Top Ten Richmond Stories of 2009

Rachel DePompa – bio | email   

Back from vacation and ready to work. Well, for three days. Then I’m off on vacation again! In the meantime, our Henrico County reporter Andy Jenks was asked to name the top 10 stories of 2009. A difficult task I think he aced. His top stories covered our entire viewing area, so I’ve decided to ride his coattails and post the top stories for the city this year. My criteria was simple… the story must have happened in the city’s borders and must be a talker!  Here goes….

10. Burglar Shot and Killed in Union Hill: This one hits criteria number two right away. A Virginia Union student shoots and kills a man breaking into his girlfriends car. Eric Driver is eventually charged with murder and instantly sparks a gun debate over whether or not you have the right to protect personal property. His case goes to trial in February.

9. CenterStage/Miller and Rhoades Open: Two Richmond landmarks are open again. Miller and Rhoades is now a hotel and condos. The project was years in the making and has sparked the revitalization of Broad Street. CenterStage soon followed. Also years in the making, it will be interesting to see what the venue does for arts in the River City.  

8. Storm Water Utility Fee: They said no new taxes… but this new utility fee certainly has become one. Homeowners on average pay about 45 dollars a year. Businesses on the other hand face stiffer charges. We’ve seen some bills in the thousands. The fee is designed to help pay for future storm water projects. Now, there are rumblings that the City Council may revisit this idea.

7. The City’s Budget: The good news.. no layoffs this year at City Hall. The bad news… we’re now 10 million in the hole. The stimulus money got us through, but now some tough choices are ahead at City Hall. This story will carry over into 2010….

6. Shockoe Bottom Development Strikes Out: A baseball stadium in the Bottom? There were no grey areas here. You were either for or against this idea. And the naysayers won out, and the Bottom lost a big chance to grow. Or did the Bottom win because it can choose its own identity? I suspect this healthy debate will rage on for years to come.  

5. GRTC Deadly Accident: A woman walking to work is mowed down by a GRTC bus. She was in the cross walk and had a walk light. The driver was eventually convicted of reckless driving. A sad story that turned tabloid when a local media outlet decided to run a graphic and unnecessary picture of the accident. You can read my thoughts about that in prior blog posts. 

 4. Vacant Properties and Richmond Slumlords: In a down economy, you expect to see some blight and down trodden areas. But, the attention vacant properties are getting this year deserves a nomination. Lets see??? We have Oliver Lawrence going to jail and then having to serve part of his sentence in one of his rundown properties. You have my Don Lacey investigation: a former Henrico County cop and real estate agent accused of bilking dozens of Richmonders out of millions. His vacant properties line Richmond’s East End. And then there’s the new legislation being considered by City Council to give people tax breaks for building on vacant lots or for fixing up old homes. And don’t forget the new slumlord website which calls out bad property owners.

3. Wilder Out/Jones In: This story technically happened in late 2008 with the election, but Jones didn’t take office until January. Anyways, Jones jump to the helm of this city is a complete 180 from what we had just one year ago. Though, it makes my job a little more boring, I’m sure residents are grateful for the calm at City Hall. The City Council and the Mayor actually get along. We’ve had no knock down/drag out fights. If there’s a disagreement, it appears to be worked out rather than stonewalled or fought in the media spotlight. All I have to say is this… What a difference a year makes?!?!

2. Squirrels Crack Richmond: (Baseball is back) After a year without a team, it was  nice to have some good news to report. And this new ownership group has really gotten people excited about baseball again. Even if you don’t like the team name or the logo, you were probably interested in knowing what it was going to be. My twitter page went NUTS the day the team decided on a logo. Let’s just see if that enthusiasm continues to opening day.

1. #Ukropalyse: No other story gave me such a headache this year! 🙂 (that’s why it gets my number one vote!) Also, no other story generated more emails to my inbox, twitter messages and secret phone calls and anonymous sources. With more than 3,000 employees in the area and a shopper in every household, people wanted every bit of information they could get on this Richmond icon. Six months of rumors became news headlines. And just before the New Year, we have the end of an era. Ukrop’s sold its stores to Royal Ahold.

Is Richmond a Tough Nut to Crack?

Rachel DePompa – bio | email

The squirrels logo has landed and it’s drawing people out of the woodwork! I posted a twitter picture of the logo and within two hours more than a thousand people had viewed it. 250 more posted comments on my twitter page with their thoughts. I’ve got to hand it to the new owners…they are marketing geniuses! The Richmond Braves never got this much attention except for when they decided to leave. These owners get packed press conferences, front page headlines and top news stories. Also, the crowds at these press conferences are not just media members and they continue to grow. They opened the new baseball team store an hour after the announcement and it was jammed with customers. Flying Squirrel hats and shirts were flying off the shelves. I will say, the majority of the comments I got about the new logo were negative. Then again, in years of reporting experience, the nay-sayers are always louder than the supporters. 

The new team logo!

 

 You can vote on our online poll here. Tell us what you think of the name. And you’ll get another chance at a name soon when the “name the mascot contest” starts December 14th. 

