Tim Cywinski and I got coffee and a bagel at Abi’s Books and Brews a couple weeks ago. The Iran War had just started, and the weariness was behind both of our eyes. He impressed on me that he had some fresh ideas, a great legacy of accomplishments, and is in...
In April 2023, I had the opportunity to take a tour with William Martin, the director of the Valentine Museum, and Christina Swanson, the Director of PR and Marketing. They guided me through what appeared to be a significant renovation project within the building. This project involved the installation of a new cataloging system on the upper...
Josh Stanfield has spent the last few days in state court, downtown Richmond, traveling from his home in Yorktown, VA. He’s demanding transparency from the School Board on the facts surrounding this past summer’s high school graduation shooting at Monroe Park. The School Board, in its infinite wisdom, denied these public documents from his...
Martin Luther King Day at the Virginia Capitol featured groups lobbying to get the attention of elected officials about their various causes. The Virginia Citizen Defense League holds their annual event with hundreds of their members showing up. The VCDL is like the NRA with gun rights lobbying but confined to Virginia. The attendance...
Last Wednesday, the Virginia General Assembly kicked off its 2024 session, now under the fresh leadership of a Democratic majority in both chambers and one of the first things we want to mention is new bill, HB 698, introduced by Del. Paul Krizek (D) and backed by Sen. Adam Ebbin (D), aimed at legalizing marijuana sales. This move is a big deal,...
As originally reported by the Virginia Mercury earlier today, Virginia is witnessing a renewed debate over the legality of skill games, a form of entertainment that has become widespread in various local businesses. As the 2024 General Assembly session approaches, this topic is expected to be a key issue. Here's a quick overview of the current...
A few hours before midnight, about two dozen protesters held a noise demonstration outside of the Richmond City Justice Center where the city’s jail is located. This annual event in Richmond happens every December 31st, going back a few years. The focus of the event is for the demonstrators to provide the people held inside the jail the...
It's a chilly afternoon in the Far West End, and I'm going to meet Susanna Gibson. Just last month, she came within a hair's breadth of winning a seat in the Virginia House of Delegates. Her narrow loss was fueled by controversy, ignited by the morality police we endure for reasons beyond me. Unlike the recent scandal surrounding a founder of...
It’s a cold Monday morning in Scott’s Addition and I’m waiting for 1st District City Councilman Andreas Addison to join me for a coffee and a chat at Grit Coffeeshop. I met Andreas twenty years ago when we both tended bar at Can Can Brasserie, both members of the original staff there. I remember him as a sharp dude that always treated the gig...
Virginia Senators Attempt to Blackball Contractors An open letter to Governor Glenn Youngkin asked for the names of the Virginia contractors and to remove them from the list of eligible businesses to contract with Virginia. The letter was penned by Virginia Senators-elect John McGuire and Glen Sturtevant and outgoing Virginia Senator Frank Ruff....
