The Legacy Newspaper

Biden sets record by commuting sentences of nearly 2,500 people convicted on nonviolent drug charges

admin — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 05:44:15 +0000

President Joe Biden attends the Department of Defense Commander in Chief farewell ceremony at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Jan. 16, 2025, in Arlington, Va. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

By Will Weissert

(AP) — President Joe Biden announced Friday that he was commuting the sentences of almost 2,500 people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses, using his final days in office on a flurry of clemency actions meant to nullify prison terms he deemed too harsh.

The recent round of clemency gives Biden the presidential record for most individual pardons and commutations issued. The Democrat said he is seeking to undo “disproportionately long sentences compared to the sentences they would receive today under current law, policy, and practice.”

“Today’s clemency action provides relief for individuals who received lengthy sentences based on discredited distinctions between crack and powder cocaine, as well as outdated sentencing enhancements for drug crimes,” Biden said in a statement. “This action is an important step toward righting historic wrongs, correcting sentencing disparities, and providing deserving individuals the opportunity to return to their families and communities after spending far too much time behind bars.”

The White House did not release the names of those receiving commutations. Still, Biden said more could yet be coming, promising to use the time before President-elect Donald Trump is inaugurated Monday to “continue to review additional commutations and pardons.”

The move comes as Biden continues to weigh whether to issue sweeping pardons for officials and allies who the White House fears could be unjustly targeted by Trump’s administration. Though presidential pardoning powers are absolute, such a preemptive move would be a novel and risky use of the president’s extraordinary constitutional power.

Shaneva D. McReynolds, president of FAMM, also known as Families Against Mandatory Minimums, said that Biden “is leaving office with a lasting legacy on criminal justice reform.”

“With today’s announcement, he has set a standard for presidential clemency and addressed decades-long injustices in our criminal justice system,” McReynolds said in a statement.

Sarah Gersten, executive director and general counsel of the Last Prisoner Project, said Biden’s action offers “hope — not just for those freed today, but for all the individuals still incarcerated for cannabis and their families that have been impacted by the War on Drugs.”

Friday’s announcement follows Biden’s commutations last month of the sentences of roughly 1,500 people who were released from prison and placed on home confinement during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as the pardoning of 39 Americans convicted of nonviolent crimes. That was the largest single-day act of clemency in modern history.

Also, last month, Biden commuted the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment just weeks before Trump, an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment, takes office. Trump has vowed to roll back that order after his term begins.

And Biden recently pardoned his son Hunter, not just for his convictions on federal gun and tax violations but for any potential federal offense committed over an 11-year period, as the president feared Trump allies would seek to prosecute his son for other offenses.

If history is any guide, meanwhile, Biden also is likely to issue more targeted pardons to help allies before leaving the White House, as presidents typically do in some of their final actions.

Just before midnight on the final night of his first term, Trump, a Republican, signed a flurry of pardons and commutations for more than 140 people, including his former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, rappers Lil Wayne and Kodak Black and ex-members of Congress.

Trump’s final act as president in his first term was to announce a pardon for Al Pirro, ex-husband of Fox News Channel host Jeanine Pirro, one of his staunchest defenders. Al Pirro was convicted of conspiracy and tax evasion charges and sentenced to more than two years in prison in 2000.

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Insurance prior authorization reform in Virginia

admin — Sat, 18 Jan 2025 05:38:53 +0000

By: Maria- Paula

Sen. Stella Pekarsky D- 36th District, and Del. Michelle Maldonado, D- 20th District, have introduced companion legislation to address and reform insurance prior authorization requests in Virginia.

In addition to insurance carriers’ prior authorization requirements, procedures, and forms to be made available in a central location of the carrier’s website with requirements for timely updates to the site, the proposed bills,SB 1215 and HB 2099, also aim to bring blanket turnaround times for prior authorizations to be approved, denied, or require supplementation.

Pekarsky emphasized the importance of transparency in healthcare, stating that patients should focus on their health and not on navigating complex insurance policies. Delegate Maldonado joined his colleague in highlighting the need for clear communication and fair timelines to ensure quality care for Virginians

“I believe that when you and your family go into your doctor’s office and need care, you should know exactly what to expect from them and your insurance. You should be able to focus on your health and wellness, not on becoming an expert and self-advocate on opaque insurance policies. These requirements will bring much needed reform and transparency to a complex system that leaves too many families in limbo,” said Pekarsky.

Maldonado equally reiterated that timely, transparent prior authorization processes are essential to delivering the quality care that Virginians deserve.

“This legislation ensures that patients and providers are receiving the transparency they need by requiring clear communication, fair timelines, and easy access to vital information about healthcare decisions,” said Maldonado.

