Summer Candidate Survey Series: Week 9
This week, Richmond’s Mayor/City Council Candidates were asked:
Under the next mayor/council term, it is likely that adult-use cannabis sales will be regulated in Virginia. When that happens, there will be a new revenue stream from local sales tax coming into the city. How do you propose those funds be allocated?
(For Twitter, 280 character max); and…
Youth homicide rates in Richmond have dropped 75% from October 2022-2023. Still, one death is too many. Who or what do you believe is most responsible for this progress? What more should be done?
(For the blog, 600 character max)
…and our School Board Candidates were asked:
25% of all RPS students are Hispanic.
20% of all RPS students identify as “English Learners.”
Is RPS doing enough to support these students? If not, what additional resources will you advocate for?
(For Twitter, 280 character max); and…
Richmond Public Schools’ pandemic recovery has outpaced the state average. Newly-released data shows SOL pass rates are up 3% in reading and math, 4% in history, and 10% in science and writing. Graduation rates are up (+7%), attendance is up (6%) and drop-outs are down (-5%).
Who or what do you believe is most responsible for this progress?
(For the blog, 600 character max)
Candidate’s responses to the first question are in bold, and followed by their responses to the second question.
Answers are listed below in the following order:
Mayoral Candidates (in the order in which they responded)
City Council (districts 1-9, alphabetical order)
School Board (ditto)
Let’s dive in!
Mayoral Candidates
Michelle Mosby
As someone who works closely with justice-involved individuals, I know we must allocate revenue to fund programs that uplift communities facing generational distress from mass incarceration. It's time to invest in healing and creating opportunities for all.
I commend the city's focus on securing state and federal grants for Community Violence Intervention programs. These evidence-based strategies disrupt cycles of violence, victimization, and retaliation through a public health approach. We must not only sustain but expand these programs, as they are vital investments. The cost of homicides and shootings—hundreds of millions in law enforcement and healthcare—far outweighs the investment in prevention, making this both a moral and fiscal imperative.
Maurice Neblett
When adult use cannabis sales are regulated, I’ll allocate rev. to community development, education, & public health. I’ll focus on repairing harms from criminalization & support local entrepreneurs. Following successful models, we can boost equity and reinvest in neighborhoods.
Being born and raised in Richmond, I’ve lost family, friends, and classmates to gun violence. The 75% drop in youth homicides highlights the power of community, parents, teachers, local leaders, and grassroots groups all played a crucial role. But even one death is too many. We need to keep investing in resources for at risk kids, expanding safe spaces, and creating opportunities. It's vital to address the root causes like poverty and lack of education. There’s still more work to ensure every young person can grow up safe and reach their full potential.
Dr Danny Avula
In order to allocate towards the communities that have been harmed and imprisoned by the criminalization of marijuana, we could look to fund the city’s Health Equity Fund but, first and always, start by listening to residents and looking at the data on the best and highest use.
While recent progress is encouraging, it’s far too soon to declare victory over this public health crisis of gun violence in our city. I know the traumatic impacts not just as the City’s Public Health Director where we started the Trauma Healing Response Network, but our family has been impacted directly by this crisis, too. We will invest in comprehensive gun violence prevention to make our streets safer while addressing the root causes of violent crime, including poverty. My administration won’t declare success until we protect every single young person in Richmond from violence.
Harrison Roday
A budget is a statement of values. How we spend our resources must reflect the needs of our community. We should spend our resources on affordable housing and anti-eviction, funding our school system, mitigating gun violence, and investing in our neighborhoods.
We have seen some decrease in line with national trends. There is more work to be done. As Mayor, I will:
Create the city’s first Mayor’s Office for Gun Violence Prevention
Make a record investment in Community-based Violence Intervention (CVI) programs
Bring the country’s most effective school-based gun violence prevention programs here
Create a Richmond Community Shooting Review so we can work to prevent future tragedies
Lobby the General Assembly to pass common sense gun reform measures which Governor Youngkin has vetoed
Read more at rodayforrichmond.com/gvp-oped
Andreas Addison
I agree with Gov. Northam’s approach in directing revenue for substance abuse prevention and treatment, public health programs, and early childhood education. Advocates have also been clear that legalization MUST center reparations to Black communities harmed by the war on drugs.
The truth is that we are not seeing a dramatic decrease in gun violence in Richmond. Superintendent Kamras stated in April that 169 juveniles have been shot since 2019 – nearly all RPS students.
Surgeons and specialists at VCU Health express they are seeing an increase in young people entering the ER with multiple gunshot wounds. It’s our Level 1 Trauma Centers that are saving lives. Advocates are tracking gun violence in Richmond and witnessing how it’s being equally displaced to Petersburg because of housing.
This is a public health crisis. Thoughts and prayers and curfews ring hollow.
City Council Candidates
Zac Walker
1st District
Develop a plan to manage funds more effectively than the current meal tax system, ensuring that the funds are directly allocated to improving Richmond Public Schools (RPS).
