Redefining Referendum Success; “Shopping For A Message” Casino Polling; Animals In Need; The Start of the Climb?

RVA 5x5 - July 28, 2023

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

This week check out our five stories on:

• Another attempt is approved for the casino referendum because when at first you don’t succeed, you just redefine success and hold another referendum!

• Casino advocates are conducting a poll that seems to be looking for a message to sell the casino to voters again — this time they want to use casino profits to buy your vote and are asking about setting up a trust for kids for schools and childcare.

• A hard look at the tough sledding happening at Richmond Animal Care and Control — 11,000 calls for service (with a seven person team) and a building bursting at the seams. But they are still focusing on helping animals and hopefully looking at a new building in the near future.

• Richmond’s top cop and top prosecutor offered a challenge to parents to be weary of what their kids are saying and seeing on social media and the dangerous impact it can have, plus a father wants answers for his son.

• A look at what could be a turning point and seminal year for finally beginning a real transformation of public housing after decades of seeing more talk than progress.

STORY #1 — Redefining Referendum Success
There is a not-very well known but funny saying that recommends, “If at first you don't succeed, redefine success.”

That certainly is the case with the news this week that a judge and the Virginia Lottery approved the return of the casino referendum for a second vote in November after being voted down by a narrow margin in 2021. The people didn’t know what they were doing two years ago, according to the Mayor and casino advocates, and this time they will fight to make sure the public knows the real truth and all the facts and not be misled by “disinformation.”

It might be helpful to remind people that the casino advocates spent $2.5 million in promoting the casino vote in 2021, more than all three mayoral candidates combined spent in the 2020 race. The advocates have said the opponents of the casino (who spent about $250,000 total) spread disinformation, but you can still see the ads here (including mine); and you can view for yourself that the hollow claims of “disinformation” about things such as city money being involved, the location, etc. were not mentioned in the ads. At all.