Expensive Speeding Lessons; Shortchanging the City’s At-Risk Youth; Early Landscape of the Mayor’s Race.

RVA 5x5 - August 19, 2024

No algorithms. No content filters. No A.I. — Honest and insightful analysis from Richmond, VA.

Today, check out our stories on:

• New speed cameras go into effect today at nine new school crossing sites, so slow down during school hours or risk getting a hefty citation in the mail.

• Despite the Mayor’s proclamations last week that city government is the best it’s ever been, a report uncovers that the city is leaving a lot of state money on the table that could be helping at-risk youth find a path to a better future.

• Check out political guru Bob Holsworth’s early read of the mayoral race based on an internal poll he finds convincing, plus several other resources to take a look at some for the candidates, with more to come.

STORY #1 — Expensive Speeding Lessons
Richmond Public Schools reopen this week so before you drive to work, school, or the grocery store, be on the lookout for nine new speed cameras positioned in school zones that are operational as of today. If you are cranking the tunes, looking at your phone, or just being clueless about speed limits, then you might soon be looking at a $100 speeding ticket in the mail.

The first two speed cameras were placed outside of Holton Elementary on Laburnum Avenue and Patrick Henry School of Science & Arts on Semmes Avenue last spring and have busted an average of 76 speeders per day that zoom through during the morning and evening school “rush” hours (7:15–9:15am and 2:15–4:15pm) when students and parents are active in and around the school zones. All of the areas with camera zones are marked with signs before reaching the enforcement area.

Richmond Public Schools Chief Wellness Officer Renesha Parks told VPM News that the program has worked in those two areas and hopes the new cameras will also be as effective.

“Many of our schools are located in high-trafficked roads, and cars flying down these streets present a huge safety danger for students and families," she said. “The cameras in the pilots last year led to a big drop in unsafe driving around schools, and we believe the expansion will too.”

In Southside, there will be cameras placed on: