By Jeremy M. Lazarus Landlords are in trouble, too, according to Bobby L. McIntosh, who is in charge of 109 units in Richmond through his company, Bayside Properties and Management. “So many tenants are not paying rent,” Mr. McIntosh said, noting that apartment owners are hard-pressed to cover the costs they face, from utility bills and maintenance to lawn care and their own loans from banks. While evictions seem heartless, he said, owners and manage ment firms often have no choice but to remove those who do not pay as agreed. “When you have a number of tenants not paying, it just becomes When tenants don’t pay, eviction is the price, says one landlord ‘We’re not giving up’
The Richmond and Henrico County health districts are offering testing at the following locations: • Thursday, Aug. 11, and Aug. 18, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.Fulton Neighborhood Resource Center, 1519 Williamsburg Road. • Wednesday, Aug. 17, 8 to 10 a.m. - East Henrico Recreation Center, 1440 N. Laburnum Ave. Call the Richmond and Henrico COVID-19 Hotline at (804) 205-3501 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday for more information on testing sites, or go online at vax.rchd.com.
Chief Smith Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press
Holding still for a landing Patience pays off for 5-year-old New Yorker Julian Graham, who got an up-close view of a vibrant butterfly while visiting the “Butterflies Live” exhibition with his family at Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden last Saturday. The exhibit runs until Oct. 10.
Rolman BalcarcelBavagas and Julio Alvarado-Dubon.“Weareclosing all discussion about the planned Fourth of July mass shooting,” Chief Smith said in trying to make the story go away. “The matter is now in the hands of the federal govern ment. As I’ve often stated, we will follow wherever the investigation leads us.” Earlier this month, at the request of city Commonwealth’s Attorney, Colette W. McEachin, the U.S. Attorney’s Office took over prosecution of the men, who are illegally in the country. They are now facing deportable charges of violating immigration rules and of illegally possessing firearms as non-citizens — but not anything to do with terrorism. Chief Smith’s statement came weeks after Mr. Balcarcel-Bavagas and Mr. Alvarado-Dubon were arrested based on an anonymous tip to RPD claiming they were planning to commit a shooting at a July 4 event. By Holly Rodriguez A common thread throughout the inaugural BLCK Street Conference earlier this week was encourage ment and advice on everything from organizing finances to Organizedmentoring.bythe Jackson Ward Collective, a member-based organization that provides Black busi nesses coaching, support and access to resources, the conference carried a positive vibe during the daylong session near Willow Lawn.
Urban One leadership acknowledges casino vote delay units remains strong, those who do not pay for their housing are no longer able to avoid the consequences of missed rental payments, no matter how heartbreak ing their story or how it impacts their lives. Since March 2020 when the pandemic hit, rent ers have had major help to remain in place even if they stopped paying for their housing. The state and federal government halted evictions for the most part, and courts shut down. Renters also got help when Congress passed major relief packages such as the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan. Included were major ap propriations of funds for rental relief. Virginia, alone, was able to allocate $1 billion to Bobby L. McIntosh stands in the courtyard of a 28-unit complex at 401 E. Brookland Park Blvd. that he manages. Please turn to A4
Alfred J. Liggins, president and chief executive officer of Black media giant Urban One that the city tapped to develop the gambling mecca, announced the decision to those gathered at 8th District City Coun cilwoman Reva M. Trammell’s monthly meeting for constituents last week. Mr. Liggins said at the Aug. 4 meeting at the Satellite Restaurant in South Side that rather than voting this year, the second voter referendum is now envisioned to be held in November 2023. “We’re not giving up,” said Cathy Hughes, founder and board chair of Urban One and Mr. Liggins’ mother. City voters last November narrowly defeated the plan to bring Urban One’s proposed $565 million project to 100 acres of South Side. Mayor Levar M. Stoney and City Council initially had pushed to have a second vote, even securing a court order last spring to put the issue again before the
Dionne Hughes, owner of Image Enhancement Center of Richmond, shared how her humble begin nings in her grandparents’ basement grew into a 30-year career in the cosmetology business. Yet there were mistakes along the way, she noted in the session’s “Learn” tract “Capital Access — Get ting Started/Seed Funding.” A poignant example for Ms. Hughes was not un derstanding the importance of separating her personal and business finances. “I nearly lost my home,” she said, adding that she Richmond Police chief says he will no longer discuss alleged July 4 mass shooting BLCK Street sessions inspire entrepreneurs
Alfred Liggins, CEO of Urban One, right, listens during a meeting hosted by 8th District Councilwoman Reva Trammell, left, at The Satellite Restaurant & Lounge on Aug. 4. Urban One wants the City of Richmond to focus on a casino referendum for 2023.
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The Jackson Ward Collective’s co-founders, Rasheeda Creighton, left Melody Joy Short, center and Kelli Lemon welcome attendees to the first BLCK Street Conference on Monday at The Collaboratory of VA. Phillip E. Brown
The Virginia Department of Health also has a list of COVID19 testing locations around the state at gov/coronavirus/covid-19-testing/covid-19-testing-sites.www.vdh.virginia. Want a COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot? The Richmond and Henrico health districts are offering free walk-up COVID-19 vaccines at the following locations: By Jeremy M. Lazarus Forget about a second vote on a casino-resort in November.Richmond has bowed to pressure from a General Assembly that now appears to favor Petersburg as Central Virginia’s casino host city and is giving up holding a new referendum in the fall.
Regina H. Boone / Richmond Free Press
Please turn to A4 A4 Free COVID-19 testing, vaccines turn to A4 Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press
Uncertain future Richmond Free Press © 2022 Paradigm Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.FRee FRee Please turn to A4 VOL. 31 NO. 33 RICHMOND, VIRGINIA www.richmondfreepress.com AUGUST 11-13, 2022 Richmond man says he’s being evicted after a lifetime of working and paying his bills
Free community testing for COVID-19 continues.
By Jeremy M. Lazarus Phillip E. Brown Sr. is packing up his belongings as he faces being homeless. This Friday, the retired school custodian and former cook expects a Richmond judge to grant possession of his South Side apartment to the owner and landlord, who sought more than $3,000 in unpaid rent, legal costs and other expenses. He emptied his savings to provide $1,800 but said he could not come up with the rest that included the August rent. Once the judge delivers his verdict, Mr. Brown said he would have 14 days to move out or be removed by sheriff’s deputies. He said he will not wait for the knock at the door. His belongings will go in storage, he said, and he will head out into an uncertain future with no firm idea yet of how to put a roof over his head. “This is not how I envisioned my retirement going,” said Mr. Brown, a low-key, softspoken man known for his 17 years of serving as a fashion icon of 2nd Street during the annual October festival celebrating Jackson Ward. “You work hard all your life to get to this point,” he said, and then “it doesn’t work out the way you want. Life can be hard.” He is among thousands of Richmond residents who are facing court action from landlords for failing to pay their rent — including mothers with children and adults with serious medical conditions. In an area where rents have soared and demand for By George Copeland Jr. Richmond Police Chief Gerald M. Smith, suffering from a credibility gap, has shut down any further comment on the alleged terrorist plot to shoot up the Dogwood Dell amphitheater during the Independence Day celebration last month that led to two arrests. With departmental leaks indicating he pumped up the story, Chief Smith made clear Monday to reporters at a briefing on the city’s crime statistics that nothing further would be said about the plot or the alleged plotters, Guatemalan immigrants
onfootballPanthersSr.tap A8 Meet this week’s Personality B1
Richmond’s tradition of public art is colorfully displayed on this building at 1602-A S. Lom bardy St. in The Fan. Richmond increasingly incorporates public art on buildings, sidewalks, parks and playgrounds as a backdrop to the city’s diversity, energy and spirit.
back-to-schoolannouncegiveaways
Richmond Heritage Federal Credit Union Mr. Gregory Mr. Gregory Ms. Ball Ms. MuhammadHarrisMr. Cooper
By Jeremy M. Lazarus
The city has requested the court allow the statue of the general who was killed near Petersburg just before Confederate forces surrendered in 1865 to be turned over to the Richmond-based Black History Museum and Cultural Center of Virginia. The relatives of A.P. Hill oppose the statue going to the museum and instead want the city to pay for the statue to be set up at a place of their choosing.Themuseum already owns all of the other Confederate statues the city and state have removed from public streets, such as Monument Avenue. The Black History Museum has promised to partner with The Valentine museum of Richmond history to hold community conversations on the future of theAsstatues.yet, no conversations have been scheduled. By Jeremy M. Lazarus Are you or someone you know struggling to buy school sup plies for your children? The community is coming to the rescue with a variety of events to ensure that all students have the items they need to succeed. First up is one of the area’s biggest drives to collect backpacks and other supplies for students. The Fifth Annual Ultimate Backpack Supply Drive will take place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. today, Aug. 11, at the Arthur Ashe Jr. Athletic Center, Arthur Ashe Boulevard and Robin Hood Road in North Side. The goal is to fill 50,000 backpacks that will be distributed to schools in Richmond, Petersburg and other area school districts, according to Timmy Nguyen, the founder and leader of the proj ect for Virginia Com monwealth University Alumni. There will be no distribution to the public, Mr. Nguyen said. Similar collection drives are underway in Chesterfield and Hanover counties. Direct distribution to parents and students at no charge will take place at other events. Here is information on the dates and times: Saturday, Aug. 13 – 9 a.m. to noon, Liberation Church, 5501 Midlothian Turnpike. This is the Northside Coalition for Children’s 14th Annual Citywide Back to School Rally. The event organizer, 6th District School Board member Shonda Harris-Muhammed, noted that the move to this site means there will be no lines as there will be enough room for everyone to enter at once. 9 a.m. to noon, Biltmore Baptist Church, 1300 New York Ave., Glen Alen. The church is hosting the annual giveaway of book bags. Students must be present. Saturday, Aug. 20 – 2 to 4 p.m., Plaza View, 451 E. Belt Boulevard. Monica Ball of “Real Talk With Monica” will host her 2nd Annual Back to School Rally. It is open to the public. Along with school supplies, the event will feature food, speakers and fun activities, it has been announced. The city and several corporations are supporting the rally. Saturday, Aug. 20 – 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. 63Thirty5 Restaurant, 6335 Jahnke Road. This is the Chukk Scott Foundation’s Annual Backpack Giveaway. Carnival-style event with distribution, it has been announced. Saturday, Aug. 27 – 9 a.m. to noon, Dorey Park, 2999 Dar bytown Road, Henrico County. This is the Dorey Park Farmers Market “Teacher Appreciation and School Supplies Giveaway.”
Local News A2 August 11-13, 2022 Richmond Free Press
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Historic credit union will offer home mortgages Developers want to convert old school into apartments with lower starting rents and of units for those with special needs in Richmond and other parts of the state to create and preserve 1,990 housing units that offer below-market rents. The projects being funded in the Rich mond area include the $55 million Heights at Bady Square apartment complex that Massachusetts-based Dakota Partners is developing in the 2200 block of Brady Street off Bellemeade Road in South Side. Dakota Partners is developing a total of 264 units in four phases on the nearly 15-acre property along with two community buildings. The developer is targeting the development to households with incomes of 30 to 60 percent of the area’s median income of nearly $81,000 a year for a family of four. The company was awarded $1.4 million to support development of phases three and four that collectively will include 132Theunits.Michaels Development Co. out of New Jersey also received a total of $1.4 million to support its renovation and re development of 204 apartments in former public housing communities that it has
By Jeremy M. Lazarus A $55 million apartment complex is being proposed to transform the long vacant Oak Grove Elementary School in South Side – but that plan is facing competition as well as pushback from the neighborhood civic association. Developers Richard “Rick” Gregory and son John Gregory of Lynx Ventures want to redevelop the school building that neighbors have come to regard as an eyesore since its closure in 2014. John Gregory said the company is pitching the city to sell the old build ing and grounds for conversion into 240 apartments and 15 townhouses. The school is located on a block bounded by Joplin and Ingram avenues and Mason and 21st streets. “We started talking about a year ago about what could be done with the prop erty,” John Gregory said. He said the company advanced a serious proposal in March and has met with various civic associations to showcase the plan. If the city proves willing to make the deal, the project would be the largest development in decades for the majorityBlack Oak Grove neighborhood. However, Barbara Starkey-Goode, vice president of the 30-member Oak Grove Civic Association, said her organization would oppose having such a large complex developed on the school site. She said it would be out of place in a single-family community.Ms.Starkey-Goode said she has advo cated for the building to be turned into a community center with programming for seniors and youths, and believes the civic group would be far more supportive of a competing proposal from the Redeemer Assembly of Jesus Christ, which also has put in a bid for the building. The church located nearby on Fairfax Avenue sees the old school building as an ideal expansion space for its school, which is overcrowded and has waiting lists currently. The church also sees the vacant school as providing space for a community center. City Hall has been mum on any decision, though the apartment proposal would build on an internal goal of increasing affordable housing in the city while increasing tax revenue from underused property. Separately on the affordable housing front, Gov. Glenn A. Youngkin has dis tributed $27 million in low interest loans to boost the availability of rental units By Jeremy M. Lazarus
purchased from the Richmond Redevelop ment and Housing Authority. The properties are in Fulton in the East End, Randolph in the West End and three in South Side, Afton Avenue, Bainbridge Street and the Oscar E. Stovall apartments.Enterprise Community Housing Inc. also received a $900,000 loan to support its creation of 43 apartments at 1203 E. Brookland Park Boulevard. Those units would be targeted to people with incomes of 40 percent to 60 percent of the area median income. The units would be next door to the 77 units company owns and operates in a former Highland Park school building would be across across the street from a vacant church the company plans to turn into 66 affordable apartments. The Community Builders also was awarded a total of $1.4 million to support its creation of the first 140 new apartments in Creighton Court. When completed, the units would be available for households with annual incomes of 30 to 80 percent of the area’s median income. A total 39 units would be for former public housing residents who have been awarded housing choice vouchers for RRHA. Two projects in Chesterfield County also gained loan support. The Taft-Mills’ Group’s Old Hundred Trace development of 54 units of afford able housing was awarded $900,000, and Mark-Dana Corp’s development of senior apartments at Ashlake Crossing was awarded $700,000.
