On Wednesday, Mayor Stoney announced that he will recommend part of the city’s projected surplus balance fund a pilot program dedicated to addressing mental health and substance abuse disorder challenges in underserved communities.
The city will work alongside the Richmond City Health District (RCHD) and Richmond Behavioral Health Authority (RBHA) in designing and implementing this pilot.
“Richmond residents who live with mental and behavioral health challenges are experiencing compounded harms during the pandemic,” said Mayor Stoney. “But this program should not be limited to short-term relief. We need a permanent culture shift to destigmatize seeking help.”
The year-long pilot aims to increase the accessibility of mental and behavioral health support in communities that suffer from disparities in care and outcomes. Director of RCHD Dr. Danny Avula asserts this begins with listening.
“Our intention with this program is to listen to the community and use that input to define the scope of long-term services,” said Dr. Avula. “Does the community need a psychiatrist who can write prescriptions, or would a licensed clinical social worker who can provide ongoing therapy do the most good?”
“A very real stigma still exists around seeking mental and behavioral health treatment,” said Director of RBHA Dr. John Lindstrom. “With this pilot program, we have the opportunity to bring quality, reliable treatment to communities that have historically been underserved in this arena.”
RBHA treats patients referred to the organization, but the onus traditionally is on the patient to seek out services and follow through on referrals. This pilot program, by establishing a mental health presence in RCHD’s community resource centers, will increase accessibility and destigmatize seeking out support.
The mayor announced on September 16 that he will be allocating $500,000 in surplus Special Purpose funds to address health disparities in Richmond. Part of this allocation will go toward funding the pilot program.
Mayor Stoney and LGBTQ advocates raised a Pride flag at city hall to recognize the city’s annual PrideFest weekend.
“LGBTQ Richmonders should know that this city stands behind them,” said Mayor Stoney. “No matter who you love or how you identify, you are a valued member of our community deserving of love, support and justice.”
This is the first time in the city’s history a Pride flag has been raised at City Hall. The flag flies on the Broad Street side of the complex in recognition of the city’s annual PrideFest weekend.
The city chose to raise the Progress Pride flag. The flag incorporates black and brown stripes and the colors of the Transgender Pride flag to represent the necessity for champions of the LGBTQ community to bring a racial justice, inclusive lens to the work.
“We chose the Progress Pride flag both for this moment and to represent our ongoing work,” said Mayor Stoney. “To build an equitable, inclusive city, we must move forward with intentional intersectionality. Nobody should be left behind.”
City officials were joined by James Millner, Interim Executive Director of Virginia Pride, Lacette Cross and Louise “Cheezi” Farmer, founders of Black Pride RVA, Zakia McKensey, founder of Nationz Foundation, and various other representatives of LGBTQ groups in Richmond.
At the event, James Millner presented Virginia Pride’s annual Firework Award, given individuals and organizations that are catalysts for change for the LGBTQ community. Past recipients include former Governor Terry McAuliffe, transgender activists Gavin Grimm and Zakia McKensey, Bill Harrison and Ted Lewis. This year’s recipient was Black Pride RVA.
“Richmond’s LGBTQ community is tremendously grateful to the mayor, the City Council and the City of Richmond for taking this historic step of raising a Pride flag at City Hall in recognition of RVA’s PrideFest weekend,” said James Millner, Interim Executive Director of Virginia Pride. “This gesture of inclusivity sends a powerful message that this city’s LGBTQ residents and visitors are not only welcome here but are celebrated as strong and vibrant threads of the fabric of Richmond.”
The mayor also issued a proclamation recognizing Virginia PrideFest weekend. You can read the proclamation here.
The flag will fly over City Hall through PrideFest weekend and the end of September to close out Virginia Pride Month.
Video of the flag raising will be available on the city’s YouTube channel.
On September 23, 2020, the Task Force to Reimagine Public Safety presented Mayor Levar Stoney with their initial recommendations after 45 days of discussing actionable proposals to make Richmond a safer city for all residents.
“After meeting with the co-chairs of the Task Force to Reimagine Public Safety and co-chairs of each of the subgroups, I am in consensus with their recommendations,” said Mayor Stoney. “They propose systems-level changes for the undeniably systemic challenges we face. The members are pushing our city in the right direction when it comes to broadening the definition of public safety and innovating our policies and programs accordingly.”
