The vast majority of the Fan is in the 2nd District, with the area north of Main Street/Floyd Avenue being in the 5th District. (more 5th District info HERE)

MAYOR

Four years ago, Dwight Jones garnered 39% of the city-wide vote in a split 5 person race to see who would follow Doug Wilder as mayor of Richmond. Bill Pantele rolled up 2nd with 33%, trailed by Robert Grey at 21%. Paul Goldman, Lawrence Williams, and Write-in split the remaining 7% of the vote.

In 2008, then-2nd District Council Representative Pantele grabbed 46% of the 2nd District vote in the mayoral contest. Jones and Grey each managed about 23%.

Mayor Jones has not announced that he will be seeking re-election in 2012, but he has a lot of money on hand and is acting like he will be in the running. No other candidates have yet surfaced.

2ND DISTRICT

2nd District Council Representative Charles Samuels was first elected to the position in 2008 with 45% of the vote, with Tyron Bey and Patrick Kjellberg split the remainder.

2nd District Schoolboard Representative Kim Gray was first elected to the position in 2008 with 63% of the vote, knocking off Lisa Dawson.

The December 2011 issue of Councilman Charles Samuels’ 2nd District News (PDF) is now available.

A statement by The Honorable Charles R. Samuels, Councilman, Richmond City Council, North Central 2nd District

Regarding recent outbreak of Crime in the Carver and Fan District Neighborhoods

(Richmond, Virginia U.S.A.) – “I am very troubled by the recent outbreak of crime that is occurring in the Carver, Monroe Ward, VCU and Fan District Neighborhoods. My thoughts and prayers go out to the injured victims of these crimes. I am in regular contact with the Richmond Police Department regarding this issue.

The Richmond Police Department and the VCU Police Department are working together on this and have enhanced Police foot, bicycle and motor vehicle patrols.

I join with Police in asking, inviting and encouraging all citizens to report any activity that is out of the ordinary.”

CONTACT For more information, please contact Councilman Charles R. Samuels, at

804.646.6532; or by email, at charles.samuels@richmondgov.com.

Members of the Wingnut Anarchist Collective walked from the intersection of Broad St. and the Boulevard, winding their way through the fan, all the way to the Mulberry Street home of Richmond City Councilman Charles Samuels, who they blame for the city’s old and and current noise ordinance.

The previous law was declared unconstitutional last year, and has since been replaced by a “sound control” ordinance that council approved back in July. It regulates excessive noise in Richmond’s residential neighborhoods.

It is my intention to introduce this to City Council in a month. I am hopeful this will give the citizens & neighborhood associations a chance to review it and provide feedback prior to it being introduced.

Please find attached the proposed Sound Ordinance for the City of
Richmond. This proposed ordinance was the result of many hours of
meetings, discussions, and legal research.

It is my intention to introduce this to City Council in a month. I am
hopeful this will give the citizens & neighborhood associations a chance
to review it and provide feedback prior to it being introduced. If
there is a need to amend it before it is introduced, I am happy to do
so. While I understand that no ordinance is perfect, and undoubtedly
some will find fault with this ordinance, I am proud of the effort put
forth by the work group who helped craft this ordinance.

I also want to thank the Richmond Criminal Defense Bar, City Attorney
Office, Commonwealth Attorney’s Office, Local Musician’s Union, VCU,
Richmond Police Department, VCU Police Department, Councilman Bruce
Tyler, the Mayor’s Office, and the Virginia Municipal League for their
dedication and guidance as we crafted this ordinance.

If you have comments, please feel free to send them to me via email at
Charles.Samuels@richmondgov.com or you may send them by letter to the
address below.

Charles R. Samuels
2nd District, Richmond City Council
900 East Broad Street, Suite 305
Richmond, Virginia 23219
804-646-6532 (office)
804-690-0898 (cell)

There are several laws the campers are violating, including staying the park overnight, creating an encampment and trespassing. I have been in conversations with the Mayor’s office since last Tuesday strongly encouraging them to enforce the laws currently in place and to not be selective in their enforcement of this law, but to enforce it on anyone who violates it. I have stated I would support their decision to act swiftly to remedy this situation.

I am disappointed that the Administration has not taken any visible action on this matter to date. While I respect the idea of using dialogue over debate, there are times and instances where one must do the right thing and act expeditiously.

In my conversation with Byron Marshall yesterday afternoon, he informed me that the Administration will be providing those violating the law with notice that they are violating the law and that in the next few days they will begin to enforce the law, issuing citations or arresting violators. Mr. Marshall assures me that the unlawful activities will cease before this coming weekend.

I approve of the Administration’s desire to enforce the law and applaud them for doing so. That being said, I am very frustrated by the Administration’s delay. It is my belief that people who violate the valid laws regarding public park usage should not be treated any differently than anyone else.

I have expressed my frustration and disappointment to the Administration that no action was taken for at least 9 days and in their general handling of this issue.