Saturday, Aug. 27 – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Supreme Flea Market, 3302 Williamsburg Road. This is the market’s “Back to School Giveaway.” The event also is to include speakers, live entertain ment, food and fun activities, it has been announced. Saturday, Aug. 27 – 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Unity of Faith Fel lowship International, 298 Cedar Fork Road. This is the church’s “Back to School Event.” Along with school supply distribution, the event will feature food and fund activities, the church has announced. Free Press wire report A Petersburg Police officer was acquitted on Aug. 4 of misdemeanor assault charges for using a taser twice last October on a resident who allegedly walked around the city openly carrying firearms. Lt. Jason Sharp was found not guilty in Henrico County Circuit Court of assaulting William Antonio Scott, and of making false statements in a police report, by retired Judge James S. Yoffy, who ruled that he had taken appropriate actions given the situation. On Oct. 4, Lt. Sharp responded to a 911 call that claimed Mr. Scott was walking around with visible weapons. A confrontation at Mr. Scott’s home in the 600 block of Pegram Street led to Lt. Sharp firing his taser twice at Mr. Scott’s body. According to Powhatan Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Rob Cerullo, who served as special prosecutor for the case, Mr. Scott sustained minor injuries after being shocked twice by a taser fired by Lt. Sharp. Lt. Sharp was indicted for his actions in November, and was soon after suspended without pay. Doug Ramseur, the attorney for Lt. Sharp, argued that his client was acting in line with his training as a police officer and justified in his response. Mr. Cerullo argued that Lt. Sharp’s use of the taser was unnecessary and excessive, given the circumstances of his confrontation with Mr. Scott.
Hearing set for A.P. Hill statue’s new Petersburghomepoliceman found not guilty in tasing incident groups
The fate of the statue of Confederate Gen. A.P. Hill that still stands in North Side could be decided on Tuesday, Aug. 30. A hearing has been scheduled in Richmond Circuit Court as City Hall squares off with relatives of the slavery-defending general whose statue has stood at Hermitage and Laburnum Avenue since 1891. The only issue is what happens to the statue. Both sides agreed that the general’s remains that are buried beneath the statue would be transferred to a Culpeper cemetery.
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It took 86 years, but South Side-based Richmond Heritage Federal Credit Union is finally able to offer home loans. Randy N. Cooper, the bank’s president and CEO, is proud that the member-owned financial institution that 10 Black Rich mond Public Schools teachers founded in 1936 during the Great Depression will begin offering mortgages.Richmond Heritage was able to add home lending, Mr. Cooper said, through an affiliation with a far larger insti tution, Self-Help Credit Union of Durham, N.C. Mr. Cooper credited the founder and chief executive officer of Self-Help, Martin Eakes, with making it possible. Mr. Cooper said the addition of mort gages has been accompanied by a small but significant expansion in deposits and assets as newcomers who have moved into nearby apartments begin to become members.Healso credited Henrico Credit Union and the Virginia State Credit Union with providing support that has enabled Richmond Heritage to continue its Recently,service.music company Entertainment and two board members provided the resources to enable Richmond Heritage to repave the parking lot at its headquarters at 50 W. Com merce Road. Richmond Heritage is the only financial institution born in the once central Black business hub of Jackson Ward that has had continuous operation since opening. Other financial institutions, such as Consolidated Bank & Trust Co. that Maggie L. Walker founded, have closed or been sold off. The Consolidated name is gone; now the bank located on 1st Street is a branch of Peoples Bank of Ohio.
Richmond Free Press August 11-13, 2022 A3 Restrictions apply. Not available in all areas. Gig speed WiFi shareable across devices. Gig-speed WiFi requires Gigabit Internet and compatible xFi Gateway. Actual speeds vary and not guaranteed. Many factors affect speed, including equipment performance, interference, congestion, and speeds of visited websites. WiFi speeds affected by additional factors, including distance from Gateway, home configuration, personal device capabilities, and others. For factors affecting speed visit www.xfinity.com/networkmanagement. All devices must be returned when service ends. Call for restrictions and complete details. NPA241252-0014 NED-AA-Unbeatable-V19 1-800-xfinity xfinity.com Visit a store today Don’t around.GigthanThere’sstress.moreenoughtogo With everything you’re doing at home, you need supersonic WiFi that can keep up. When it comes to the best in-home WiFi, Xfinity really does it big—with Gig. You’ll get supersonic WiFi with speeds faster than a Gig to power a houseful of connected devices, even when everyone’s online. So everyone in your home can Internet their heart out. We’re talking gaming, streaming, video-chatting, all at once! Unbeatable Internet. Made to do anything so you can do anything. 143542_NPA241252-0014 Unbeatable ad 11x21 V19.indd 1 6/27/22 3:25 PM
Mr. McIntosh knows that keeping up with bills can be a chal lenge. He said he had to fight cancer for two years. He said he had 56 operations and other treatments before the cancer was in remission. But he said during that fight to live, he always made sure his housing costs were covered. “I couldn’t lose that,” he said. “What I am seeing are too many people who believe that someone else will cover their rent. “What will happen to them, I don’t know. They may become homeless. But I can’t worry about their problems. I already have plenty of my own.”
Chief Smith first shared this information during a July 6 press conference, where he also identified Dogwood Dell as the intended target based on information from the anonymous tipster he called “a hero.” “There was never any evidence devel oped that Dogwood Dell would be targeted,” according to a source who spoke with the Free Press on condition of anonymity. “And other details the chief provided do not stand up to scrutiny. There was no surveillance of the suspects, and the FBI was only minimally involved. It is not clear why the chief chose to build up the story at the time. “Everyone has been scratching their head about that,” said one source, who speculated that the chief and Mayor Levar M. Stoney “wanted a big win. The mass shooting in Chicago had just happened, and this looked like a big opportunity.” Instead, the facts kept getting in the way, leading to increasing skepticism about the chief’s claims of a thwarted terrorist plot.
Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press
The chief’s decision to stop talking came after his credibility took a hit when Ms. McEachin’s office refused to back up his public statements. During a preliminary hearing in Rich mond General District Court Aug. 3, As sistant Commonwealth’s Attorney Clinton Seal, responding to a question, told Judge David Hicks that while there was “the potential for a shooting,” he could not offer any evidence confirming Dogwood Dell as a potential target. “The Commonwealth is making, in open court, no allegation with regard to a specified location of Dogwood Dell on the 4th of July 2022 as any potential target that either of these individuals are being alleged to have planned and or plotted,” Judge Hicks said. Backed into a corner, the chief finally changed his story about the tipster being the source of the information that the two men were planning to target the celebration at Dogwood Dell. In a release issued after the preliminary hearing, he stated that the information that Dogwood Dell was the intended target came from the RPD investigation of the tip rather than the tipster. Richmond Free Press reporter Jeremy M. Lazarus contributed to this article.
Continued from A1 Free COVID-19 vaccines
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learned from her mistakes and eventually recovered. Building and maintaining relationships have helped her look beyond today and into the future of her business, she said. Her current location at 00 E. Broad St. near Shockoe Bottom is where Ms. Hughes relocated after her landlord shared that her initial location would be leveled as part of a redevelopment project. “These relationships are important,” she said, refer ring to her landlord. “And it is important and a blessing to be able to share the highs and lows, offer insight into mistakes that I’ve made, and give back,” she said about being a panelist for the Jacksonconference.Ward Collective founders Rasheeda Creighton, Kelli Lemon and Melody Short sponsored the BLCK confer ence, designed for attendees to learn, network and celebrate Black-owned businesses. The women received thun derous applause and a stand ing ovation from hundreds of entrepreneurs from throughout the country on Monday during theMs.conference.Short,a cofounder of the Richmond Night Market and other entrepreneurial ven tures, mentioned the legacy of Richmond Black Wall Street in communities throughout the United States. Ms. Lemon, who owns Urban Hang Suite, a café near 3rd and Broad streets in downtown Richmond, reminded attendees about the conference’s purpose. “Be unapologetically Black today,” Ms. Lemon said. “. . . This conference is for US.” Besides, the “Learn” tract, the conference also included “Grow,” the tract for businesses ready to expand and “Own,” for mature companies ready to own their own property or wind down their business. A networking session focused on hospitality, personal ser vices, professional services andLuncheonretail. speakers Julien and Kiersten Saunders, who are married and co-authors of “Cashing Out: Winning the Wealth Game by Walking Away” offered advice about investing, smart financing and marketing.Muchof the advice was the result of the husband-and-wife’s personal experiences. Ms. Saunders said when she learned that Black women lose $1 million in earnings over a lifetime because they make 63 cents for every dollar a white man makes, she was ready to leave the corporate world. She joined her husband in building their brand, rich & Regular. Mr. Saunders encouraged people who are interested in becoming entrepreneurs to start with a “side hustle” that teaches others how to use skills they already have. Online courses are an example, he said. “I would love to see a course teaching Boomers how to be comfortable with technology,” he said. “It can be a brand, blog, or podcast. (The key) is to find something you are passionate about and pour your efforts into that.”
Richmond man says he’s being evicted after a lifetime of working
During a meeting hosted by an 8th District Councilwoman Reva Trammell at The Satellite Restaurant & Lounge on Aug. 4, Cathy Hughes, chair and founder of Urban One, tells attendees why she and her son Alfred Liggins, Urban One’s CEO, want the City of Richmond to focus on a casino referendum for 2023.
BLCK Street sessions inspire entrepreneurs Continued from A1
Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press
With the market for apartments remaining strong in Richmond, he said that he and the owners have no choice but to pursue evictions in order to find new tenants who will pay. He said of the 21 occupied units on North Avenue, only two tenants have paid faithfully. “The rest have paid only dribs and drabs or paid nothing and have just huge amounts in arrears.” He said that one tenant owes more than $20,000. That means 19 families will face eviction, he said. Some he has to wait on, because those who receive rent relief cannot be evicted for 90 days. Meanwhile of the 23 occupied units on East Brookland Park, at least 11 tenants are badly in arrears, he said, and will need use to pay past-due rent and also provide a three-month rental advance for lower-income residents who lost jobs. But the ban on evictions has ended, and the rental relief funding has closed its doors to new applications. However, relief payments for those who made the deadline often remain hung up in in paperwork snafus. When he went to court, Mr. Brown was shocked that the court room was packed with people who also were trying to fend off evic tion. “There were just so many there,” he said. “It was so sad.”
Continued from A1 Police chief says he will no longer discuss case
News A4 August 11-13, 2022 Richmond Free Press Continued from A1
For Mr. Brown, who has always paid his bills, his road to eviction began with health problems. His asthma got worse and he developed heart problems. Now 62, he said that forced him retire in March from his job of maintaining a sterile environment at the Richmond-based United Network of Organ Sharing, the company that manages the donation and transplant system for kidneys, livers, hearts and other organs. Then everything went South. He said he had to be hospital ized in May as conditions became more severe. While he was able to qualify for Medicaid because he essen tially had no money to take care of the medical costs, he could not make his June or July rent and found he could no longer apply for rent relief. “Before that, I didn’t need it. When I did, the window was closed,” he said. He had counted on receiving Social Security benefits after submitting his application, but it can take that agency four to six months to begin payments, and he said none of the pension money, about $1,100 a month, had begun flowing. He said he also had hoped to fill the gap with money he was due from a settled civil suit. But that money remains tied up in a lawyer’s office, he said. Earlier in life, as a foster child, he also was to receive a settle ment from another accident case, but he said Social Services lost the paperwork. He’s still optimistic. Despite his shaky health, Mr. Brown, who once was a top cook for the Tea Room at long-gone Miller & Rhoads store in Downtown, started applying for catering work that he hopes with the Social Security check will enable him to regain his financial footing. “You can’t just give up. You have to keep positive and focus on solutions,” he said. “That’s the only way I can see to make it through this.”
Entrepreneurs hear from guest speakers during the inaugural BLCK Street Conference at The Collaboratory of VA on Monday, Aug. 8.
When tenants don’t pay, eviction is the price, says one landlord
Mr. McIntosh recalled one tenant who was in arrears calling to say her stove was broken and needed to be replaced with a new one. “How am I supposed to do that when you are not paying?” he said he responded. He said he will replace the stove, which he said is a health and safety issue. But instead of buying new, he said he would buy one at a used appliance outlet to save money. “People paint landlords as greedy money-grubbing fat cats sitting back and collecting rent,” he said, even though the reality is that owning and managing apartments requires hard work. He said there are costs that cannot be avoided, such as the annual property taxes and the loans that funded the purchase. He and the owners have had to go into their own pockets to try to keep the properties afloat. The shortage of funds from low rental collections has meant that his fee often can’t be paid, he said, even though he has to pay his own maintenance staff.
