For 25 years city leaders of every political persuasion decried conditions at the City Jail but never did anything. This inaction was in spite of a general consensus that these conditions amounted to human-rights violations. So I take issue with Scott Bass, who not once but twice, described the mayor’s first three years as “lackluster”. In my book, when an elected official does the right thing on a vital — but politically risky — issue, he isn’t lackluster. He’s an effective leader.

Alexander Macaulay
Richmond