Some of the comments I got on twitter: 

@shortpumppreppy  Kinda cool actually 

@Joe_Stanley There are no words for how ridiculous this entire idea is. 

@heyart “Flying Squirrels” has grown on me. It screams Minor League. The kids will love this. 

@Nicholkola if mighty mouse had an arch nemesis, it would be the Richmond flying squirrel. 

@thomasmcdonald I will be getting a Squirrels hat ASAP! 

@katiebailey  Considering the team name, I think it’s silly, but decent. 

@Nicholkola Seriously? it’s like mighty mouse, squirrel style. 

@eddiRVA Angry badger?

Flatheads, Swine Flu and Debates Oh My!

Rachel DePompa – bio | email

SWINE FLU:

Achoo! I know at least 10 people who came down with the swine flu in the last week! I am determined NOT to be the next to go down.  Alas, I missed out on my chance for a free H1N1 shot today. I was at a press conference where the Mayor got a shot to set the example for the rest of the city. When he finished, they had a few to give away, but ran out quickly. I have a feeling we’re going to be hearing a lot of stories about the Health Department running out of the vaccine.

BASEBALL NAME CONTROVERSY:

With the Hambones out,  I thought it would be fair to point out tonight that almost all of the remaining names could be considered offensive to someone.  In this politically correct day and age, it’s hard to please  anyone. I received an email today about the name Flatheads: Did you know…

Flathead Indians are a Native American race of people/tribe living between the Cascade Mountains and Rocky Mountains. Appropriately named the Salish – they initially lived entirely east of the Continental Divide but established their headquarters near the eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains. Occasionally hunting parties went west of the Continental Divide but not west of the Bitterroot Range. The easternmost edge of their ancestral hunting forays were the Gallatin, Crazy Mountain, and Little Belt Ranges. They were called the Flathead Indians by the first white men who came to the Columbia River. The name, used in error, in the pejorative as slang – was said to derive from the flat skull produced by binding infants’ skulls with boards and is used for many Native Americans

I’m pretty sure, the baseball owners meant a type of Catfish… but I’m also pretty sure they meant no harm by the name Hambone either.  Just saying….

7th DISTRICT SEAT DEBATE:

The 7th District Candidates Forum is Thursday, October 15 from 6:30-9PM at the Robinson Theater. Open to all interested citizens of the community and 7th District. Contact John Johnson at (804)814-1066

It’s Monday: What’d I Miss This Weekend?

Rachel DePompa – bio | email

I’ve been out-of-town since Thursday so here’s an update to a few stories…..

GRTC Photo Controversy:

The Free Press has apologized. The newspaper posted a disgraceful picture after the deadly bus crash two weeks ago. (You can read my prior thoughts about that here.) The editor and chief has finally addressed the incident in the newspaper.  He also posted several of your comments on the editorial page. For all that the newspaper did wrong that day, I commend the editor for addressing the error in judgement and taking full responsibility.

In the paper he wrote….  “I pledge that the Free Press will learn from our mistake, with the goal of becoming more attuned to the sensitivities of
humanity. I pledge that we will make a greater effort to practice
what we preach.”
— Raymond H. Boone

Here is a link to the apology. (Make sure you scroll to page A8.)

The Name Game:

I’ve tried my hardest to refrain from commenting on the names in the running for the new Richmond baseball team. I’m going to stick by that rule, but many of you seem to have a lot to say. 🙂  I will say that Double A teams in the country often have silly or goofy names.  It’s part of the marketing to get people into the seats for Double A.  You have to remember these are players who are twice removed from the pro’s…. not one step away. It’s harder to get people excited, which is why the names are usually silly. Also, you have to give it to the new managers of the Richmond “Whatchmacallits.”  They’ve gotten more press about these names in the last week, then the Richmond Braves got in a month’s time. Smart marketing!

Baseball Comes Swinging Back!

Rachel DePompa – bio | email 

As a huge sports fan, I can’t for the life of me understand why Richmond doesn’t have any sort of professional team. I’m originally from Maryland (just outside DC) and I can’t miss a Redskins, Capitals or Maryland Terrapins game. Throw in the Wizards, and the Nationals and I’m set! So, why oh why can’t a professional team catch on here in Richmond? People have told me over and over “Richmond is just not a sports town.” I’m still trying to figure out why. 

 

 

The scene is set for Baseball at the Diamond

In the meantime, I got to meet the owners for the new team in town and I have to say they were all pretty cool guys. They seem genuinely excited to be in the River City and are optimistic their product will catch on. Only time will tell, but I plan on catching a game or two, to see what all the hub-bub is about. Will you?

 

 

 

Back in town for Richmond Round-up

Rachel DePompa – bio | email 

Sorry for the LONG delay in blogs, but I was sent on secret assignment this week. (No, really!) I was gone for two days, but i’m back today and ready for the week in review.