Thursday, Aug. 11, and Aug. 18, 1 to 4 p.m. - Richmond Henrico Health District, 400 E. Cary St., Pfizer for ages six months and older, Moderna for ages six months to five years old and ages 18 years and older, appointments encouraged. Tuesday, Aug. 16, 9 a.m. to Noon, Henrico East Health Department, 1400 N. Laburnum Ave., Pfizer for ages six months and older, Moderna for ages six months to five years old and ages 18 years and older, appointments encouraged. Wednesday, Aug. 17, 1 to 4 p.m., Henrico West Health Department, 8600 Dixon Powers Dr., Pfizer for ages six months and older, Moderna for ages six months to five years old and ages 18 years and older, appointments encouraged. People can schedule an appointment online at vase.vdh. virginia.gov, vaccinate.virginia.gov or vax.rchd.com, or by calling (804) 205-3501 or (877) VAX-IN-VA (1-877-829-4682). VaccineFinder.org and vaccines.gov also allow people to find nearby pharmacies and clinics that offer the COVID-19 vaccine and booster. Those who are getting a booster shot should bring their vaccine card to confirm the date and type of vaccine received. RHHD also offers at-home vaccinations by calling (804) 205-3501 to schedule appointments. New COVID-19 cases in Virginia decreased by five percent, according to the Virginia Department of Health, while hospitalization data from the Virginia Hospital & Healthcare Association rose by nine percent. As of last Thursday, the city of Richmond and counties of Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover are still at high levels of community COVID-19. A total of 65 Virginia localities are at high community COVID-19 levels, compared to 55 localities two weeks earlier. A total of 3,210 new cases of COVID-19 were reported statewide Wednesday for the 24-hour period, contributing to an overall state total of 1,987,738 cases in Virginia since the pandemic’s outbreak. As of Wednesday, there have been 453,383 hospitalizations and 21,102 deaths statewide. The state’s seven-day positivity rate rose to 24.2 percent on Wednesday. Last week, the positivity rate was 23.1 percent. On Wednesday, state health officials reported that 72 percent of the state’s population has been fully vaccinated, while 82.2 percent have received at least one dose of the vaccine. State data also showed that over 3.6 million people in Virginia have received booster shots or third doses of the vaccine. Among those ages 5 to 11 in Virginia, 330,312 have received their first shots as of Tuesday, accounting for 45.6 percent of the age group in the state, while 286,587 children, or 39.6 percent, are fully vaccinated and 39,450 children have received a third vaccine dose or booster, making up 5.4 percent of that age group. On Wednesday, 33,621 children from the ages of zero to four have received the first doses, making up 7.4 percent of the population in Virginia, while 5,888 are fully vaccinated. As of Wednesday, fewer than 167,300 cases, 1,008 hospitalizations and 14 deaths have been recorded among children in the state.State data also shows that African-Americans comprised 22.1 percent of cases statewide and 23 percent of deaths for which ethnic and racial data is available, while Latinos made up 11.3 percent of cases and five percent of deaths. Reported COVID-19 data as of Wednesday, Aug. 10, 2022 Cases Hospitalizations Deaths Richmond 53,737 1,172 521 Henrico County 78,634 1,577 984 Chesterfield County 87,204 1,584 794 Hanover County 25,326 741 309 Compiled by George Copeland Jr.
Continued from A1 to leave in order for that property to have a chance to regain financial stability. The reason 10 units are unoccupied is that the tenants who were not paying rent trashed the units before they left, he added. He said all of the units need $3,000 to $5,000 in repairs and fumigation, which “we cannot afford right now. If you are not collecting rent, you don’t have the money.”
Insiders said he tried to crack down on a few doubters within the department but had to back off to prevent a revolt.
voters on the November ballot Political strategist Paul Goldman, who led the opposition’s successful campaign last year, but supports having a second vote this year, said the decision will cost “Richmond its poll position” in the race for a casino. Instead of voting ahead of Petersburg, the delay until 2023 is likely to mean voters in both cities would be casting casino ballots, he said, with the Cockade City favored if the city had a casino plan ready to present to the voters. Mr. Goldman unsuccessfully lobbied the council to put an advisory referendum on the ballot for the upcoming general election that would require any tax dollars derived from a future casino, if one were built, to be devoted to modernizing city school buildings. The council declined to override City Attorney Haskell C. Brown III, who advised against it. Richmond’s opportunity to hold a second vote this year began to melt after the General Assembly approved language in the new 2022-23 state budget barring a second referendum this year and also bar ring the casino-regulating Virginia Lottery from considering a license application for 12 months if Richmond voters did approve the casino project in a second vote. The language was put in place to allow the Joint Legislative Audit Review Commis sion time to report on whether Petersburg would be an apt location for a casino. Gov. Glenn A. Youngkin declined to intervene on Richmond’s behalf and propose removal of the language, and instead signed the budget into law with the language intact. Just before Mr. Liggins’ public an nouncement on Aug. 4, state Sen. Joseph D. Morrissey, who represents both Richmond and Petersburg, and Petersburg Delegate Kimberly A. Taylor, sent a letter to Gov. Youngkin requesting that he direct At torney General Jason S. Miyares to take legal action to ensure Richmond could not vote this November. Mr. Liggins said that letter was the final straw. He said any litigation to defend Richmond’s right to vote this year would have been expensive and likely would not be completed before early voting began in mid-September. unaffordable.”Atransplanted New Yorker who has mastered construction and finance, Mr. McIntosh cites the example of the two largest complexes he manages for Tom and Jill Voekler of TJC Realty, a 28-unit complex at 401 E. Brookland Park Blvd. and 26-unit complex in the 4300 block of North Avenue. He said renters in those complexes had a good record of paying. Before the pandemic hit in March 2020, both complexes might have had 1 percent of tenants who were in arrears, he said. But after the pandemic arrived rental payments almost ceased from the majority of tenants, even though their rent of $750 to $850 a month for a two-bedroom unit is among the lowest in the area. “We had people riding through neighborhood with signs and bullhorns telling people they didn’t have to pay the rent, that the government would take care of it,” he said. “I would go door to door to tell people that wasn’t so, but they preferred to believe what they heard on the street. It was unbelievable.” He said the state rental assistance has picked up some of the arrearage after he and tenants got through the red tape, and also provided up to 90 days in forward payments. But he said tenants did not resume paying rent after receiv ing the rent and only added to the backlog of rental debt, even though most were working. So instead of collecting more than $17,000 a month in rents from each complex, he said he’s been lucky to collect $5,000 a month and far less on many months. And until recently, courts were shut down and evictions barred by the state and federal governments. “We couldn’t get people out,” he said. “We were stuck.”
Richmond Free Press August 11-13, 2022 A5
By now we’ve all become familiar with maps showing how many millions of Americans have been exposed to historically dan gerous weather conditions during this long, hot summer. The maps remind us how the problems that plague our divided nation don’t follow any neat boundaries or district lines when it comes to measuring the broad impacts of these crises. What would our map look like if we charted the manyviolence?summerduringhavefriendsfamilies,ofuntoldslainAmericansandthenumbersurvivors,andwhosufferedthisofgunHowangryshades of red, orange, and yellow would be needed to illustrate the places torn by mass shootings, the neighborhood violence that gets less attention but can be described as a “mass shooting in slow motion,” and the lives ended by suicides made more possible by ready access to firearms?Alltheplaces we may have formerly considered safe— schools, houses of worship, stores and workplaces—would fall into the danger zones of this map. Warning hues would blaze where school shootings have taken place, and everywhere children have been killed or lost lovedTheones.Washington Post tracks how many children have been exposed to school shootings since the Columbine High School attack in 1999. After the May 24 murders of 19 children and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, that figure was more than 311,000. With schools reopening and midterm elections around the corner, it’s a time for parents, community leaders, and elected officials to consider whose rights are being protected in a year of increased gun violence. Following the May 14 shoot ings at a Buffalo, N.Y., super market where 10 were killed in a racist attack, and 10 days later in Uvalde, Texas, Congress passed its first major gun safety laws in decades. The bipartisan compromise includes expanding background checks for gun buy ers under 21, creating incentives for states to pass red flag laws, and eliminating the “boyfriend loophole” in restricting purchases by domestic abusers. To finally open the door to reform, and to approve the measures just a month after the Uvalde killings, is a historic step. Many wondered whether anything could ever change given the Senate’s rejection of gun legislation after the 2012 shootings at Sandy Hook El ementary School. Gun safety advocates and Democrats acknowledge they didn’t get everything they wanted in the compromise, including outlawing assault-style weapons like those used in Uvalde and Buffalo, and the shootings in Illinois, Oklahoma, and Indiana. The House responded by pass ing an assault weapons ban on July 29, but it lacks the votes for Senate approval. There are more safety actions to consider. A New York Times analysis found that four laws –raising the age for buying rifles, universal background checks, requiring safe storage, and ban ning large-capacity magazines— could have saved lives in 35 mass shootings since 1999 in which 446 people died. But these remain challenging times: President Biden signed the gun legislation two days after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned New York’s con cealed carry law. Republicans hostile to any firearm restrictions threaten to seize the House and possibly the Senate in the midterms. In Virginia, where Democratic legislative majorities elected after the Virginia Beach mass shootings in 2019 enacted long-sought reforms, the House and statewide offices are now controlled by Republicans while Democrats narrowly hang on in the TheSenate.laws most frequently debated after mass shootings also apply to combating the violence that led to 90 homicides in Richmond last year, the most since 2004. These are important steps in fostering secure and healthy neighborhoods. So are efforts to address climate change globally and locally, where urban heat islands endanger vulnerable populations. As with gun safety, we ignore the climate at our peril. Both have lethal consequences. Our cities need more trees and fewerWithguns.schools reopening and midterms ahead, we must hold close the families of Uvalde, where grief mixes with the demand for accountability and transparency in the aftermath of the failed police response to the shootings. This fall brings another opportunity to make our votes count when it comes to keeping our children and neighborhoods safe from gun violence. The writer is the author of “After Virginia Tech: Guns, Safety, and Healing in the Era of Mass Shootings,” published in 2019 by the University of Virginia Press.
The business of being Black never ends August is Black Business Month, and it’s safe to say that most Black business owners agree that running a business is a 12-month marathon. Still, the long hours and all-consuming work it takes to build and maintain a business is worth acknowledging. That’s part of the reason why John Templeton, the edi tor of the former Richmond Afro-American Newspapers from 1980 to 1984, co-founded National Black Business Month in 2004. Mr. Templeton, who now lives in California, and BBM’s Frederick E. Jordan Sr. also envisioned an increase in Black-owned businesses. When Black Business Month was established, there were approximately 1 million Black-owned businesses. Today there are between 2 to 3 million black-owned businesses that reflect the creativity, ingenuity and inven tiveness that Black men and women have long displayed, either for their innate curiosity or, more importantly, their survival.Richmond is no stranger to a thriving business com munity that has existed for decades. Many of us are familiar with historic business leaders such as Maggie L. Walker, who owned banking and retail establishments as early as 1903, and Waller & Company Jewelers, the family-owned dynasty established in 1900. Both Mrs. Walker’s and The Wallers’ stories are leg end, and continue to inspire Black businesses locally and nationally. And two years ago National Public Radio fea tured Barksdale “Barky” Haggins who started his record store in 1956, even though he encountered opposition. Today the store at 18 E. Broad St. is known as Barky’s Spiritual Stores. No doubt, much work remains in building Black busi nesses, many of which suffered setbacks with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. While several establishments owned and operated by Black people sought to hang on as long as possible, the virus eventually consumed themThetoo.Carver community ice cream shop that also served scoops of jazz, wings and great conversations. The Second Street Carribean restaurant that offered mouth-watering jambalaya and curry chicken and rice. Various boutiques and jewelry stores that sold one-ofa-kind outfits and trinkets. Despite those closings, numerous Black businesses (doctors, attorneys, personal care professionals) and nonprofits survived and continue to tell their stories, some of which were shared this week during the BLCK BusinessHundredsConference.ofbusiness owners and entrepreneurs at tended the daylong conference hosted by the Jackson Ward Collective Foundation, which seeks to replicate Jackson Ward’s “story of Black success and echo the spirit of the original Black entrepreneurship throughout the Richmond region, Virginia and beyond.” The organization’s name symbolizes the strength that grew out of Jackson Ward, once known as the Black Wall Street of the South. We share more about the JWC in this week’s edition, along with mentions of Black-owned or Black-serving institutions. We won’t tell you where to look for those stories, but we hope you will find time to further explore the owners’ work. They include the Richmond Heritage Federal Credit Union, Monica Ball, James “Plunky” Branch, Cathy Hughes and Bobby L. McIntosh. Certainly, do learn more about Devon Henry of Team Henry Enterprises LLC, the construction firm that re moved 23 Confederate statues in Virginia since 2020 and will likely remove Richmond’s remaining statue of A.P. Hill, the fallen Confederate soldier. Mr. Henry is now repurposing this history into a charitable CryptoFederacy project that highlights 13 star causes and changemakers via the 13 Stars NFT Art Collection, according to PR Newswire.“Thetask of dismantling these statues has literally been monumental,” Mr. Henry said in the April news release, which noted the harassment and death threats he faced as a result of answering the call to “re”mantle history. “It’s very humbling to be the one who fulfills a 131-year prophecy. But that’s not enough. I feel a responsibility to use these deconstructed pieces of our past to construct a better tomorrow.” The prophecy Mr. Henry references is that of John Mitchell, Jr., the editor of the Black newspaper, The Richmond Planet. In 1890, when the Robert E. Lee statue was erected on Monument Avenue in Richmond, Mr. Mitchell foretold of a Black man one day taking down the statue. “He put up the Lee monument, and should the time come, will be there to take it down, Mitchell wrote,” stated the news release. The news release added that on June 19, 2022, the CryptoFederacy project was “to mint an inaugural col lection of 13 NFTs that represent the dismantled statues. It further noted that Mr. Henry planned to sell the NFTs and raise $1 million dollars for 13 different charitable causes that address societal issues that stem from the ideals and actions reinforced by the Confederate Generals whose statues were removed.” No more business as usual.
