Dear Friend,
Summer is upon us and our social lives are returning. The Commonwealth and Richmond region are seeing very low levels of cases, hospitalizations, and deaths related to COVID-19 (see the VDH dashboard here for the latest information). While I am as excited as anyone to “get back to normal,” I urge you to still use caution and common sense when in groups - basic hygiene like frequent hand-washing and staying home when you do not feel well will go a long way. I will provide more detail below regarding the changes to COVID-19 safety measures as well as provide various legislative and community updates.
Democratic Primary Results
On Tuesday, June 8, primary voters decided the Democratic ballot for the November general election.
Democratic Candidates for Statewide Office
Governor: Terry McAuliffe
Lieutenant Governor: Hala Ayala
Attorney General: Mark Herring
Congratulations to all those who won last Tuesday. I look forward to working with each of the candidates leading up to the general election. The general election will be November 2.
Special Legislative Session
The dates have not been officially announced, but the General Assembly is expected to meet for a special session sometime in early August. The purpose will be to decide on the allocation of federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan. The Governor and leaders from the House and Senate have expressed prioritizing the following:
Public health
Small businesses
Workers
Public schools
Full broadband deployment across Virginia
You can read the Governor’s press release in more detail here.
Re-opening the Capitol and Pocahontas Buildings
The Pocahontas Building will opened to the public on June 15, 2021, and the Capitol will re-open to the public on July 1, 2021.
The Pocahontas Building will abide by CDC and Virginia Health Department guidelines regarding masks and social distancing. Fully vaccinated individuals do not have to wear masks, unless it is their preference. Temperature checks will not be required but are available if someone wants to check their own temperature.
As for the Capitol, while it will re-open on July 1, the Bank Street entrance and Capitol extension will remain closed until construction is completed after Labor Day. The West Entrance will be available for the public to enter from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
Capitol Tour Guides will be located in the Rotunda on the 2nd floor of the Capitol.
Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission (JLARC)
JLARC, of which I am a member, met on Monday, June 7, for two presentations:
Trade and Transportation Incentives (view presentation)
Comparison of Marijuana Legislation to JLARC report (view presentation)
A recording of the meeting is available on Youtube. The next meeting is on July 6, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. and the topics covered will be the Virginia Retirement System and Virginia529. If you are interested, you can watch the meeting live on Youtube.
Addressing the Backlog of Pardon Requests
Recently, Governor Northam’s office announced that steps are being taken to ease a backlog of requests for pardons and are also working on the application process. The pardon website and petition portal have been redesigned and the requirement to provide a copy of criminal history has been removed. Improving the efficiency of the clemency process is part of the Governor’s commitment to transparency and good government.
COVID-19 Updates
As you may know, Governor Northam lifted the universal indoor mask mandate in May to align with new guidance from the CDC. Additionally, on May 28, all distancing and capacity restrictions were eased - two weeks ahead of schedule. These steps are a result of increasing vaccination rates, dramatically declining COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and statewide test positivity rate, and revised federal guidelines.
On June 30, 2021, the Commonwealth’s 15-month state of emergency will come to an end.
As mass vaccination clinics are seeing less traffic, the Virginia Department of Health is moving to smaller events. You can make a request with the Richmond and Henrico Health Districts for a small team (also known as a “Cool Cube Crew”) to vaccinate people at a site of your choice.
Recovering from the Pandemic
While our community begins to open up, many are still suffering from job loss. Issues relating to unemployment insurance continue to be a priority for me. If you are experiencing an issue filing for unemployment, please email me at delegate.carr@betsycarr.org and complete this form.
As of May 30, the weekly work search requirement has been reinstated for those seeking unemployment benefits. This applies to all applicants, including those receiving Pandemic Unemployment Assistance. You must apply to at least 2 jobs each week in order to continue receiving benefits and you will report the details of your job search activity each week. You can read more about it here.
The Governor recently announced that he has directed the VEC to invest $20 million to help expedite the complicated claims process. This directive includes adding 300 new adjudication staffers, making immediate technology upgrades, and completely modernizing the unemployment insurance system by October 1, 2021.
I know this has been an excruciating process for those applicants experiencing issues with their claims. I am hopeful that this directive will improve the process. In the meantime, please never hesitate to contact me if I can be helpful in addressing your issues with the Virginia Employment Commission.
If you are job hunting, the Office of Community Wealth Building (OCWB) offers a list of current company openings that may be helpful in your search.
Additionally, Governor Northam recently announced a $3 million investment in the “Return to Earn Grant Program,” which will match payments from eligible small businesses to provide new hires with up to $1,000 to support their transition back into the workforce. The program will serve businesses with less than 100 employees that may not have the resources to provide this financial support. You can read FAQs about the program here.
