Delegate Don Scott

My foremost wish for 2024 is to have a smooth and successful legislative session. It is my goal to pick up the mantle and serve as speaker of the House with the dignity and grace that the office deserves. I know that I stand on the shoulders of giants who, for generations, were prevented from the opportunities that I now hold and I take their legacy with me every step of the way.

I hope to lead the House – the People’s House – in a direction that keeps moving Virginia forward. It will take all of us to secure and protect the future for the next generation. Through smart and effective policy, which will require true bipartisan collaboration, we can ensure that our Commonwealth remains the best place to live, work and raise a family.

Our legislative priorities remain the same as they always have been: To protect the rights and freedoms of all Virginians, support our public schools and our teachers, protect our communities, ensure every person has the right to make their own decisions, and create a Commonwealth that is more affordable for hard-working Virginia families.

By the end of the next legislative session, I want every Virginian to know that they have legislators who work for them and their interests in the House of Delegates. That is how I will know that we have achieved my foremost goal for the new year.

GRTC CEO Sheryl Adams

Our No.1 wish for the new year: Fund fare-free transit.

Fare-free transit has been an unquestionable success for the Richmond region, providing critical transportation solutions for our region’s most vulnerable riders.

GRTC’s fare-free service is a feature of the system. It has played a key role in helping the Richmond region buck national trends and grow transit ridership, ensures access to health Care, jobs, and education for transit-dependent individuals, and makes service quicker and smoother.

Fare-free transit means more than our buses – CARE paratransit service and LINK microtransit are also fare-free, removing barriers to entry for riders with disabilities and helping bring new communities on to public transit, a shift that is crucial for lowering regional emissions and meeting our climate goals.

As we reach the end of the state grant that has funded the fare-free pilot, our No.1 goal is finding a sustainable, community-based funding solution for fare-free. This is why we’re excited to debut the Transit Access Partnership a brand-new public/private joint venture that provides an opportunity for local organizations and businesses to demonstrate their commitment to the Richmond region through a tax-deductible donation to fare-free transit.

GRTC is continuing to invest in more service, more places, including eight new miles in Chesterfield County along the Midlothian Turnpike, which launches this month, and four new LINK Microtransit zones throughout the region, which launch later this spring.

We’re also proud to announce the full restoration of the entire network to pre-pandemic frequencies, thanks to a historic operator hiring and training program — and to thank our riders for helping us lead the nation in ridership growth.

As we continue to invest in the region, we’re also asking the region to come together to invest in our riders. Together, we can ensure that fare-free service continues to make transit accessible to everyone.

Delegate-elect Rae Cousins

My wish for 2024 is that we build a just and fair Virginia where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.

Over the past year, I have had the opportunity to speak with Richmonders all over the city about their hopes for our collective future. I heard many of the same messages — people want stronger schools, better economic opportunities, and safer communities.

This winter, I will be introducing legislation in the General Assembly to increase school funding for our students. Earlier this year, the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission released a report that our schools are underfunded by close to $4 billion across the Commonwealth. This is no surprise to us in Richmond, where we know that our students are too often learning in outdated buildings and our teachers are stretched thin because of lack of support staff and low pay. We know that a strong education system is the foundation of a strong economy, and I am committed to supporting our students in my role as delegate.

I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to serve the community that raised me in the Virginia General Assembly. I hope that my office can be a resource to you in the coming year. Please do not hesitate to contact me at delrcousins@house.virginia.gov.

Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney

Over the past seven years as mayor, I’ve gotten to know a lot of Richmonders from every corner of our great city. While we all come from different backgrounds and have different life experiences, we ALL call this amazing city home.

My aspiration for the new year is to foster unity, setting aside differences, as we collectively strive to enhance Richmond’s status as the “Best Place to Live in Virginia.” Embracing our identity as the Capital of Compassion, I challenge you to explore new aspects of our city, embrace and engage with neighbors, discover local eateries, join a community sports league, visit our museums, or volunteer with nonprofits.

In my final year as mayor, I commit to continue to work toward our shared goals, run through the tape, and leave our beloved city in the best possible position for the next generation of Richmond leaders and the families they will serve.

Delegate-elect Michael Jones

As we enter the promising year of 2024, my foremost wish is for every person in our community to experience prosperity and gainful employment. It is my sincere hope that each individual finds work that not only fulfills their professional aspirations, but also meets the needs of them and their families.

Employment plays a vital role in shaping one’s life and overall well-being. When individuals are gainfully employed, they not only contribute to the growth and stability of our society, but also experience a sense of purpose and fulfillment. Meaningful work provides a platform for personal growth, fosters creativity and enhances self-esteem.

In an ideal world, every person would have access to opportunities that align with their skills, passions and interests. It is my wish that individuals can pursue careers that ignite their enthusiasm, where they can utilize their unique talents to make a positive impact. Whether it be in the arts, sciences, trades or any other field, I envision a society where everyone can thrive in their chosen profession.

Financial security is a fundamental pillar of well-being, providing individuals with the means to meet their basic needs, support their loved ones, and invest in their future. I wish for every person to have access to employment opportunities that offer fair wages, benefits, and opportunities for growth and advancement.

To achieve this vision, our community must come together and create an environment that fosters economic growth, entrepreneurship and innovation. We must prioritize investment in education and vocational training, ensuring that individuals have the necessary skills to secure meaningful employment in a rapidly evolving job market. Collaboration between public and private sectors, as well as community organizations, is essential for creating a robust ecosystem that supports job creation and economic prosperity.

Let us strive to create a society where everyone has the opportunity to thrive, contribute, and lead fulfilling lives through meaningful work.

Richmond Police Chief Rick Edwards

My foremost wish for Richmond for 2024: Safety in our city.

We will finish 2023 with a significant reduction in violent crime, particularly with non-fatal shootings. These gains, however, are not enough. Too many in our city experience the scourge of gun violence. It is critically important that we keep guns out of the hands of criminals.

The best way to do that is for members of our community to properly store and secure their legally-owned firearms. In 2023, 632 firearms were stolen from cars. Most of those cars were unlocked. That is only a few shy of our total from 2022. These guns are used in drive-by shootings, robberies and other violent crimes.

Two children this year were accidentally shot with guns stolen out of unlocked cars. In March, a 13-year old young man was killed in South Richmond. In November, a 3-year-old boy was seriously wounded in the East End. These were completely preventable tragedies.

In many cities around the country, privately manufactured firearms, better known as “Ghost Guns,” make up a large percentage of firearms recovered by police. That is not the case in Richmond. Criminals in our city do not need to buy a 3D printer to create a gun to use in crimes. They simply have to pull on the handles of enough car doors and they are likely to find all the guns they need.

We are trying to do our part as a police department. We are arresting armed criminals every day. We are even providing gun safes, free of charge, to those who need them. For 2024, I am begging our community to understand that while the 2nd Amendment is a constitutional right, it also carries with it a profound responsibility. Firearms need to be properly secured for the safety of everyone, including our children.