Many a times, Virginians go to their trusted health care providers and find out they need lifesaving care as they are burdened with unknown timelines of approval. Instead of focusing on the care they need, many have to become their own self advocates to navigate a complicated insurance process. Requiring increased transparency ensures that patients can focus on their own health and have peace of mind.

This legislation would require that carriers communicate with the provider or their designee within 72 hours of an authorization request for urgent health services whether it is denied, approved, or requires supplementation and seven calendar days for non-urgent requests.

It also prohibits retroactive denials, limitations, conditions, modifications, or restrictions of authorizations.

Further, carrier’s websites would include prior authorization requirements, procedures, and forms available in a central location of their website, to be updated within seven days of any approved changes to those requirements.

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Insurance prior authorization reform in Virginia first appeared on The Legacy Newspaper.

Study: Microbiota transplantation reduces recurrence of brain disorder in patients with advanced liver disease

admin — Fri, 17 Jan 2025 14:02:31 +0000

Transferring gut microbes from a healthy donor to patients with liver disease could be used to prevent the recurrence of a debilitating brain condition, according to a clinical trial led by researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University and the Richmond VA Medical Center. The results were published on Jan. 10 in the Journal of Hepatology.

The research involved a procedure called fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), in which processed bacteria from a healthy person’s stool is transplanted into a patient. In the new study, FMT was used in patients with cirrhosis and a history of recurrent hepatic encephalopathy (HE), a brain disorder that occurs among this patient population. It can lead to fatigue, inability to concentrate, confusion and, in some cases, coma or death.

HE is brought on by cirrhosis, an advanced form of liver disease in which a severely scarred liver fails to function. When the liver can’t work, toxins build up in the blood, where they can travel to the brain and cause the ailment. An imbalance in a patient’s gut microbes is essential to produce the toxins that cause HE. Current treatments for the disorder do not completely reduce the negative effects of the bacteria.

The study builds on nearly a decade of research by VCU gastroenterologist Jasmohan Bajaj, M.D., of VCU’s Stravitz-Sanyal Institute for Liver Disease and Metabolic Health and the Richmond VA Medical Center. He has studied the potential use of FMT to treat cirrhosis after linking the bacteria found in a patient’s intestinal tract and stool to hepatic encephalopathy.

Results of the study represent a significant step forward in treating these patients. Despite the treatments available for HE, patients remain at risk of recurrence and are often excluded from life-saving liver transplant lists.

“These results reinforce the potential of fecal microbiota transplantation as a novel therapy for hepatic encephalopathy,” said Bajaj, the lead author of the study. “Not only does FMT appear to be safe, but it also shows promise in reducing recurrences and improving quality of life, especially in patients with certain gut microbiome profiles.”

The randomized phase 2 clinical trial enrolled 60 participants with cirrhosis and a history of hepatic encephalopathy. Participants, who were already receiving other treatment for HE, received a combination of three doses that included transplanted bacteria and/or placebo. Each patient received a combination of two capsule doses and one liquid enema dose of FMT from either vegan or omnivorous donors.

The stool transplantation was shown to be safe across all groups, with no serious side effects related to the treatment, regardless of delivery route dose or donor type. Recurrence rates were significantly lower in patients receiving any FMT compared to those who received the placebo, 9% compared to 40%.

Participants who received the bacteria transplant reported better quality of life, fewer cognitive symptoms, and better overall functioning.

The researchers plan to further study the long-term effects of the procedure, including its impact on liver function and inflammation, and explore ways to improve donor selection and dosing regimens to maximize the efficacy of the transplant.

Co-authors of the paper from VCU and Richmond VA included: Amy Bartels; Brian Davis; M.D.; Andrew Fagan; Michael Fuchs, M.D.; Edith Gavis, R.N.; Mary Leslie Gallagher, N.P.; Hannah Lee, M.D.; Scott C Matherly, M.D.; Travis Mousel; Puneet Puri, M.D.; M. Shadab Siddiqui, M.D.; Richard Sterling, M.D.; and Leroy R Thacker, Ph.D.

The study was carried out in collaboration with colleagues from George Mason University and University of Minnesota. Funding for the research was provided by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs through a merit review grant.

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Water woes aside, General Assembly starts session

admin — Tue, 14 Jan 2025 16:32:37 +0000

By Jenna Lapp

(URCNS) – After Richmond’s water crisis caused a 5-day delay, the General Assembly convened Monday in a session that will likely center on tax relief, energy and education.

“The lawmakers are going into a 45-day session, in an election year at that,” said Ben Melusky, a political science professor at Old Dominion University. “I think they already have the main legislative priorities on their minds, so I don’t really see this [water crisis] impacting it too much.”

When the lawmakers arrived in Richmond last week, many found themselves boiling water and taking cold showers instead of donning their suits and heading to the capitol.

