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The 434 Newsletter
Keeping You Informed
Highlighting February 2021
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The Rundown
Brief Updates
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- There is a potential property tax increase in Lynchburg.
- Should Council change the name of 5th Street? I'm not convinced.
- Hybrid and Virtual Learning is not working.
- The Lynchburg Police Department needs to be built yesterday.
- Council, I think, should petition Richmond to loosen restrictions so localities can offer the services needed.
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Fighting Against A Potential Tax Increase
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After hearing a presentation from the City Assessor regarding Lynchburg's increases in Real Estate Assessments, I had some questions about the data offered and trends in our City.
By my line of questioning, Council learned nearly 75% of the parcels in the City of Lynchburg will see a change in their Real Estate Assessment, with Ward IV bearing the weight of the adjustments, totaling 30% of the residential changes (most of which are increases).
I took this opportunity to again express my hope and expectation that the City equalize the Tax Rate so the property owner does not have to foot a larger bill to the government, especially as families and businesses are still wrestling with endless executive orders limiting their ability to make ends meet. It also could be argued Ward IV would bear the brunt of additional taxes levied in the City if the rate isn't equalized, with 30% of the residential adjustments in Lynchburg are in Ward IV!
During my campaign, I proudly ran on a platform founded on conservative principles and limited government. As the Ward IV Representative on Council, I am not interested in a policy that places an additional financial burden on my constituents.
If you agree with me, I ask you to sign this petition and share your voice: https://www.chrisfaraldi.com/taxes
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Discussing the importance of putting the Taxpayer's needs over the Government.
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Richmond's Executive Overreach Will Impact Our Budget
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Should Lynchburg City Council consider taking a formal stance against the Governor's restrictions on businesses and organizations on the grounds his actions are hindering local governments from being able to fully offer their services? I think so. The conversation should at least be held.
In this dialogue below, I contend Council should consider leveraging our ability to petition the General Assembly and the Governor to emphasize how his Executive Orders are negatively impacting the City's ability to offer the most fundamental services to our community. In reality, the edicts from Richmond that have been before our community for nearly a full calendar year are dramatically hurting businesses of all sizes, which in turn damages Lynchburg's ability to serve her citizens.
I hope other Councilmembers think the same and would at least entertain a discussion.
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Watch this converstation and be informed.
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How Can I Get Involved?
Will you sign-up to automatically contribute just $5 a month to assist with promoting and advancing the conservative platform (continuing this newsletter, digital marketing for issues before Council etc.) within the City? A commitment of $5 a month over the course of a four-year term comes out to over $250, putting the conservative platform in a strong position to be successful.
Join us, today.
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Defending Lynchburg's History
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The City is contemplating changing the name of 5th Street to "Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard.”
At our Council meeting on Tuesday, I read from a portion of an email I sent to a constituent on this matter and why I not enthusiastic about the change.
Our community is rich in history. Without diminishing the noble, honorable, and heavenly work of Dr. King, I am persuaded the City should strive to honor our own history, remembering those who laid the foundation that built our beautiful community. By using this as the driving strategy, I believe there would be a greater impact.
What do you think? Watch and listen to the video below.
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My comments on why I am not enthusiastic about stripping 5th Street of its name.
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Follow me on my Facebook and Twitter Page
to continue to stay informed.
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The Lynchburg Police Department HQ Must Be Prioritized
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Recently, I put a strong emphasis on the importance for the new
Lynchburg Police Department headquarters to have shovels in the ground by Fiscal Year 2023 (next July). Knowing revenues are down, and with the prospect of moving the location away from 12th and Kemper, I wanted to ensure this project starts on time and not delayed a single day.
Why is this so important? In the 1990s, the Police Department adopted the West Building on Court Street as a 7 year temporary home; they are still operating in that building and it is 2021. This new home was a commitment from Council in 2017 to our officers and professional staff of the Department, as well as to the community, that the days of our police officers working out of a basement are gone.
One of the driving factors that makes this need so great is this discussion is really a recruitment and retainment issue. Some officers who have served our community for over 20 years have only seen a bomb shelter as an office. In many cases, these buildings are simply not safe. These offices are dirty, dank, dark, broken, cramped, and for those officers who have been serving our community for 20 years, they have never seen a professional Headquarters. All of this not mentioning the Department has already outgrown their current home and is not equipped for the next generation of officers.
To drive this point home, I wanted to show Council and the community how low a priority this building has been.
