All results / Stories / Jeremy M. Lazarus

City rent and mortgage assistance program to get additional $8M in federal funds
City Hall will pump an additional $8 million into a rent and mortgage assistance program in a bid to help hundreds of strug- gling Richmond families avoid eviction.

Some ‘Legacy Vendors’ to have spot at renovated 17th Street Farmers’ Market
Evelyn “Luceal” Allen and Rosa Fleming will be coming back to the 17th Street Farmers’ Market, while Timothy “Tim” Christian likely will not. For now, he will remain by Main Street Station.

Troubled Essex Village apartments sold, renamed
Essex Village, once labeled Henrico County’s worst apartment complex, is now in the hands of a successful African-American property investment and development firm based in Baltimore.

Youngkin snubs lawmakers’ efforts to support tenants
Landlords have always held the upper hand when it comes to evicting people. Republican Gov. Glenn A. Youngkin is keeping it that way, according to advocates for tenants.

A new George Wythe High School will cost a record $86,111 per student, data show
The cost of replacing George Wythe High School has ballooned to $154.6 million, far more than anticipated.

City names new HR director
City Hall has named Tyrome Alexander director of human resources as part of efforts to rebuild the department and rev up efforts to recruit and retain employees. Mr. Alexander, director of human resources for Toledo, Ohio, for the past four years, will take over Monday, Feb. 27.

Advocates charge transit plan ignores needs of regular riders
Despite an outpouring of concern that regular bus riders, largely African-Americans, are being ignored and overlooked, Richmond City Council voted 9-0 Monday to endorse a proposed overhaul of current GRTC routes aimed at speeding up regular service and connecting riders with the east-west Pulse bus rapid transit system now under construction.

Who should investigate allegations against Fairfax?
Lt. Gov. Justin E. Fairfax continues to preside over the state Senate despite the continuing ferment over decades-old sexual assault claims two women have publicly leveled against him.

New RPS teachers to earn $51,182 annually; bus drivers will earn $23 per hour
Starting pay for Richmond schoolteachers will top $50,000 for the first time after July 1.

City Council president seeks to ensure successor
Outgoing City Council President Michael J. Jones plans to keep his 9th District seat until Dec. 31, according to a letter of resignation he submitted to his colleagues and the City Clerk. That appears to represent a change in the timing for the council departure of the full-time minister, who is headed to the General Assembly after winning his uncontested election to represent

New Virginia license plate honoring Dr. King?
Can Delegate Dawn M. Adams find 450 Virginians willing to pay $25 to $35 for a specialty license plate honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. by Monday, Jan. 7?

Officials break ground for new off-track betting parlor in South Side
A vacant, former K-Mart store in South Side is being transformed into a $30 million center for betting on horse racing called Rosie’s.

City Council poised to transfer money for new George Wythe design
A funding snafu over design money for a new high school in South Side appears to be heading for a relatively quick resolution.

City day care program rolls out with waiting list
The new school year launched Tuesday with all classes online in Richmond, but the promise of a robust, city-supported day care program for children of working parents and for parents with weak links to the internet has yet to be fulfilled — and it is unclear when it will be.

Richmond Public Library’s main branch goes through overhaul in way space is used
“We’re shaking off the dust,” said Scott Firestine, director of the Richmond Public Library. That’s his description of the changes sweeping through the Main Library in Downtown.

Sickle cell advocate wins fight for high-dose opioids
George H. Carter appears to have won his fight to ensure that people like himself who suffer from sickle cell disease can get the high dosages of opioids needed to control the excruciating pain.

Liberation Church’s intent is children’s learning center, not homeless shelter, says pastor
The founding pastor of Liberation Church is pushing back against a report that the city was considering placing a large homeless shelter on the site of the main sanctuary at 5501 Midlothian Turnpike. Founding Pastor Jay Patrick said the church never considered that idea.

City OKs plan for toothless commission to keep tabs on utilities
Also, owning big cats, reptiles, bears and wolves is a ‘no’
City Council is on track to create the city’s first Public Utilities & Services Commission to review issues involving public utilities and pass a modified ban on lions, tigers, alligators and other “exotic or wild animals.”

Former City Councilman Chuck Richardson tells all in new book, ‘Cease Fire! Cease Fire!’
He was the man called Chuck when he served on Richmond City Council.

RRHA reviewing new sites to relocate Fay Towers
The Frederic A. Fay Towers once again seem to be upholding the city housing authority’s reputation for slow-moving development projects. Instead of breaking ground last summer as promised, the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority is still struggling to determine the site where it will build a replacement for the aging high-rise in Gilpin Court, just north of Downtown.