽƌ ŽĨ ŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĂŶĚ zŽƵƚŚ ƚŽ ŽǀĞƌƐĞĞ ƚŚĞ ĐŚŝůĚƌĞŶ ĂŶĚ LJŽƵƚŚ ŵŝŶŝƐƚƌLJ͘ DƵƐƚ ƉŽƐƐĞƐƐ ƐƚƌŽŶŐ ŝŶƚĞƌƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ĂŶĚ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƚŝŽŶ ƐŬŝůůƐ͘ WƌĞĨĞƌƌĞĚ ĐĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞ ŵƵƐƚ ĞdžŚŝďŝƚ ŚƌŝƐƚŝĂŶ ĐŚĂƌĂĐƚĞƌ ĂŶĚ ůŝĨĞƐƚLJůĞ ǁŚŝĐŚ ŝŶĐůƵĚĞƐ ƌĞŐƵůĂƌ ĚŝƐĐŝƉůŝŶĞƐ ƐƵĐŚ ĂƐ ŝďůĞ ƌĞĂĚŝŶŐ͕ ƉƌĂLJĞƌ͕ ĂŶĚ ƉĂƌƚŝĐŝƉĂƚŝŽŶ ŝŶ ĐŚƵƌĐŚ ůŝĨĞ͘ dŚŝƐ ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ ǁŝůů ďĞ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ ƵŶƟů ĮůůĞĚ͘ WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĂƉƉůŝĐĂŶƚƐ ĚŽ ŶŽƚ ŶĞĞĚ ƚŽ ƌĞĂƉƉůLJ͘ ƉƉůŝĐĂŶƚƐ ŵĂLJ ƉŝĐŬ ƵƉ ĂŶ ĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ĐŚƵƌĐŚ ŽĸĐĞ Žƌ ƐƵďŵŝƚ Ă ƌĞƐƵŵĞ ŝŶ ůŝĞƵ ŽĨ ĂŶ ĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶ ƚŽ͗ DŽƵŶƚ KůŝǀĞ ĂƉƟƐƚ ŚƵƌĐŚ͕ ϴϳϳϱ DŽƵŶƚ KůŝǀĞ ǀĞŶƵĞ͕ 'ůĞŶ ůůĞŶ͕ sŝƌŐŝŶŝĂ ϮϯϬϲϬ͘ dŚĞ ĞͲŵĂŝů ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐ ŝƐ ŵƐƚLJůĞƐΛ ŵŽďĐǀĂ͘ŽƌŐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĨĂdž ŝƐ ;ϴϬϰͿ ϮϲϮͲϮϯϵϳ &Žƌ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ƉůĞĂƐĞ ĐĂůů ;ϴϬϰͿ ϮϲϮͲϵϲϭϰ Ğdžƚ͘ ϮϮϳ A Criminal History Background Check is required.

SENIOR PASTOR VACANCY Swansboro Baptist Church is looking for a Bivocactional Pastor.

Please send resume to Swansboro Baptist Church 3801 Midlothian Turnpike, Richmond, VA 23224 or searchcommitteeswansboro@gmail.com or contact Deacon Simon Howard @ (804) 233-7031