Housing Assistance
The federal moratorium on evictions ends on June 30, 2021. There are a number of resources available to individuals and families in the Richmond region to help them avoid eviction:
Virginia Rent Relief Program: Designed to support and ensure housing stability across the Commonwealth during the coronavirus pandemic. Learn more here.
Eviction Prevention and Diversion Program: For City of Richmond residents, complete the online application at www.rvaevictions.org or call the Eviction Helpline at 1-833-663-8428, press 4, and leave a message.
Chesterfield Emergency Rent and Utility Assistance: Provides financial assistance to Chesterfield County renters who have experienced financial difficulty due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. The program can be contacted at 804-644-2401 or at http://actsrva.org/chesterfield-cera-application/
For assistance navigating legal and financial resources, amongst other housing resources, contact the Housing Resource Line at 804-422-5061 OR fill out an online intake form to receive a call in reply to discuss assistance: https://pharva.com/housing-hotline-form/. If someone is experiencing homelessness now or is within three days of losing indoor accommodations, contact the Homeless Connection Line at 804-972-0813.
Financial Navigators
If you need resources to help you through these difficult financial times, the City of Richmond offers Financial Navigators at no cost. You can request an over the phone session (30 minutes) by visiting www.finnav.org/rva or calling 804-646-MORE (6673).
Financial Navigators can help you with the following resources:
Prioritizing payments (credit card, student loan, utilities) and when to make them
Considering options for unemployment and/or short-term disability
Ensuring receipt of potential future stimulus payments
Providing guidance on enrolling in unemployment insurance, food benefits, and other available resources
Connecting to Volunteer Income Tax Assistance sites to file taxes and receive tax refunds
Federal Emergency Broadband Benefits
As part of the December 2020 coronavirus relief package by Congress, an emergency broadband benefit was authorized. It can pay $50 every month toward the cost of your Internet service and is available to all families who lost some income in the last year and earn less than $198,000. This is the largest federal program in the internet’s history to help with internet bills with $3.2 billion available. This benefit is not automatic; you must apply for the benefit. The benefit will stop once the money is exhausted. You may find the FAQs provided by the Washington Post helpful (read here).
DMV Expands Appointment Opportunities
As of June 1, the DMV opened more windows and testing stations in its customer service centers. More openings will continue to occur from June 15 through July as the DMV continues hiring and training new employees. You must continue to make an appointment for specific services which generally necessitate an in-person visit. You can schedule an appointment by visiting dmvNOW.com/appt. If you are unable to find an appointment time that works for you, please call my office at 804-698-1169 or email me at delegate.carr@betsycarr.org and we will help you get an appointment.
Citywide Clean Up Program
The Department of Public Works is providing bi-weekly bulk and brush collections as well as a Neighborhood Clean Up Program to help residents dispose of bulk items. They take everything except electronics, construction debris, hazardous waste items and broken glass. All brush should be cut into four foot lengths. DPW crews will collect items curbside and in alleys (wherever your trash is normally collected). All clean-ups are from 8:00 a.m. to noon, rain or shine. To find when your zone’s next clean up date is:
Email askDPW@RichmondGov.com
Call 804-646-8325
DPW is also on Twitter @DPW_RichmondVA
Citywide Clean Up Program
The Department of Public Works is providing bi-weekly bulk and brush collections as well as a Neighborhood Clean Up Program to help residents dispose of bulk items. They take everything except electronics, construction debris, hazardous waste items and broken glass. All brush should be cut into four foot lengths. DPW crews will collect items curbside and in alleys (wherever your trash is normally collected). All clean-ups are from 8:00 a.m. to noon, rain or shine. To find when your zone’s next clean up date is:
Email askDPW@RichmondGov.com
Call 804-646-8325
DPW is also on Twitter @DPW_RichmondVA
Save the Date: Violins of Hope
The Virginia Holocaust Museum with the support of the Virginia Museum of History and Culture, Black History Museum & Cultural Center of Virginia, and the Richmond Symphony is bringing an incredible exhibit, Violins of Hope, to Richmond, August 4 through October 24.
This touring exhibit tells the remarkable stories of violins played by Jewish musicians during the Holocaust. The violins in the exhibit were recovered and restored by Amnon Weinstein, an Israeli violin shop owner and master craftsman who lost 400 family members in the Holocaust. This is the first time that the exhibit will be in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Sixty violins will be in Richmond - some on display at each of the three museums and some will be on loan to be played at concerts and community events.
Movies on Brown’s Island
Venture Richmond Events is hosting “Movies on Brown’s Island” this summer and through the fall. Tickets are $5 and movies are family friendly. Children under 5 years old do not need a ticket. Purchase in advance at VentureRichmond.com. The first movie will be on Saturday, July 10, at 8:30 p.m. with a viewing of Grease.
It is an honor and privilege to serve you in the General Assembly. Please never hesitate to contact me if I can be helpful to you. You can email me at delegate.carr@betsycarr.org or call my office at 804-698-1169. I look forward to staying in touch.