The questions below were sent to each candidate competing in the race for City Council.
Kenya Gibson
What does your district need most right now — and how will you help?
Long time residents of the district are getting displaced. The Northside desperately needs low cost housing options, just like every district does. As a city, we need to reset our approach on housing to center stability and form a broad coalition that demands more funds from the state and federal government to do so. (c.f. A later question for more detail.)
How will you engage your constituents on policy issues?
I have brought together a broad coalition of community groups and labor organizations during my work on the school board. A single council member cannot transform the city alone. Community advocates are key to ensure that an elected body's work is highly publicized and is subject to democratic scrutiny and incorporates the voices of residents. I think the best way to get people involved is to organize local voices and get them in turn to organize with their community. In addition to regular district meetings with the next school board representative, I think we need to ensure that we have mechanisms and forums outside of formal council meetings for feedback.
What's your top citywide priority?
My top priority is ensuring transparency and accountability in city government. Recent investigations by Richmond journalists have uncovered violations of Virginia’s Freedom of Information laws by the Mayor’s administration, including withholding and delays in the release of public information. This undermines public trust in City Hall. It has been revealed that public officials have been spending public funds improperly on themselves and have been giving jobs to friends and family.
To restore confidence, I propose auditing the public disclosure process and establishing a public check registry. I aim to overturn recent restrictions on public comment at council meetings which depress residents' opportunity for public engagement. I will also push to use Council’s power to provide direct oversight of departments—in particular to end nepotism—and to subpoena documents and testimonies from the administration.
Withholding public information and limits on free speech are symptoms of a deeper issue: our city governance lacks transparency and democratic principles. Rebuilding democratic infrastructure and fostering trust must be our first steps. A functional city requires residents to have access to and the ability to scrutinize information they are entitled to receive.
Public officials will only take our interests to heart when they are subject to democratic scrutiny, but at this moment, elected leaders don’t feel like they have to tell us anything. We will be better equipped to demand the change that we want when we have all of the information.
How can you help restore trust in the city and its services?
Property tax collections are projected to be 40% larger than 2021. City workers work exceptionally hard, yet services aren't functional. Departments are understaffed and our workers aren’t seeing wages rise at the pace of inflation. All the while, we have a city administration that can’t account for money, that has had issues with nepotism, that doesn’t know how much meals tax to collect, the list goes on. We are wasting the limited resources we have.
We need fully funded public services. We trust government when it works.
What steps can council take to ensure more affordable housing — not just publicly subsidized housing — is accessible to residents?
Regulations for landlords and oversight of rental properties in Virginia are extremely lax. Tenants can be evicted with little notice and in the middle of leases without cause. The core issue is that corporate developers have nearly unlimited capital to scoop up the lowest cost housing and flip it for profit. In smaller cities like Richmond, there is almost unlimited demand as folks from more expensive cities, who were themselves priced out from their communities, move here. It’s driving up costs for everyone, either through their property taxes or rent.
It is not a surprise that in Richmond where we have highly racialized poverty that we have lost six thousand (6,000) Black residents since 2010 while the city as a whole grows. Low-income Black residents are being displaced from neighborhoods their families have lived in for generations. Black Richmonders have faced the brunt of explicitly racist housing policies that stole their wealth. And, since that wealth was taken, they don’t have the ability to participate in today’s housing market which does not consider this history.
I grew up in Newton, Massachusetts—a wealthy suburb of Boston, and I was fortunate to attend an extremely well-resourced school system because my parents were able to rent a subsidized unit in a mixed-income development. These cross-class developments were the only reason Newton had any racial diversity at all. I had access to resources because of housing regulations and subsidies, not in spite of them.
We must come from a place of creating stability today. Everyone has a right to housing and to live in their community of choice. Housing instability is a public health crisis. Adults are more likely to develop mental distress and trauma and come into contact with the criminal justice system, and students are less likely to succeed academically if they are experiencing eviction or don’t have a home.
We need to amend the city’s definition of affordability. The 2018 council-adopted HUD definitions do not suit Richmond residents, as the area median income is much higher than Richmond’s median income. This discrepancy allows developers to receive public subsidies for what is essentially market-rate housing. Additionally, any redevelopment of traditional public housing must ensure one-to-one replacement of physical units. The current strategy reduces the number of affordable units in the city, displaces residents, and puts those limited units into the hands of for-profit corporations. I likewise will only vote for appointees to the RRHA who will commit to one-to-one physical unit replacement of like kind for any units lost during demolition.
We need to establish a rental inspection district so that slumlords cannot abuse residents and force people to live in substandard housing. This is a particular concern for undocumented residents in the city who typically don’t have access to a wide array of housing options and are targets for exploitation.
We need to fund eviction diversion programs, in particular a local rent subsidy program with very few barriers that goes directly to low and moderate income renters to aid with rising costs. Renters must be entitled with a right to counsel during eviction proceedings. Every resident under the threat of displacement must have access to free legal services. We know that evictions plummet when residents have access to a lawyer.
Lastly, we need to work together and form a broad coalition to demand further local authority from our state government and eliminate the Dillon Rule. At minimum, we need authority to expand tax rebates for low income homeowners and for inclusionary zoning, rent stabilization, and vacancy taxes. I want to work side-by-side with residents across the city to pressure the state government so that we have the tools we need to guarantee a home for all residents.
What's your perspective on term limits for council representatives?