Here is a list of where the past 20 years of capital improvement funding has gone. I share this information to show the lack of funding or priority this project has been for two decades:
- Fleet: $2.5 million
- Human Services: $6.5 million
- Allegany Avenue Donation & IT Building at Young Place: $8 million
- Public Safety, primarily the Fire Department: $11 million
- Water: $18 million
- Airport: $13 million
- Sewer: $14 million
- Judicial/Domestic Relations: $16 million
- Monument Terrace renovations, Environmental Vehicle Wash Facility - Library HVAC, Mid-Town Parking Deck repairs, etc: $18 million
- City Stadium, Old Courthouse, Miller Center, etc: $25 million
- Education: $142 million
This all approximately comes out to $275 million.
How much has the Lynchburg Police Department received out of this $275 million? $1.1 million, or less than .04%, a fraction of the funding.
In the day and age we live in, when for some it is so easy for so many to ridicule and attack law enforcement, and when protections like qualified immunity are threatened to be on the chopping block by Richmond, in addition to the low pay, why on earth would someone want to become a police officer in Lynchburg knowing these working conditions?
And what if this project is put off? What then? While this body has not increased pay for officers to where it needs to be, does the majority wish to have the Chief deliver this message to these men and women? What message does Council send to our officers after this body unanimously says (in 2017) this Headquarters needs to be constructed and now we are going back on our word?
No, not if I have something to say about it.
When times are tough and resources limited, we as leaders in the City must prioritize what is most important. To this end, I believe this project is at the top of the list, and I am pleased to see the majority of Council feels the same.
Take a listen to my arguments for ensuring this project move forward, especially at the 12th and Kemper location. I believe this location is a prime spot for the Headquarters due to the proximity for calls of service and it initiates a sense of development, as well as due to a Federal mandate the property be reverted back to the Federal Government if the land is not used for a Police Department.
As my campaign explicitly laid out last year, I will continue to prioritize Public Safety in our community, and I hope that this headquarters be a sign that the days of neglecting law enforcement and first responders are gone in Lynchburg.
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It's Past Time To Open Schools
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Late September of last year, I asked specific questions of the School Administration regarding this very topic and was assured Council would be provided this data.
5 months later and still no response to our request.
Instead, I learn from the media the damming evidence hybrid and virtual learning is detrimental to the advancement of our students. Every number associated in this report is a student, a young person, who is impacted by their chosen strategy. How is this in any way acceptable?
In January, I asked for an update from our School System on this front and I am going to reiterate that request. I have said it before and I will say it again, Council appoints the School Board - we must hold them accountable.
I would be very curious to hear my colleagues on Council respond to this information. I know my response, at least, is to open our schools.
This is not a quality education as Article 8 Section 1 of the Virginia Constitution requires. #OpenSchools
"The grade report for the 2019-2020 academic year shows 112 students at Heritage High School took the course Algebra 1 in the first quarter of that school year; 10 of them failed. The report for the following academic year, 2020-2021, reveals 130 students at Heritage High School took that same class from August to October 2020 and 54 failed. That's a 365% increase in failing grades in that one course alone.
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The reports for both academic years reveal a 182-percent increase in students at E.C. Glass who failed Algebra 1 during the first quarter of 2020 compared to the first quarter of 2019. In American Literature, the fail rate is up 341-percent. In Biology 1; a 186-percent increase in failing grades."
Read more: https://wset.com/news/local/significantly-more-students-failing-classes-during-hybrid-and-remote-only-learning?fbclid=IwAR1N_7bm0hsiEEoJv3ENFXe522slTAuH4NnuS2K0pn99D7vH4B_dzEgzYfI
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Taken from the City website:
The Lynchburg Fire Department was notified today, Monday, February 22, by the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI) that it has achieved full international accreditation. The Commission issued its approval during its virtual commissioner’s meeting.
The accreditation process includes a review of 12 areas of the department including: standards of cover, response/benchmarks and strategies, paramedics/first aid, strategic plan, public education, fire prevention, fire investigation, apparatus maintenance, personnel training, human resources, safety equipment and external relations.
In addition to reviewing extensive written documentation, the process included an onsite peer team visit to verify and validate the documents.
Of the more than 27,000 fire departments, there are only 284 accredited agencies in the United States and Canada and 15 accredited departments in Virginia (counting Lynchburg).
Congratulations!
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Thank you for the opportunity to serve you on Lynchburg City Council as the representative from Ward IV.
Best,
Chris Faraldi, M.A.
Ward IV Representative
Lynchburg City Council
www.ChrisFaraldi.com
(434) 544-1774
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