many Arizona supporters of former President Trump down a deep hole of lies and conspiracy theories about the election. They engineered a ridiculous “audit” that stirred up election deniers from across the country but failed to undermine President Biden’s victory. Responsible Republicans defended the election and its outcome, but on Aug. 2, they were outvoted by Trump sup porters. Mark Finchem, who claims against all evidence that the election was stolen from Mr. Trump, won the nomination to be secretary of state. He has called for the 2020 election to be decertified. He wants to get rid of early voting and restrict voting by mail—and give legislators the power to over ride voters. Mr. Finchem, who was at the Capitol on Jan. 6, is a member of the Oath Keepers, the far-right group whose members were involved in planning and leading the assault. Arizona Republicans have also nominated Blake Masters for the U.S. Senate. Mr. Masters’ campaign was backed and funded by far-right billionaire Peter Thiel, who has openly said he no longer believes in democracy. Mr. Masters has blamed gun violence on “Black people.” His campaign has generated excitement among the White nationalist crowd that was energized by Trump. The governor’s primary is close, but as I wrote this col umn the day after the election, it appeared that Donald Trump endorsee Kari Lake will win the Republican nomination. Arizona is also home to politicians who openly embrace White nationalists, including Rep. Paul Gosar and state Sen. Wendy Rogers, who both won theirOtherprimaries.extremists have picked up Republican nominations this summer, including election con spiracy theorist Doug Mastriano, who has campaigned with QAnon activists in his bid for governor of Pennsylvania; Trumpist elec tion denier Dan Cox for governor of Maryland; Confederate sym pathizer Michael Peroutka for attorney general of Maryland, who has said laws passed by the state legislature are illegitimate because in his eyes, legislators broke God’s law by embracing marriage equality; and Big Lie promoter Kristina Karamo for secretary of state in Michigan. The list goes on—too many to name in a single column. But Trumpists aren’t winning all their races. We have seen ex amples of courageous Republicans standing up to the Trump mob. And voters in Kansas gave us another big bright spot-on Aug. 2, when they rejected an anti-choice referendum by more than 20 Afterpoints.theSupreme Court’s hard-right majority overturned Roe v. Wade, anti-choice leg islators have rushed to pass more extreme anti-abortion bills targeting health care workers and even friends and family who help someone needing abortion care. Those bills represent the wishes of powerful religious-right groups that have a lot of influ ence in the Republican Party, but they don’t represent the public, which overwhelmingly supports access to abortion. Given a choice about whether to strip abortion-rights protec tions out of the state constitution and give legislators a green light to pass a ban, Kansas voters overwhelmingly voted no. That victory for privacy, freedom, and bodily autonomy was driven by huge voter turnout and the organizers who worked to achieve it. It is a promising sign that many Americans can be motivated to vote this year by the Supreme Court’s harm ful embrace of a restrictive and regressive social agenda. The writer is president of People For the American Way and professor of the practice at the University of Pennsylvania.
Richmond Free Press Editorial Page August 11-13, 2022 The Richmond Free Press respects the opinions of its readers. We want to hear from you. We invite you to write the editor. All letters will be considered for publication. Concise, typewritten letters related to public matters are preferred. Also include your telephone number(s). Letters should be addressed to: Letters to the Editor, Richmond Free Press, P.O. Box 27709, 422 East Franklin Street, Richmond, VA 23261, or faxed to: (804) 643-7519 or e-mail: letters@richmondfreepress.com. The Free Press welcomes letters A6 Richmond Free Press 422 East Franklin Street Richmond, VA 23219 Telephone (804) 644-0496 FAX (804) 643-7519 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 27709 Richmond, VA 23261 Founder Raymond H. Boone President – Publisher Jean P. jeanboone@richmondfreepress.comBoone Managing Editor Bonnie Newman bonniedavis@richmondfreepress.comDavis Vice President – New Business Development Raymond H. Boone jrboone@richmondfreepress.comJr. Vice President –News Enhancement Jeremy M. jeremylazarus@richmondfreepress.comLazarus Vice President – Production April A. aprilcoleman@richmondfreepress.comColeman Staff Writers Fred Jeter, Frances Crutchfield Hazel Trice Edney Photographers Sandra sandrasellars@richmondfreepress.comSellarsReginaH.Boonereginaboone@richmondfreepress.comJamesHaskins,RudolphPowellandClintonA.Strane Vice President – Administration Tracey L. traceyoliver@richmondfreepress.comOliver Advertising Traffic Coordinator Cynthia classifieds@richmondfreepress.comadvertising@richmondfreepress.comDowningAdvertisingFax:(804)643-5436 NationalRepresentativeAdvertising NNPA Distribution GouffyStyle LLC Richmond Free Press is published weekly by Paradigm Communications, Inc.Copies of the Richmond Free Press (one copy per person) are free of charge at outlets in the Richmond area. Back copies are available at the Free Press office at $3 per copy. Bulk orders can be made prior to any upcoming edition at special rates. A Publication of PARADIGM COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 422 East Franklin Street Richmond, VA 23219 Telephone (804) 644-0496 Follow the Free Press on @FreePressRVA @RichmondFreePressUSA Lewis Ginter Botanical Garden water lilies Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free Press Kansans reject anti-choice proposal More trees, fewer guns
Ben Jealous Thomas P. Kapsidelis Red flags are flying for de mocracy and democratic values. We need to pay attention to the threats—and also to signs that we can work together to preserve ourThisfreedoms.summer’s primary elec tions make it clear that our rights and freedoms are threatened by the rising power of ex tremists within the in2020dentArizona.primariestheParty.RepublicanConsiderAug.2inPresiBiden’svictorythestatesent
The Commission has taken judicial notice of the ongoing public health issues related to the spread of the coronavirus, or COVID 19. The Commission has taken certain actions, and may take additional actions going forward, that could impact the procedures in this proceeding. Consistent with these actions in regard to the terms of the procedural framework es service on parties to this proceeding. An electronic copy of the Company’s Application may be obtained by submitting a written request to counsel for the Company, Lisa R. Crabtree, Esquire, Dominion Energy Service, Inc., 120 Tredegar Street, Richmond, Virginia 23219, or lisa.r.crabtree@dominionenergy.com scc.virginia.gov/ Virginiacasecomments/Submit-Public-Comments23218-2118.Allcommentsshall refer to Case No. PUR-2022-00090. noticeing of participation shall include the email addresses of such parties or their counsel. The respondent simultaneously shall serve a copy of the notice of participation on counsel to the Company. Pursuant to Rule 5 VAC 5-20-80 B, Participation as a respondent, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice, any notice of participation shall set forth: (i) a precise corporation, or government body participating as a respondent must be represented by counsel as required by Rule 5 VAC 5-20-30, Counsel shall refer to Case No. PUR-2022-00090. , any testimony and exhibits by which the respondent Filing and service; and 5 VAC 5-20-240, Prepared testimony and exhibit Copies and format, of the Commission’s Rules of Practice. may be viewed on the Commission’s website at: scc.virginia.gov/pages/Case-Information
On June 13, 2022, Virginia Electric and Power Company (“Dominion” or “Company”), pursuant to § 56-585.1 A 6 of the Code of Virginia (“Code”), and in accordance with the combined-cycle electric generating facility, and associated transmission interconnection facilities located in Warren County, Virginia (collectively, the “Warren County Project” or the “Project”). In Case No. PUE-2011-00042, the Commission approved Dominion’s construction and operation of the Warren County Project and also approved a rate adjustment clause, designat ed Rider W, for the Company to recover costs associated with the development of the Project. The Warren County Project began commercial operations in December 2014.
•Further information about this case is available on the Commission website at: scc.virginia.gov/pages/CaseInformation
•Virginia Electric and Power Company d/b/a Dominion Energy Virginia (“Dominion”) has applied for approval to revise its rate adjustment clause. Rider W.
In this proceeding, Dominion has asked the Commission to approve Rider W for the rate years beginning April 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024 (“Rate Year 1”) and April 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025 (“Rate Year 2”). The two key components of the proposed total revenue requirement for Rate Year 1 are the Projected Cost Recovery Factor and the Actual Cost True-Up Factor. The proposed revenue requirement for Rate Year 2 is comprised only of the Projected Cost Recovery Factor The Company is requesting a Projected Cost Recovery Factor revenue requirement of $109,444,000 for Rate Year 1 and $109,219,000 for Rate Year 2. The Company is requesting an Actual Cost True-Up Factor revenue requirement of ($3,847,000) for Rate Year 1, which is to be returned to customers. Thus, the Company is requesting total revenue requirements for recovery of $105,597,000 for Rate Year 1, and $109,219,000 for Rate Year 2. If the proposed Rider W for Rate Year 1 is approved, the impact on customer bills would depend on the customer’s rate schedule and usage. According to Dominion, implementa tion of its proposed Rider W for Rate Year 1 would decrease the bill of a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours per month by $0.38. The reason for this decrease in cus tomer bills is that the revenue requirement presented for recovery over Rate Year 1 represents a decrease of $15,488,000 compared to the revenue requirement underlying the rates bills is that the revenue requirement presented for recovery over Rate Year 2 represents an increase of $3,622,000 compared to the revenue requirement underlying the rates proposed Commission in the most recent Rider W proceeding, Case No. PUR-2021-00115. Interested persons are encouraged to review the Application and supporting documents for the details of these and other proposals.
NOTICE TO THE PUBLIC OF AN APPLICATION BY VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY D/B/A DOMINION ENERGY VIRGINIA FOR APPROVAL OF A RATE ADJUSTMENT CLAUSE: RIDER W, WARREN COUNTY POWER STATION CASE NO. PUR-2022-00090
On January 10, 2023, at 10 a.m., the Commission will hold a telephonic hearing, with no witness present in the Commission’s courtroom, for the purpose of receiving the testimony form on the Commission’s website at scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting; (ii) by completing and emailing the PDF version of this form to SCCInfo@scc.virginia.gov; or by calling (804) 371-9141. This public witness hearing will be webcast at scc.virginia.gov/pages/Webcasting
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•A Hearing Examiner appointed by the Commission will hold a telephonic hearing in this case on January 10, 2023, at 10 a.m., for the receipt of public witness testimony.
News Richmond Free Press August 11-13, 2022 A7
pay. “Get A Fresh Start” Keep paying on your house and car as long as you owe what they are worth. Also Chapter
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Start with as little as $100 Rudolph C. McCollum, Jr., Esq. McCollum At Law, P.C. Mail to: P.O. Box 4595, Richmond, VA 23220 422 E. Franklin St., Suite 301, Richmond, VA 23219 (Franklin & 5th Sts.) We are a federally designated Debt Relief Agency under the U.S. Bankruptcy Code and we help people file for bankruptcy. Web Address: McCollumatLaw.com E-mail: rudy@mccollumatlaw.com 24-7. Talk to an attorney for free and get legal restrictions, fees, costs and payment terms. Call Rudy McCollum at (804)218-3614
Breonna Taylor supporters relieved by charges against police Ahmaud Arbery’s assailants receive second life prison sentence while a street is named in his honor 2020 became a time of reck oning over how police treat Black communities. Protesters shouted Ms. Taylor’s name along with that of George Floyd, who died from suffocation three months after Ms. Taylor when a Minneapolis Police officer kneeled on his neck. Last year, federal officials brought civil rights charges against four officers in Mr. Floyd’s death and federal hate crimes charges against three white men involved in the death of Ahmaud Arbery, a Georgia man killed in February 2020. All were convicted of the charges in February of this year, and on Aug. 8, the fa ther and son who chased and killed Mr. Arbery in a Georgia neighborhood each received a second life prison sentence— for committing federal hate crimes, months after getting their first for murder — at a hearing that brought a close to more than two years of criminal proceedings.us.District Court Judge Lisa Godbey Wood handed down the sentences against Travis McMichael, 36, and his father, Greg McMichael, 66, reiterating the gravity of the February 2020 killing that shattered their Brunswick community. William “Rod die” Bryan, 52, who recorded cellphone video of the slaying, was sentenced to 35 years in prison.“A young man is dead. Ahmaud Arbery will be forever 25. And what happened, a jury found, happened because he’s Black,” Judge Wood said. The McMichaels were previ ously sentenced to life without parole in state court for Mr. Arbery’s murder and had asked the judge to divert them to a federal prison to serve their sentences, saying they were worried about their safety in the state prison system. Mr. Bryan had sought to serve his federal sentence first. Judge Wood de clined all three requests. Meanwhile, A crowd of dozens chanted on a swelter ing street corner Tuesday as Ahmaud Arbery’s hometown unveiled new street signs honor ing the young Black man who was fatally shot after being chased by the three white men in a nearby neighborhood — a crime local officials vowed to neverMr.forget.Arbery’s parents joined the celebration the day after the men responsible for their son’s death received harsh prison sentences in u s. District Court for committing federal hate crimes. Officials in coastal Bruns wick, where Mr. Arbery grew up, have ordered that intersec tions along all 2.7 miles (4.35 kilometers) of Albany street that runs through the heart of the city’s Black community will have additional signs designat ing it as Honorary Ahmaud Arbery street. The first two signs were unveiled Tuesday at an inter section near the Mr.adornedCenter,African-AmericanBrunswickCulturalwhereonewalliswithagiantmuralofArbery’ssmilingface.