Director Of Music Salary Commensurate with Experience DŽƵŶƚ KůŝǀĞ ĂƉƟƐƚ ŚƵƌĐŚ ŝŶ 'ůĞŶ ůůĞŶ ŝƐ ƐĞĞŬŝŶŐ Ă ĨƵůůͲƟŵĞ DƵƐŝĐ ŝƌĞĐƚŽƌ ƚŽ ŽǀĞƌƐĞĞ ƚŚĞ ŵƵƐŝĐ ŵŝŶŝƐƚƌLJ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĐŚƵƌĐŚ͘ ďŝůŝƚLJ ƚŽ ƌĞĂĚ ŵƵƐŝĐ ŝƐ ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞĚ͘ ĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞ ŵƵƐƚ ƉůĂLJ ƉŝĂŶŽ͕ ŽƌŐĂŶ͕ ĂŶĚ ŬĞLJďŽĂƌĚ͘ ĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞ ŵƵƐƚ ƉůĂLJ ŚLJŵŶƐ͕ ĂŶƚŚĞŵƐ͕ ĂŶĚ ŐŽƐƉĞů ;ĐŽŶƚĞŵƉŽƌĂƌLJ ĂŶĚ ƚƌĂĚŝƟŽŶĂůͿ͘ DƵƐƚ ƉŽƐƐĞƐƐ ƐƚƌŽŶŐ ŽƌŐĂŶŝnjĂƟŽŶĂů ĂŶĚ ŝŶƚĞƌƉĞƌƐŽŶĂů ƐŬŝůůƐ͘ WƌĞĨĞƌƌĞĚ ĐĂŶĚŝĚĂƚĞ ǁŝůů ŚĂǀĞ Ă ĚĞŐƌĞĞ ŝŶ ŵƵƐŝĐ ĨƌŽŵ ĂŶ ĂĐĐƌĞĚŝƚĞĚ ĐŽůůĞŐĞ Žƌ ƵŶŝǀĞƌƐŝƚLJ͘ ^ŽŵĞ DĞĚŝĂ /d ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ƉƌĞĨĞƌƌĞĚ ďƵƚ ŶŽƚ ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞĚ͘ DŝŶŝŵƵŵ ŽĨ ϮͲϯ LJĞĂƌƐ ŽĨ ŵƵƐŝĐ ĚŝƌĞĐƚŽƌ ĞdžƉĞƌŝĞŶĐĞ ƌĞƋƵŝƌĞĚ͘ dŚŝƐ ƉŽƐŝƟŽŶ ǁŝůů ďĞ ŽƉĞŶĞĚ ƵŶƟů ĮůůĞĚ͘ WƌĞǀŝŽƵƐ ĂƉƉůŝĐĂŶƚƐ ĚŽ ŶŽƚ ŶĞĞĚ ƚŽ ƌĞĂƉƉůLJ͘ ƉƉůŝĐĂŶƚƐ ŵĂLJ ƉŝĐŬ ƵƉ ĂŶ ĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ ĐŚƵƌĐŚ ŽĸĐĞ Žƌ ƐƵďŵŝƚ Ă ƌĞƐƵŵĞ ŝŶ ůŝĞƵ ŽĨ ĂŶ ĂƉƉůŝĐĂƟŽŶ ƚŽ͗ DŽƵŶƚ KůŝǀĞ ĂƉƟƐƚ ŚƵƌĐŚ͕ ϴϳϳϱ DŽƵŶƚ KůŝǀĞ ǀĞŶƵĞ͕ 'ůĞŶ ůůĞŶ͕ sŝƌŐŝŶŝĂ ϮϯϬϲϬ͘ dŚĞ ĞͲŵĂŝů ĂĚĚƌĞƐƐ ŝƐ ŵƐƚLJůĞƐΛ ŵŽďĐǀĂ͘ŽƌŐ͕ ĂŶĚ ƚŚĞ ĨĂdž ŝƐ ;ϴϬϰͿ ϮϲϮͲϵϲϭϰ Ğdžƚ͘ ϮϮϳ &Žƌ ŵŽƌĞ ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ ƉůĞĂƐĞ ĐĂůů ;ϴϬϰͿ ϮϲϮͲϵϲϭϰ A Criminal History Background Check is required.

C

Richmond Free Press

B4 March 17-19, 2022

Legal Notices/Employment Opportunities City of Richmond, Virginia CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the Council of the City of Richmond has scheduled a public hearing, open to all interested citizens, on Monday, March 28, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the Second Floor of City Hall, located at 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, to consider the following ordinances: Ordinance No. 2021-368 As Amended To conditionally rezone the property known as 6422 Forest Hill Avenue from the R-2 SingleFamily Residential District to the R-4 Single-Family Residential District, upon certain proffered conditions.

Ordinance No. 2022-020 To reduce the speed limits on Huguenot Road from its intersection with Riverside Drive to its intersection with the Chesterfield County line; on Richmond Highway from its intersection with Hopkins Road to its intersection with the Chesterfield County line; on Warwick Road from its intersection with Belt Boulevard to its intersection with German School Road; on Commerce Road from its intersection with Commerce Road Access to its intersection with Bells Road Access Road; on Forest Hill Avenue from its intersection with Sheila Lane to its intersection with the Chesterfield County line; on Broad Rock Boulevard from its intersection with Belt Boulevard to its intersection with Patsy Anne Drive; on Ironbridge Road from its intersection with Patsy Anne Drive to its intersection with the Chesterfield County line; on Belt Boulevard from its intersection with Warwick Road to its intersection with Broad Rock Boulevard; on the Manchester Bridge from its intersection with Byrd Street to its intersection with Semmes Avenue; and on U.S. Route 1 from its intersection with Rowe Street to its intersection with Riverside Drive, to 35 miles per hour. (COMMITTEE: Land Use, Housing and Transportation, Tuesday, March 22, 2022, 3:00 p.m.)

