Paul Goldman, leader of the Put Schools First campaign, is dropping his appeal of a Richmond Circuit Court ruling that blocked his efforts to put an advisory referendum on the ballot last November for Richmond voters to weigh in on the $1.5 billion Coliseum replacement plan.

“City Council is expected to vote on the plan long before the appeal could be heard by the Virginia Supreme Court,” Mr. Goldman told the Free Press. “I don’t think an appeal would be useful at this point.”

Late last year, Mr. Goldman filed the required notice of his intent to appeal the September ruling by Judge Joi Jeter Taylor, chief judge of Richmond Circuit Court. Judge Taylor ruled that Mr. Goldman had fallen short of submitting the more than 10,000 valid signatures of registered voters to put the referendum on the ballot.

Mr. Goldman said he is dropping the appeal and now focusing on developing a radio program, Richmond Politics, he launched on WCLM 1450AM and 101.7FM.