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Richmond Council approves $5.8 million restitution to wrongfully convicted man amid debate over housing fund
Summary
The Richmond City Council adopted an ordinance to transfer $5.8 million from the delinquent tax sale special fund to pay restitution under Virginia Code § 8.01-195.13, drawing public opposition from housing advocates who urged the city to use other sources and protect the Affordable Housing Trust Fund.
The Richmond City Council voted to adopt ordinance 20-25-1-88, authorizing a transfer of $5,800,000 from the delinquent tax sale special fund into a new FY26 general fund line item labeled “restitution payments” to finance a court-ordered restitution payment pursuant to Virginia Code § 8.01-195.13.
The vote followed a public hearing in which housing and civil-rights advocates urged the council not to draw the money from a reserve that many say should instead support affordable housing. Tracy Hardney Scott, housing chair for the Virginia State Conference NAACP, said, “We must consider the broader impact of how transferring these funds are allocated,” and urged the council to identify an alternate source so the city does not “undercut the city's commitment to solving” the housing crisis.
Several speakers…
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