Ordinance No. 2022-047 To authorize the Director of Procurement Services, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Goods and Services Contract between the City of Richmond and CliftonLarsonAllen LLP for auditing services. (COMMITTEE: Finance and Economic Development, Thursday, March 17, 2022, 1:00 p.m.)

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address health disparities and the disproportionate burden of adverse health effects.

Ordinance No. 2022-085 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer to accept funds in the amount of $900,000.00 from the United States Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, to amend the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 Special Fund Budget by creating a new special fund for the City Sheriff called the FY 21 Second Chance Reentry Grant Special Fund, and to appropriate the increase to the Fiscal Year 20212022 Special Fund Budget by increasing estimated revenues and the amount appropriated to the City Sheriff’s FY 21 Second Chance Reentry Grant Special Fund by $900,000.00 for the purpose of funding a program to reduce recidivism by providing enhanced support services for the reentry of offenders into the Richmond community.

Ordinance No. 2022-086 To amend Ord. No. 2021040, adopted May 24, 2021, which adopted the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 General Fund Budget and made appropriations pursuant thereto, to (i) transfer $624,000.00 from the Non-Departmental agency, Public Safety Employee COVID-19 Hazard Bonuses line item, and $753,888.00 from the Non-Departmental a g e n c y, E m p l o y e e COVID-19 Bonuses line item, and (ii) appropriate $624,000.00 to the NonDepartmental agency, Richmond Ambulance Authority line item, $175,000.00 to the NonDepartmental agency, Richmond Public Defenders’ Office Supplement Salaries line item, $125,775.00 to the Circuit Court agency, $203,175.00 to the Judiciary - Commonwealth A t t o r n e y a g e n c y, $246,713.00 to the Richmond Sheriff’s Office agency, and $3,225.00 to the City Treasurer agency, all for the purpose of providing for bonuses to certain employees of the Richmond Ambulance Authority, the Public Defender, the Clerk of the Circuit Court, the Commonwealth’s Attorney, the Sheriff, and the Treasurer.

Ordinance No. 2022-087 To declare a public necessity for and to authorize the acquisition of the parcels of real property owned by the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority and known as 400 East 15 th Street, 426 East 15 th Street, and 1421 Dinwiddie Avenue for the purpose of maintaining such properties as public greenspace and for playground and recreational uses.

Ordinance No. 2022-053 To amend City Code §§ 5-34, concerning appointments and divisions of the Board of Building Code Appeals, 5-35, concerning membership of the Board, 5-36, concerning meetings, officers, minutes, and records of the Board, and 5-37, concerning terms of office for members of the Board, to consolidate the divisions of Board into one board. (COMMITTEE: Land Use, Housing and Transportation, Tuesday, March 22, 2022, 3:00 p.m.)

Ordinance No. 2022-088 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a First Amendment to Deed of Lease between Richmond VA II SGF, LLC, as lessor, and the City of Richmond, as lessee, for the purpose of providing office and storage space for the Office of the General Registrar at 2134 West Laburnum Avenue. (COMMITTEE: Land Use, Housing and Transportation, Tuesday, March 22, 2022, 3:00 p.m.)

Ordinance No. 2022-054 To amend and reordain City Code § 2-1105, concerning the Aging and Disabilities Advisory Board, for the purpose of modifying the membership composition of such Board to specify that one member shall be a member at-large and one member shall be an employee of the City’s Office of the Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Human Services with program manager duties. (COMMITTEE: Governmental Operations, Wednesday, March 23, 2022, 2:00 p.m.)

Ordinance No. 2022-089 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Fifth Amendment to Lease between the City of Richmond, as lessee, and Saul Subsidiary I Limited Partnership, as lessor, for the purpose of enabling the City to continue using 52,411± square feet of the property located at 4100 Hull Street Road for the Department of Social Services and other City functions. (COMMITTEE: Land Use, Housing and Transportation, Tuesday, March 22, 2022, 3:00 p.m.)

