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RVA 5x5 - March 25, 2023

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

In today’s edition of news you need about RVA (even if you don't want it), we have stories on:

• A sharply-worded editorial from the Times-Dispatch about the casino battle (it’s not over yet!) and that if we are keeping score of who needs a casino based on economic challenges and despair, then Petersburg wins over Richmond. Not to mention, we had our chance. “Richmond has had its say. It’s time to let Petersburg voters have theirs.”

• A mysterious story that broke yesterday in Richmond BizSense about a $415 million School of Dentistry building for VCU on three acres of city-owned land that apparently was accompanied with scant support information in its presentation to the VCU Board and no details are available from the city about the possible ownership, sale or transfer of the land.

• A rather disgraceful report (and powerful video) from CBS6 about $300,000 in assistance promised last year for mobile home owners who are desperately seeking repairs and being told by the Mayor they will finally get that money AND another $500,000 in the next budget if they wait until the new fiscal year starts - in July.

• Some good news/bad news in the wake of the collapse of the EnRichmond Foundation — according to the Free Press, the mayor included $250,000 to help out the small non-profits who lost their funds last year, but also report that Council has put on hold a plan until at least May to gain control of East End and Evergreen cemeteries.

• And finally, a troubling story about the Mayor’s plan to pressure the Richmond Ambulance Authority to nearly triple its fees for transport (from $600 to $1,625 per ambulance trip) and also begin charging for other services that might be performed while in the ambulance as well as administering medications.