“When I was there at the hotel, we didn’t have water,” Del. Wendell Walker, R-Lynchburg, said. “I got in my truck, I went to Kroger’s, I went to Walmart. There wasn’t a single bottle of water on the shelf, so I feel for these folks that are struggling.”

In his State of the Commonwealth address Monday morning, Gov. Glenn Youngkin described the water crisis as difficult and frustrating. He conveyed a sense of pride and confidence in Virginia’s trajectory, while also acknowledging the need to continue building on these achievements to maintain the state’s competitive edge.

“Virginia is growing, Virginia is competing and Virginia is winning,” Youngkin said. “The state of our Commonwealth is strong, very strong.”

It is the last year of Youngkin’s single 4-year term and he remains unable to achieve a Republican state government trifecta. In the Jan. 7 special election, Democrats maintained the majority of both the House of Delegates and the Senate for a second year. During Youngkin’s first two years in office, Republicans had control of the House.

“There may be some times that we’re just going to have to work through the weekend,” Walker said. “We may have to work overtime, but people expect us to get in and get the job done.”

Conversation surrounding affordable housing, maternal and mental health, data centers and a casino proposal will likely come up and require bipartisan efforts, Melusky said.

Senate Majority Leader Sen. Scott Surovell, D-Fairfax County, filed a bill, SB982, Jan. 7 which will reintroduce a plan to build a casino in Tysons Corner. The proposal has been proposed in the past but never received enough support to pass.

The future of Virginia’s energy production will also spur debate this session. The growth of data centers in Northern Virginia has increased the demand for energy, which has created a dichotomy between business and environmental protection, Melusky said.

Issues of governmental overreach may also become relevant in the energy debate. On Jan. 6, the Commission on Electric Utility Regulation recommended that the General Assembly create a board that would give the state more control over local governments’ approval of large solar and energy storage project proposals, according to the Cardinal News.

On Dec. 18, Youngkin unveiled his proposed amendments for the 2025 budget, which has the benefit of a surplus of funds that came out of 2024. It included his intention to eliminate the personal car tax and the income tax on tips. He also plans to boost funding for education, disaster relief and maternal health, according to the Associated Press.

“I think [Youngkin] is going to be very much focused on what he’s done the last three years, which is the economics of Virginia,” Melusky said.

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Feds end special education monitoring in Virginia as advocates question post-review process

admin — Mon, 13 Jan 2025 06:13:30 +0000

By Nathaniel Cline

VM – After a year-long review of the Virginia Department of Education, which failed to meet federal requirements to support students with disabilities, the federal government’s watchdog for special education programs wrote in a letter that all of its findings and required actions for VDOE are now closed, although questions by education advocates linger.

Each year since 2019, the federal government found that Virginia’s education department repeatedly failed to resolve complaints filed by parents of special education students, and it did not have “reasonably designed” procedures and practices to ensure a timely resolution process for those complaints.

However, the state has taken the necessary steps to “address and resolve the findings of noncompliance and the required corrective actions” outlined in a March 13 monitoring report, according to a Dec. 5 letter from the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs.

The federal agency indicated that no further action is needed after Virginia officials submitted documents highlighting corrective actions, including providing quicker feedback to school divisions and ensuring that all entities rather than LEAs, or school divisions, listed under the “public agency” definition are following the due process procedures.

Virginia has nearly 181,000 students with disabilities. As federal law requires, Virginia must provide all students with disabilities a “free and appropriate public education” through personalized plans under the Individualized Education Program (IEP).

In its letter, OSEP said that “having a consistent and transparent system for identifying and correcting noncompliance, particularly noncompliance that impacts the delivery of early intervention services, in accordance with individualized education programs (IEPs), and dispute resolution systems that protect the rights of parents, are essential elements to ensuring improved results for children and youth with disabilities,” and acknowledged Virginia’s “continued efforts” to better implement the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Part B and to put in place “a reasonably designed general supervision system which ensures compliance and improving results for students with disabilities.”

VDOE’s corrective actions
In response to the compliance issues facing students, VDOE announced in October 2023 the formation of a workgroup to help develop the 2024 Roadmap for Special Education and a team that reports directly to the superintendent of public instruction to monitor how school divisions provide special education services and assist them as needed.

Around the same time period, VDOE also created a system to oversee the development and use of IEPs for students with special needs. Educators are required to undergo additional training on providing inclusive special education instruction.

The Virginia Board of Education also adopted regulatory changes to how the state handles compliance complaints regarding students with disabilities and dedicated funds to examine the dispute resolution system.

“Since day one, Governor Youngkin has prioritized the success of students with disabilities and I am pleased that the U.S. Department of Education has recognized the hard work VDOE has done to improve our work for Virginia’s children with disabilities,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Lisa Coons said in a statement.