“I appreciate the comprehensive feedback and suggestions of this group of experts and community members,” said Chief of Police Gerald Smith. “Their attention to current policies and practices and innovative reform suggestions are a welcome starting point.”
The membership of the task force was announced on July 10. The first public group meeting was August 7, and the full body has met every two weeks since that date.
Subgroups of the task force include: Community Engagement and Healing, Human Service Lens for calls for service, and Use of Force. Each of the subgroups met weekly since August 7.
The task force will present a final report to the mayor on November 5, 2020.
Said co-chair Officer Carol Adams of the work: “Our city’s entire public safety apparatus can best serve the community when we incorporate thoughtful input borne out of diverse life experiences. The work of this group reflects that charge.”
“Our work isn’t just about police. It’s about expanding the definition of public safety and public safety officers to include social service professionals and community members,” said co-chair Daryl Fraser. “If we don’t take a holistic approach, we’re doing ourselves a disservice.”
The initial recommendations are subject to change based on additional discussions within the task force, research, evaluations and/or legal review.
Human Services Lens Subgroup
The subgroup suggests that a new routing system be developed so that mental health, conflict resolution, substance abuse and other non-criminal calls are addressed by appropriate community members and professionals.
Routing systems should empower community members or police officers to forward calls outside of their area of expertise to the proper location. This may include working with the Office of Emergency Communications to develop a different triage system for 911 calls.
This must also be accompanied by a community cultural shift in response to conflict. This may include more training programs in conflict de-escalation or the use of community ambassadors and other human services employees to intervene in non-criminal situations.
“These are systems-level changes,” said subgroup co-chair Torey Edmonds. “Therefore, there must be accountability alongside those changes.”
The subgroup also suggests that the city utilize community assets and community members to contribute to a holistic human services and public safety program.
The suggestion acknowledges, and requires the larger community to acknowledge, the connection between poverty and a long list of community issues, including crime.
Human service providers must incorporate community members into the model of service and resource delivery for it to be successful. If it is untenable for members of affected communities to be recruited and trained for these positions, then those organizations must address the structural barriers holding community members back.
“We can’t think of public safety as just police officers,” said Edmonds. “We must tap into the community assets we have.”
Use of Force Subgroup
The Use of Force Subgroup has proposed six recommendations, which follow in italics.
Revisit the Richmond Police Department’s Use of Force policies to humanize interactions between officers and civilians.
The subgroup proposes emphasizing de-escalation, including a values statement in the policy and establishing a strong requirement to intervene when another officer acts unethically.
The group notes that despite the fact that the written policy meets national standards, uneven implementation and lack of familiarity with the use of force continuum leads to leads to discrepancies in service.
Reimagine training practices to center ongoing education, outside expertise and dedicated time to learn de-escalation techniques.
The group suggests the RPD implement more frequent de-escalation training, begin a community training academy inspired by the Chicago Police Department and begin trauma-informed and cultural sensitivity trainings.
The subgroup plans to continue to explore more impartial training techniques, stringent hiring and bias screening processes and police culture shifts.
Increase communication, education and transparency.
The subgroup found that information about RPD policies and practices is sometimes is not readily available to the public. They recommend a number of public information improvements to eliminate misinformation and contextualize police actions in the community, including the use of graphics to illustrate the continuum of use of force.
The report suggests using the websites of Eugene, Oregon and Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s police departments as exemplars.
Part of transparency necessarily overlaps with understanding what use of force entails, on both the community and officer’s parts. The subgroup suggests training videos for officers include an explanation of what each level of force along the continuum feels like.
Improve accountability measures, which has been a special focus of the task force according to the subgroup’s report.
The subgroup fully supports the creation of an independent civilian review board with subpoena power, a project now housed with the Richmond City Council. The subgroup has developed other solutions to improve accountability within RPD.
The subgroup recommends RPD create business cards for all officers to include professional information and a link to a complaint or compliment form online, mandating cards are provided to residents on certain calls for service.
“It is very difficult to make a complaint and expect that complaint to be fairly and justly adjudicated by police,” said subgroup co-chair Sheba Williams.