Ordinance No. 2022-083 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Gun Violence Prevention Fund Grant Contract between the City of Richmond and NextUp RVA for the purpose of establishing a positive youth development and youth violence prevention fund to support efforts to alleviate the impact of gun violence on vulnerable youth in the city of Richmond.

Ordinance No. 2022-090 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Lease of Property between the City of Richmond, as lessor, and People Cycle, Inc., as lessee, for the purpose of leasing to People Cycle, Inc., a certain portion of the City-owned property located at 3011 Water Street. (COMMITTEE: Land Use, Housing and Transportation, Tuesday, March 22, 2022, 3:00 p.m.)

Ordinance No. 2022-084 To authorize the Chief Administrative Officer, for and on behalf of the City of Richmond, to execute a Health Equity Trust Fund Grant Contract between the City of Richmond and the Richmond and Henrico Public Health Foundation for the purpose of establishing a health equity trust fund to support and strengthen community efforts to Continued on next column

Ordinance No. 2022-091 To amend ch. 2, art. V of the City Code by adding therein a new div. 20 (§§ 2-1202.1—2-1202.5) for the purpose of establishing a Civilian Review Board.

(COMMITTEES: Public S a f e t y, Tu e s d a y, March 22, 2022, 12:00 p.m.; Governmental Operations, Wednesday, March 23, 2022, 2:00 p.m.)

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Interested citizens who wish to speak will be given an opportunity to do so by following the instructions referenced in the March 28, 2022 Richmond City Council Formal meeting agenda. Copies of the full text of all ordinances are available by visiting the City Clerk’s page on the City’s Website at https:// www.rva.gov/office-cityclerk, and in the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 900 East Broad Street, Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23219, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Candice D. Reid City Clerk

City of Richmond, Virginia CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC NOTICE Notice is hereby given that the City of Richmond Planning Commission has scheduled a public hearing, open to all interested citizens, on Monday, April 4, 2022 at 1:30 p.m. and the Council of the City of Richmond has scheduled a public hearing on Monday, April 11, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chamber on the Second Floor of City Hall, located at 900 East Broad Street, Richmond, Virginia, to consider the following ordinances: Ordinance No. 2022-092 To amend and reordain Ord. No. 73-163-171, adopted Jul. 30, 1973, as last amended by Ord. No. 2005-148-129, adopted Jun. 27, 2005, which authorized the special use of the properties known as 1500 Westbrook Avenue, 1600 Westbrook Court, and 1 Glebe Close Road, to authorize a garden amenity area, upon certain terms and conditions. The City’s Richmond 300 Master Plan designates the future land use category for the subject property as Residential.

Primary Uses: Singlefamily houses, accessory dwelling units, and open space. Secondary Uses: Duplexes and small multifamily buildings (typically 3-10 units), institutional, and cultural. Secondary uses may be found along major streets.

Ordinance No. 2022-093 To authorize the special use of the properties known as 1204 North 19 th Street and 1206 North 19th Street for the purpose of up to six single-family attached dwellings, upon certain terms and conditions.

The City’s Richmond 300 Master Plan designates the future land use category for the subject property as Neighborhood Mixed-Use. Single-family houses, accessory dwelling units, duplexes, small multi-family buildings, and open space.

Secondary Uses: Large multi-family buildings, r e t a i l / o ff i c e / p e r s o n a l service, institutional, cultural, and government.

The proposed density is approximately 21 units per acre.

Ordinance No. 2022-094 To authorize the special use of the property known as 1203 East Brookland Park Boulevard for the purpose of a mixed-use building containing up to 43 dwelling units, upon certain terms and conditions. The City’s Richmond 300 Master Plan designates the future land use category for the subject property as Residential. Primary Uses: Single-family houses, accessory dwelling units, and open space. Secondary Uses: Duplexes and small multi-family buildings (typically 3-10 units), institutional, and cultural.

Secondary uses may be found along major streets.

The proposed density is approximately 70 units per acre.

Ordinance No. 2022-095 To authorize the special use of the property known as 933 West Grace Street for the purpose of a mixeduse building containing up to 21 dwelling units and commercial space, upon certain terms and conditions. The City’s Richmond 300 Master Plan designates the future land use category for the subject property as Destination Mixed-Use. Primary Uses include: r e t a i l / o ff i c e / p e r s o n a l service, multi-family residential, cultural, and open space. Secondary Uses: Institutional and government. The proposed density is approximately 144 units per acre.

