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Resident and city contractor urge council action on James River Villas conditions, eviction prevention and contractor wages
Summary
A James River Villas resident described rodent infestations, lack of heat and aggressive eviction practices; a longtime city contractor cleaner spoke of low pay and lack of access to the citywide minimum wage increase for contractors. Councilmembers and staff pledged to follow up.
During the public comment period at the Richmond City Council meeting, residents and a city contractor asked the council to take action on unsafe housing conditions and to extend the city’s recent minimum-wage increase to contracted workers.
Jacqueline Anderson, a resident of James River Villas in Southside, described ‘‘deplorable conditions’’ including a persistent rat infestation, intermittent heat and difficulties getting maintenance to respond. Anderson said her voicemail at the rental office was frequently full, that management tried to evict her after she was hospitalized, and that intimidation discourages other tenants from speaking up. "They will take our money every time the rent is due," Anderson said.
Council staff asked Anderson to come forward after the meeting and indicated staff would follow up; President Newbill invited staff to join Anderson at the lectern to collect contact information so the city could investigate.
Priscilla Peebles, a 67-year-old long‑time city contractor who cleans Richmond Department of Social Services facilities, told the council she and other contract workers were left out of the city’s recent wage increase to $20 per hour for city employees. "I work hard ... but my pay simply isn't enough to survive," Peebles said. She described living paycheck to paycheck, having no paid sick leave and confronting medical bills, and asked the council to extend a living-wage policy to city contractors.
Councilmember Trammell and other members publicly thanked Peebles for her service and said they would follow up with administration to clarify whether contracting arrangements or vendor practices might be changed to extend pay increases or other protections for contract workers. Council staff offered to touch base with both speakers and to coordinate follow-up.
Why it matters
Complaints about building conditions and eviction practices raise public-health and housing-stability concerns in the city’s rental housing stock. Separately, the exclusion of contract workers from municipal wage increases leaves a group of essential workers — cleaners, maintenance and similar roles — without the same protections as city employees, a gap speakers said affects worker health and retention.
Council staff committed to contact the tenants and contractor to gather information and report back to council.
