Virginia’s unique system of state and local government, characterized by its emphasis on distinct counties and independent cities, is supremely challenging. The 18 historic, core city members of the Virginia First Cities Coalition (VFC) recognize this reality. We reach out today, in support of the commonwealth’s capital city, a proud VFC member, to explain to a new generation of Virginia legislators and citizens why Virginia’s unique system of governance has exacerbated the renewal and replacement of city infrastructure projects. The water system in Richmond is not isolated to the city. Unfortunately, the
system’s breakdown last week is a concern for all municipal water systems and public infrastructure across the state. We are all acutely focused on resiliency and the needs of our citizens, both now and into the future, so that we continue to contribute to our beloved commonwealth.
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Virginia First Cities Coalition was founded 25 years ago to bolster state funding and to promote the growth and revitalization of the commonwealth’s historic city centers. While initially formed to ensure our members were not continually disadvantaged by the 1979 moratorium on annexation and resultant sprawl of job creation and housing to Virginia’s suburban localities, VFC’s mission took hold. Today we actively protect and bolster our member cities in the Virginia state budget, especially with funding and programs for urban infrastructure projects (water, wastewater and stormwater systems), blight abatement, poverty eradication through community wealth building, early childhood and K-12 public education, transportation, housing and public safety. Most cities in the United States can grow their tax bases by accruing land, building housing and acquiring debt to build new or improve infrastructure projects. However, since the 1970s, our member cities have been captive to a blueprint for growth that has historically been controlled by cultural, environmental and
political history that has not always appreciated the fact that Virginia’s core cities must maintain complex infrastructure and provide attractive public amenities. These demands all necessitate high levels of expenditure far beyond the specific needs of our residents. Our core, historic cities are also the primary places where housing, health and welfare services, and public transportation are brought together to meet the needs of lower-income families and the disadvantaged. Many people who need these services live in cities, resulting in fiscal overburden — higher levels of poverty and a weaker tax base than surrounding counties. State programs put in place to ameliorate the effects of this fiscal overburden have, in many cases, languished due to lack of state support and the inability of state and local governments to simply raise taxes to pay for them.
Mayor Danny Avula gives a news conference in Richmond on Saturday about lifting the boil water advisory. Issues surrounding city blight were what originally brought the members of Virginia First Cities together more than two decades ago. Despite some real gains, there remains cause for concern, and it is why the recent water issues in Richmond are perhaps symptomatic of systemic issues that all Virginia local governments are facing head-on. While we would never suggest the COVID-19 pandemic was an experience we would wish to repeat, the federal relief efforts provided through the
American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 and direct funding to our cities through the Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds (SLFRF) program have been helping our cities fund long-needed investments in critical infrastructure. This funding has been helpful in addressing some of the enduring social and economic inequities associated with being a city in Virginia. Virginia First Cities members agree that federal ARPA funding was essential not only for financial stability, but also for providing our cities with the ability to make much-needed investments in core infrastructure — like water and sewer systems, water treatment plant upgrades, wastewater infrastructure projects and public works infrastructure projects. It takes
massive amounts of money to maintain and upgrade water and wastewater systems. As an example, one of our members has received nearly $100 million in state and federal grants for infrastructure upgrades, yet $1 billion in upgrades are needed. This is in a city with a population of 33,000. Virginia First Cities will continue our advocacy for the unique needs of our historic cities by concentrating on those policies with a disproportionate city impact. We know that it is in the best interest of the commonwealth to implement policies that support and encourage urban health and revitalization. We urge the governor and the members of the General Assembly to continue to help improve not only our foundational public infrastructure, but also the educational opportunities of at-risk children, health and human service programs, public safety systems and urban economic development programs targeted to the needs of our urban centers.
How a meager snowstorm could cripple Richmond's water supply for six calendar days is still being investigated. Here's a timeline of how the events unfolded.
Richmond was engulfed in a water crisis this week that provoked an eerie reminder of lessons learned — or not — from when Hurricane Isabel swept into Virginia in 2003.