Chapter
•For Rate Year 1, Dominion requests a revenue requirement of $105,597,000, which would decrease the bill of a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity permonth by $0.38. This proposed revenue requirement represents a $15,488,000 decrease from the annual revenue requirement currently in place.
Russ Bynum/The Associated Press Wanda Cooper-Jones (in yellow dress) poses for photos with supporters beneath a new street sign honoring her son, Ahmaud Arbery, that was unveiled Aug. 9 in Brunswick, Ga. Taylor Mr. Arbery
•In this case. Dominion has asked the State Corporation Commission (“Commission”) to approve Rider W for the rate years April 1, 2023, through March 31, 2024, for Rate Year 1,and April 1, 2024, through March 31, 2025, for Rate Year 2.
•For Rate Year 2, Dominion requests a revenue requirement of $109,219,000, which would be an increase from the revenue requirement proposed for recovery in Rate Year 1 andincrease the bill of a residential customer using 1,000 kilowatt hours of electricity per month by $0.08 from Rate Year 1.
VIRGINIA ELECTRIC AND POWER COMPANY D/B/A DOMINION ENERGY VIRGINIA CAN STILL FILE 7 can’t 13 “Debt Adjustment”
The Associated Press LouisviLLe, Ky. Louisville activists put in long hours on phones and in the streets, working tirelessly to call for arrests in the fatal police shooting of Breonna Taylor — but it was mostly two years filled with frustration. They saw their fortunes sud denly change when the federal government filed civil rights charges on Aug. 4 against four Louisville police officers over the “drug raid” that led to the death of Ms. Taylor. The shooting of Ms. Taylor, helped fuel the racial justice protests that rocked the nation in 2020.After a series of disap pointing setbacks, the charges brought a welcome sense of relief.it is such a weight lifted,” said sadiqa Reynolds, president of Louisville’s urban League, who has advocated for Ms. Taylor’s family and led protest marches. “What this decision yesterday did is to begin lifting the cloud that had been hanging overTheus.”indictments represent the first time Louisville police officers have been held account able for Taylor’s shooting death in her home. Most of the new charges center around the faulty warrant that led officers to Ms. Taylor’s front door. The 26-year-old Ms. Taylor was shot to death after officers used a battering ram to knock down her door during a search for drugs. None were found. Ms. Taylor’s boyfriend fired a defensive shot that hit one of the officers as he came through the door. The boyfriend said he thought the officer was an intruder. Several police officers returned fire, striking Ms.Taylor multiple times. The spring and summer of
Have a Story Idea? WRITE Richmond Free Press Follownews@richmondfreepress.comusonsocialmedia.Follow the Free Press on @FreePressRVA @RichmondFreePressUSA Ms.
The vacancy occurred with two-year starter Khalid Morris’ graduation. Morris threw for 1,626 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2021, helping VUU to a 6-4 overall and 5-2 CIAA mark. VUU’s next starter will come from this group:
More than 4,000 artifacts trace baseball legend’s life 15, 1947. Playing infield with Brook lyn from 1947 to 1956, he was a seven-time All-Star, Rookie of the Year in 1947 and an MVP in 1949. In 1955, he helped lead the Dodgers to their first World Series crown. Always an exciting baser unner, “Jackrabbit Jack” stole home 19 times in the regular season and once in the 1956 World Series against the Yan kees.Robinosn was named to baseball’s Hall of Fame in 1962. He died in Museum1972.tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for students, seniors and children.
• Christian Reid (Transfer from Charleston Southern.)
The Associated Press MOSCOW
• Jahkari Grant (Transfer from University of Rhode Island.)
The Bon Secours Training Center sits mostly silent these days with the most action likely to occur is a frilly weekend wedding.Newlyweds’ “I do’s” have replaced grunts and groans from foot ball players blocking and tackling under the hot summer sun. From 2014 to 2020, the Bon Secours facility at 2401 W. Leigh St. was the NFL Washington franchise’s early training camp each year. The newly named Commanders (formerly the Washington Football Team) are sticking closer to home this go round at their own training facility in Northern Virginia’s Ashburn com munity.Thedivorce between the NFL team and Richmond was primar ily because the two sides could not agree on financial terms. Under third-year coach Ron Rivera, the camp in Ashburn will run through Aug. 18. The first exhibition game will be Aug. 13 against Carolina 13 at FedExField. The regular season starts Sept. 11 with the Commanders hosting the Jacksonville Jaguars. Let’s get started: Get well soon: Two premier players – tight end Logan Thomas and pass rusher Chase Young – opened training camp on the PUP/Physically Unable to Play list. Young, the Defensive Rookie of Year in 2021, was injured in Week 10 last year and is still recovering from ACL recon struction.Thomas also is still on the mend from knee surgery. In 2020 the former Virginia Tech quarterback caught 72 passes for 670 yards and six touchdowns.
John Dobbins Weldon Edwards is still in the news at the University of Richmond a half century after he wore a helmet and shoulder pads.The former running back will be honoredAug. 19-21 on campus for being the Spiders’ first Black footballComingplayer.out of Maggie L. Walker High School, Edwards signed with UR coach Frank Jones in 1970 and played during the 1970, ’71, ’72 and ’73 seasons, before graduating in 1974. He also later served as a UR assistant coach under Jim Tait. Plagued by knee injuries, Ed wards was never able to fulfill his vast potential at UR, but he did rush for 321 yards and compiled 436 yards total offense. Also a sprinter on the track team, he became the South UR to recognize Weldon Edwards, its first Black football player against Edwards in numerous track meets. Virginia Tech’s first Black football player in 1969 was John Dobbins out of Radford High School.William & Mary broke the color line in 1968 with the signing of Warren Winston from Richmond’s John Marshall High School. Coincidentally, Winston was also among the first Black students at JM in the mid 1960s. In 1968, Harry Gore from Hampton became VMI’s first Black player. He was soon fol lowed by Phil Wilkerson, Adam Randolph, Richard Valentine and LarryLibertyFoster.University, Old Do minion and James Madison have now joined “The Big Five” as Division I programs. All were integrated at inception. Also, historically Black universities Norfolk State and Hampton are Division I. ern Conference 60-yard dash champ.This is Edwards’ second rec ognition in the past year. On Feb. 18, he was honored by the Virginia GeneralAssembly for his pioneering role. Coordinat ing the event was an old Spider teammate, Delegate G. JohnAvoli of Staunton.Untilthe 1970s, Virginia had five NCAA Division I programs known as “The Big Five.” They were Virginia, Virginia Tech, UR, VMI and William & Mary. They all began to integrate their football teams around the same time. Virginia’s first Black players in 1970 were John Rainey, Stanley Land, Harrison Davis and Kent Merritt.Merritt, out of Charlottes ville’s Lane High School, ran Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press Virginia Union University’s head coach Alvin Parker, left, brings the Panthers’ first practice to a close after telling them his expectations and that he is looking for each player to work hard. The team’s first game is Thursday, Sept. 1, against Virginia University of Lynchburg at Hovey Field. “It’s bittersweet,” said Coach Parker of losing Hall. “He was my first recruit here and he did all anyone could ask of him, including graduate. We wish him well.” In the Northern Division, VUU was picked to finish second behind perennial favorite Bowie State in a preseason vote. “I’m 16-5 in the CIAA since I’ve been here with three of those losses are to Bowie,” said Coach Parker. “Bowie’s the top team until someone takes it away from them.” VUU will play at Bowie Oct. 15 in a game that might decide the CIAA North and determine an NCAA bid. Bowie did the entire CIAA a favor regarding respect in 2021, advancing to the Division Il national semifinals.
The Kremlin said Aug. 5 that it’s open to talking about a possible prisoner exchange involving American basketball star Brittney Gri ner, but strongly warned Washington against publicizing the issue. Griner, a two-time U.S. Olympic champion and an eight-time all-star with the WNBA’s Phoenix Mercury, has been detained in Russia since Feb. 17 after police at a Moscow airport said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage. A judge convicted the 31-year-old athlete Aug. 4 of drug possession and smuggling, and sentenced her to nine years in prison. The politically charged case comes amid high ten sions between Moscow and Washington over Russia’s military action in Ukraine. Asked at the White House Friday about the prospects of securing Griner’s release, President Biden said: “I’m hopeful ... We’re working hard.” In an extraordinary move, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke last week to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, urging him to accept a deal under which Griner and Paul Whelan, an American jailed in Russia on espionage charges, would go Lavrovfree.and Blinken were both in Cambodia on Friday for a meeting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Blinken did not even glance at his Russian counterpart as they took their seats at an East Asia Summit. Lavrov told reporters that Blinken didn’t try to contact him while they were attending the ASEAN meeting. “We were separated by just one person at the discussion table, but I didn’t feel his desire to catch me. My buttons are all in place,” he said when asked about Washington’s statement that Blinken would try to buttonhole Lavrov for a quick interaction in Phnom Penh. Lavrov said Moscow was “ready to discuss” a prisoner swap but that the topic should only be discussed via a dedicated Russia-U.S. channel that President Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to establish when they met in Geneva in June 2021. People familiar with the U.S. proposal have said it envisions trading Griner and Whelan for a notorious Russian arms trader, Viktor Bout. He is serving a 25-year sentence in the U.S. after being convicted of conspiracy to kill U.S. citizens and providing aid to a terrorist organization.
Auditions are underway at Virginia Union University.ThePanthers have one opening at quarterback and at least five candidates vying to be at the top of the depth chart. Preseason drills began Monday on the North Side in preparation for the Sept. 1 opener against Virginia University of Lynchburg at Hovey Field. “All (candidates) have a clean shot to win the job,” said Coach Alvin Parker of his QB prospects.“Eachwould give us a good chance to win. It’s our job to find out who gives us the greatest chance to win.”
Tourists have a new “mustsee” destination on trips to NewOnYork.July26, the long-in-com ing Jackie Robinson Museum opened in the SoHo district of lower Manhattan. The actual address is 75 Varick St., New York, N.Y., 10013. Cutting the grand-opening ribbons from her wheelchair was Rachel Robinson, Robin son’s 100-year-old widow. Others in attendance were the Robinsons’ surviving chil dren, Sharon and David, film maker Spike Lee, tennis legend Billie Jean King, and New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Under direction of the Jackie Robinson Foundation, the proj ect had been in the works for 14 years. There were numerous delays, most recently due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Foundation raised $38 million on its own. The City of New York contributed another $2.6 withNegroKansasprostandoutbasketball,becameSouthernCairo,injustice.tributionscareer,Robinson’sdiamond.Robinson’ssomeages,museumThemillion.19,380-square-footfeatures40,000im450hoursoffootageand4,000artifactsinvolvinglifeonandofftheExhibitstellthestoryofillustriousathleticalongwithhiscontofightingracialBornJan.31,1919,inGa.RobinsongrewupinCalifornia,whereheafoursport(baseball,footballandtrack)atUCLA.In1945helaunchedhisbaseballcareerwiththeCityMonarchsoftheLeagues.ThenextyearhesignedtheBrooklynDodgers, thus becoming the first AfricanAmerican to join a mainstream team, the Montreal Royals. He joined the Dodgers on April wear replaces shoulder pads at football training site
Kent Merritt Warren Winston Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press Weldon Edwards, who will be honored by the University of Richmond as its first Black football player, also was recognized by the Virginia House of Delegates on Feb. 18, 2022, where he was given a proclamation by his former UR teammate, Delegate John Avoli of Staunton.
• Joe Johnson (Transfer from Coahona Com munity College in Mississippi.)
Stories by Fred Jeter Brittney Griner
• R.J. Rosales (Transfer from Army-West Point.)
Formal
Jackie Robinson Museum opens in New York
Kremlin says Griner swap must be discussed without publicity
Sports A8 August 11-13, 2022 Richmond Free Press
New name, old problem: The QB position has been jinxed in D.C. Starters Robert Griffin III (in 2011), Alex Smith (2018), and Ryan Fitzpatrick (2021) all suffered catastrophic injures that torpedoed their careers. Next up is Carson Wentz, who was obtained in a trade with Indianapolis. Wentz offers plenty of upside (No. 2 overall draft pick in ’15), but he fell into disfavor with both Philadelphia and the Colts. Few cried when he left. Worse, perhaps, is his medical history. Wentz missed consider able time with injuries in 2012, ’18 and ’20 with the Eagles. Dual threat: When it comes to combining rushing and re ceiving, few are more capable than Antonio Gibson, in his third season out of Memphis.4 Gibson rushed for 1,037 yards and caught passes for another 294 in 2021. Ten times he found the end zone. In two seasons he has 1,832 yards on the ground and 541 via the airways. He has a chance to be Washington’s top backfield threat since Clinton Portis (2004-’10).
Julia Nikhinson/The Associated Press Exhibits are shown at the Jackie Robinson Museum that opened last month in New York.
