| Richmond City Council Candidate Forum 2012 Sept. 13 | |
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Sponsors: The L. Douglas Wilder School of Government in partnership with the A. Philip Randolph Institute, The Alliance for Progressive Values, The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence, People of Faith for Equality, RePHRAME – Residents of Public Housing in Richmond Against Mass Evictions, Richmond NOW, Sierra Club – Fall of the James, S.O.N.G. Southerners On New Ground, UniteWomen.org – Virginia Chapter, Virginia New Majority – Central Virginia Chapter, and Virginia Organizing. Moderator: Dr. Kim Allen from the Martin Luther King Jr. Living History Center. Candidates: Parker Angelasto, 5th District Erin Delp, 3rd District Charlie Diradour, 2nd District Jimmy Hart, 8th District Chris Hilbert, 3rd District Marty Jewell, 5th District Michelle Mosby, 9th District Dawn Page, 8th District Ellen Robertson, 6th District Mike Ryan, candidate for Mayor Charles Samuels, 2nd District Lee Shewmake, 5th District Bruce Tyler, 1st District Johnny Walker, 4th District
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Notes |
| Part 1 – https://vimeo.com/49522671 | |
| 0:00 | |
| 0:01 | |
| 0:02 | Ground Rules |
| 0:03 | Angelasto will be leaving early. |
| 0:04 | INTRODUCTORY STATEMENTS |
| 0:05 | Angelasto |
| 0:06 | |
| 0:07 | Robertson |
| 0:08 | |
| 0:09 | Tyler |
| 0:10 | Hilbert |
| 0:11 | |
| 0:12 | Samuels [uses notes] |
| 0:13 | |
| 0:14 | Ryan |
| 0:15 | |
| 0:16 | Walker |
| 0:17 | |
| 0:18 | Hart |
| 0:19 | |
| 0:20 | Jewell |
| 0:21 | Claims not to know employment help location. See, https://vimeo.com/36250419 6:55 – 9:44; Claims Dalal is “best auditor in America.” |
| 0:22 | Shewmake |
| 0:23 | |
| 0:24 | Delp |
| 0:25 | |
| 0:26 | Page |
| 0:27 | Mosby |
| 0:28 | |
| 0:29 | |
| 0:30 | Diradour |
| 0:31 | |
| Part 2 – https://vimeo.com/49550235 | |
| 0:00 | SPECIAL USE PERMITS |
| 0:01 | Ryan: |
| 0:02 | Should not piece-meal development. At times we will need to make some exceptions. 67 exceptions is quite a bit. |
| 0:03 | Jewell: City is growing by default. Doing it piece-meal. |
| 0:04 | Need a comprehensive plan. |
| 0:05 | Shewmake: Agree. We fail to plan. We need a comprehensive plan. |
| Part 3 – https://vimeo.com/49550236 | |
| 0:00 | PUBLIC HOUSING REDEVELOPMENT |
| 0:01 | Page: Must phase in return of residents. Need a plan. |
| 0:02 | Robertson: [asks to repeat question] |
| 0:03 | Same number of units will be maintained. |
| 0:04 | Wants inclusive community. |
| Part 4 – https://vimeo.com/49559490 | |
| SPECIAL USE PERMITS – SPOT ZONING | |
| 0:00 | Tyler: Claims it’s not spot zoning. [defends SUPs] I believe that you follow the process and when you do that the right outcomes will occur. |
| 0:01 | Samules: Say parcels are zoned differently. [SUP waives zoning] |
| 0:02 | [does not answer questions] |
| 0:03 | |
| Part 5 – https://vimeo.com/49563431 | |
| PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION | |
| 0:00 | Delp: Bus service is inadequate. |
| 0:01 | |
| 0:02 | Hilbert: Supports regional authority. |
| 0:03 | Supports reduced representation on RMA in exchange. Will fight General Assembly. |
| 0:04 | Ryan: |
| 0:05 | Workers need bus service to jobs. Suggests working with county employers. |
| 0:06 | Page: Must expand bus service in Southside. |
| 0:07 | Workers need bus service to jobs. |
| 0:08 | Walker: [asks to speak; moderator says no] |
| Part 6 – https://vimeo.com/49569587 | |
| EQUALITY AND SAFETY PROGRAMS FOR LGBTQ YOUTH | |
| 0:00 | Walker: [debates with moderator to speak on transportation] |
| 0:01 | Should not discriminate in city employment. |
| 0:02 | Moderator: Support General Assembly legislation for LGBTQ? |
| 0:03 | Walker: Yes. |
| 0:06 | Hart: Need to education public to eliminate myths. |