Concerns, funding
While she has not reviewed the documents the state’s education department submitted to federal authorities, special education advocate Kandise Lucas said she was concerned with the “accuracy” of those documents, specifically concerning the policies and procedures, and independent evaluations based on her recent interactions with schools, parents and students, one of whom she said has been out of school for three years.

“I just have a real concern that … the Board of Education submitted those documents knowing that they’re not complying with the law, specifically as it pertains to independent evaluations, which was a major issue,” Lucas said.

She questioned if VDOE is following the federal agency’s summary contained in the Dec. 5 letter, which requires the commonwealth to issue a memorandum or other directive to all local educational agencies (LEAs), parent advocacy groups, and other interested parties advising them of the proposed changes to state regulations and complaint procedures.

Lucas said some hearing officers, who review parents’ complaints, have yet to hear of the changes.

She also voiced concerns about the state refusing to enforce its regulations in school divisions about parents’ right to access educational records promptly under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act. Another worry is VDOE refusing to enforce hearing officer orders and state complaint determinations well beyond a year after the compliance requirement.

Carol Bauer, president of the Virginia Education Association, said in a statement that Gov. Glenn Youngkin’sadministration’s actions are “temporary solutions” that don’t solve the main issue — the underfunding of special education student needs in the state.

Bauer claimed that since the governor was elected, actual state spending on special education students has continued to “erode” and led to “unmanageable caseloads and subpar parent and family engagement.”

Last year, evidence of underfunding schools was outlined in a study conducted by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, the state’s legislative watchdog.

JLARC found that the formula used to decide how much money schools need for teachers suggested fewer special education teachers than schools use or need.

For fiscal year 2023, the funding formula calculated that 13,300 special education teachers were needed, which was 93% of the number employed by school divisions and 66% of what practitioners estimated was required.

Lawmakers’ work to overhaul the funding formula could take a while. Short-term recommendations8 could be considered for the upcoming General Assembly session beginning in January.

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Hospital horror: Virginia nurse abused NICU infants

admin — Thu, 09 Jan 2025 14:24:22 +0000

By Qasim Rashid, Esq.

This story is almost beyond comprehension. Erin Elizabeth Ann Strotman, a 26-year-old registered nurse, has been charged with breaking the bones of infants, who are disproportionately Black infants, in the Henrico Doctors Hospital NICU in Henrico County, Virginia. As of now, authorities are aware of at least seven babies she abused, with one baby suffering 12 fractures. The now active investigation may uncover more such cases of horrific abuse.

This is not a crime from some dark chapter of history. This is happening in 2025 America, and it is more common than most realize.

The Background of the Abuse

Strotman’s co-workers are quoted as admitting:

The majority of the babies were black babies, when she came back when they noticed the pattern, she tried to throw them off by targeting a white baby and a girl baby.

These details are horrifying enough on their own, but what makes this story even more outrageous is how the hospital appears to have handled it. According to reports, Strotman was suspended with pay after initial suspicions of abuse—only to be brought back to work without consequence. When the abuse began once more, the authorities were notified. Now finally, Strotman has been charged, arrested, and denied a bond hearing—meaning she’ll remain in custody until a court date in March.

But I’m writing about this horrifying case because it speaks to a broader issue.

Indeed, we must ask: Who else knew about this abuse and did nothing? And who allowed her to return to care for vulnerable children, without consequence? The hospital’s role in this case raises troubling questions. Was this a case of gross incompetence, or was the hospital complicit in covering up harm done to Black infants? Either way, the system failed catastrophically.

My wife and I experienced this very hospital first hand. In 2013 my wife delivered our second child at Henrico hospital and we had a terrible experience dealing with the nurses and staff. At the time, I chalked it up to a one-off situation. But now? I cannot help but wonder if that experience was part of a broader, systemic issue within this hospital?

Regardless, the reality is that what happened in Henrico is not an isolated incident. It’s part of a long-standing pattern of racial disparities in healthcare that puts Black and Indigenous children and mothers at greater risk of harm. And the data on that systemic harm is daunting.

Deadly Disparities in Maternal & Infant Healthcare

We must recognize the brutal reality in this country: Black children are nearly three times more likely to die in infancy than white children. Black mothers are also nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than are white mothers. Indigenous children and mothers suffer a rate double that of white families.

According to the March of Dimes, the average infant mortality rate between 2020 and 2022 was 10.6 deaths per 1,000 live births for Black infants, compared to 4.4 deaths for white infants. And 8.1 for Indigenous children. These disparities are not coincidental—they are the result of a healthcare system built on structural racism, implicit bias, and profit-driven policies that treat human lives as commodities. And they are even more pronounced in Neonatal Intensive Care Units (NICUs), where the most vulnerable infants, like those abused by Erin Strotman, receive care.