Panthers eye contenders for quarterback vacancy
• Rodney Manning (Freshman from Bowie High School, Md.) “We’ll decide in camp,” said Coach Parker of his starting signal caller to-be. Running back Jada Byers, who rushed for 910 yards and 12 touchdowns as a freshman, and de fensive end Armonii Burden, who had six sacks, were VUU’s two preseason All-CIAA picks. If Coach Parker could add one more, it might be powerful 280-pound sophomore center Mark Lawton from Washington, D.C. Lawton earned second-team All-CIAA honors following his freshman year and is primed for a hugeAnotherencore.player with a high ceiling is defensive end Damontay Rhem, who led the team with 59 tackles while also intercepting two passes. Missing from the attack is sensational wide receiver Charles Hall, who has transferred to Arizona State. Hall snagged 33 passes for 813 yards and six TDs last season, averaging a whopping 24.6 yards per catch. Hall will be playing for ASU as a graduate transfer with one season of eligibility at the Pac-12 school.
There is a downside, however. Suffering from slippery fingers, Gibson has fumbled 11 times in two seasons. Bottom line: Washington has gone 7-9 (plus a playoff loss in 2020) and 7-10 in Rivera’s two editions. This year’s team is generally picked third in the NFC East behind Dallas and Philadelphia. Thanks for the memories: Thousands of fans visited Bon Secours since 2014 for close-up looks, autographs and photos of their gridiron heroes. No more. Visitors these days to the impressive North Side facility may want to wear their black tie or after-five gear, so as not to feel under dressed. Bon Secours Training Center
• Give now - https://equali give-now/tyvirginia.org/get-engaged/ How I start the day: Another opportunity to make a differ ence. Three words that best de scribe me: Intuitive, creative, and inquisitive. Best late-night snack: I don’t eat late at night. How I unwind: Urban Line Dance. I teach classes four times a week in Southside https://www.facebook.com/Virginia. groups/996946880358473 What I’m continuing to learn about myself during the pandemic: Increased capac ity to learn and absorb more information. Something I love to do that most people would never imagine: Eat fried foods and decadent sweets. A quote that I am most in spired by is: “Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it.” — Muhammad Ali At the top of my “to-do” list is: Visit the African continent. The best thing my parents ever taught me: I am more than enough. The person who influenced me the most: My grandmother, Vivian Keen. Book that influenced me the most: “The Autobiography of Malcolm X.” What I’m reading now: “The Groundings with My Brothers” by Walter Rodney. Next goal: Live each day to the fullest!
When and why Equality Virginia was founded: Equal ity Virginia was founded in 1989 as Virginians for Justice with the goal of advancing the cause of equal justice for all citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Equality Virginia is important in our community because: LGBTQ+ Virginians deserve a Virginia in which LGBTQ+ people — every demographic, race, ethnicity, ZIP code, and experience — are valued and thriving. It’s important that LGBTQ+ Virginians know there is an organization working for their lived equality. When elected board chair: July 2022. Why I accepted position: I believe that it was the perfect situation and the perfect time. EV has a mission to become more racially just and represen tative and my transformational leadership style could help achieve that goal. Significance of being board chair at this time: Our com munity is under attack from many different entities. To keep those entities from being suc cessful, we need the thoughts, voices, and engagement from the entire community. My job is to make sure that anyone that identifies as LGBTQIA+ knows that EV represents them, welcomes them, and is fighting for them. “ I am Virginia … We are Virginia!”
DIAMONDS • WATCHES JEWELRY • REPAIRS 19 EAST BROAD STREET RICHMOND, VA 23219 (804) 648-1044 WWW.WALLERJEWELRY.COM
Occupation: Founder and principal of GTP Wellness Con sulting LLC. Research assistant for Community Outreach for the UVA Cancer Center. Family: Husband, Craig. Equality Virginia is: The leading advocacy organization in Virginia seeking equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Number one goal or project: Confronting systemic inequities to liberate the full spectrum of the LGBTQ+ community from discrimination and op pression. Strategy for achieving goals: Building our collective political power by prioritizing communi ty-centered and community-led work, holding those in power accountable, and challenging the systems that were built to oppress us. Biggest hurdle: Our biggest hurdles to achieving full lib eration are white supremacy, racism and anti-Blackness. COVID and Equality Vir ginia: We are still in the midst of a global pandemic that continues to disproportionally impact marginalized commu nities, including LGBTQ+ people. We know that LGBTQ+ households are more likely than non-LGBTQ+ households to experience job losses, serious fi nancial problems, issues access ing health care, and increased challenges navigating at-home learning for their children as a result of the pandemic. These challenges are especially true for Black and Latinx people. At Equality Virginia, the safety of the community, our staff, board and volunteers is our number one priority. In 2020, and to this day, we shifted much of our programming and events to virtual spaces which allowed us to stay connected, and safely educate and engage with our community. We remain flexible when and if staff want to work from home, and we continue to have COVID-19 protocols in place when hosting in-person events. Black Lives Matter and Equality Virginia: The LG BTQ+ community and our movement was founded, by Black and brown transgender women and sex workers, on the principle and value of resisting police brutality and violence. We celebrate Pride because it commemorates, in part, our resisting police harassment and brutality at Stonewall in New York. We understand what it means to rise up and push back against a culture that tells us we are less than others, that Black lives don’t matter. At Equality Virginia we unequivocally say Black Lives Matter and Black Trans Lives Matter. And we have to commit ourselves to the action of those words and what they require of us. Antiracism is not additional to our work for LGBTQ+ equality, it is an indivis ible part of the work of LGBTQ+ advocacy. When our movement is invested in defeating white supremacy, we all succeed and thrive. We take the stance that our work must be rooted in ad dressing the conditions of our community members who face the most unmet needs and the largest barriers—Black LGBTQ+ people, and especially Black transgender and non-binary people. Services provided: Through out the year we provide train ings, workshop opportunities, free legal clinics, and opportuni ties for constituents to engage with their lawmakers. Equality Virginia’s allies: We are able to move the work forward thanks to the many al lies we have with organizations around the Commonwealth. This includes faith groups, youth-serving groups, direct service organizations, educa tion groups, health providers, and mental health agencies. Who benefits from Equal ity Virginia: Everyone in our Commonwealth benefits when there is an organization fighting to ensure LGBTQ+ people are able to live authentic lives free from andshared,storiesculturepeople,livedfocusedharm.stigmatization,discrimination,violenceandNotonlyisourworkonimprovingtheequalityforLGBTQ+butalsooncreatingaandsocietywhereourandexperiencescanbeunderstood,respectedvalued.
SectionB Part of Bryan Price’s email signature includes his favorite quote. It is from Muhammad Ali, and it speaks to the things we see as impossible to over come — and to the power of each of us to affect change in theItworld.isa theme that recurs during the course of a recent phone interview. Mr. Price mentions it when explaining why his grandmother, Vivian Keen, has been so inspirational to him.When his mother became pregnant in high school, Mr. Price’s grandmother stopped working to care for the young boy. His parents got married and finished school, which was seen as crucial for them to build careers that would allow the young family to someday become self-sufficient. “Her actions taught me the power in being a servant,” Mr. Price said. “My grandmother gave me a real-world example of how your decisions can have a positive impact on others.” Affecting change comes up again when Mr. Price discusses a book that holds great meaning for him, “The Autobiography of Malcolm X.” “It may sound cliché, but it showed me you can’t judge a book by its cover because anyone can change ... and anyone can do great things,” Mr. Price said. “Malcolm X was a famous spokesman and my grandmother was my grand mother, but they both knew they could make a difference.”
• Take action - https://equali take-action/tyvirginia.org/get-engaged/
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Mr. Price says he first be came involved with Equality Virginia in 2020 because he supported its goals, but saw a need to increase representation for the substantial LGBTQ+ community who live “west of 95,” as well as LGBTQ+ people of color. “I guess I took care of two demographics there,” said Mr. Price, who lives on a farm in South Boston with his husband, Craig.The two have been together since 2005 when they met in a Virginia Tech football cha troom. The Hokie alums hold season football tickets and will celebrate their 14th anniver sary Aug. 22. “When I was younger, I thought it would be impossible for me to be happy as a gay, black, rural man,” Mr. Price said. “But look at me now.” Mr. Price says that his work, volunteerism and teaching bring him community and fel lowship, keep him fit, sharpen his mind, hold him accountable to others and make him a more well-rounded person. “As many things as I’m involved in, there’s always that spark of joy in there,” he says. “They keep me going. They give me purpose. They let me make a difference in the world. They’re who I am.” Meet an advocate who be lieves a willing spirit and hard work can make big changes, Equality Virginia board chair man and this week’s Personality, Bryan Price: Pronouns: He/him. Volunteer position: Board chairman, Equality Virginia. Date and place of birth: March 1965 in Danville. Where I live now: South Boston. Education: Studied statistics, mathematics and computer sci ence at Virginia Tech.
Happenings Richmond Free Press August 11-13, 2022 B1 Personality: Bryan Price Spotlight on the board chairman of Equality Virginia Your PetitionerHumble Legislative Petitions Gave Voice to Virginians AN EXHIBITION OPEN THROUGH NOVEMBER 19, 2022 Explore the stories within a unique collection. 800 East Broad Street | Richmond, Virginia 23219 804.692.3500 | www.lva.virginia.gov PetitionerFreePressAd2.indd 1 7/12/22 10:03 AM
Mission: Equality Virginia is building a fully inclusive Commonwealth by educating, empowering, and mobilizing Virginians to ensure all LG BTQ+ people are free to live, love, learn and work.
Making a difference is something that Mr. Price tries to do every day in every aspect of his life. The native Virgin ian founded GTP Wellness Consulting LLC to support holistic approaches to physical, mental and societal wellness, conducts research and commu nity outreach for the University of Virginia Cancer Center, and teaches classes in urban line dance several times a week. He also became the chair man of Equality Virginia’s board in July. The organization works to advocate for equality and an inclusive Commonwealth for LGBTQ+ people in Virginia. “There are over 300,000 Virginians who identify as LGBTQ+ and they live in every corner of our great Common wealth,” Mr. Price says. “They are our neighbors, our friends, our faith leaders, and our lo cal business owners. We have accomplished a lot together in the past couple of years, not the least of which is becoming the first state in the South with LGBTQ+ place.table,VirginiaVirginiansremainsityprotections.”nondiscriminationDespiteitsprogress,EqualVirginiasaysmuchworksothatallLGBTQ+canthriveandcantrulybeanequiinclusiveandwelcoming
Equality Virginia’s upcoming events: Equality Virginia’s 19th Annual Commonwealth Dinner will be held Saturday, Aug. 13, from 5:30 to 11:30 p.m. at the Greater Richmond Convention Center! This signa ture event is Virginia’s largest black-tie gala for the LGBTQ+ community and its supporters. In past years, over 1,000 guests, including Virginia’s political, business, and nonprofit leaders and influencers, have joined us from every region to celebrate each other’s successes. Because everyone can’t attend the event in person, we will have a live stream option for this year’s celebration.Inpartnership with Bary Law and the Virginia Equal ity Bar Association, we host a free and virtual Name Change & Gender Marker Clinic every month. At this clinic, volunteer attorneys assist clients with the legal aspects of name and gender marker changes. Spe cific offerings include name change applications, birth certificate corrections (includ ing petitions for gender marker changes where required by the birth state), social secu rity record updates, DMV ID, passports, military discharge records (DD214 amendments), and answering related legal questions. Income limitations apply. Cost assistance is avail able. Volunteer attorneys are licensed in Virginia; clients must reside in Virginia or have been born in Virginia in order to receive assistance. Sign up for an appointment at: bit.ly/ NGMclinicWehosta monthly workshop series for folks who want to speak out in support of LG BTQ+ youths at a school board meeting, committee hearing, or on a public comment forum but may need some tips and tricks for public speaking. Join Kyleigh Hynes, EV’s Safe Schools Coordinator, at our Safe Schools trainings in August! Our Advocacy 101 Training provides different methods of advocacy, things to consider before advocat ing, and more! At our Public Comment workshops folks can learn how to structure their comments, persuasive talking points, tips for speaking, and what to expect at public meet ings! RSVP at equalityvirginihttps://linktr.ee/a Ways to be involved with Equality Virginia: • Volunteer - https://equali volunteer/tyvirginia.org/get-engaged/
Review: Beyoncé escapes to dance world in ‘Renaissance’ devoid of the intensity of the political, social and environ mental challenges she states are present in 2022. Speaking of an extraterres trial world, “Alien Superstar,” sampling Right Said Fred’s 90s hit “I’m Too Sexy,” pays homage to ballroom dance culture. The singer boldly states against a thumping rhythm and synth, that she is “too classy for this world, forever, I’m that girl.”
Ron Frehm/ Associated Press File Photo Singer Diana Ross, second from left, joins songwriters, from left, Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland and Eddie Holland after the writing team was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in New York on Jan. 17, 1990. Mr. Dozier, of the celebrated Holland-Dozier-Holland team, helped make Motown an essential record company of the 1960s and beyond.