I think the fundamental issue with government in this country is our system of campaign finance. Term limits themselves won’t fix our problems. Politicians tilt the scales to ensure that donors get contracts and can trade stocks using non-public information. Virginia has some of the most lax campaign finance laws in the country. We have no contribution limits and politicians can easily cover personal expenses from their campaign accounts. It amounts to legal bribery. In 2023, congress expelled Representative George Santos because of misuse of campaign funds; everything he did is legal in Virginia. Our system of campaign finance incentivizes politicians to be responsive to donors, instead of the residents they represent. Corrupt politicians are difficult to get out of office because corporations are able to bankroll them and outspend any community based opposition. And when they choose to retire, another corporate backed politician will try to take their place.
Ann-Frances Lambert
What does your district need most right now — and how will you help?
The 3rd District's most pressing need right now is more affordable housing options that support the average citizen in Northside, without penalizing long-term homeowners. Residents want to see some type of relief after we have endured a global pandemic, George Floyd and the riots that ensued, the removal of the confederate monuments, inflation of goods, to name a few. How I can help is to continue to have conversations that produce results like co-patron a $0.04 tax relief proposal with my fellow Council colleague Reva Trammel, to provide some type of support to homeowners not only in the 3rd District, but the entire city. The 3rd district also needs more police officers to patrol hot spots and areas with illicit activities that breeds crime. Speeding and speed bump requests are top areas of concern for citizens so we need funding for our growing infrastructure needs.
Additionally, I am committed to supporting economic development projects that generate revenue for the city like the Diamond District which sits adjacent to the 3rd district. I was part of the evaluation team that reviewed the proposals for the project. There was intentional collaboration in making sure the Diamond Neighborhood project included an amazing community benefits package ensuring local union jobs, 40% MBE participation, housing at 60% and 80% AMI, the investment would be equitable. The city had not passed any projects within the last 10 years. The 3rd district deserves a representative that is responsive and will continue to show up for the community. Remember to Vote Lambert!
How will you engage your constituents on policy issues?
I will continue to produce an informative newsletter that is packed with resourceful information for the community. I have met with the civic association leaders and proposed to create the 3rd District Advisory Council comprised of all the civic association leaders, meeting on a quarterly basis to discuss neighborhood concerns. I will also continue to show up for Team Northside's civic associations and provide updates on Council related papers. I will continue to host at least 2 town hall conversations about hot topics within the district ( i.e. Fall Line Trail, Laburnum Intersection Project). I will continue to be responsive to your emails, questions, and RVA311 requests that need escalation and proper resolutions. Team Northside knows that I have delivered for them during my first term, and I ask for your vote and support for another 4 years. #VoteLambert.
What's your top citywide priority?
Providing some type of tax relief to our citizens especially our seasoned seniors when it comes to property owners with high assessments. The reality is we need funding for the state Mandated project called Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO). This is a budget priority for the city and as the incumbent, I have the most experience when it comes to advocating for funding for CSO.
How can you help restore trust in the city and its services?
I will continue to listen to those who want to be engaged. I will continue to educate citizens on the process and how City Hall works. As a former Council Liaison, I understand what the citizen's needs are and how to accomplish the ask. The 3rd District knows that I can get things done in City Hall,I’m a solution oriented councilwoman, and all it takes is having a conversation with me. #VoteLambert
What steps can council take to ensure more affordable housing — not just publicly subsidized housing — is accessible to residents?
Streamline Permitting for Small-Scale and Infill Development. I will direct whoever will be our new Mayor for the City of Richmond look at all City parcels and consider areas where we can put a tiny homes and provide the necessary wrap around services to ensure clean and safe mixed income communities.
What's your perspective on term limits for council representatives?
I would be willing to support a study on the matter.
Maria Carra Rose
What does your district need most right now — and how will you help?
I am hearing from across the district very similar concerns; Safety, Affordable Housing & Commitment to Schools & funding. The 3rd wants someone who is committed to showing up and talking with the community about how to solve for these issues. So I will help by setting up times for community & stakeholder engagement, hosting regular meetings and town halls, allowing time for truly hearing what people have concerns around and thoughts on solutions.
How will you engage your constituents on policy issues?
I intend to be very engaged with my constituents – hosting regular meetings and town halls, sending newsletters, and having scheduled office hours around the district where folks can come and ask questions or discuss. I also plan to attend other meetings held in my district from School Board member or mayor meetings to organizational meetings to be available to provide information or respond to questions. Communication is key, in my opinion.
What's your top citywide priority?
Affordable housing needs to be our top priority. All Richmonders deserve safe and decent housing.
A close second is that we must invest in our public schools so every child, regardless of skin color or zip code, has the opportunity to succeed.
How can you help restore trust in the city and its services?
I will work to restore trust by communicating frequently, by hosting meetings and by answering questions. I will encourage whoever is the mayor to do the same. If people want information from me or information I can get, they should ask. They will not need an extended FOIA process.
If folks are struggling in their interactions with City Hall, call me and I will intervene on their behalf and try to resolve any problems.
What steps can council take to ensure more affordable housing — not just publicly subsidized housing — is accessible to residents?
We need to have more creative zoning that allows for affordable housing. We need an expedited permitting process. Now, all too often, the approval process is so slow and complicated that projects fall by the wayside.
We should consider incentivizing developers to build affordable housing by offering rebates that can only then be plowed back into another affordable housing project.
What's your perspective on term limits for council representatives?
I’m fine with that. If that’s what my constituents want, I’m happy to follow their lead.
