Regarding the death of Mr. Tyre Nichols at the hands of five Memphis Police Officers

 

Richmond City Council / News Release

27 January 2023

A statement on behalf of Richmond City Council

Regarding the death of Mr. Tyre Nichols at

the hands of five Memphis Police Officers

 

 

Richmond, Virginia –“We express our deepest condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the family, friends, and loved ones of Mr. Tyre Nichols.

     After witnessing this video, our hearts ache for this family as a traffic stop has resulted in the death of a young, black man’s life – a father and a son.

     As other leaders of our great City and across the nation have shared, we recognize that processing this will be handled in different ways - some will wish to use their first amendment rights and others will look to identifying safe spaces in which to communicate with professionals. 

     It is our hope that those who wish to engage civically will do so peacefully. For those who wish to engage in safe spaces with professionals, Richmond offers the following services:

 

·       Lifeline – Call or Text 988 or Chat 988lifeline.org

·       Mental Health America – Text MHA to 741741

·       Warmline of Virginia – 866.400.6428 (tel)

·       Employee Assistance Program (EAP) 877.622.4327 (tel)

 

     If you or your family need a safe space to gather with others, the following city facilities will be open:

 

Saturday, January 28, 2023 – Sites will be open from 9:00 am. – 4:00 p.m.

 

·       Hotchkiss MLK

·       Blackwell

·       Bellemeade

·       Henderson

 

As we prepare for the days ahead, we ask that you keep Mr. Tyre Nichols’ family and the City of Memphis in your prayers.”

 

 

 

 

Richmond City Council - Richmond City Hall - 900 East Broad Street, Suite 305 - Richmond, Virginia  23219 U.S.A. - rva.gov/richmond-city-council (web)

Richmond City Council appoints LaTesha S. Holmes as its new Council Chief of Staff

Richmond City Council / News Release

For sharing, forwarding, and posting

9 January 2023

 

Richmond City Council appoints LaTesha S. Holmes as its new Council Chief of Staff

 

(Richmond, Virginia) - Richmond City Council is pleased to announce the appointment of LaTesha S. Holmes to head the Richmond City Council Office of the Council Chief of Staff as its new Council Chief of Staff.

 

     In this position, Ms. Holmes will assist Richmond City Council in its role of creating and amending local laws, providing government policy and oversight, and establishing the Richmond Government Budget.

 

     Ms. Holmes previously served as a Business Manager/Interim Special Project Manager for the Raleigh Department of Planning Development/Raleigh Department of Diversity Equity and Inclusion, in Raleigh, North Carolina, where she has served since March of 2019. Prior to that, Ms. Holmes served as a Special Assistant to the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Children and Families, as an Adjunct Professor for Southern New Hampshire University, and as the Director of Continuing Education for the New Jersey Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.  

 

     Ms. Holmes earned her Master of Public Administration from Rutgers University and Bachelor of Science in Business/Public Administration from the University of Phoenix. Additionally, Mr. Holmes has continuing education in organizational planning, strategy, and leadership.

 

Richmond City Council is excited to include the addition of Ms. Holmes’ exceptional knowledge, skills, and abilities with its professional staff and considers her an outstanding choice to lead this important Council Office. Council welcomes Ms. Holmes and looks forward to her service on behalf of Richmond residents.

Richmond City Council thanks Joyce L. Davis for serving as Interim Council Chief of Staff for the past two years. Council expresses its profound appreciation for her tremendous dedication and service.

Ms. Holmes was appointed by Richmond City Council Resolution on January 9, 2023 and will began her role on Tuesday, January 17, 2023.

 

The Richmond City Council Office of the Council Chief of Staff is one of six Council Offices and about 50 Board and Commission that reports to Council.

 

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Richmond City Council - Richmond City Hall - 900 East Broad Street, Suite 305 - Richmond, Virginia  23219 U.S.A. - rva.gov/richmond-city-council (web)

Richmond City Charter Review Commission plans and upcoming meeting

 

Richmond City Council / News Release

For sharing, forwarding, and posting

6 January 2023

 

Richmond City Charter Review Commission plans and upcoming meeting

Upcoming meeting: Thursday, January 19, 2023: 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

 

(Richmond, Virginia U.S.A.) – Richmond City Council Ordinance # 2021-347 established a Richmond City Charter Review Commission, comprised of nine community members, to conduct a comprehensive review of and make recommendations for revisions to the Richmond City Charter, which enumerates the governmental powers granted to the City of Richmond by the Virginia General Assembly. The Commission’s upcoming public meeting will be held:

     When

     Thursday, January 19, 2023

     6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

     Where

Richmond Police Academy Training Center

1202 W. Graham Road; Richmond, Virginia

     Richmond residents are invited and encouraged to participate in this important process and to share their thoughts, suggestion, and questions with the Richmond City Charter Review Commission.

     The Commission will also be holding multiple public input sessions during the spring in which various draft Charter recommendations will be presented in order to elicit and obtain public input, feedback, and comments.

     Plans for the Richmond City Charter Review Commission include:

• ·       Holding monthly work meetings – open to the public - Schedule TBA
• ·       Establishing a public information website
• ·       Designing a short resident survey
• ·       Creating a web portal for transmission of written comments and statements
• ·       Holding multiple public input sessions during the spring in which various draft Charter recommendations will be presented in order to elicit and obtain public input, feedback, and comments – open to the public – Schedule TBA

     The Commission will submit its final recommendations in a report to Council and the Mayor later this year.

     Richmond City Council thanks the willingness and dedication of the Richmond City Charter Review Commission Members for their work on behalf of this important project for all Richmond residents.

Contact

For more information, please contact: Thad Williamson, Ph.D., Chair, Richmond City Charter Review Commission, at RVACharterReview@gmail.com (email)

 

Richmond City Charter Review Commission Members

Thad Williamson, Ph.D., Chair

Rachael Deane, Esq., Vice-Chair

Antoine Banks, Secretary

Dr. Bre’Auna Beasley, Member

William “Bill” Echelberger, Member

Kyle Elliott, Member

Travis Gunn, Member

Steven Koski, Member

 

Special Notes

·       Pursuant to the Constitution of Virginia, the Virginia General Assembly is the final authority on changes to the Richmond City Charter.

·       Richmond Public Schools is outside the scope of the Commission’s work. Richmond Public Schools it not part of the City of Richmond Government. It is a subdivision of the Commonwealth of Virginia and overseen locally by the Richmond Public Schools Board of Trustees and an appointed Superintendent administers day-to-day Schools operations.

Helpful Links

·       Richmond City Council Ord. No. 2021-347 https://richmondva.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=5360520&GUID=2C0908BD-B69B-4EC2-979A-35A33A2420D2&Options=ID|Text|&Search=2021-347

·       Richmond City Charter Review Commission Membership https://eservicesb.richmondgov.com/applications/boardsandcommissions/MembersList.aspx?mybckey=195

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Richmond City Council - Richmond City Hall - 900 East Broad Street, Suite 305 - Richmond, Virginia  23219 U.S.A. - rva.gov/richmond-city-council (web)