Free Press wire reports Lamont Dozier, the middle name of the celebrated Holland-Dozier-Holland team that wrote and produced “You Can’t Hurry Love,” “Heat Wave” and dozens of other hits and helped make Motown an essential record company of the 1960s and beyond, has died at age 81. Mr. Dozier’s Monday, August 8, 2022 death was confirmed Tuesday by Paul Lambert, who helped produce the stage musical “The First Wives Club” that HollandDozier-Holland wrote for. Duke Fakir, the last surviving member of the original Four Tops, called Mr. Dozier a “beautiful, talented guy” with an uncanny sense of what material worked best for a given group. “I like to call Holland-Dozier-Holland ‘tailors of music’,” Mr. Fakir said Tuesday during a telephone interview. “They could take any artist, call them into their office, talk to them, listen to them and write them a top 10 song.” Like so many Motown artists, Mr. Dozier was born in Detroit and raised in a family of singers and musicians. He sang in the choir of his Baptist church and his love for words was affirmed by a grade school teacher who, he recalled, liked one of his poems so much she kept it on the blackboard for a month. By the late 1950s, he was a professional singer and eventually signed with Motown, where he first worked with Brian Holland, and then Eddie Holland, who wrote most of the Overlyrics.afour-year period from 1963 to 1967, Mr. Dozier and the Holland broth
Holland-Dozier-Holland worked in various moods and styles: the casual joy of “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You),” the escalating desire of “Heat Wave,” the urgency of “Reach Out (I’ll Be There).”
Motown songwriter, producer Lamont Dozier dead at 81
The album’s high points are significantly due to the seamless transitions into each song like “Cuff It” and “Energy.” “Cuff It” begins as a summer disco/R&B fusion anthem to fall in love with as Beyoncé proclaims she feels like falling in love with a drink in her hand. “Cuff It” transitions to “Energy,” which starts with Jamaican American rapper BEAM. Standouts are “Virgo’s Groove” and “Heated,” which was co-written by Drake who dropped his own dance-inspired album earlier this summer. In both songs, Beyoncé is enjoying a summer filled with partying, dancing and self-love but also romantic love, singing that her partner’s love keeps her alive in “Virgo’s Groove.” The singer’s long-awaited album is a successful reclaiming of dance music. She emphasizes a need to look outward and create a circle of love where people can venture out to the dance floor with no hesitation, no judgment — just dance. Beyoncé
Happenings B2 August 11-13, 2022 Richmond Free Press • Usher Badges • Clergy Shirts • Collars • Communion Supplies • CDs • Sermons-Spiritual MusicBARKY’S 18 East Broad St., Richmond, VA 23219 • (804) 643-1987 Hours: Mon.-Sat. 9:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. | Sunday Closed Let our courteous and knowledgeable advertising sales representative help you today. Please ask for Cynthia Downing. (804) 644-0496 Space reservation deadline: Friday, prior to Thursday publication date Materials deadline: Monday, prior to Thursday publication date More than 100,000 readers weekly. Richmond Free Press ADVERTISEIFSELLING OR OFFERING: School Important,ApparelSuppliesExciting FoodAutomobilesCosmeticsMobileComputersHealthBeautyBefore/After-SchoolEventCareandHairCareorDentalCarePhonesandDrinks CALL TODAY TO RESERVE SPACE August 18, 25 Editions Featuring Back to School News You Can Use Every Week in August
Ebony and Jet archives transferred to Smithsonian and Getty Research Institute Free Press staff, wire reports More than 4 million photos from Ebony and Jet magazine that captured African-American life, history and culture in the 20th century are now the property of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. The acquisition was announced earlier this month, with the Johnson Publishing Company transferring ownership of the archive to the Smithsonian In stitution and the Getty Research Institute. The Getty Trust plans to spend $30 million to process and digitize the prints and negatives.“Fordecades, Ebony and Jet documented stories of Black celebrity, fashion, and the Civil Rights Movement and provided an opportunity for African-Americans to see an authentic public repre sentation of themselves while also offering the world a fuller view of the African-American experience,” said Kevin Young, director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African-American History and Culture. “Our museum is proud that this significant and iconic collec tion of African-American images will be housed in our museum and preserved for generations to study, observe and enjoy.”
Parts of the archive that already have been digitized by Getty Trust will be accessible to the public during this process, and the archive itself will be physically housed at the NMAAHC in Washington D.C. Photos, prints and negatives in the archive relating to the history of Chicago, where the archive has been stored for decades, are expected to remain in Chicago. “This archive is not only unprecedented in its sweeping and scrupulous documentation of Black life in the United States, but also unmatched in its celebration of the Black American experience throughout the 20th century,” said Elizabeth Alexander, president of the Mellon Foundation, one of several groups that transferred ownership of the archive. “With this owner transfer complete and the archive housed at NMAAC, this history in images will be safe and will serve and inspire present and future generations of the public.”
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The Four Tops hit “Bernadette” was inspired by all three songwriters having troubles with women named Bernadette, while an argu ment with another of Mr. Dozier’s girlfriends helped inspire a Supremes favorite. “She was pretty heated up because I was quite the ladies’ man at that time and I’d been cheating on her,” Mr. Dozier told the Guardian in 2001. “So she started telling me off and swinging at me until I said, ‘Stop! In the name of love!’ And as soon as I’d said it I heard a cash register in my head and laughed. My girlfriend didn’t think it was very amusing: we broke up. The only ones who were happy about it were the Supremes.”Mr.Dozier acknowledged that his early success conflicted with his family life, but he eventually settled down with Barbara Ullman, who died in 2021 after more than 40 years of marriage. His children include the songwriter-record producer Beau Dozier and composer Paris Ray Dozier. The Associated Press contributed to this story.
ers crafted more than 25 top 10 songs and mastered the blend of pop and rhythm and blues that allowed the Detroit label, and founder Berry Gordy, to defy boundaries between Black and white music and rival the Beatles on the airwaves. The polish of Holland-Dozier-Holland was ideally suited for Motown’s signature act, Diana Ross and The supremes, for whom they wrote 10 No. 1 songs, among them “Where Did Our Love Go,” “Stop! In the Name of Love” and “You Can’t Hurry Love.” For the Four Tops, they wrote “Baby I Need Your Loving” and “Reach Out (I’ll Be There);” for Martha and the Vandellas they wrote “Heat Wave” and “Jimmy Mack;” for Marvin Gaye “Baby Don’t You Do It” and “How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You).” The music lived on through countless soundtracks, samplings and radio airings, in cover versions by the Rolling Stones, Linda Ronstadt, James Taylor and many others and in generations of songwriters and musicians influenced by the Motown sound. Brian Wilson, Ron Wood and Mick Hucknall were among the many musicians offering tributes Tuesday. Carole King, who with then-husband Gerry Goffin was another leading hitmaker of the ’60s, posted on social media that “striving to keep up with them made us better songwriters.”
Mr. Dozier’s focus was on melody and ar rangements, whether the haunting echoes of the Vandellas’ backing vocals on “Nowhere To Run,” flashing lights of guitar that drive the Supremes’ “You Keep Me Hanging On,” or the hypnotic gospel piano on Mr. Gaye’s “Can I Get a Witness.” Some of Motown’s biggest hits and catchiest phrases originated from Mr. Dozier’s domestic life. He remembered his grandfather’s addressing women as “Sugar pie, honey bunch,” the opening words and ongoing refrain of the Four Tops’ “I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch).”
By Nardos Haile The Associated Press Beyoncé has been reborn again; this time it’s on a shim mering dance floor. But in her seventh studio album, “Renaissance,” she has subverted the public’s percep tion of her hit-making history. Six years since her Grammy award-winning “Lemonade,” people expect Beyoncé to consistently deliver. But she does not allow herself to be pigeonholed in her consistency, perfectionism and pop/R&B genre. She croons confidently in “Cozy,” that she is “comfortable in my skin. Cozy with who I am,” and it shows in this hourlong 16-track album. Her voice glides with com fortability and ease in this cohesive dance-music album influenced by Black artists like disco queens Diana Ross and Donna Summer (“Summer Renaissance,”) sampling Sum mer’s “I Feel Love,” Afrobeats “Move” and most surprisingly, twinges of Generation Z’s favorite fast-paced hyperpop “All Up In Your Mind”. Each song is an adventur ous, experimental journey into Beyoncé’s pandemic psyche. In the album announcement posted on her Instagram, she said that creating this album has allowed her “to dream and to find escape during a scary time for the world.” Beyoncé builds a wistful, fun, out-of-body and almost extraterrestrial world filled with love, joy and friendship in “Renaissance”. It’s a world
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The popular funk and jazz group led by James “Plunky” Branch will appear with two special guests, Kemel, The Line Dance King, and Rhythim, a Nigerian Afrobeats artist. The show is part of the summer series from the city’s De partment of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities and is open to the public without charge.
The Richmond International Dragon Boat Festival was on again, Aug. 6 after a two-year absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants competed on the James River in front of The Boathouse at Rocketts Landing. Hundreds of supporters turned out to watch the event hosted by Sports Backers and Great White North.
Right, Jamesha Worthington grabs the flag from Tiana Fuller during open tryouts for the 804 Mafia Flag Football team at Randolph Community Center Park last Saturday. Owner Sha MaClin started the new team to help her Richmond Black Widows teammates stay in shape during the offseason. During the tryouts, several contenders displayed their catching and throwing skills, above, while keeping their eyes on the pigskin.
Filmed in Ruther Glen, Virginia, and co-produced by PBS and VPM, THE GREAT AMERICAN RECIPE is a new cooking competition celebrating the multiculturalism that makes American food unique and iconic.
Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press Plunky Branch Photos by Sandra Sellars/Richmond Free PressField goals
Photos by Regina H. Boone/Richmond Free Press River fest
The Elegba Folklore Society will host the 31st Down Home Family Reunion: A Celebra tion of African American Folklife on Saturday, Aug. 20, from 4 to 11 p.m. at Abner Clay Park, 200 W. Clay St. The festival celebrates African-American folklife with world music and dance, a Heritage Market, special children’s events, interactive site demonstrations and delicious down home food. It is designed to show aspects of West African cultural traditions that are African-American and that have been absorbed by the American South. For more information, please visit: www. https://efsinc.org/.