Ordinance No. 2022-096 To authorize the special use of the property known as 1403 1/2 Spotsylvania Street for the purpose of two single-family attached dwellings with off-street parking, upon certain terms and conditions.

The City’s Richmond 300 Master Plan designates the future land use category for the subject property as Neighborhood Continued on next column

Continued from previous column

Mixed-Use. Single-family houses, accessory dwelling units, duplexes, small multi-family buildings, and open space. Secondary Uses: Large multifamily buildings, retail/ office/personal service, institutional, cultural, and government.

Ordinance No. 2022-097 To conditionally rezone the properties known as 3329 Hopkins Road and 3425 Hopkins Road from the R-4 Single-Family Residential District to the R-6 Single-Family Attached Residential District, upon certain proffered conditions. The City’s Richmond 300 Master Plan designates the future land use category for the subject property as Neighborhood Mixed-Use. Single-family houses, accessory dwelling units, duplexes, small multi-family buildings, and open space. Secondary Uses: Large multifamily buildings, retail/ office/personal service, institutional, cultural, and government.

Interested citizens who wish to speak will be given an opportunity to do so by following the instructions referenced in the April 11, 2022 Richmond City Council Formal meeting agenda. Copies of the full text of all ordinances are available by visiting the City Clerk’s page on the City’s Website at https:// www.rva.gov/office-cityclerk, and in the Office of the City Clerk, City Hall, 900 East Broad Street, Suite 200, Richmond, VA 23219, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Candice D. Reid City Clerk

Divorce VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER JESSICA CAMPBELL, Plaintiff v.

CAROLYN WILLIS, Defendant.

Case No.: CL22000298-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 5th day of May, 2022 at 9:00 AM and protect her interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure, Esquire Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER DELICIA RUDOLPH, Plaintiff v.

TIMOTHY RUDOLPH, Defendant.

Case No.: CL22000745-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 5th day of May, 2022 at 9:00 AM and protect his interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Attorney VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER GEORGE BRIGGS, JR., Plaintiff v.

TAMMY BRIGGS, Defendant.

Case No.: CL22000707-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 5th day of May, 2022 at 9:00 AM and protect her interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Attorney Continued on next column

Continued from previous column

VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER TAINEKA RICHARDSON, Plaintiff v.

CORNELL RICHARDSON, Defendant.

Case No.: CL22000639-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 28th day of April, 2022 at 9:00 AM and protect his interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Attorney VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER KIMBERLY RODRIGUEZ, Plaintiff v.

MANUEL ANTONIO RODRIGUEZ TOLOZA, Defendant.

Case No.: CL20001543-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, who is a nonresident of the Commonwealth of Virginia, appear here on or before the 29th day of April, 2022 at 9:00 AM and protect his interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Attorney VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER ANGELA BLACK-JONES, Plaintiff v.

DAMIEN BROWN, Defendant.

Case No.: CL22000551-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, whose whereabouts are unknown, appear here on or before the 20th day of April, 2022 at 9:00 AM, and protect his interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. Dorothy M. Eure, Plaintiff’s Attorney VSB# 27724 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667 VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND MARIA-DORA MACHADO DE GONZALEZ, Plaintiff, v.

PEDRO RENE GONZALEZ REQUENO, Defendant.

Case No.: CL21-2988/6 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of the abovestyled suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the Defendant on the grounds that the parties have lived separate and apart, without any cohabitation and without any interruption, for a period of more than one year.

It appearing by affidavit filed according to law that the Defendant, Pedro Rene Gonzalez Requeno, is not a resident of the State of Virginia and that his last known address is unknown, it is therefore ORDERED that Defendant, PEDRO RENE GONZALEZ REQUENO, appear before this Court on or before the 22nd day of April 2022, and do what is necessary to protect his interests in this suit.

A Copy Teste: EDWARD F. JEWETT, Clerk I ask for this: Jesse Baez, Esq. (VSB #85986) Brooks & Baez 9100 Arboretum Pkwy., Suite 190 Richmond, VA 23236 T: (804) 570-7473 F: (804) 548-4215 Counsel for Plaintiff VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT FOR THE COUNTY OF HANOVER BLONNIE LEE, Continued on next column

Continued from previous column

Plaintiff v.

BISMARK SEREBOUR, Defendant.