Therefore, the subgroup recommends creating an anonymous reporting system for residents to file complaints and providing for the public a complete account of the use of body camera footage policies.
Create opportunities to improve officer mental health.
The group recommends shortening officer shifts from 12 hours to 10 hours, mental health and wellness check-ins for officers on a regular basis and beginning an award program for officers who perform in accordance with community standards on duty.
On the mental health of officers, Williams noted: “We know trauma is encountered throughout a career. If that goes unaddressed, it affects the community.”
Standardize the approach language utilized by officers.
Approach language is the phraseology an officer uses as they begin interacting with a civilian during a call for service. The subgroup recommends standardizing this language because respectful, police language reduces negative encounters and decreases use of force.
Community Engagement and Healing
The Community Engagement and Healing subgroup decided to focus on three specific areas to consolidate a wealth of innovative recommendations: acknowledgement of harm; community engagement programs and initiatives; and support of public safety, policy and practice changes that increase public trust and accountability.
One of the subgroup’s suggestions is the creation of community conferencing circles. The model is a culturally responsive diversion program mediating disputes and addressing concerns without conflict.
Said subgroup co-chair Ram Bhagat on the proposal: “Community conferencing is a community based restorative process designed to empower community residents with their own means of resolving disputes that would otherwise be settled by traditional adjudicatory courses of action.”
The subgroup also proposed the founding of a Center for Racial and Social Justice. This would serve as a clearinghouse for training and conflict mediation for all parties, from officers to civilians to city employees.
Contextualizing the subgroup’s plan is the Massive Resilience framework, a process that begins with understanding of past and present harm and builds to community-wide healing. Community engagement and public safety policy and practice changes are vital to building Massive Resilience.
Standing outside the Powhatan Community Center on the 4B GRTC bus line, Mayor Stoney announced that the city has launched a first-of-its-kind Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility.
Housed in the Department of Public Works, the office will design and implement a vision for a connected, safe and equitable transit and mobility infrastructure.
“The Office of Equitable Transit and Mobility will tackle the big and small issues that affect the bus commutes, walks and bike rides of our multimodal residents,” said Mayor Stoney. “This work is vital to building a connected city.”
The office’s portfolio will include:
Extending universal free bus fares, a measure with the full backing of Mayor Stoney;
Enhancing Richmond’s Complete Streets approach;
Designing a mobility action plan;
Expanding Vision Zero work;
Liaising with the Central Virginia Transportation Authority;
Evaluating and developing the city’s bus and paratransit system; and
Connecting existing walkways, bike lanes and other multimodal infrastructure to improve last mile connectivity for commuting Richmonders.
At this time, the creation of this office does not require any new funding or action by Richmond City Council. Current City of Richmond employees working on multimodal transportation will comprise the office. Housing the office in the Department of Public Works will minimize duplicative work while prioritizing multimodal transportation with an unprecedented amount of resources at the office’s disposal.
“The creation of this office will undoubtedly expand this city’s ability to enhance our multimodal infrastructure,” said Council President Cynthia Newbille. “I look forward to Richmond City Council collaborating with Ms. Clarke to complete streets all around the city.”
The office will be administered by fifteen-year transit professional and current City of Richmond Multimodal Transportation Manager Dironna Moore Clarke.
Ms. Clarke has served as the Multimodal Transportation Policy and Planning Manager for the Office of the Virginia Secretary of Transportation and Transit General Manager for the City of Petersburg. Before her work in the Commonwealth, she served Tennesseans in the Department of Transportation advising local and regional transportation bodies on public transportation options as alternatives to road and highway improvement.
Says Ms. Clarke: “I thank Mayor Stoney for the opportunity for this leadership role in the city. Relying on the principles of sustainable transportation, our office will develop strategies and tools to assist the city in maximizing transportation investments on behalf of the residents of Richmond.”
“I have confidence that Dironna’s experience with regional, state and federal partners will bolster this office’s ability to deliver equitable and multimodal transportation services well into the future,” said Mayor Stoney. “Dironna knows Richmond, and she’s ready to listen to the community.”