Gene Lepley: I was so happy to see my former co-worker today. Many of you ask about him often, so here is your update. He’s now the public information officer for the Richmond Police and I had the pleasure of interviewing him for the first time today. You’ll see him on the news tonight! (08-13-09)

Big Brother is Watching: I first told you about cameras in Shockoe Bottom last October. Now, Police have officially jumped on the bandwagon. There are now 8 cameras in the bottom around the Farmer’s Market. I’m curious how you feel about this. I talked to several business owners who are ecstatic to have the extra protection. The camera’s do tape footage that is kept for several days. That means police have a chance at catching some crimes on tape.

City Hall is on VACA: I know you’re probably wondering why I haven’t written about City Hall in a while, but that’s because there’s seriously been NO NEWS! Everyone is on vacation or about to head out. I’m trying here. Please send me some inside information!

Baseball: My sources tell me an announcement is coming soon! Stay tuned….

 

 

Add Manchester to the List

Rachel DePompa – bio | email 

I try not to weigh in on things and I’m not really going to right now. What you are about to read is more tongue and cheek, but I think it perfectly sums up Richmond’s Baseball Debacle.  So here goes…..

I’m pretty sure if I hold a press conference tomorrow to say I think it’s a really good idea to put a stadium on Belle Isle… just because.  My suggestion would get headlines. (Am I mocking the Richmond media, including myself right now? When it comes to baseball… YES!)

Seriously. The Times Dispatch’s FRONT PAGE story today sounded more like this….. “Someone told a guy, who told another guy, who mentioned in passing, that it would be a really, really good idea to maybe, someday put a minor league baseball stadium on some old land that first guy has… that he will soon be done with.” 

I get that this is just another idea being “batted” around, but still, even when we have actual drawings and plans there’s no clear place to take them. Everything just seems so spread out. If you want to revamp the Diamond, well don’t call the city cause the RMA owns it. If you want to put it in the Bottom, then you make the counties AND the RMA feel left out of the discussion. And we are constantly being told a team is definitely coming. Sounds to me like everyone just agrees to disagree.  At this point, slap a fresh coat of paint on the Diamond and call it a day.

New Crime Wave, New Hire, Old Problem

Rachel DePompa – bio | email 

New Crime Wave: When Kitchen Utensils Go Bad…

So, I have to call Richmond Police today to ask about an assault case. Two women fought in North Richmond. One had a frying pan, the other? A steak knife. This comes one week after a man was beaten with a meat tenderizer. Too many cooks in the kitchen? (Thank you! Thank you! I’ll be here all night taking requests.)

New Hire:

Mayor Dwight Jones is certainly helping the city’s employment rate this week. He’s made another hire. This time for Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of Economic and Community Development. He’s hired Peter Chapman who starts July 13th. Chapman comes to Richmond from Denver, Colorado where he serves as the director of a national community development organization.

Old problem:

Baseball, baseball baseball. I hear the city could announce a new team in three weeks. There’s also a new push to renovate The Diamond. Opening Day Partners out of Maryland (Hall of Famer Brooks Robinson and businessman Peter Kirk) have a 28 million dollar plan to upgrade the facility and keep it open year round with other events. The Richmond Metropolitan Authority (which controls The Diamond) has stopped short of endorsing the plan but says it would be a good way to make a new team successful on the Boulevard.  Old problem, same discussion, nothing new here.  

Baseball Debate Getting Ugly

Rachel DePompa – bio | email 

There are some days I’m glad that I’m a journalist. (Today is one of them.) Not having to weigh in on the “Great Richmond Baseball Debate” is nice. I get to just report the facts as we know them and sit back and watch all the opinions fly. From business owners to joe schmoes on the street, everyone is taking a side. Even the local blogging world is fired up about this one. 

As for me? I’m just going to follow around the Nolan Ryan Group today… hitting up a press conference with Eastern Baseball League, watching Nolan Ryan’s son tour the Diamond. I’ll be sitting on the sidelines, the dugout or whatever sports term I can come up with, watching the madness. Thankfully, I’m just reporting the facts on this one… waiting for someone to step up to the plate and make a decision.

PS… Or maybe it’s just that of all the sports in this country, baseball is the one I pay the least attention to throughout the year. If this was a football debate I’d be all over it! (Ahem, biggest Redskins fan in town!) Maybe we should go back to debating whether VCU should have a team?

 

   

Covering the Bases: Baseball in the Bottom

Rachel DePompa – bio | email

First I’d like to thank everyone on Twitter for the great baseball analogy suggestions. By far, my favorite was “more costly than peanuts and cracker jacks.” But I digress….

Richmond’s Mayor, Dwight C. Jones unveiled the findings of his $100,000 dollar study of the Shockoe Center proposal. As expected, we learned the city would have to back the bonds if this plan is to succeed. According to Davenport, city backed bonds would mean the city’s cost would drop about $20 million to a $60 million investment. We also learned the city’s sales tax revenues would have to increase by 2.1% or 67 million dollars to cover the cost of the bonds. The information does give the Mayor and City Council a clearer picture of what it would be getting into, but it still begs the question…. if the city says no to the plan was the $100,000 spent on the study worth it?