Case No.: CL22000131-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to obtain a divorce from the bond of matrimony from the defendant on the ground of living separate and apart without any cohabitation and without interruption for a period exceeding twelve months.

It is ORDERED that the defendant, who is a nonresident, appear here on or before the 12th day of April, 2022 at 9:00 AM and protect his interests.

A Copy, Teste: FRANK D. HARGROVE, JR., Clerk I ask for this: Dorothy M. Eure, Esquire VSB# 27724 Law Office of Dorothy M. Eure, P.C. 8460 Mount Eagle Road Ashland, VA 23005 (804) 798-9667

CUSTODY VIRGINIA: IN THE JUVENILE AND DOMESTIC RELATIONS DISTRICT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND Commonwealth of Virginia, in re JEREMIAH MINNICK RDSS v.

UNKNOWN FATHER MICHAEL MINNICK Case No. JJ098657-08-00 Case No. JJ098657-06-00 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to: Terminate the residual parental rights (“TPR”) of the Unknown Father & Michael Minnick (Father) of Jeremiah Minnick, child DOB 02/22/2020, child.

“TPR” means all rights and responsibilities remaining with parent after transfer of legal custody or guardianship of the person, including but not limited to rights of: visitation; adoption consent; determination of religious affiliation; and responsibility for support.

It is ORDERED that the defendant Unknown Father & Michael Minnick (Father) to appear at the abovenamed Court and protect his/her interest on or before 04/29/2022, at 9:30 A.M., Courtroom #1.

PROPERTY VIRGINIA: IN THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF RICHMOND JOHN MARSHALL COURTS BUILDING CITY OF RICHMOND, Plaintiff, v.

TRUSTEES OF THE TEMPLE OF JUDAH OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, et al, Defendants.

Case No.: CL21-4340 ORDER OF PUBLICATION The object of this suit is to subject the property briefly described as 921 North 20th Street, Tax Map Number E000-0420/020, Richmond, Virginia, to sale in order to collect delinquent real estate taxes assessed thereon in the name of the owners of record, Trustees of the Temple of Judah of Richmond, Virginia.

An Affidavit having been filed that said owners, TRUSTEES OF THE TEMPLE OF JUDAH OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, have not been located and have not filed a response to this action; that VERNON WHITE, JR, ANNETTE HILL, MILDRED GRAY, and MARY MARGUERITE FOSTER, TRUSTEES of the Temple of Judah of Richmond, Virginia, have not been located and have not filed a response to this action, that ROBERT B. BROWN, upon information and belief deceased, and IRWIN A. HELLER, upon information and belief deceased, TRUSTEES of a Deed of Trust filed in the records of the Richmond Circuit Court at Instrument Number 02-28341 on September 10, 2002, or their successor/s in interest, have not been located and have not filed a response to this action; and that any heirs, devisees, assignees, successors in interest, successors in title and/or any creditors with a current or future interest in said property, have not been identified and/or served despite diligent efforts to do so and are defendants to this suit by the general description of “Parties Unknown.”

IT IS ORDERED that TRUSTEES OF THE TEMPLE OF JUDAH OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, VERNON WHITE, JR, ANNETTE HILL, MILDRED GRAY, MARY MARGUERITE FOSTER, TRUSTEES of the Temple of Judah of Richmond, Virginia, ROBERT B. BROWN, upon information and belief deceased, and IRWIN A. HELLER, upon information and belief deceased, TRUSTEES of a Deed of Trust filed in the records of the Richmond Circuit Court at Instrument Number 02-28341 on September 10, 2002, and Parties Unknown, come forward to appear on or before MAY 19, 2022 and do what is necessary to protect their interests in this matter.

An Extract, Teste: Edward F. Jewett, Clerk Gregory A. Lukanuski, Esq. City of Richmond, Office of the City Attorney 900 E. Broad Street Richmond, VA 23219 804-646-7949 Continued on next column

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LICENSE

and Beer on and off premises Mixed Beverage Restaurant license to sell or manufacture alcoholic beverages.

Hoang Duong, Member NOTE: Objections to the issuance of this license must be submitted to ABC no later than 30 days from the publishing date of the first of two required newspaper legal notices. Objections should be registered at www. abc.virginia.gov or 800-5523200.

