VIRGINIA POLITICS




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Salon de Résistance | A Live Interview Series From RVA Mag

"The absurd is the essential concept and the first truth" - Albert Camus Dispatch NUmber One: Salon de Résistance | presented by RVA Mag, Black Iris, and Le Cachet Dulcet Not long ago, salons were a catalyst for intellectual expression. Spaces where creators,...

Richmond’s Zoning Code Refresh: Developers Know, Do You?

Most Richmonders haven’t heard about it, but the City of Richmond is rewriting the rules that will determine what can be built, and where, for decades to come. It’s called the Zoning Code Refresh, and right now, it’s quietly moving through the public comment stage. If...

Photos | Labor Day Rally Targets Corporate Greed and Inequality

Hundreds gathered in Monroe Park this afternoon for a Labor Day rally organized by 50501 Movement and 50501 Virginia, demanding “Workers Over Billionaires.” The event, which kicked off at 4:30 PM, brought together community members, activists, and labor advocates to...

Workers Over Billionaires: Richmond’s Labor Day Rally

This Labor Day, Richmond isn’t just taking a day off, it’s taking to the streets. On Monday, September 1 at 4:30 PM in Monroe Park, the 50501 Movement and Virginia 50501 will lead a Rally, Protest, and March under the theme: “Workers Over Billionaires.” The gathering...

When Art Meets Activism: Environment at Risk at Glen Allen

The Cultural Arts Center at Glen Allen is hosting Environment at Risk, a group show curated by Appalachian Voices’ Virginia field coordinator Jessica Sims. Installed in the Gumenick Family Gallery, the exhibition gathers paintings, prints, collage, sculpture,...

Labor Peace or Lawsuits?

This piece is one in a series of opinion pieces by Jon Baliles about the proposed Richmond Grand Resort and Casino. You can read his other pieces HERE. The casino advocates made a big deal about their labor peace agreement that was reached with the Washington, D.C.-based hospitality union Unite Here 25 as well as with construction and trade...

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Paducah Kentucky District Courthouse Google Images 2023

Make It Impossible to Happen Again

This piece is one in a series of opinion pieces by Jon Baliles about the proposed Richmond Grand Resort and Casino. You can read his other pieces HERE. The Richmond Times-Dispatch Editorial Board and reporters sat down this week with the casino opponents who said the casino advocates “are using what amounts to sleight of hand to woo voters”...

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Make it Impossible to Happen Again Jon Baliles 2023

Resorts Like Airports

There has been a lot of boasting from the casino advocates about their partnership with Kentucky-based Churchill Downs, Inc. (CDI). The rebranded Richmond Grand casino developer Urban One is a radio and TV conglomerate that has said they are partnering with CDI because of their huge capitalization and experience with casinos. But let’s take a...

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Jon Bailies No Casino story 2023

Early Vote Tally Continues To Climb For Big Virginia Election 

RICHMOND, Va. – Virginia voters have about two weeks left to cast an early vote, in person. Over 287,000 people have already voted early in the Nov. 7 election, through both in-person and mail ballots.  More voters have cast an in-person ballot than submitted a mail ballot, as of Oct. 18. However, just over 228,000 mail...

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early voting richmond 2023

Turn Down the Casino, Turn Up for The Free Food!

Axios dropped some news this morning about the city's high-stakes casino referendum. Wondering what's lighting a fire under voters this election season? Well, the pro-casino team is pulling out all the stops to boost turnout, offering free lunches at polling stations. Though they're offering Ubers to their supporters, don't let that deter you....

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Richmond casino food 2023

Richmond Casino Bait and Switch: A Black-Owned Casino No Longer?

A Letter to the Editor by Josh Stanfield. “Asked about the financing of the project, [Churchill Downs Incorporated CEO] Carstanjen said the specifics would be finalized and made public after the referendum.”  Sarah Rankin, AP, 9.1.23 Green space, pickleball, spa treatments, the resort experience - this is what’s being sold to Richmond voters...

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Richmond Casino Bait and Switch: A Black-Owned Casino No Longer?

“Blessed“ Is the Second RVA Casino Referendum

Early voting has begin in Virginia and the Richmond casino advocates have gone all-in with the mayor and City Council to make sure the referendum got back on the ballot and now are betting the house with an absurd amount of money to make sure the referendum passes this time. Jimmy Cloutier at Virginia Investigative Journalism has an interesting...

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“Blessed“ Is the Second RVA Casino Referendum by Jon Baliles

Huge Pressure on Small Politicians with Eyes on Virginia Elections

Have you ever this before, “this is the most important election in your life.” Perhaps this has been declared during a Presidential election, maybe in a Governor race, but almost certainly will you never hear someone claim that for state legislator race. Virginia has a unique election calendar, with state elections on odd years instead of...

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Huge Pressure on Small Politicians with Eyes on Virginia Elections