Richmond FOIA Whistleblower on CBS6; Allen Iverson Way in Newport News; State of the Union; Housing Equity; SCLC Policy Summit
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Richmond FOIA Whistleblower Hits TV
IGNORANCE. ARROGANCE. PRIDE. 💥 "I sounded the alarm, for several months, and no one listened, and I was silenced and then fired. It's just such a huge disappointment that the bureaucrats in City Hall do not want to follow the law. And if I don't say something, who will,” said Richmond City Hall whistleblower Connie Clay to Richmond CBS6 WTVR investigative reporter Tyler Layne.
Clay used to be the city's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) officer. She is suing the city for $250,000 and to be reinstated in her lawsuit.
“I think they just wanted to do what they wanted to do. I had a conversation with Petula [Burks] at one point and she said, ‘I just don't want the city to look stupid.’ And I remember thinking, 'Well, the city needs to stop doing stupid things,'" Clay told CBS6’s Layne.
Issues with FOIA delays and lack of response have been a longstanding problem over the course of many issues from the Richmond casino deal that failed, to the failed Navy Hill development deal to how police chiefs are selected in the city. The claims in Clay’s lawsuit and her interview with Layne are providing an insider’s view of how FOIA, transparency and responsiveness to the public in general is viewed at Richmond City Hall under Mayor Stoney.
Clay told Richmond CBS6 she was asked to withhold information in a violation of FOIA Laws. Clay also told CBS6 that she warned city officials that they city would be sued for not following the FOIA laws. Virginia has some of the worst FOIA laws in the country but elected officials who ignore the rules, stall and delay have made what’s in the Virginia code even weaker.
Currently prominent Richmond attorney Paul Goldman and Activate Virginia’s Joshua Stanfield sued the city of Richmond for allegedly failing to process FOIA requests related to meals tax records. A controversy over the taxes arose as Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney serves in his last year in office.
“There were many instances where I was asked to withhold information that should have been released or to sit on records that should have been released," Clay told Richmond CBS6 on March 4, 2024.
Allen Iverson Honored with Street Renaming
Hampton Roads superstar Allen Iverson was emotional after being honored this morning at a ceremony announcing a street to be named in his honor in Newport News. The street will be called Allen Iverson Way.
Attending the ceremony were member of the NBA superstar’s family, Congressman Bobby Scott, Gov. Glenn Youngkin, James “Poo” Johnson and Boo Williams. Gov. Youngkin remarked that Williams coached both he and Iverson in basketball but joked that his basketball career ended shortly after.
“This guy is a legend. He will break your knees. He will pull up for threes. He will stop pop and and hip hop… this guy is a legend,” said Gov. Youngkin adding that the basketball legend’s focus on his community is why Allen Iverson Way represents more than a street sign.
“AI has been the source of tremendous pride… the thing that is important to me is that with all his fame he never forgot where he came from. He has come back to the Hampton Roads Boys & Girls Club made contributions and mentored the young children to get the generation on the right track,” said Congressman Scott.
Newport News Mayor Phil Jones unveiled the street sign as dignitaries looked on. Iverson told the audience of the importance of family and his mother telling him he could “be anything he wanted to be.” He also paid a special tribute to his father who also spoke at the packed ceremony.
Iverson, 48, is widely considered to be one of the greatest professional basketball players of all time. “The Answer", played 14 seasons in the NBA and won the NBA Rookie of the Year Award in 1997. His spectacular style of play is often featured on NBA highlight reels.
Iverson attended Bethel High School in Hampton, Virginia, and was a dual-sport athlete in basketball and football. Iverson was honored at Bethel High School on August 27, 2022 as the school retired all of the numbers he wore in high school.
Rep. Scott Announces State of the Union Guest
Press Release: ➜ Congressman Bobby Scott (VA-03), a member of the Pro-Choice Caucus, has invited Dr. Rohini Kousalya Siva, a graduate of Eastern Virginia Medical School and the President of the American Medical Student Association, to be his guest at President Biden’s State of the Union address on Thursday, March 7. Dr. Kousalya Siva plans to practice obstetrics and gynecology and wrote an op-ed in Ms. Magazine titled: “I’m an Aspiring OB-GYN. Here Is Why I Won’t Do My Residency in Any State With an Abortion Ban.”
“Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, we have seen relentless attacks on reproductive freedom across the country including the most recent efforts to restrict access to in-vitro fertilization services,” said Congressman Scott. “Dr. Siva has highlighted how the extreme right-wing attacks on abortion and reproductive health care will have disastrous consequences for women’s health across the country. I look forward to having her attend President Biden’s State of the Union address and look forward to her continued advocacy for health care and reproductive rights.”
"As a future physician, witnessing relentless attacks on reproductive justice, particularly regarding abortion access and IVF treatment, fills me with concern for the future of healthcare,” said Dr. Kousalya Siva. “These assaults not only jeopardize patients' bodily autonomy but also threaten the foundation of compassionate and equitable healthcare. Initiatives like the American Medical Student Association's Abortion Care and Reproductive Health Project are essential in training future physicians to advocate for comprehensive reproductive healthcare, safeguarding patients' rights to all reproductive services."
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McClellan Announces 2024 Congressional Art Competition for Virginia’s Fourth District
Press Release: ➜ Congresswoman Jennifer McClellan (VA-04) announced the launch of the 2024 Congressional Art Competition for Virginia’s Fourth Congressional District.
Each spring, the U.S. House of Representatives hosts a nationwide high school art competition to recognize and encourage the artistic talents of students across the nation. The competition is open to all high school students in Virginia's Fourth.
“It is my pleasure to announce this year’s Congressional Art Competition for Virginia’s Fourth,” said Congresswoman McClellan. “Each year, this is an exciting opportunity for local students to showcase their creativity and artistic talents. I love seeing local Virginian students’ artwork hanging in the U.S. Capitol as I walk to votes on the House floor. I encourage any interested high school student to participate in this year’s competition!”
The winning artwork will hang in the U.S. Capitol for one year and be featured on McClellan’s social media pages. The deadline to submit artwork is Monday, April 22, 2024 by 5pm ET.
Read the full eligibility requirements and learn how to submit an application for the 2024 competition on McClellan’s website. You can find the winning entries for the 2023 Congressional Art Competition for Virginia’s Fourth here.
Listen to the latest episode of the Black Virginia News podcast and Pod Virginia with Lauren Burke and Michael Pope:
April 3 Zoom with the Arlington NAACP: Housing Equity Best Practices: A Conversation with HUD
Housing Equity Best Practices: A Conversation with HUD Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO), Demetria McCain.
We're kicking off Fair Housing Month with a discussion of which states and localities are advancing the integration and implementation of equity and fair housing principles into housing policy and programs!
Be part of a virtual conversation with Demetria McCain, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity (FHEO) at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). McCain will discuss Housing Equity Best Practices.
All are welcome to attend this virtual event which will include Q&A after a moderated discussion. Free and open to the public.
Questions? Contact housing@arlingtonnaacp.com
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