When a nurse in a NICU—a place meant to save lives—becomes the source of harm, it exposes a healthcare system that has lost its way.

For-Profit Healthcare Model Continues To Fails Us

This is why we must confront the reality that healthcare in America is not designed to protect everyone equally. It’s designed to maximize profit. It’s no wonder The Lancet reports that our current exploitative for profit model results in at least 68,000 annual preventable deaths. That’s one preventable death every 7.5 minutes—year round.

Under the influence of HELL Corporations, healthcare providers prioritize bottom lines over patient care. They cut corners, reduce staffing levels, and rely on flawed oversight mechanisms that fail to prevent tragedies like this. And when abuse or negligence happens, they often look the other way to protect their reputations and financial interests. It is no wonder that nurses nationwide are striking for better working conditions.

As I’ve written many times before, especially in the last few months, we desperately need a system that treats healthcare as a human right. A system that operates with high levels of regulation and accountability to prevent harm and protect the most vulnerable among us. Healthcare should never be about profit margins. It should be about saving lives.

What Actions Can We Take?

First, if you have any information about what happened in Henrico, please contact the authorities:

Henrico Police Det. M. Lynch: police@henrico.gov

Crime Stoppers: (804) 780-1000

Second, take it from a father of three, be vigilant in your own healthcare experiences.

Know your doctors and nurses. Build relationships with the medical professionals who will care for you and your loved ones.

Ask questions. Don’t be afraid to demand transparency and accountability from healthcare providers.

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Henrico crews are working to close 14 small water valves, which could lead to restored service

admin — Wed, 08 Jan 2025 18:20:17 +0000

By Tom Lappas

(HC) – Henrico Public Utilities officials Wednesday morning were continuing to work on the county’s water system to restore water service to Eastern and Northern Henrico, after overnight efforts managed to restore some service in the Mechanicsville Turnpike area.
Shortly before midnight Wednesday, officials believed that they could have service restored to most of the affected customers by early morning. But after Public Utilities crews closed the last remaining large water valves that they believed needed to be adjusted in order to ensure the flow of water in the proper direction, they realized that a number of smaller valves also needed to be closed.

As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, crews were anticipating adjusting 14 smaller valves in order to complete the process. Closing a large valve, Henrico County Manager John Vithoulkas told the Citizen Tuesday night is a time-consuming process that can take as long as half an hour, but closing smaller valves generally takes less time. Failure to close the proper valves would result in water flowing back into the city.

“We’re pushing water from the west to the east, and as we do that, we have to close valves to help with the pressure,” Henrico Public Relations Director Ben Sheppard told the Citizen Wednesday. “We have to fill up tanks to help with the pressure, and it just takes time.”

The 14 smaller valves were located along the Henrico-Richmond line from Mechanicsville Turnpike to Laburnum Avenue, Sheppard said.

In the meantime, Henrico officials continued to distribute bottled and potable water to county residents at several locations.

Both forms are available 24 hours a day at the Eastern Henrico Recreation Center (1440 North Laburnum Avenue), though residents need to bring their own storage containers for potable water.

Bottled water is also available 24 hours a day at the Eastern Henrico Government Center (3820 Nine Mile Road) and Wednesday until 9 p.m. at the Sandston and Varina libraries. Officials Tuesday had indicated that it also would be available at the North Park and Fairfield libraries, but that is no longer the case. The area near North Park Library has water, and officials decided that providing water at Fairfield Library – which is located across the street from the Eastern Henrico Recreation Center – would be duplicative

“We’re doing everything we can,” Sheppard said of the county’s ongoing efforts. “We’re utilizing every resource available, and we want to get water back to people as soon as possible.”

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City of Richmond issues immediate boil water advisory

admin — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 17:50:00 +0000

The City of Richmond, in partnership with the Virginia Department of Health, has issued a Boil Water Advisory immediately and until further notice for all Richmond residents. The city said it is urgent that residents take conservation steps immediately and boil water before consuming it.

In regional cooperation, the counties of Chesterfield, Henrico and Hanover have removed themselves from the city’s water supply and transferred to other supplies. Residents in those counties are not impacted by the boil water advisory.

Some customers may experience a total loss of water service, while others may experience varying degrees of loss in water pressure.

“Our top priority is the health and safety of our residents and neighbors. I am asking all Richmondersto limit their water usage as the team at the Department of Public Utilities works around the clock to get our water system back online,” said Mayor Danny Avula. “I’m also asking residents to consider their neighbors, and only use as much water as they need – all in this together.”

This advisory comes after a winter weather storm-related loss of power today impacted the City’s water reservoir system, causing the system to temporarily malfunction. Capacity restoration services are currently underway.

“We know the importance water plays in our everyday lives,” says April Bingham, senior director for the Department of Public Utilities. “My team is diligently working to bring the water system back online along with the support of our partners.”