| Part 7 – https://vimeo.com/49571168 | |
| ALTERNATIVE USE OF ALTRIA $10M DONATION TO LANDMARK THEATRE | |
| 0:00 | Hart: Should be used for reading/writing/math program. |
| 0:01 | Jewell: |
| 0:02 | [explains financing arrangement] |
| 0:03 | Says other city facilities are mismanaged. Complains about Mayor Jones. |
| 0:04 | Moderator: Asks about minority contractors and economic development. |
| 0:05 | Robertson: Asks to hear question again. City must make sure contractors meet commitments. |
| 0:06 | Describes Workforce Development program and employment help. |
| Part 8 – https://vimeo.com/49576267 | |
| JOB CREATION PLANS | |
| 0:00 | SAMUELS: Says he reads state code. Wants to reduce taxes for new businesses. |
| 0:01 | JEWELL: Wants city to employ young workers to install solar street light panels. |
| 0:02 | |
| 0:03 | Wants to sell city water to counties to generate revenue. |
| 0:04 | Walker: Says Chesterfield already uses tax reductions for new businesses. |
| 0:05 | Wants to train students. |
| 0:06 | Page: Wants to create jobs by building affordable housing. |
| 0:07 | Shewmake: Supports incentive packages to attract businesses. |
| 0:08 | Says Richmond is desirable place for business. |
| 0:09 | Ryan: Need to attract more businesses. |
| 0:10 | Need to market the city to targeted businesses. |
| Part 9 – https://vimeo.com/49626184 | |
| SALE OF MONROE PARK TO VCU | |
| 0:00 | Diradour: Supports looking at sale. |
| 0:01 | Samuels: Opposes sale. [applause] |
| 0:02 | Diradour: It is a student park for the most part. It is on campus. |
| 0:03 | Hilbert: Totally opposed. Says students are a part of the city. |
| 0:04 | Robertson: City should own the park and try to partnership with VCU. |
| 0:05 | City needs to preserve control of park. |
| Part 10 – https://vimeo.com/49645802 | |
| SCHOOL BUDGET | |
| 0:00 | Page: |
| 0:01 | |
| 0:02 | Need to make education a priority. |
| 0:03 | Hart: Need to spend more on education. |
| 0:04 | Mosby: Children must be educated. |
| 0:05 | Tyler: Education is critical to the future of the city. We have to support our teachers and make sure that the dollars we give them go into the classroom. |
| 0:06 | |
| 0:07 | Delp: Investing in schools pays off in the long run. |
| 0:08 | Shewmake: Agrees with everyone. |
| 0:09 | Suggests funding partnerships with businesses. |
| 0:10 | Walker: Education is the number 1 priority. City council has failed the schools. |
| 0:11 | Must provide necessary funds. [applause] |
| 0:12 | Moderator: Is there an ordinance against selling city parks? |
| 0:13 | Robertson/Tyler: Yes. Samuels nods. |
| Part 11 – https://vimeo.com/49651005 | |
| 0:00 | BACKYARD CHICKENS |
| 0:01 | Mosby: Not ready yet for the question. |
| 0:02 | Page: Needs to get public input. |
| 0:03 | Delp: 100% supports chickens. |
| Shewmake: Supports with well-framed legislation. | |
| 0:04 | Jewell: I’m a country boy from Goochland. You don’t need a rooster. |
| 0:05 | We could have had a bad earthquake in Richmond. We need to be able to feed ourselves. [laughter] Supports if legislation protects neighbors. |
| 0:06 | Hart: Supports. |
| Walker: Needs to study more. | |
| 0:07 | Ryan: Should be fine. |
| 0:08 | Samuels: Discusses city administration study. Constituents seems evenly divided. |
| 0:09 | Hilbert: Needs to be regulated. Will attract people to city. |
| 0:10 | Need to allow in a restrictive, systematic way. |
| 0:11 | Tyler: There are a couple of issues to be address. |
| 0:12 | Must look at effective regulations. |
| 0:13 | Need to make sure it is safe. |
| 0:14 | Robertson: Supports if done right. It’s up to the citizens. |
| 0:15 |
Angelasto: Supports thoughtful implementation. Some places may not be suitable. There are some issues to address. |
| 0:16 | Diradour: Supports under the right circumstances. |
| 0:17 | [questions continued] |