Presentations

Virginia General Assembly Update
The Honorable Jennifer L. McClellan, Delegate
Virginia House of Delegates 71st District

Home Foreclosure Prevention
Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME)

Community Gardens
Dr. Carolyn Graham, Richmond City Deputy Chief Administrative
Officer for Human Services and interim Director of Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation & Community Facilities

Leaf and Trash Collection
Richmond Department of Public Works

WHEN Thursday, March 10, 2011
6:00-7:30 p.m.

WHERE Retreat Doctor’s Hospital Classroom
2621 Grove Avenue
Parking is on the 3rd, 4th or 5th floor of the Retreat Doctor’s
Hospital Parking Deck
Richmond, Virginia

WHO The Honorable Charles R. Samuels, Councilman
Richmond City Council, North Central 2nd District

CONTACT For more information, please contact Jan Girardi, at 804.646.6532 or by email, at jan.girardi@richmondgov.com; or visit his personal website, at www.charlesrsamuels.com

“I am very concerned about the recent robberies which are occurring in the Fan District. The Richmond Police Department will be increasing police foot, bicycle and motor vehicle patrols from Stuart Circle to the upper Fan and are working in tandem with the VCU Police Department in covering Stuart Circle going east to the lower Fan, Carver and Oregon Hill Neighborhoods. I join with Police in asking, inviting and encouraging all citizens to report any activity that is out of the ordinary.”

Entire North Central 2nd District invited and encouraged to attend

WHAT The Honorable Charles R. Samuels, Councilman, Richmond
City Council, North Central 2nd District, will hold a meeting in the
North Central 2nd District. Councilman Samuels holds individual meetings
in Richmond’s North Central 2nd District throughout the year that
include information on his goals and accomplishments; a topical agenda
of current interest; and, special guests. These meetings are free and
all North Central 2nd District citizens are invited and encouraged to
attend. Light refreshments are served.

WHEN Thursday, 2 December 2010

6:00-7:30 p.m.

WHERE Richmond Police Department, 4th Police Precinct

2219 Chamberlayne Avenue, Richmond, Virginia

WHO The Honorable Charles R. Samuels, Councilman

Richmond City Council, North Central 2nd District

With advocates for the homeless holding paper-bag signs such as “Parks are for People,” more than 100 Richmond-area residents met last night at the Carillon to discuss what will happen to feeding programs and other services if Monroe Park closes for renovations. [...]

In brief reports, representatives of the groups also suggested moving homeless services to the Virginia War Memorial; scaling back the park improvements; establishing a day-support center for the homeless; and improving transportation between Monroe Park and the Conrad Center, a feeding center east of downtown.

The following is a letter from Councilman Samuels to the community regarding the Community Conversation Meeting:

Dear Friend:

Every day, more than a thousand people in our community experience homelessness. This number includes adults wrestling with addiction and mental health concerns, families with children coping with a job loss, and many others facing a wide array of barriers that impact their ability to get and maintain safe and stable housing. Many times, our faith and community partners are among the first places people reach out to when they are in crisis. We know that this is a need that many of you have been filling for years. Whether it is with a warm meal or dedicated volunteers, Richmond’s faith and community partners have been instrumental in serving the needs of our neighbors experiencing homelessness.

Monroe Park has served as a defacto central location for those seeking to assist our community’s homeless. As the city begins plans to renovate this historic park, I believe it is important to bring together both those needing services and our faith and community partners to discuss ways that we can continue assisting our community’s most vulnerable citizens. I would like your help and leadership to develop a plan to provide continued support for those who depend on the services offered at Monroe Park.

To make certain that we maintain our community’s response to the needs of those seeking assistance, I have invited Homeward, our community’s planning and coordinating agency for homeless services, to partner with my office to facilitate a community conversation about services offered at Monroe Park. The agenda will include an information-sharing session and a discussion of potential strategies for partnership.

We invite you to participate in this community conversation that will be held on Thursday, November 4, 2010 from 5 until 7 p.m. in the auditorium of The Richmond Carillon, 1300 Blanton Avenue at Dogwood Dell. My hope is that it will foster mutual education and identify points of collaboration. I ask for your help so that we, together, can build a plan to truly help people who are homeless and depend on services provided at Monroe Park. We need your leadership, input, support and assistance to shape this plan and these services.

Please register by emailing your name and contact information to Jan Girardi at Jan.Girardi@richmondgov.com by Monday, November 1, 2010. You may also register by phone, by calling 804-646-6532.

We hope you join us for this important discussion, and we appreciate the work you do to improve the lives of our neighbors.

Sincerely, Charles R. Samuels, Councilman

As predicted, Northside’s Wingnut Anarchist Collective, a group heavily involved in the weekly Food Not Bombs feeding, has published a critique of what they are calling attempts to genrify Monroe Park.

Monroe Park, like many public facilities could use improvements. More trashcans, chess tables, a playground, better restrooms, more benches etc. are all amenities which could be beneficial. But if the price of getting these improvements is increased pressure on the homeless and on anyone involved in programs to provide free services, it is not worth it. Monroe park needs to remain a place where anyone is welcome. Public parks are one of the few places where it is safe and legal for homeless and poor people to hang out. Trying to push out the homeless is an attack.

