What a week.

From failing test scores to another vigil for a young Black person to yet another police chief’s resignation.

So much bad news within just a few days leaves many of us cynical, fearful, speechless and definitely exhausted.

What you will read in this week’s Free Press is just a smidgen of the crime, violence, despair and darkness that appears to have consumed our city in a matter of weeks. We don’t enjoy publishing any of it, but sometimes we must.

The shift from light to dark was swift and sudden, similar to what we’ll see on Nov. 6 when forced to adjust our clocks and enter an even stronger sense of gloom.

Take us back.

Just two weeks ago crowds basked under sunny skies and warm weather, dancing and swaying to music from the Bayou, New York, Richmond, Calif., Nova Scotia, Zimbawe and other parts unknown.

We ran our hearts out when Djimon Hounsou brought his 16.19 race to Richmond, calling attention to his foundation that commemorates the achievements and sacrifices “our African-American brothers and sisters have made for our nation and celebrates Unity in Diversity through symbolic courses of 16.19 kilometers, and 6.19 miles.”

And we burst with pride, sprinkled with a little skepticism, when plans for a new Diamond District were announced in September. Do you remember?

An extra dose of back slapping and high fives were shared upon learning that nearly 50 minorities will be involved in the wheeling and dealing for the $2.4 billion mixed-used project, which includes a new baseball stadium. Leading the project is RVA Diamond Partners, 45 percent of whose members are Black-owned. The largest Black-owned business is Loop Capital, which has a taken a 45 percent stake in the development, according to the partnership

Yet, amid all the excitement and gaiety, darkness continued to swirl in certain parts of our city. The Bon Secours story exposing its thirst for profit over poor patients. The uncertainty about housing for the city’s homeless population. The upsetting failure found in many of our schools.

The deaths. There is scant opportunity to honor and lift pillars of this town who spent their lives educating and fighting for others because so many tears are being shed for the young people who will never know the strength of such greatness. All because they were denied by a gun and a bullet.

This darkness can no longer be ignored or pushed aside for the sake of fun and games.

We are in crisis and there needs to be accountability. Now.

Adults need to stand up and stop the nonsense. Or in Richmond’s case, shootings, murders, ignorance, dishonesty, mistrust, finger pointing and basically disgraceful behavior.

Mayor Levar Stoney: Hire a police chief who won’t have to be shown the door just days or months after he or she arrives. Conduct a thorough vetting process. Allow citizens to comment and share their thoughts. Ensure that all candidates walk through Richmond’s various neighborhoods and talk to people. Host community forums. If it takes six months to hire the right person, fine. It simply will have to take six months to hire the right person.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin: Stop pointing fingers and picking fights about why Virginia’s test scores are so abysmal. (Politifact and the Poynter Institute actually counter some of the governor’s assertions. Another editorial, another time.)

Do your homework before broadcasting what you’re going to do. You’ve been in office less than a year, hardly enough time to visit and assess the state’s 132 school districts, which truly is needed for anyone who is serious about enacting change.

As Sen. Louise Lucas says in our front-page Free Press article about Gov. Youngkin’s reaction to the release of the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress test scores:

“In a time where we need proper leadership from the governor, instead of taking time off the road to find solutions to learning loss problems in Virginia’s schools, he’d instead place the blame on previous administrations.”

Civil, social, universities and business leaders: Demand more, give more and be more present.

We know that many of you, especially secondary schoolteachers, work tirelessly to improve the lives of your students. You do so for minimal pay and even less appreciation.

Please know that we hear you, see you and appreciate you each and every day.