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Planned school cuts causing pain
North Side resident Sherri Davis said she is concerned about planned budget cuts that may close schools, crowd classrooms and have parents scrambling to arrange transportation for their children. “It becomes a safety issue when you propose to put more kids in classes,” the mother of two Richmond Public Schools students told the Free Press on Wednesday. “It’s already hard enough for teachers to teach the large numbers of students they have in their classrooms.”
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National Recovery Month program
A Church Hill restaurant is teaming with Richmond area playwright and author Raymond Goode to mark September as National Recovery Month in the city, it has been announced.
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Finding a safe space
Virginia State University will host a free discussion focused on African-American men and mental health as part of several HBCU Across America forums participating in Real Talk Drives Real Change events.
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Clarification
Leroy Williams, a trustee of Pilgrim Baptist Church, said the church “is not making any plans” to sell its longtime home at 1900 Whitcomb St.
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Michael Brown was a ‘sacrificial lamb’
Re Column “Recovering from Ferguson” and Letter to the Editor “Media responsible for racial tensions,” Free Press Aug. 29-31 edition:
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Addressing climate change is critical
I am a 16-year-old sophomore in the International Baccalaureate program at Henrico High School. Within the past few months, I have become more aware of the climate change crisis and the important global summit, COP26, held recently in Glasgow, Scotland, on the issue.
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City needs better rapid transit plan
The RVA Coalition for Smart Transit represents 11 neighborhood organizations and civic groups. We are Richmond voters, residents, taxpayers, business owners and bus riders from every demographic. We vigorously support improved public transit in Richmond, and that is precisely why we are so concerned about GRTC’s bus rapid transit as it is currently planned. The more we learn about this bus concept called “the Pulse,” the more it appears to be fundamentally flawed. According to GRTC’s own million dollar study, 47 percent of Richmonders have no bus service where they live. According to a Harvard University study, Richmond ranks 92nd out of 100 metropolitan areas in public transit service.
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Personality: Zarina Fazaldin
Spotlight on Richmond Folk Festival Programming Committee Chair
Zarina Fazaldin left her family in Tanzania to complete high school and earn her bachelor’s degree in India before coming to Richmond to pursue post graduate studies. Back then, her dream job was to work at the United Nations. More than 30 years later, Ms. Fazaldin still lives in Richmond, a city that she loves and considers her own. Her friends in Richmond have become family, she says.
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Wide receiver Charles Hall moves into the fast lane at VUU
Charles Hall was merely a background figure — little more than an extra — last season for Virginia Union University football. This year, he has become a leading man.
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Salvation Army delays move to new headquarters
The Salvation Army Central Virginia is keeping its headquarters and shelter at 2 W. Grace St. and has no immediate plans to move to North Side.
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The Richmond Night Market celebrates the holidays
The Richmond Night Market will produce three “Holiday Villages” to celebrate the Richmond community and support of the small business community Dec. 8–11 at the 17th Street Market, 100 N. 17th St.
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Price puts events out of reach for some area residents
Re: “First African-American police officers to be remembered in April 30 ceremony,” March 31-April 2 edition: I remember very well three of the four policemen who are to be honored. They were officers in my younger days. I would like to come to the ceremony, however, I cannot afford to pay the $50 the event organizers are charging to attend the ceremony. I am a citizen who lives off a very low income each month.
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Saving ourselves
Attorney Benjamin J. Crump urges graduates to use their degrees, positions and voices to speak up for others
“It is up to Black people to save Black people,” noted at- torney Benjamin J. Crump told graduates during Virginia State University’s 2020 virtual commencement exercises held online last Saturday.
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Public to Monument Avenue Commission:
Is statue removal off the table?
Can the Monument Avenue Commission recommend that the statues of Confederates be removed? That was the pressing question at the first full meeting Monday of the commission assembled by Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney to deal with the statues to vanquished traitors along the tree-lined thoroughfare.
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Navy Hill ship sinking?
Scrutiny of Coliseum replacement plan reveals major gaps
The grand plan Mayor Levar M. Stoney is pushing to replace the Richmond Coliseum with $1.5 billion in new Downtown development does not appear to include enough affordable housing to meet a City Council requirement.