The Stoney administration has focused on ensuring transportation developments and improvements support a growing multimodal network. The city has funded GRTC route enhancements, funded a new GRTC route, launched the Pulse Bus Rapid Transit and provided free bus passes for high schoolers.
The administration has also marked over 30 miles of new bike lanes, including major projects on Williamsburg and Brook Roads in the East End and Northside, respectively.
The maps above indicate how the disparate impacts of climate change and lack of vehicular access combine to make communities of color ideal for green space investment.
At a press conference near Broad Rock Creek, Mayor Stoney announced that his administration has identified five unused parcels of city land that will be converted into public green spaces.
The spaces are as listed below:
1. Broad Rock Creek Parcels: S0080418002, S0080276004 (Windsor Neighborhood)
2. Hioaks Water Tower Parcel: C0050879024 (Hioaks)
3. Rear Ernest Road Parcel: S0090417036 (Ampthill Heights is closest?)
4. Reedy Creek Wetland Parcel: C0050992011 (Beaufont)
5. Rosemont Road Parcel: C0060659036 (Woodhaven)
“The benefits of green spaces are irrefutable and unmatched, and it’s clear that not everyone in this city has been afforded those benefits,” said the mayor. “It’s our job to intentionally correct that injustice.”
The parcels total over 36 acres of new green space. This is in addition to the 20 acres of new parks the Stoney administration has added and 287 additional parks acres that will be protected from development through conservation easement by the end of the year.
In his most recent State of the City address, the mayor set a goal of ensuring every Richmonder had a green space within a ten-minute walk from their home. To that end, he convened the Green Team, a group of key stakeholders and experts, to drive policy decisions and lead parcel selection for new spaces.
The Mayor’s Green Team determined, using the city’s Climate Equity Index, that need for green space was highest in the city’s Southside, primarily in communities of largely Black and Hispanic representation.
All five parcels are located in the Southside of Richmond: three in the Eighth Council District and two in the Ninth. In the areas surrounding the chosen parcels, the average walk to the nearest greenspace is the highest and heat islands are a more prevalent problem.
“Regardless of a child’s race, ethnicity, gender, family income or zip code, they should be able to walk down the street and spend a summer afternoon in a welcoming, verdant space,” asserted the mayor. “Due to systemic racism, that’s now how our city was designed. We have a chance to right that wrong, and we’re starting with these five green spaces.”
The green spaces will be designed using neighborhood input. Each community’s vision will be brought to life through the hard work of the participants in the Department of Parks, Recreation and Community Facilities workforce development program. The program consists of formerly incarcerated individuals and Office of Community Wealth Building participants learning new skills to build a stronger community and improve their future professional outcomes.
The mayor will formally introduce the ordinance at the September 28 meeting of Richmond City Council. Councilmembers Trammell and Jones will copatron the legislation.
The City of Richmond currently uses six percent of its land for parks and recreation, compared to the nationwide median of 15 percent.
Quotes from the Mayor’s Green Team:
Frazier Armstrong, Executive Director, Capital Trees: “Now more than ever, greenspace matters. The pandemic has revealed the necessity of a robust, connected, equitable and nature-rich public realm, a vision the Green Team is dedicated to making a reality in Richmond. Capital Trees is proud to be a part of this transformational effort.”
Nissa Dean, Virginia State Director, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay: “The Alliance was honored to participate as a member of the Mayor's Green Team. We have been partnered with RVAH2O and DPU for over ten years to help create green spaces that will improve the health of our communities and the James River. We look forward to continuing to support this effort and are committed to helping Richmond reach environmental equity and sustainability goals.”
Dr. Jeremy Hoffman, Chief Scientist, Science Museum of Virginia: “We know that the shade of a deep green park can be up to 16°F cooler than the surrounding neighborhoods here in Richmond. Establishing new parks where they're needed most with community input will make those residents exposed to heat inequity more resilient now and into the future.”
Brianne Mullen, Office of Sustainability: “The RVAgreen 2050 Climate Equity Index shows that Richmonders who live in areas experiencing extreme heat, are more at risk to climate change impacts and lack a vehicle are often people of color. These new green spaces represent an important step toward addressing these inequities not only when it comes to access to green space, but also toward creating a healthier and more resilient Richmond for all.”