City officials remain in close contact with the Virginia Health Department to assess and resolve the situation. Once the water system is back online, Department of Public Utilities personnel will begin the process of flushing the system and ensuring that the water is safe to drink.

The City will communicate new information as it becomes available through rva.gov and its social media pages.

Below is a checklist for safe water use during this time:

Do not drink tap water during this boil water advisory.

Do not drink from water fountains in parks, public or private buildings that receive water from the City of Richmond Department of Public Utilities.

Do not use ice made from water today. Discard the ice and sanitize the ice machine and/or ice trays. This also applies to water and ice dispensed directly from a refrigerator.

Do not use tap water to make drinks, juices, or fountain soft drinks.

Do not wash your dishes using tap water – use boiled water or use paper plates for the next few days.

Do not wash your fruits and vegetables with tap water – use boiled or bottled water.

Do not brush your teeth with tap water – use boiled or bottled water.

Do not cook with tap water, unless your food will be boiled vigorously for three minutes.

Temporary water conservation tips:

Eliminate or shorten shower times.

Avoid unnecessary toilet flushes,

Avoid washing clothes for as long as possible.

Postpone washing dishes if possible.

Check all faucets, showerheads and under cabinets for drips.

Please share this information with everyone in your household, local friends and family, and others who may have not received this advisory directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses).

For more information on boil water advisories, visit the Virginia Department of Health Boil Water FAQs:https://www.vdh.virginia.gov/drinking-water/boil-water-faqs/

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Senior hunger a ‘hidden crisis in the commonwealth’

admin — Mon, 06 Jan 2025 04:40:20 +0000

Frank Woodson

By Adrienne Hoar McGibbon

Frank Woodson runs a food bank at his active adult community in Richmond.

Every Tuesday, some of his neighbors gather in a community room to take home donated food that’s been loaded into bags on top of a table. The bags are filled with bread, eggs, and other standard fare provided by local churches, charities, and other community members.

“It just makes me feel overjoyed that I can help somebody,” Woodson said.

He says some people are hesitant to ask for help despite their hunger. Woodson says one man’s reaction has stuck with him over the years.

“He got the plate to go, and when he came up, tears were rolling down his eyes because the man was hungry,” Woodson said. “It meant something to him.”

Throughout the week, neighbors knock on Woodson’s door, dropping off groceries for others. He often goes door to door filling a large cart with food with the help of Mary Njie, another community member.

Despite the generosity, Njie says the food bank doesn’t always meet the needs of those in the building: “Sometimes we fall short here, and some of us need a little extra help.”

While helping to feed others, both Woodson and Njie receive benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — once known as food stamps — which help them cover the costs of their own groceries. They both live on fixed incomes from Social Security and say that after paying rent, they don’t have much money left over.

“It’s not a whole lot,” Njie said about her monthly SNAP benefits. “But it does help fill in the gaps.”

About 165,000 Virginia seniors don’t have enough to eat, according to the National Council on Aging. But only about 38% of adults 65 and older take advantage of available benefits.

Dustin Parks is the community benefits outreach coordinator for Feed More, a Richmond-based charity that works to combat food insecurity. He attends the Tuesday food pantry gatherings to sign up as many people as possible for programs like SNAP.

Parks says some seniors are hesitant to sign up because of negative associations they have with the program or concerns about a lengthy application process.

“It doesn’t have to be scary or challenging,” he said. “It’s not a race… We can just work through it step by step.”

Many seniors only qualify for Virginia’s minimum benefit amount of $23 per month.

“When it comes to the time for renewal, they’ll just say it’s not worth the time and the effort to get a minimum benefit of $23,” Parks said. “I’ll see people who won’t renew or reenlist in SNAP just based on the amount that they receive.”

About 32,000 Virginia seniors get that minimum benefit amount, according to the Federation of Virginia Food Banks. Eddie Oliver, the organization’s executive director, called senior hunger a “hidden crisis in the commonwealth,” which he says has only gotten worse with inflation and higher grocery prices.

Oliver said Virginia’s food banks saw a sharp increase in needs after pandemic-related SNAP benefit increases from the federal government expired in February 2023.

“We immediately saw longer pantry lines — 10–20% more people coming for emergency food assistance at our 1,100 pantries throughout Virginia,” he said.

The state’s older adults are particularly susceptible to food insecurity because many are on fixed incomes and also covering medical expenses.

“They’re fixed with what they’ve got, and so they often end up cutting back, sacrificing on meals — and that really harms their health,” Oliver added.

Advocacy groups and state lawmakers are working to strengthen SNAP benefits for older Virginians. State Sen. Ghazala Hashmi (D–Chesterfield) is sponsoring a budget amendment to increase the minimum allotted SNAP benefits to $50 a month for recipients 60 and older, which would add about $20 million per year to the budget.