Timberly LLC Trading as: Guapo’s Restaurant 7225 Hull Street Rd North Chesterfield, Virginia 23235 The above establishment is applying to the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage C ontrol (ABC) AUTHORITY for a Wine Continued on next column

1-800-Pack-Rat (VA-Richmond-5471) 6601 S Laburnum Ave Richmond, VA 23231 877-774-1537

Tenant:

Notice of Sale

Baldwin, Clifton Brown, Deborah Jackson, Angela Langhorne, LaToya Richardson, Robyn rudicil, stephanie Lindsey Harris (LDM)

Unit # 706026 D58392 D04218 D57267 D50983 802868 D56823

1-800-Pack-Rat (VA-Richmond-5471), 6601 S Laburnum Ave, Richmond, VA 23231, has possessory lien on all of the goods stored in the units above. All these items of personal property are being sold pursuant to the assertion of the lien on 3/24/2022 at 10:00 AM in order to collect the amounts due from you. The sale will take place on www.storagetreasures.com from 3/24/2022 to 3/31/2022 at 12:00 PM

Thank you for your interest in applying for opportunities with The City of Richmond.

To see what opportunities are available, please refer to our website at www.richmondgov.com.

EOE M/F/D/V Software Engineer, Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., Glen Allen, VA: Support the critical regulatory space of New Account Opening and Maintenance capabilities related to Brokerage accounts; contribute to transformation initiatives around New Account Opening and Account Maintenance to enable DQG SURYLGH D IDVWHU VLPSOHU DQG PRUH HI¿FLHQW user experience by leveraging Technology stack including Angular JS, Web APIs, Business Process Automation, events driven architecture and Agile development methodology. Must have a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Engineering, Computer Science, RU UHODWHG WHFKQLFDO ¿HOG SOXV \HDUV RI H[SHULHQFH in the job offered or application development and implementation experience. To apply, send resume to recruiter_inbox@wellsfargo.com and reference Requisition # 000924 in the subject line.

GRANTS COORDINATOR Richmond, Virginia

The Virginia Tourism Corporation (VTC) is seeking an experienced Grants Coordinator to assist with the VTC grant application processes and reimbursements. VTC offers several grant programs to the travel industry partners in Virginia. The successful candidate for this position will assist with the administration of these programs.

All candidates must apply through our website https://www.vatc.org/ administration/employment/.

Application deadline: April 1, 2022.

EOE

ASSISTANT COMMONWEALTH’S ATTORNEY The City of Richmond Commonwealth’s $WWRUQH\ 2̇FH LV VHHNLQJ WZR $VVLVWDQW Commonwealth’s Attorney. Responsibilities include the prosecution of criminal cases, LQFOXGLQJ IHORQ\ DQG PLVGHPHDQRU R̆HQVHV in General District, Juvenile & Domestic Relations and Circuit Court. Successful FDQGLGDWHV ZLOO EH D JUDGXDWH IURP DQ accredited law school. Must be licensed to SUDFWLFH ODZ LQ WKH &RPPRQZHDOWK RI 9LUJLQLD 7KRURXJK NQRZOHGJH RI VWDWH DQG IHGHUDO laws and court decisions as they relate to the criminal justice process; discretion in decisionPDNLQJ SURFHVV DQG DELOLW\ WR H̆HFWLYHO\ FRPPXQLFDWH ZLWK VWD̆ DQG RWKHU DJHQFLHV and departments. Applicants with 1-5 years RI SURVHFXWLQJ H[SHULHQFH DUH HQFRXUDJHG WR DSSO\ 6DODU\ GHSHQGV XSRQ H[SHULHQFH 6HQG UHVXPHV WR EHYHUO\ V KDUULV#59$ JRY Resumes must be received by Thursday, March 31, 2022.

TRANSIT SYSTEM

CUSTOMER SERVICE/ CALL CENTER REPRESENTATIVE

Part-Time $13.02 per hour (Increases to $13.52 after successful completion of the probationary period) &ORVHV 2SHQ XQWLO ÀOOHG GRTC is seeking candidates who possess excellent customer service skills for available positions in our Customer Service &DOO &HQWHU 7KH TXDOLÀHG FDQGLGDWHV ZLOO EH at least 21 years of age, have a high school education, 1 year of call center experience and the ability to work in a high call volume environment. Candidates should apply online at www.ridegrtc.com. Only online applications are accepted.

GRTC is an equal opportunity employer with a drug-free work environment.