It was ambitious to think this would only take an hour.
Mayor Levar Stoney held the first of his summer office hours on Tuesday night, where topics ranged from schools and public safety to infrastructure and solar panels.
The 6:30 p.m. session at Humphrey Calder Community Center pushed up against 8 p.m., and the mayor and city staff members stuck around afterwards to answer more questions. Of the around 65 people in attendance, nearly 20 were city administrators and elected officials, on hand to offer more detailed reports and plans.
Scott Firestine, the Richmond Public Library director, gave an update on the West End Library renovations and the library’s new mascot. (It’s an otter.) Bobby Vincent of the department of public works answered questions on tree box code enforcement and explained curb bump-outs. Economic and Community Development Director Lee Downey couldn’t get a babysitter, and his kids lingered in the hallways so that he could be there.
First District Councilman Andreas Addison and school board member Liz Doerr helped the mayor defend the education compact, which has rankled some education advocates of late.
“I came for homework,” the mayor said at one point — right before a man stood up and held court for several minutes on various topics. He had handouts, but no questions.
There are eight more chances to squeeze the most face time you can out of the mayor this summer. All are, theoretically, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Thursday, June 8
3rd District
Pine Camp Arts and Community Center
4901 Old Brook Road
Tuesday, June 13
2nd District
Bon Secours Training Facility
2401 West Leigh Street
Tuesday, June 20
4th District
Westover Community Center
1301 Jahnke Road
Thursday, June 22
7th District
Powhatan Community Center
5051 Northampton St.
Wednesday, June 28
5th District
Randolph Community Center
1415 Grayland Ave.
Tuesday, July 11
8th District
Hickory Hill Community Center
3000 E. Belt Blvd.
Monday, July 17
6th District
Hotchkiss Community Center
701 E. Brookland Park Blvd.
Tuesday, July 18
9th District
Broad Rock Library
4820 Old Warwick Road