This is updated coverage of the water outage across Richmond. The part is at least two decades old, plant staff said on Friday.
The Richmond water crisis that’s delaying the General Assembly's work has given new urgency to an issue – drinking water and water policy – that’s been simmering for years.
We're speaking to residents and business owners about how the water outage in the Richmond area has had an impact on daily lives. Tell us your information and we may contact you for an upcoming story. Some Richmond area restaurants have started to reopen, while others remained closed, waiting for the boil water advisory to be lifted. The reasons for both are complex.
Mayor Danny Avula said the failure of an automatic "switch-gear" that would've transferred the city's water treatment plant to its primary backup power source failed during Monday afternoon's blackout.
Due to the ongoing water crisis, VCU men's basketball and Richmond women's basketball played without fans on Wednesday.
In the days since the collapse of Richmond’s public drinking water utility, two separate documents have emerged that appear to indicate infrastructure problems at the city’s water treatment plant were well-known.
Richmond's water problems linger, and the repercussions are being felt in the neighboring counties of Hanover and Henrico.
And as was the case in the days of sports during COVID, the dichotomy of athletic entertainment and human suffering was laid bare.
Mayor Danny Avula said Wednesday that Richmond's boil water advisory would likely not be lifted until Friday.
“This is a great example of what RPS does for communities," said school board member Matthew Percival. "It’s not just about the schools, it’s about being the glue in the communities."
Officials stressed that the boil water advisory is a "precaution." Parts of the Henrico system were reopened to the troubled Richmond water utility Wednesday afternoon.
Some joked about not showering as others shrugged and just said stuff happens. Virginia legislators pledged to finish their work on time despite a delay caused by Richmond's water crisis.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaks about the Richmond water boil advisory, Wednesday, Jan. 8, 2025.
VCU Athletics announced on Wednesday afternoon that tonight's men's basketball game against Fordham at the Siegel Center will be played without spectators due to the ongoing water outage in Richmond.
Their tractor-trailers carry 6,200 gallons. But that's only enough to supply VCU Medical Center for one hour.
Samuel B. Parker gives an update on the water boil advisory in Richmond.
House Speaker Don Scott, D-Portsmouth, expects a "boring session" of the General Assembly to begin on Wednesday, but that may be wishful thinking.
County Manager John Vithoulkas: "I want to personally apologize, because I am the county manager, and the mantra is that accountability stops with leadership."
County Manager John Budesky said all addresses east of Interstate 95 should conserve water if it is available to them. A boil water advisory is in effect for those residences.
Lawmakers will meet briefly on Wednesday, the first day of the 46-day General Assembly session, then will adjourn until Monday morning, when Gov. Glenn Youngkin will deliver his State of the Commonwealth address.
Here's what residents should do next after a weather-related power failure resulted in the water level in the Richmond reservoir system to run low on Monday, triggered a boil water alert.
Richmond Sheriff's Deputies deliver water to Midtown Green, one of the city's water distribution sites, on Jan. 7, 2025.
The city of Richmond is partnering with the sheriff's office and the American Red Cross to distribute bottled water in "high priority areas — including homeless services providers, public housing, and residences that house older adults."
Mayor Danny Avula on Tuesday morning discusses the efforts of crews to repair Richmond’s water treatment plant.
The cascading series of events began early Monday morning, when a power outage brought on by snow and ice caused Richmond’s water treatment plant to flood, taking the system offline.
Officials on Monday afternoon issued a boil advisory and "strongly encourage(d)" Richmond residents to "limit water usage" after a power outage impacted the city's water utilities, leading to widespread outages.
Officials have announced bill and tax payment deadline extensions for residents and business owners in the wake of the city's six-day water crisis.
As restaurants in the Richmond area reopened through the weekend and into this week, owners are tallying up what they lost last week due to the shutdown.
Framed by sharp criticism of Richmond for last week’s water crisis, Senate Republicans want to require a director of water utilities to have a professional qualification, most likely an engineering degree.
