|
It's your mayor, Danny. Over the past several days, Winter Storm Fern has tested our city in difficult ways. The strain of extreme cold is exhausting. We are also grieving the loss of a life in one of our city parks. My heart is with those who knew and loved them.
I am also grateful we were spared more widespread power outages and structural damage, even as I know that does little to ease the heaviness many are feeling right now. Richmond, thanks for hanging in there. You all make me proud and motivated to keep doing better for our city.
As the cold lingers, and we gear up for perhaps more snow (!!), I want to acknowledge some of the current events that are weighing on our community.
Right now, two things are top of mind for me:
First, Minneapolis. The recent killing of Alex Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse and beloved community member, on top of so much other recent violence toward immigrants, their families, and protestors, is beyond heartbreaking. The escalating federal actions across the country have reached a flashpoint. These create fear and instability in communities everywhere, including in Richmond. I join mayors, police chiefs, and other partners across the country in urging agencies to model professionalism and calm. In this city, every leader from myself on down is committed to upholding both the rule of law and the protections guaranteed by our Constitution. I believe that commitment is essential to both reducing tension and ensuring the safety of every community member.
Second, and closer to home, I am aware of the federal government’s proposed ICE processing facility in nearby Hanover County. While Richmond has no jurisdiction over that process, I share the concerns it raises for families across our region. Let me be clear: Richmond Police do not participate in deportation activities or coordinate with ICE. Our priorities are community safety, and ensuring residents know their rights. My colleagues in Hanover, who just this evening expressed their strong concern, have my support as they continue to navigate this issue.
Even when authority is limited, our values are not. In moments of uncertainty, my responsibility as Mayor is to lead with clarity, care, and preparation. Residents need to know where we stand and what we will do to support them. On Friday, January 23, I directed the creation of a City of Richmond Inclusive Communities Preparedness Work Group to identify recommendations that my administration could take to respond to emergent threats and challenges in alignment with pillar five of my Mayoral Action Plan.
This work group will consist of cross-departmental city leaders and will engage with community organizations to ensure our approach reflects Richmond’s values. Their work will focus on practical steps to protect residents, strengthen communication, and provide resources when uncertainty arises. These efforts might include policy decisions, recommendations to clarify or revise operating procedures for City property and employees, creation or amplification of resources for residents seeking assistance, and the sharing of accurate information and exposing of misinformation, among other potential opportunities. The work group will also coordinate closely with other authorities like the Attorney General’s office to help provide protection, guidance, and resources by combining our efforts with other similarly concerned municipalities across the state.
In the meantime, please continue to look out for one another. Check in on family and friends, share accurate information, check out our resources at go.rva.gov/immigration-response, and know your city is here for you. If you are considering speaking out, please do, and please do so peacefully and lawfully. Richmond has always been a city of strong voices and passionate discourse, and that’s how we create change. What we’ve witnessed in Minneapolis and around the country reminds us that safety, trust, and stability are not partisan issues, but foundations of a strong, thriving community. I will continue to advocate for solutions that reduce fear and strengthen our community.
Thank you for all you do to make Richmond a city of care and compassion. Together, we’ll keep our city safe, welcoming, and united.
-Danny
| 