Through the collaborative efforts of youth programs and the Richmond police force, we have successfully reduced gun violence in our city. I hope to expand these efforts with more social outreach programs to further improve these statistics in the future.
Maria Carra Rose
3rd District
I believe that they should be allocated primarily on the infrastructure in our aging schools. Beyond that I believe that they could go towards housing and wrap around services for our houseless neighbors and also restorative justice organizations.
People are paying more attention to what it means to have holistic care & understanding the social determinants of health. Our youth need so many touch points so that they don't feel like they're out there on their own. I feel like this has been a collaborative effort between RPS, City, RPD, community care orgs, & many other people in the community who see this as a crucial part of our communities safety infrastructure. The more that we come together & communicate with other orgs & service providers as well as city agencies & community leaders the better our chances at harm reduction.
Sarah Abubaker
4th District
I new revenue should go first to funding school capital projects and then improving critical city infrastructure. This approach ensures allocate resources to historically under resourced areas that are critical to our city's future success.
The drop in youth homicides in Richmond is due to a shift toward addressing the root causes of violence, particularly in socioeconomic disadvantaged communities. By focusing on prevention, community-based practices, hiring mediators, and investing the Office of Violence Prevention, the city should continue to approach this a public health issue over solely policing. To sustain this progress over the long-term, continued investment in socioeconomic improvements and trauma-informed responses is crucial.
Tavares Floyd
6th District
I propose allocating new cannabis tax revenue to community reinvestment, prioritizing affordable housing, education and public health. We must ensure funds uplift all - with a special focus on communities most impacted, fostering equity and economic opportunity for all.
The 75% drop in youth homicides reflects the dedication of grassroots organizations, community driven leaders, and residents working tirelessly to address violence. However, one death is too many. We must invest more in financial/job opportunities, mentorship, mental health services and educational opportunities, ensuring our youth have safe, supportive environments to thrive. Continued collaboration between community members, law enforcement and local government is crucial to sustaining and furthering this progress.
Frank Wilson
8th District
If there is a budget surplus due to new tax revenue, I would propose that any amounts of the surplus allocated to the 8th District be used to address items identified as priorities for the district.
In my view, what is most responsible for the progress is the seriousness of the youth homicide rate. It demanded attention and got it. With knowledge of prior effective efforts and known hot spots RPD took steps to implement the current youth curfew earlier than planned. We should look into what other cities have done that have been successful at curbing this trend and take ques from them. One tactic that has been reported to be effective is no student phones in schools. This is already an issue for discussion at the state and local levels. It should be given serious consideration if it helps.
SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATES
Kathryn “Katie” Ricard
2nd District
RPS has increased its services to ELL students: the welcome center, Con Ganas, the ombudsman program, more staffing. I would continue to advocate for financially supporting teachers to get dual certified in ESL so our students can be supported even more.
The administration's focus on response to intervention provides tiers of intervention based on the students' needs. For some students, it means extra literacy tutoring in small groups. For other students, it means making sure all our elementary teachers know the science of reading teaching methods. At high school, with graduation, it means offering credit/SOL recovery programs (THRIVE/Test Taker Academy). It also means continuing to invest in our ELL and Special Education programs, making sure that all our students have the supports they need.
Ali Faruk
3rd District
RPS has made strides, but we can do more. I’ll advocate for increased bilingual staff, expanded English language programs, and culturally responsive teaching. We must ensure that all students, including English Learners, receive the support they need to succeed.
Richmond’s recovery is a testament to the dedication of our educators, students, and families. Our teachers’ resilience and innovative approaches, combined with strong community support, have driven these gains. Credit also goes to focused recovery strategies, like targeted interventions and increased mental health resources, ensuring students stay engaged and supported. Collaboration between schools and families has been key, showing that when we work together, our students thrive. Let’s continue building on this momentum!
Charlene Riley
3rd District
I would not say they are or are not doing enough but anything can be improved, from what I see we can do things like implementing more ESL teachers, collective bargaining of contractual assignments for teachers, pay and making them permanent, offer benefits.
It's not one thing I can name to exactly explain this data, but what I will say is that any positive forward movement is excellent and should be celebrated. I'm proud of all positive growth in RPS.
Kevin Starlings
3rd District
RPS has room for improvement. Some schools lack newcomer programs and sufficient English Learner support. I'd advocate for expanding support services, staff professional development, and monitoring equity. Addressing implicit bias, culturally responsive teaching, multilingualism.
Several factors contributed to RPS progress in recovering: RPS received $122.8 million in ARP ESSER III funds, which supported various recovery initiatives. Initiatives like opening schools early to address learning loss and programs for re-engaging dropouts may have played a role. The district's strategic plan, including goals for improving academics and graduation rates, likely guided focused efforts. It's difficult to attribute the progress to a single factor, combination of targeted funding, programs, partnerships, state support, and district leadership likely contributed.
Angela Fontaine
4th District
From what I understand, ESL staff are torn between managing massive caseloads, teaching solo classes, and supporting students through co-teaching other content. We need additional staff to lower caseloads and divide responsibilities so that staff can fully meet students' needs.
