Recent Free Press article ‘was not a forum for litigation or absolution’

In my conversations with Mr. Jeremy Lazarus that resulted in the Jan. 26-28 edition of the Richmond Free Press article, “It’s Complicated,” I believe that I was clear in stating that I became an Enrichmond board member in October of 2017.

Once I accepted a position as an employee, I was no longer a board member. My position as community ambassador began May 2021. The purpose of the Free Press article was to inform the public that the city is moving in good faith regarding Enrichmond’s partner renumeration. The article, in my opinion, was not a forum for litigation or absolution.

Yet, the response in a Free Press Feb. 2-4 Letter to the Editor stating the article is “inaccurate and misleading” comes off as an attempt to throw shade at me and my family’s work. You found documents pertaining to my board membership. However, someone neglected to “discover” documents that show when I became a salaried employee. Most people know you cannot be an employee and a board member at the same time.

After working as an electrician’s apprentice during COVID-19 shutdowns, it was a joy to work beside other Richmonders on the cemetery grounds by hosting volunteer groups and working with descendants daily. Our goal was to maintain the work of volunteers. Despite selective photo images and secondhand accounts to the contrary, I believe that we were effective.

Regarding the critique of “securing an agreement with VOF (Virginia Outdoors Foundation).” Tell me where in Mr. Lazarus’ article is the implication that I was compensated in any form? Additionally, our family foundation’s ongoing transition doesn’t involve “cemetery maintenance.”

My personal work has been that of a volunteer since July of 2022. The contractor used came directly by recommendations from people at Woodland Cemetery. I worked hard to find several options in order to maintain the upper section of Evergreen during the growing season.

I’m proud that an excellent licensed Black contractor with experience was found to mow and maintain grounds throughout the city. So was permission needed from the Descendants Council to cut the grass?

Safe and clean access was being maintained with the help of the men of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Daniel #7 Masonic Lodge, MilitaryVets from The Mission Continues, and descendants that called me every week. I was not compensated for my time. Nor did I ask to be.

As Enrichmond staff were dismissed, I personally reached out to have discussions with both The Friends of East End and my friends on the Descendants Council. Through honest conversations, many have been hopeful that all of us can return to the real business at hand. Meanwhile, others recently ignored my online communication and also informed me by text that “... to talk to you again, it will be in a public forum.” Which, I am to assume, refers to my dealings with Enrichmond.

Yet, I remain here to offer help regarding the cemeteries.

JOHN MITCHELL The Richmond Planet Foundation

Public Notice

RICHMOND 2023 BOARD OF EQUALIZATION

Public notice is hereby given that the Board of Equalization for the City of Richmond is inequities for 2023 real estate assessments. Upon hearing such complaints, either oral or assessments. Before a change can be granted, the taxpayer or his agent must overcome a clear presumption in favor of the assessment. The taxpayer or agent must prove that the property is not uniform with similar property assessments or prove that the property is assessed in excess of its fair market value.

The Board of Equalization has scheduled the following hearings:

Each Tuesday & Thursday, beginning at 10:00 am in Room 802 of City Hall. Meetings will commence on February 21, 2023 and continue until such time as all matters before the Board are resolved. Due to COVID-19 all appeals will be via phone calls with social distancing and wearing of masks. For further information, please contact Mrs. Jennifer Cannon, Liaison, for the Richmond Board of Equalization at (804) 646-7910, 900 East Broad Street, Room 802-City Hall, Richmond, VA 23219.

By order of the Richmond Board of Equalization (Va. Code § 58.1-3378)

Date: February 7, 2023

Youth Mental Health

As we enter the final week of the 2023 Session, the issue of children s mental health looms large For too long Virginia has failed to fully address the mental health needs of our children with less than 10% of state funding for mental health services targeted to children According to Mental Health America Virginia ranks 48th in youth mental health access, with Virginia youth having a higher prevalence of mental illness and lower rates of access to care

While the lack of sufficient children s mental health services has long been an issue the pandemic has made the problem even worse In its report

Pandemic Impact on K-12 Public Education JLARC found that students especially girls reported disturbingly high levels of mental health issues during the pandemic Half of middle school students and nearly two-thirds of high school students reported feeling nervous anxious or on edge Ten percent of middle school students and 13 percent of high school students said that they seriously considered attempting suicide in the past 12 months Three percent of middle school students four percent of high school students reported attempting suicide at least once

Over the past few years the General Assembly has made some progress on this issue and with historic revenues we can do even more

Thanks to a budget amendment I carried in 2022 we provided $2 5 million to establish school-based mental health services on a pilot basis in 5 school divisions - Lunenburg, Bristol, Mecklenburg Hopewell & Hanover This year we are poised to invest an additional $15 million to add programs to up to 25 more school divisions

Last year we partially lifted the cap on state funding for school support staff which was put in place during the 2008-09 recession From 2009 to 2020 Virginia schools added 63 000 students while school support staff positions dropped by 1 700 This has led to support staff being unable to support the increasing mental health needs of students For years, I have sponsored budget amendments to fully eliminate this cap

This year the Senate budget does just that providing hundreds of millions of dollars to support student mental health

In 2020 I passed legislation increasing the number of specialized school-based support staff (social workers nurses psychologists and other licensed behavioral health specialists) to three per 1000 students This session my SB 1325 will further increase that number to four per 1 000 students and the Senate budget funds that increase

In addition, the Senate budget includes:

$54 4 million in funding for a 10% Medicaid rate increase for behavioral health services $8 4 million for community based children s behavioral health services $7 9 million to expand Virginia Mental Health Access Program (VMAP) to include children aged 0-5 by training early childhood medical providers; $500 000 to provide technical assistance to school divisions to bill for Medicaid; $450 000 in funding to begin a rate study for Medicaid to redesign behavioral health services including school-based mental health services and $181 250 from the Senate to create a social media campaign geared towards young people, and with youth consultation for suicide prevention

We have an opportunity to finally take significant steps to address the youth mental health crisis Our budget reflects our priorities as a Commonwealth There should be no higher priority than investing in our children s future including their mental health needs

I look forward to updating you on the budget and other issues before the General Assembly in the final weeks of sSession To learn more and stay engaged contact me or my staff at district09@senate virginia gov or (804) 698-7509