Thread by @RVAdirt

I haven’t dug into the details yet but I am so grateful that #RVACouncil found compromise at some level and were able to reach an agreement on a budget that prioritized funding for @RPS_Schools and a number of other key initiatives. Thank you for finding a path forward. (1/?) 🧜🏻‍♀️

I know it wasn’t easy but I really appreciate that at the end of the day #RVACouncil pulled together and found a middle ground that maintained funding for several priorities. It ain’t perfect but neither was #RVAMayor’s proposal. (2/?) 🧜🏻‍♀️

Governance is all a work in progress and the more we can worth together to productively negotiate a path forward, the better off Richmond will be. Dropping political motives to be upfront, proactive, and honest will go a long way to help make collaboration possible. (3/?) 🧜🏻‍♀️

When #RVAMayor, #RVACouncil, and #RPSBoard work together.... we all win in Richmond. No matter who is in charge, I want the people in those positions to do their best job leading because all of those branches of government succeeding means Richmond is winning. (4/?) 🧜🏻‍♀️

To implement any plan (and in Richmond, we got hella plans!!!), we all need to work together. That doesn’t mean we have to agree all the time in every way. We have to collaborate for better solutions and compromise when we must to move forward. (5/?) 🧜🏻‍♀️

It had it’s bumps along the way but from beginning to (rapidly approaching the) end, it has been a remarkable budget season. First, #RVAMayor @LevarStoney took up an admirable task of proposing a landmark budget that began to right years of historic wrongs and inequity. (6/?) 🧜🏻‍♀️

Then, the budget went to #RVACouncil and while things got pretty tense and ugly at times, they prevailed for the greater good of Richmond by coming to some form of a compromise. I’m sure I’ll have criticism but that’s what a compromise is: not everyone will be happy. (6/?) 🧜🏻‍♀️

I haven’t listened to the session today and while I’m sure it’s messy and imperfect, right now I just want to thank #RVACouncil for hearing the people’s call for leadership and rising to the occasion by finding consensus that funds the city’s most important priorities. (7/?) 🧜🏻‍♀️

All in all, I hope that we can all agree there is major room for improvements all around BUT there are some major wins here. Somehow, after all that fighting... we need to come together and still work together. That’s what it’s going to take for Richmond to win. (8/?) 🧜🏻‍♀️

I would like to ask that #RVAMayor, #RVACouncil, and #RPSBoard come together and have a recorded public discussion after this budget passes to identify EXACTLY what needs to happen to ensure we do not end up in the same debate next year that we do every year. (9/?) 🧜🏻‍♀️

Further, I would like them to discuss next steps, action items, and expectations from this point forward. I feel like there has been a lot that has happened here and people could use a good level set check in with all of y’all together publicly at this point. (10/?) 🧜🏻‍♀️

That all being said... as we come to the closing days of yet another budget season, there is one HUGE THANK YOU that I saved for last: the Richmond city employees who worked on all sides of this budget.

Seriously. Y’all. Are. The. Rock. Stars. (11/?) 🧜🏻‍♀️

Whether you’re part of the city administration, city council staff, RPS staff, or any number of countless departments that get involved in this MASSIVE undertaking of a project... THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU. This wouldn’t happen without you. (12/?) 🧜🏻‍♀️

My heart really goes out to y’all for the challenging and at times hostile work environment you are operating every day but especially during budget season. Thank you for the extreme grace with with you all handle the personalities we elected to lead out city. (13/?) 🧜🏻‍♀️

Anywho. Budget season isn’t totally over. With more to come, that was a pretty treacherous crossroads we just got through.

Looking forward to how #RVACouncil and #RVAMayor close this season out! (14/14) 🧜🏻‍♀️

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