RVA’s Got Issues

In his very first sit-down interview since the election, mayor-elect Danny Avula joins Rich to discuss what Richmonders can expect from his administration.

What are his top priorities and how will he start to tackle them? How will he bring more people into the political process? And how will he advocate for the city on both the State and Federal level? 

Need some 11th hour candidate info for election day? We have you covered! Check out any of our recent episodes on the mayoral contest, what it takes to be on city council, a plan to shake up the school board race and much, much more. We'll be next week with a new episode. Until then, see you at the polls!

Our series "Who's Got Your Vote?" takes you inside Richmond's race for mayor. Rich talks with each candidate to bring you closer to the issues and faces that want to shape the future of Richmond.

For our final week of our series, Rich talks with Andreas Addison, the current Richmond City Council representative for the first district. Hear how his tutelage under Governor Wilder and Mayor Dwight Jones opened his eyes to what public leaders can accomplish, why the "karass" is an integral part of his political outlook, and how he plans to bring City Hall's technology up to speed.

Our series "Who's Got Your Vote?" takes you inside Richmond's race for mayor. Rich talks with each candidate to bring you closer to the issues and faces that want to shape the future of Richmond. So, who's got your vote?

This week Rich talks with Danny Avula, a pediatrician who was also recently the state commissioner for the the Virginia Department of Social Services. He says the connections he formed while overseeing the state's COVID rollout can help in amassing more financial support for the city and maintains his support for LGBTQ and abortion rights, despite support from prominent social conservatives in Richmond.

Our series "Who's Got Your Vote?" takes you inside Richmond's race for mayor. Rich talks with each candidate to bring you closer to the issues and faces that want to shape the future of Richmond. So, who's got your vote?

This week Rich talks with Michelle Mosby, Richmond City Council's first Black female president. She says she won't need training wheels to tackle the mayor's job. She also tells us how her past bouts with bankruptcy inform her financial views, and what she'll do to establish stronger oversight when it comes to dysfunction in City Hall.

Watch a longer version of this interview on VPM's YouTube channel.

Our series "Who's Got Your Vote?" takes you inside Richmond's race for mayor. Rich talks with each candidate to bring you closer to the issues and faces that want to shape the future of Richmond. So, who's got your vote?

This week Rich talks with Maurice Neblett, an entrepreneur and community leader in the city. Hear what being "a true son of Richmond" means to him, how he says a non-political background gives him an edge in the race, and why transparency and accountability mean so much to his campaign.

Watch a longer version of this interview on VPM's YouTube channel.

Our series "Who's Got Your Vote?" takes you inside Richmond's race for mayor. Rich talks with each candidate to bring you closer to the issues and faces that want to shape the future of Richmond. So, who's got your vote?

We kick off with Harrison Roday, a leader in the nonprofit and industrial manufacturing space. He says his "get things done" attitude, experience in politics under Senator Tim Kaine and his aptitude for budgeting and finance sets him apart from the other candidates.

Watch a longer version of this interview on VPM's YouTube channel.

There are 18 candidates running for Richmond City Council this November, but Rich has just one question for this week's guests: what's the job of a city council member actually like? For an honest answer, he brings in former council president, Mike Jones, and current council president, Kristen Nye.

This week, RVA’s Got Questions... about who RUNS for city council. With only 6 of 9 seats having a competitive race – why aren’t more people trying to grab a spot? 

Finally, if you live in the Northside of Richmond, chances are Don Polaski has knocked on your door. He spends his Saturdays going door-to-door as the "Happy Canvasser." Rich wants to know what knocking on all those doors has taught him about democracy.

It's Rich's FAVORITE time of year, local election season. But what makes this year different? A plan to end dysfunction on the Richmond Public School board.

Next up: the little-known quirk that determines how Richmond elects its mayor. One listener wants to know how voting actually works in RVA, and whether we'll catch the ranked-choice bug.

Rich wraps things up with his election heartthrob, the Virginia Public Access Project. This free, non-partisan website is a go-to resource for anyone trying to understand elections in Virginia. And this year, K-12 students are invited to the party.

The James River is the heart and soul of Richmond. But it's also the dumping ground for the city's sewage when it rains too much. What will it take to fix this issue?

One frustrated listener asks us: why is it so hard to open a business in Richmond? Rich runs through the litany of applications you need to complete to set up shop in RVA. But it's not as bad as you might think.

The Broadberry Entertainment Group is neither street nor berry. Rather, it plays a major role in booking up and coming talent in Richmond's local music scene. Owner Lucas Fritz joins us to talk about what he looks for in a musical act, and where he thinks the region's scene is headed.