After last week’s show was wiped out by heavy rains, Plunky and Oneness has been rescheduled to perform 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 14, at the Dogwood Dell amphitheater
Happenings Richmond Free Press August 11-13, 2022 B3
It’s time for the Down Home Family Reunion
Plunky and Oneness on again this weekend
Clarence ‘Ollie’ Oliver of SupremeHairstyling,diesat53
Obituaries/Faith Directory B4 August 11-13, 2022 Richmond Free Press Church) “MAKE IT HAPPEN” Pastor Kevin Cook Broad Rock Baptist Church 5106 Walmsley Blvd., Richmond, VA 23224 804-276-2740 • 804-276-6535 (fax) www.BRBCONLINE.org “BACK IN SERVICE” Our doors are open again Mask required • Must provide vaccination card Every Sunday @ 11:00 am. Live Streaming Every Sunday At: BRBConline.org or YouTube(Broad Rock Baptist Church) 1858 The People’s Church Dr. Wallace J. Cook, Pastor Emeritus Rev. Dr. Adam L. Bond Pastor 216 W. Leigh St., Richmond, Va. 23220 Tel: 804-643-3366 Fax: 804-643-3367 Please visit our website EbenezerRichmond,ChurchBaptistVAforupdates ebenezerrva.orghttp://www. Sunday Church School • 9am (Zoom) Sunday Morning Worship • 11am (in-person and livestream on YouTube) Wednesday Bible Study • 7pm (Zoom) Moore BaptistMissionaryStreetChurch 1408 W. Leigh Street · Richmond, Va. 23220 (804) 358 6403 Dr. Alonza L. Lawrence, Pastor “Your Home In God’s Kingdom” “Working For You In This Difficult Hour” Joseph Jenkins, Jr. Funeral Home, Inc. 2011-2049 Grayland Avenue Richmond, Virginia 23220 (804) 358-9177 Joseph Jenkins, Jr., Founder (Dec. 19, 1938 - Dec. 9, 2006) Joseph Jenkins, III. • Jason K. Jenkins • Maxine T. Jenkins k k Dr. Sylvester T. Smith, Pastor “There’s A Place for You” Good Shepherd Baptist Church 1127 North 28th St., Richmond, VA 23223 Office: (804) 644-1402 https://youtu.be/qqzhnIEQyQc for inspirational messages from Pastor Smith 500 E. Laburnum Avenue, Richmond, VA 23222 www.sharonbaptistchurchrichmond.org(804)643-3825 Rev. Dr. Paul A. Coles, Pastor Sharon Baptist Church “ e Church With A Welcome” MorningSundaysWorship10:00A.M. Back Inside 400 South Addison Street Richmond, Va. 23220 (near Byrd Park) (804) 359-1691 or 359-3498 Fax (804) www.sixthbaptistchurch.org359-3798 We Embrace Diversity — Love For All!A 21st Century Church With Ministry For Everyone Come worship with us! Facebook sixthbaptistrva Rev. Dr. Yvonne Jones Bibbs Pastor Back Inside Sundays Join us for 10:00 AM Worship Service Live on Facebook @sixthbaptistrva Live on Youtube @sixthbaptistrva Or by visiting our www.sixthbaptistchurch.orgwebsite Antioch Baptist Church “Redeeming God’s People for Gods Purpose” 1384 New Market Road, Richmond, Virginia 23231 | 804-222-8835 SERVICES SUNDAY WORSHIP HOUR – 10:00 A M CHILDREN’S CHURCH & BUS MINISTRY AVAILABLE SUNDAY SCHOOL (FOR ALL AGES) – 9:00 A M TUESDAY MID-DAY BIBLE STUDY – 12 NOON MWEDNESDAYID-WEEKPRAYER & BIBLE STUDY – 7:00 P M A MISSION BASED CHURCH FAMILY EXCITING MINISTRIES FOR CHILDREN, YOUTH, YOUNG ADULTS & SENIOR ADULTS BIBLE REVELATION TEACHING DIVERSE MUSIC MINISTRY LOVING, CARING ENVIRONMENT DR. JAMES L. SAILES PASTOR Riverview Baptist Church Via Conference Call (202) 926-1127 Pin 572890# In Person Sunday Service also on FACEBOOK and YouTube Sunday, August 14, 2022 Sunday School - 9:30 A.M. Morning Services - 11 A.M. 2604 Idlewood Avenue, Richmond, Va. 23220 (804) 353-6135 • www.riverviewbaptistch.org Sermon by: Rev. Dr. LaKeisha Cook Deacon, Deaconess & Trustee Day *Faith Formation/ Church School (Sat. @ 9:00 AM) Zoom Meeting ID: 952 9164 9805 /Passcode: 2901 *Bible Study (Wed. @ 7:00 PM) Zoom Meeting ID: 854 8862 2296 Give Via: http://mmbcrva.org/give Or through Givelify Sunday Morning Worship On Site & Virtual August 14 2022 @ 10:00 A.M. 2901 Mechanicsville Turnpike, Richmond, VA 23223 (804)648 2472 ~ www.mmbcrva.org Dr. Price London Davis, Senior Pastor Worship With Us This Week! Looking for a welcoming place to worship this week? Stop by & see what God is up to at MMBC. Additional Opportunities to Engage with Us: *Faith Formation/ Church School (Sat. @ 9:00 AM) Zoom Meeting ID: 952 9164 9805 /Passcode: 2901 *Give Via: http://mmbcrva.org/give Or through Givelify Clarence Edgar “Ollie” Oliver, a professional barber who worked in the family business with his father, died on Monday, July 25, 2022, a little more than a week shy of his 54th birthday. Although the Hermitage High School graduate had a bachelor’s degree in architecture from Virginia State University, his passion was working as a barber. After finishing college, he began work ing at the Supreme Hairstyling Lounge at 400 N. 1st St., his father’s shop, where he continued to work for decades. “He was devoted father, brother and son and he loved life,” his brother, Victor said. “He was also open to helping anyone that he could.” His memorial service was held Aug. 3. In a Richmond Free Press article about him and his father in 2017, Mr. Oliver said his father’s work ethic rubbed off on him along with his father’s sense of determination and perseverance. Mr. Oliver used his architectural design skills to work when designing the logo for Supreme Hairstyling Lounge, and when designing the layout of the buildings for his father’s two salons on East Grace Street. Mr. Oliver was known for being outspoken and for his sense of humor when working with custom ers, to whom he offered service, friendship and advice. A Dallas Cowboys fan, Mr. Oliver liked traveling to Washington, D.C. and Baltimore with his father to see NFL football games. He also enjoyed spending time with family, fishing, grilling and cook ing. In 2020, Mr. Oliver and his brother, Victor, started a catering business, 2 Brothers Smokin. Mr. Oliver was preceded in death by his oldest son, Alexander Amir Oliver. In addition to his brother, he is survived by two children, Lauren Alexis Oliver and Evan Alexander Oliver; his parents Clarence and Ora Lewis Oliver, and his sister, LaGora Oliver Brooks. By Jeremy M. Lazarus Cedar Street Baptist Church of God is mourning the loss of its first lady, educator, author and inspiring church singer, Taleshia Lenshell “Lady C” Chandler. Dr. Chandler, wife of the pastor, Dr. Anthony M. Chan dler Sr., succumbed to breast cancer on Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2022, after a widely publicized seven-year fight with the disease. She was Family,48. friends and church members plan to celebrate her life at 11 a.m. Monday, Aug. 15, at the church at 2301 Cedar St. in Church Hill.A native of Maryland, Dr. Chandler began her education career after graduating from the University of Maryland. She later added a master’s de gree and doctoral degree from Walden University. She first taught in Maryland and began teaching in the Rich mond area after her husband was called to the Cedar Street pulpit in December According2007.to Richmond Public Schools, Dr. Chandler focused on special education, first as a teacher at the REAL School and later as academic dean at Amelia Street School. The Glen Allen resident was diag nosed with stage four beast cancer in 2015 more than a year after she first noticed a problem and at least two years after the cancer could have been detected at any early stage. Describing herself as a “breast cancer warrior,” Dr. Chandler went public after discovering that her family practitioner, her gynecologist, the facility that conducted her mammogram and others who examined her completely mis diagnosed her condition. Dr. Chandler only learned in 2020 that Dr. Michael J. Bigg, owner of the Allison Breast
Dr. Taleshia L. Chandler, educator and first lady of Cedar Street Baptist Church, dies Mr. Oliver Center had misread not only her mammogram but those of at least seven other women, according to a report from the Virginia Board of Medicine, which labeled him “incompetent to practice medicine and surgery.” Dr. Chandler did not suffer in silence. In 2016, she shared her journey with the disease in her first book, “A Divine Detour: From Doctorate to Diagnosis to Destiny” in trying to provide hope to those facing life-shattering experiences. She followed up in 2019 with her second book, “Sparkling Through Adversity: Traveling Through Life’s Toughest Jour neys with Style, Grace & Shine,” that focused on proclaiming the help and the support that God canAlongprovide.with her husband, Dr. Chandler is survived by her three children, daughter Alysha M. Chandler; two sons, Anthony M. Chandler II and Andrew M. Chandler, and a grandchild.
Dr. Chandler
Principal Analyst IS Technology (Altria Client Services LLC)(Richmond, VA): Provide general support, administration, and maintenance of the ServiceNow platform and associate applications, ensuring the ServiceNow platform is secure, stable, and available. Work with IT and Business leaders to enhance the ServiceNow platform by developing sound technical solutions that satisfy the business needs while limiting customization. Requires, at minimum, Bachelor’s degree or foreign equivalent in Computer Science, Information Systems, Electronics Engineering, or closely related field. Must have at least eight (8) years experience with large-scale enterprise environments, including four (4) years of experience developing and testing ServiceNow platform. Experience must include the following skills/tools: ServiceNow Modules, such as Change, Incident, Problem, Configuration/CMDB, Service Catalog/ Service Portal, or SN Discovery; Creating management and IT dashboards through ServiceNow platform quality of service delivery; Developing ITIL/ITSM best practices and processes for infrastructure and application monitoring; enterprise monitoring solutions using tools such as IBM Netcool, ITM, or SolarWinds. Please apply at http://www.altria.com/Careers, Req. # 5716567
Roe v. Wade’s impact on professional women athletes
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The abortion was not due to a lack of resources or unreadiness to become a mother. Instead, she said: “The culmination of a lifetime of work was right before me.” Her career depended on this decision and without the option, she very well may have been unable to win a gold medal in the 4x400 meter relay and capture a bronze medal in the 400-meter dash at those games. In addition to her accomplishments, Ms. Richards-Ross may have lost thousands of dollars if she hadn’t been able to compete, as professional track and field’s more lucrative contracts are largely based on an athlete’s performance.Thebottom line for many female athletes is having the right and power to choose what is best for them and having the support to make thatThedecision.WNBA players’ union has pioneered new and groundbreaking agreements to improve the rights of their players, more specifically the rights of its pregnant and nursing athletes. In 2019, a new collective bargaining agreement raised compensation and added benefits including paid maternity leave, stipends for childcare, and the option for players to choose when or when not to report to mandatory training camp and team activities. Last February the WNBA took their support a step further, agreeing on a groundbreaking partnership with San Francisco-based reproductive health company Modern Fertility, which will seek to provide players with free access to fertility testing services. In February, the National Women’s Soccer League certified its first ever collective bargaining agreement in tandem with their players associa Sanya Richards-Ross, front center, and Allyson Felix, back left, celebrate winning gold in the women’s 4x400 meter relay final during the athletics in the Olympic Stadium at the Summer Olympics in London in 2012. Ms. Richards-Ross revealed that two weeks before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she had an abortion while in a relationship with her then-fiancé Aaron Ross.
Donald J. Adams Jr.
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WRITE Richmond Free Press news@richmondfreepress.comFollowusonsocialmedia. Follow the Free Press on @FreePressRVA @RichmondFreePressUSA Lead Software Engineer – Capital One Services, LLC in Richmond, VA; Mult pos avail: Lead overall tech design, dvlpmnt, Senior Engineer (Altria Client Services LLC)(Richmond, VA): Build cloud and engagement solutions, or other automation and analytic capabilities for clients across the company, particularly related to Microsoft cloud services, security, and productivity solutions. Requires at minimum a Bachelor’s degree in Information Systems, Computer Science, or a closely related field, or foreign equivalent. Five years of experience in the job offered or related role. Experience must include the following: Cloud services management experience such as Azure Application management, Microsoft 365 capability deployment, and Power Platform management; Experience migrating from on premise capabilities to cloud environments; Experience with data visualization tools, including Power BI; Deployment, migration, and support of core Microsoft 365 services; Experience in development using agile methodologies through Microsoft DevOps. Please apply at http://www.altria.com/ Careers, Req. # 5716567.
The City of Richmond announces the following project(s) available for services relating to: IFB No. 230000423: Mary Munford ES Pedestrian Improvements Pre-Proposal Conference Call Meeting: August 24 at 11:00 A.M. For all information pertaining to this IFB conference call, please logon to the Richmond website www.RVA.GOV). Proposal Due Date: Wednesday, September 14, 2022/Time: 11:00 A.M. Information or copies of the above solicitations are available by contacting Procurement Services, at the City of Richmond website (www.RVA. GOV), or faxed (804) 646-5989. The City of Richmond encourages all contractors to participate in the procurement process. Thank you for your interest in applying for opportunities with The City of Richmond. To see what opportunities are available, please refer to our website at www.richmondgov.com.EOEM/F/D/V Sr Software Engineer, Richmond, VA. Collab w/Agile teams to design, develop, test, implement, & support tech solutions in full-stack dvlpmt tools/techs. Deliver cloud-based solutions. EEO. Apply online w/SingleStone at singlestoneconsulting.com/careers/https://www.
tion. The agreement fully guaranteed 100 percent of the salaries of any player on maternity leave for 14 weeks, which after will drop to the statu tory rate which previously required a minimum of 26 weeks of employment with a club. It is no surprise that the same major profes sional sports leagues that have shown support for women’s rights have denounced the Supreme Court.The WNBA, NBA and NWSL all released statements shortly after the decision in sup port of female athletes and for all women in America.Yetfor other pro sports leagues, mainly those with male athletes, overturning Roe. v. Wade did not seem to cause much reaction. Among the four major professional sports leagues in America, only the NBA released a statement about the decision. In a letter of response written on behalf of the NWSL, commissioner Jessica Berman spoke on behalf of the league, saying “Reproductive rights are human rights.” This has never been more evident. The over turning of Roe v. Wade has thrown a wrench in the advancements of women’s rights in sports. The writer, a student-athlete at St. Joseph’s University, is a Richmond Free Press summer intern.
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Commentary B6 August 11-13, 2022 Richmond Free Press Legal Notice/Employment Opportunities
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SUBSCRIBE Richmond Free Press June 23 marked the 50th anniversary of Title IX — a federal law passed in 1972 that outlawed discrimination based on sex in edu cational institutions. For women in sports, the law enabled them to perform in athletics with equal funding and many of the same opportunities given men in collegiate athletics. A day after this landmark anniversary, athletes were no longer celebrating the freedoms they were given 50 years ago. On June 24, The Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, a law that for 49 years stood to protect the rights and freedoms of women, ended the constitutional right for abortions in the United States. Naturally, the decision sparked national out rage and among the politicians, celebrities, and others who decried the decision were numerous female and male athletes who expressed their disappointment and frustration. Seattle Sonics forward Breana Stewart tweeted: “Nothing has changed but the date … gut-wrenching and disgusting with the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Yesterday was the 50th anniversary of Title IX and yet today women wake up with fewer rights than they had before. Our bodies, our choice!” Former Washington quarterback and ESPN analyst Robert Griffin III had this to say: “For all the progress women have made in this country, today was devastating for women’s rights. Women are under attack.” And preparing for the CONCACAF world tournament, United States Women’s soccer team members, Megan Rapinoe and Lindsey Hora discussed the court’s ruling: “We know that this will disproportionately af fect poor women, Black women, Brown women, immigrants, women in abusive relationships, women who have been raped, women and girls who have been raped by family members, who— you know what?— maybe just didn’t make the best choice. That’s no reason to be forced to have a pregnancy,” Ms. Rapinoe said Ms. Hora’s message to the media was clear and concise. “I’m still a little bit shocked and trying to take it all in but I do feel like this is just a step backward for our country.” For female athletes in professional sports, the impact of the Supreme Court’s decision could not only affect their human rights, but also their careers and livelihoods. A female athlete’s athletic prime often coin cides with her peak age for the conception of a child, and for many females, a child could be devastating to the career goals they have worked for their entire lives. Even for athletes in an environment that seemingly is perfect to raise a child, a pregnancy can still be incredibly damaging and careerthreatening considering the limited window professional athletes have at their peak form. In her memoir “Chasing Grace: What the Quarter Mile has Taught Me about God and Life ” five-time Olympic gold medalist Sanya Richards-Ross revealed that two weeks before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, she had an abor tion while in a relationship with her then-fiancé Aaron Ross.
