Richmond City Jail inmates

Tiffany Satchell
Staff Writer
Richmond City Jail (RCJ) inmates have committed crimes, but shouldn’t they still be treated like human beings?
Many frustrated inmates have sent letters to the Richmond Voice stressing that they are not receiving medical treatment and the excessive heat weakens their health.
One inmate letter goes into detail about the June 9th death of Linwood Jones, 47.
It reads, “I listened to inmate Linwood Jones, call for the deputy from about 7pm on June 8th to 8am the next day.
“He was asking could he see medical staff, but after three hours of continuously asking, they came and told him they would bring him his medication but they never came back,” the inmate letter reads.
Allegedly, the next morning the deputy came to get Jones for breakfast and “he was shaking uncontrollably as if he was having a convulsion or something.
“Just maybe if they would have came and got him sooner he might have lived,” the letter reads.
Sheriff C.T. Woody says it is not true that Jones was calling for his medication prior to his death. more

Certain homes along Porter Street may be renovated to mirror other remodeled properties. Faison currently lives in the home on the right.

By Chyneeda Hall
Staff Writer
Hard –working and elderly residents of the Manchester community are fighting to keep their homes.
Manchester resident Barbara E. Faison and her two daughters have lived in the area for the past 26 years.
Faison moved from New York seeking a better life, but she feels things have only gotten worse not better.
She feels the real estate firm included the elderly and the working-class in the initial plan, but have done nothing for current residents.
Faison believes the real estate firm is manipulating current residents in order to remove them from their home.
“I am not on a vendetta because it’s God’s work. A lot of us are praying to God to keep a roof over our heads,” said Faison.
The alleged rates of the homes range between $1200-$1500 a month which are astronomical prices to current residents.
Faison believes poor Blacks and whites along with the working-class are slowly getting moved out of the neighborhood. more

Elkhardt Middle School will begin planning phase in 2010

By Chyneeda Hall
Staff Writer
Richmond Public Schools (RPS) Capital Improvement Plan for elementary, middle, and high schools was awarded over $20 million minus $6 million from City Council Amendment Ordinance.
The five- year plan includes rebuilding and renovations of RPS schools, but some schools are not in the report, which includes Patrick Henry Elementary and Whitcomb Court Elementary Schools.
The school board will have to see what happens, but the plan is still going forward with everything that was already discussed along with information through the Master Facilities Plan.
RPS facilities are in need of becoming ADA compliant, but will the funding get spent in other areas?
The RPS high schools are expensive to renovate, so many of them will remain in planning phases. more

Election time is rolling around and the city of Richmond will see new faces on its school board, city council and city leader. City Hall has been through many controversies over the past few years with its current mayor feuding with city council and the school board. Citizens now wonder if the upcoming election will bring peace or unforeseen uproars.

Tiffany Satchell
Staff Writer
This year’s City Council race will involve 11 new qualified candidates attempting to be their district’s voice at City Hall.
While three members will run unopposed, the others must raise their competitive spirits and stage a political fight for their seats.
Councilman Bill Pantele’s decision to run for mayor will leave his seat that he has held for seven years open for a new person.
Three candidates have entered to represent Pantele’s 2nd district that include:
• Suntrust Mortgage Counselor Tyron Bey;
• Patrick Kjellberg, Real Estate business owner and
• Attorney Charles Samuels
Councilman Marty Jewell of the 5th district will vie for his seat against candidates, Mark Brandon, and Lee Shewmake.
The same is for 8th District Councilwoman Reva Trammell and Councilman Doug Connor of the 9th district who are both up against two candidates.
Eric Hunter and Allen Barrett are seeking the 8th seat while Eugene Mason and Adrian Preston are running for the 9th.
Clarence Kenny is interested in the 7th district, which Councilwoman Delores McQuinn holds and Chris Hilbert of the 3rd district has to run against Jonathan Davis for his current seat. more