She unsuccessfully proposed a similar increase during this year’s General Assembly session, but hopes her amendment will be successful this time around.

“We have always historically been at the lower end of the number of states that provide these benefits for seniors,” Hashmi said. “I think there is a need for public will and certainly for political action to ensure that we continue to provide nutritious options for our aging population.”

The post Senior hunger a ‘hidden crisis in the commonwealth’ first appeared on The Legacy Newspaper.

Two years after council push for local investment, Hampton Roads Ventures has yet to deliver

admin — Thu, 02 Jan 2025 14:56:24 +0000

By Jim Morrison

(VM) – More than two years after Norfolk’s city council directed a for-profit subsidiary of its redevelopment and housing authority to prioritize local investments, the company has yet to deliver.

In July 2022, the council passed a resolution requiring Hampton Roads Ventures (HRV) — a community development entity created by the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA) — to make its “best efforts” to invest in the city following a Virginia Mercury investigation revealing it had allocated only a fraction of its $360 million in tax credits to Norfolk’s distressed areas.

The resolution required HRV to submit an annual report detailing its activities. The 2024 report shows $53 million in New Markets Tax Credit (NMTC) allocations across six states — with none directed to Virginia. The investments included projects as diverse as a food bank expansion in Tallahassee, a shopping center with a grocery store in the Bronx, N.Y., and a salmon processing barge in Washington.

Three years after repeated requests for interviews with HRV and NRHA officials, Alphonso Albert, chair of HRV’s board of managers and NRHA’s board of commissioners, sat down with The Mercury to defend HRV’s failure to invest locally.

In an email ahead of the interview — copied to Norfolk’s mayor and several city council members — Albert accused the Mercury reporter of intending harm, being vindictive and “more about making mischief” than reporting the facts.

During a 45-minute conversation, Albert portrayed HRV as “a successful business” with a competitive strategy for securing New Markets Tax Credits. However, he also acknowledged limited outreach in Norfolk, where the company hasn’t funded a project since 2008.

Albert said the “primary driver” for HRV’s focus outside Norfolk is maintaining its track record to win future tax credit allocations. Changing its business model to prioritize Norfolk, he argued, could jeopardize the company’s ability to secure funding in a highly competitive process.

“We want to be successful in obtaining and utilizing new market tax credits,” Albert said. “That’s the end game, and not to make efforts that don’t meet the objective, the successful model that HRV operates on.” He added that HRV’s success relies on “tax-ready projects” in its pipeline that align with competitive application requirements.

However, the city council’s resolution from two years ago directed the firm to “proactively seek Norfolk projects and not rely solely upon the Norfolk Economic Development Department.” It also required marketing efforts to raise awareness about the NMTC program.

Other community development entities, though, have demonstrated that strategies can evolve without jeopardizing funding. For example, Indy CDE in Indianapolis has secured $177 million in tax credits since 2010 for a wide range of local projects, including a YMCA, high school modernization, and a recycling facility. It focuses on eliminating food deserts, increasing access to education, and revitalizing blighted areas.

Albert said the company’s small staff size prevents it from actively developing projects in Norfolk unless they are brought to the firm. HRV’s website lists just three employees — a CEO, a portfolio manager, and an executive assistant — and Albert suggested that adding two or three more positions might be necessary if the company were to expand its focus locally.

HRV’s 2023 audit revealed that salaries and benefits totaled nearly $490,000, up from $463,000 the previous year. Albert said he was unaware of CEO Jennifer Donohue’s salary and would not support releasing that information.

When asked how HRV identifies projects in places like Tallahassee, Tampa, and rural North Carolina, Albert said, “Consultants bring them to us. Consultants will see a deal and see if we’re interested in participating at one level or another, the same way we would do right here if somebody would bring us a deal.” According to the 2023 audit, HRV spent $230,000 on consultants that year.

Albert added that Donohue is also approached directly with proposals. “She’s going to look at a project that somebody says, here’s one here, but she doesn’t go out and solicit projects,” he said.

According to a December report from the U.S. Department of Treasury, HRV currently has $52 million in unallocated tax credits. Some of these funds may already be tied to pending deals. Treasury rules require half of HRV’s allocations be invested in rural areas. With the next application deadline approaching in late January — $10 billion available, double the usual amount — there is an opportunity to advance a Norfolk project.

Asked what efforts HRV made to secure a Norfolk project in the past year, Albert said the company met with local lenders, including TowneBank, Truist, and Chase. However, when pressed about whether HRV had issued a request for proposals to solicit local projects, Albert said that it did not. “I will float that,” he added. “That’s not a bad idea.”