I believe the teachers and school staff played a crucial role in this achievement. Additionally, the increased funding to support students was imperative in facilitating this improvement. Ultimately, it was a collective effort. Our students should also be commended for their hard work and resilience. Moving forward, the key will be maintaining this momentum. The pandemic, while challenging, has made us all more resilient, and we should harness that strength to drive continued progress. By building on the collaborative spirit, I'm confident we can exceed previous academic achievements.
Wesley Hedgepeth
4th District
RPS should continue to seek a workforce that mirrors the population it serves and should continue to deliver resources in multiple languages. The RPS School Board should consider amending its policy to require all school governing documents to be in both English and Spanish.
We should vigorously celebrate student success whenever we can. Congratulations to our students for their progress. Next, we must thank our teachers, administrators, tutors, & support staff for going above and beyond. Finally, we need to thank the families who support our students. It truly takes a village to raise our young people. While we celebrate this, we know our work is never finished. We must continue to fight for fully funded schools, which will help support safer buildings, put licensed teachers in every classroom, & provide more comprehensive wrap-around services for our community.
Stephanie Rizzi
5th District
I advocated for better support for multilingual learners, co-chaired a task force, and helped establish a new LIEP department. Since then, MLL test scores and graduation rates have improved by nearly 30%. There's more to be done, but I'm proud of our progress.
We have led with love, hope, and joy, prioritizing evidence-based practices and data-driven decision-making. This approach addressed the needs of the whole child, including nutrition, health, and well-being. We must thank our families, students, teachers, staff, and support personnel for their daily dedication. The rising test scores attest to the impact of their hard work. The Administration and School Board have largely remained focused on student achievement. Serving as Chair this year has been an absolute honor, and I am excited about the bright future ahead!
Mamie Taylor
5th District
RPS is making strides addressing the large growth in ESL students via Dreams4RPS. New bilingual teachers have been hired, and the newcomer academy has been launched. More can be done, and I'll advocate for funding and shorter turnaround times for students to receive all services.
A collaborative effort amongst all stakeholders is responsible for the progress made by students on their SOLs. By way of Bridging the gap; using the F.A.C.T.S.: (families, administrators, communities, teachers and students), a pathway towards promoting student success was created. As well, programs and practices were initiated to combat low attendance and drop-out rates affecting on-time graduations. Some of those programs included trauma informed practices, restorative justice, and holistic child supports, facilitating teacher training and wellness spaces, essential for students to prosper.
Dr Shonda Harris-Muhammed
6th District
Understanding where our students reside and how we can reach them needs a solid plan that is open to change. My hope is that we increase the community and engagement liaisons to support our ELL's and Hispanic students to 15-20 to address the chronic absenteeism and Cohort rates.
I congratulate our teachers, and administrators for implementing change to support the categories mentioned. Students thank you for taking a step in the belief system that YOU can accomplish goals that may appear difficult to address. Our community for helping our students. Our administration for implementing the goal. Our SB for monitoring the goal.
E J "Emmett Jay" Jafari
8th District
Standard placement of multi-linguistic specialists at each K-12 school
I have published a response to this question on my facebook pages, which spell out my campaign's platform and views on RPS. Within the most recent posting, as a Richmond native and RPS product and past SRO and employee, I know that such achievements are the fruits of the entire educational team's efforts. But if I had to home it down to 1 most responsible element it would be the students themselves. A rise in attendance means a rise in grades.
PH Cruz Sherman
8th District
RPS currently has The Welcome Center that offers many support services for non-English speaking students. Extending those type of services are always beneficial and additional resources allocated to expand them.
The increase in the SOL scores are a good indication of the dedication of the students, teachers, principals and support staff. With support of the RPS administration and parents and or guardians we should continue to see and expect improvement in reading, writing, math and science scores.
NO RESPONSE PROVIDED
Paul Goldman (1st - City Council)
Andrew “Gumby” Breton (1st - City Council)
Matthew Percival (1st - School Board)
Katherine Jordan (2nd - City Council)
Mariah White (2nd - School Board)
Kenya Gibson (3rd - City Council)
Ann-Frances Lambert (3rd - City Council)
Garrett Sawyer (4th - School Board)
Stephanie Lynch (5th - City Council)
Willie Hilliard (6th - City Council)
Ellen Robertson (6th - City Council)
Dr Shonda Harris Muhammed (6th - School Board)
Cheryl Burke (7th - School Board)
Dr Cynthia Newbille (7th - City Council)
Eric Sundberg (7th - City Council)
Reva Trammell (8th - City Council)
Nicole Jones (9th - City Council)
Stephanie Starling (9th - City Council)
Shavonda Dixon (9th - School Board)
As a reminder, all candidates have been invited to participate via the email address listed on their candidate registration paperwork. If there’s a better way to reach a candidate, please reach out to us at info@rvadirt.com. Thanks!
Almost Done!
Our series ends next week. We are working to compile each candidate’s answers into a candidate bio so you can easily introduce your friends and neighbors to the candidates running to represent them.