The city recently unveiled $6 million in renovation/upgrade plans for Monroe Park. Alice McGuire Massie, president of the city’s Monroe Park Advisory Council, says that:

the renovation should address concerns about park safety but is not intended to move the homeless elsewhere. At the same time, City Councilman Charles R. Samuels, in whose district the park lies, said he’s trying to encourage feeding and other homeless-outreach efforts to be redirected to the Conrad Center in Richmond’s East End or other nonprofit service locations.

“The renovation is for anybody and everybody,” Massie said. “It just to raise the quality of life to a higher standard.”

Councilman Charles Samuels holds meeting and urges parents to protect their children against unsafe “Teen Parties”

Warns against those exploiting our children by luring them into dangerous places

WHAT Councilman Charles R. Samuels, Richmond City Council, North Central 2nd District, will hold a meeting to discuss his concerns regarding the rash of recent dangerous and unsafe “teen parties” that are creating an unsafe environment for Richmond families and neighborhood restaurants and businesses. The meeting will include members of the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, Richmond Police Department, Richmond Department of Fire and Emergency Services and City staff.

Councilman Samuels warns parents to be cautious of those exploiting our children by luring them into dangerous places like un-chaperoned “teen parties” and provides the following checklist for responsible parents to use when determining if their child should attend an event:

1.      Visit a place in person to assess the safety of the inside and outside of the location

2.      Meet with those having a party in person to ask them about your child’s safety

3.      Have specific times of drop-off and pick-up

4.      Never let your child attend a party alone

5.      Check area for drugs and alcohol

6.      Have a long talk with your child about your expectations

WHEN             Wednesday, 12 May 2010

4:00 – 5:00 p.m.

WHERE Richmond Police Department Training Academy, Auditorium

1202 W. Graham Road (In Richmond’s Northside)

(1 Block west of Brook Road – Near Virginia Union University)

WHO The Honorable Charles R. Samuels, Councilman

Richmond City Council, North Central 2nd District

CONTACT For more information, please contact Jan Girardi, at 804.646.6532 or by email, atjan.girardi@richmondgov.com

• Do Night Clubs and Dance Halls need to be defined & regulated within the City?
• How Should The Richmond School Budget Be Balanced?
• Richmond Animal Control Should Be Placed in Which Department?

Full article from the RTD here. Highlights below:

“Mayor Dwight C. Jones’ administration and the City Council are considering increasing the standard towing rate from $65 to $95 as part of a new, one-year contract with Seibert’s Towing.

The city currently receives about $15 each time Seibert’s or one of its subcontractors tows a vehicle on behalf of the city, leaving the owner with a base bill of $65, said Victoria Pearson Benjamin, general counsel for the Richmond Police Department and chairwoman of the city’s Advisory Board for the Assessment of Towing Fees and the Storage of Vehicles.

Under a proposed new contract with Seibert’s, the city’s share of each tow would rise to $19 if the rate remains $65, or it would rise to $22 if the rate rises to $95.

Councilman Charles R. Samuels, who represents the Fan District and other neighborhoods that rely heavily on street parking, said he appreciates that towing companies are facing higher costs, but he’s also concerned about how an increase would affect residents, including students at Virginia Commonwealth University.

“I would imagine that folks . . . are really going to be concerned about this because we are still in a recession and every penny counts,” he said.

The City Council will consider the issue tomorrow when it decides whether to authorize Chief Administrative Officer Byron C. Marshall to sign the new contract with Seibert’s. The city’s previous 10-year contract with the company expired March 31 and was not eligible for renewal.”

Here are some highlights. Personally, I don’t really mind too much what noise is made during normal hours of the day, it’s more the nighttime ones that I appreciate. I hope my neighbors are reading this. . .

• Between 7am and 11pm you can’t play music, TV, etc. inside your home so loudly that it can be heard outside your home or 50 feet away from the device (stereo, computer, TV, etc.) (Note: the word “phonograph” was actually in the ordinance – they know it’s 2010, right?)
• Between 11pm and 7am sound from such equipment (stereo, TV, etc.) can only be loud enough for the person playing it to hear it
• • Between midnight and 7am you can’t make noise in your home that can be heard in another home, apartment, etc.
• • It is unlawful to let an animal or bird be so loud that it can be heard at least once a minute for 10 straight minutes from a neighbor’s home or 50-feet from the barking dog, chirping bird, etc.
• • You can’t play your car radio so loudly that it can be heard 50 feet from your car
• • You can’t drive a car so beat-up that it rattles so loudly it can be heard 350 feet away from the car
• • You can’t honk your horn just to honk, it needs to be used as a warning of on-coming danger
• • You can’t make lots of noise taking out your trash between 10pm and 5am
• • You can’t make lots of noise doing yard work between 10pm and 7am
• • You can’t make lots of noise doing home improvement stuff between 7pm and 7am
• There are exceptions to the noise rules like special permits, religious services, and sounds made by police cars.

(thanks to CBS 6 for the condensed version)

Punishment is class 2 misdemeanor charges – confinement in jail for up to six months and a fine of up to $1,000, either or both.

What do you think? These laws sound reasonable? Too much? How about the punishment?

read entire noise ordinance