Sean Washington, who oversees both Norfolk’s Department of Development and the city’s Economic Development Authority, said that he hasn’t heard from HRV since discussions about a failed proposal to fund a Norfolk shopping center project in 2023. When asked why HRV hadn’t maintained contact with Washington, Albert replied, “A lot of people don’t have confidence in Sean. But Sean’s a nice guy.”

Norfolk pushes for local investment
The 2022 city council resolution aimed at pushing HRV to invest in Norfolk projects and increase oversight followed a Virginia Mercury investigation revealing that the company had invested only a fraction of the $360 million in tax credit allocations it had received since 2003 in Norfolk. Some council members expressed surprise, admitting they were unaware of the NRHA subsidiary’s existence and questioned why it was not prioritizing Norfolk.

HRV operates as a community development entity, which includes offshoots of banks, nonprofits, public agencies, and financial institutions. These entities apply for the tax credits from the Treasury Department and, if awarded, attract investors who earn a 39% tax break over seven years.

The tax credits aim to spur investment in distressed areas with the Treasury reporting that every New Markets Tax Credits dollar generates $8 in private investment. Norfolk has 16 severely distressed census tracts given the highest priority for tax credit allocations. In these tracts, poverty rates range from 31% to 80%, and unemployment rates reach as high as 40%.

HRV’s last local investment came in 2008, supporting the Fort Norfolk Plaza health center near Brambleton Avenue. Last year, HRV had pledged to back The Village, a proposed shopping center with the Urban League of Hampton Roads that aimed to eliminate a food desert. That project collapsed after the city failed to secure a state grant to help fund the development. The property later was sold to Fishing Point Healthcare, a company founded by the Nansemond Indian nation.

HRV transferred $655,000 of its recent profits to NRHA to fund workforce development, youth services, crime prevention, and transportation support for food access and cultural events. The company also donated $144,538 to 27 local organizations, including Zion Word Days Church, My 2K Foundation, Second Calvary Baptist Church, the Virginia Arts Festival, the Beacon Light Civic League, the Urban League of Hampton Roads, and the Portsmouth Bruins Football Association, according to a list provided by Albert.

HRV’s 2023 audit, also shared with the city, reported net income of nearly $2 million. Since 2021, following increased scrutiny, HRV has transferred more than $3.6 million to the NRHA — surpassing the $1.3 million it had transferred over the previous 18 years.

Mayor and council num on recent report
Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Alexander did not respond to requests for comment for this story, but in May 2022 he urged HRV to prioritize projects in the city. “The point is to spur economic development in areas that but for the new markets tax credits there would not be any investment. That’s the reason they exist,” he said at the time. “I’m not suggesting that they shouldn’t do business in other markets, rural markets. But this is the city of Norfolk. We need to spur economic growth.”

A spokesperson for NRHA said Executive Director Nathan Simms would not grant an interview. According to the 2003 city council resolution that authorized HRV’s creation, the entity is managed by NRHA commissioners.

Four of the nine NRHA commissioners, including Albert, are on the Board of Managers of HRV. Albert said the HRV board met quarterly. While they don’t jointly discuss the annual applications for tax credits tied to projects, he said Donohue shared them for comments. He also noted that HRV works with a nationwide advisory board to consult on investments.

“I’m not the operational CEO. I’m talking principally who we are and I think defending our record and this organization,” Albert said.

Norfolk City Manager Pat Roberts also declined to comment through a spokesperson. Council member John “JP” Paige was the only elected official to respond. Paige, who represents some of Norfolk’s most vulnerable census tracts, said he hopes that HRV can identify a local project to support.

“I was very excited about the grocery store that was coming, but the state didn’t come through,” Paige said, referring to The Village proposal.

Other Virginia housing authorities have formed development entities like HRV that match projects with investors drawn to the tax breaks offered through the New Markets Tax Credits (NMTC) program. But they focus on projects in the cities or regions, often plowing the administrative fees back into their communities and holding public meetings. Hampton Roads Ventures does not hold public meetings and has declined to make its records subject to the Freedom of Information Act.

In cities like St. Louis, Pittsburgh and Cleveland, development entities have used the tax credits to stimulate major local investments, generating jobs and revitalizing their neighborhoods. .

St. Louis has leveraged $543 million in NMTCs to fund 103 developments and businesses, creating 6,800 jobs. Pittsburgh has utilized $238 million for projects such as affordable housing, transit hubs, and mixed-use development. Cleveland’s development team has financed urban schools athletic centers, job creation hubs and mixed-use spaces to drive growth.

Albert defended the HRV’s broader focus, saying it brings indirect benefits to Norfolk.

“We may be the only one that doesn’t support programs in our urban setting or in the area that we operate in, but we do bring very positive benefits to the city that we operate in,” he said. “I guess it’s a game of priorities.”

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