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Residents and advocates press Richmond City Council on housing safety, evictions and funding
Summary
During public comment, speakers urged the council to ensure accountability for developers using city property for housing, demanded inspections and remedies at Bacon Retirement Community, called for stronger whistleblower protections in city facilities, and urged funding of a $9 million family crisis fund.
Several residents and advocates used the public-comment period to press Richmond City Council on housing conditions, senior housing complaints and eviction prevention, asking the council to require accountability from private managers, fund emergency tenant assistance and follow up on code-enforcement complaints.
Jasmine Howell, a Richmond resident and daughter of a Bacon Retirement Community resident, told council that her father had been without heat and hot water for about a month and that residents faced repeated flooding, pests and unresolved repairs. Howell said a scheduled community meeting with property management was abruptly canceled after about 20 to 25 residents waited to speak, and that a resident was later found deceased in a unit after being there two days. “There is no proper protocol for tenants who make repair requests at Bacon Retirement Community,” Howell said, and she asked the council to order an inspection of the property.
Advocates and community organizers also pushed for broader interventions. Peter Finn, lead organizer for the African American chapter of New Virginia Majority, urged the council to prioritize a $9,000,000 family crisis fund to address evictions and housing instability, saying the city has seen “more than 1,500 evictions on the docket” this month and inviting council members to a city march and rally.
Alonzo Nicholson, a former city lead HVAC technician, described workplace resistance and alleged retaliation after he raised operational inefficiencies and environmental concerns in city facilities. Nicholson urged the council to investigate retaliation claims, strengthen whistleblower protections and adopt policies to protect employees who report environmental or operational hazards.
Tanya Fobbs, who said she grew up in the city, urged caution when transferring city property to private developers for affordable housing, asking how the city will ensure accountability and protect residents from neglect and displacement. “Are we just turning over city property to private developers who are then not held accountable?” she asked.
Council leaders said they would follow up. President Cynthia Newbill thanked speakers and said the items raised are priorities for council; staff were asked to share the status of code-enforcement inspections at Bacon Retirement Community and to continue meeting with community members. No formal council action or vote on these requests was recorded during the meeting.
Speakers urged specific remedies — inspections, stronger tenant protections and emergency funds — and council members directed staff to provide updates and continue engagement with residents and advocates.
