Economic Justice
By Kimberly R. Nario WTF is up with rising rents? In March of 2023, an affordable housing crisis was declared in Richmond. Paired with the fact that Richmond has the second-highest eviction rate in the country, to me it feels like something is rotten in the state of Virginia. Since 2020–you know, the year everything […]
Economic Justice
News
Where are the GOOD Leaders?
by shay bell With election season being here, it’s really got me thinking about leadership. What it means to be a leader, how to tell a real leader from ones who are just here for the benefits of being called a leader. Oh sure, the people in leadership positions like to PRETEND they’re leaders, but […]
News
Hip Hip Hooray!
by shay bell Shouting out three cheers to our partners at Service Employees International Union (SEIU) for their latest victory in D.C.! Unionized cleaners in the D.C. region (yes, Virginia too!), as well as Montgomery County, MD, recently settled a month-long negotiation with the Washington Service Contractors Association. This negotiation was made after an organized […]
News
Virginia Weighs Cash Aid
Earlier this year, the Richmond city government announced a direct-cash aid program for residents. Since then, it has shown wonderful results: those in need have been able to evade eviction, stave off rising living costs, and even pull themselves out of homelessness. The Family Crisis Fund follows in the footsteps of a program of the […]
Press Release
Virginia Electric Utility Regulation Act Passes Senate Commerce and Labor Committee
Richmond, Virginia—Members of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor passed SB1321, also known as the Virginia Electric Utility Regulation Act this afternoon. The bill, sponsored by Senator Jennifer McClellan, would help ensure that utility monopolies are not making too much profit at the expense of hardworking families in our community, and that’s something we can […]
Press Release
Republicans Vote to Lower Minimum Wage for Workers Under 18
Richmond, Virginia—Republican members of the House Commerce and Energy Subcommittee #1 voted today to pass HB1669, a bill that would lower the minimum wage to $9 an hour for any worker who is under the age of 18 years old. The bill, sponsored by Delegate Danny Marshall, unfairly discriminates against youth workers, and it is […]
Press Release
Hardworking Families Disappointed As Members of House Finance Subcommittee Reject Fully Refundable Earned Income Tax Credit
Richmond, Virginia—Hardworking families across the Commonwealth are disappointed as Republican members of the House Finance Subcommittee #1 rejected Delegate Marcia Price’s HB1312, a bill to make the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) fully refundable. The Earned Income Tax Credit is a targeted tax credit that low-wage Virginians can claim at tax time to reduce what they owe […]
Press Release
Workers Across the Commonwealth Celebrate As Democrats Protect Our Progress On Minimum Wage
Richmond, Virginia—Members of the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor voted today to block two bills that would have capped the minimum wage at $11 an hour. HB296 and HB320 both would have capped the minimum wage at just $11 an hour, though they went about it in slightly different ways. The minimum wage is currently set to raise […]
Press Release
Counsel at First Appearance Promises Pretrial Quality Representation for Everyone
Richmond, Virginia—In a pivotal step towards justice today, Virginia community members are relieved today after members of the Senate Judiciary Committee voted in favor of SB475 , Senator Jennifer McClellan’s bill requiring defendants to have access to a lawyer the very first time they appear before a judge. This move ensures that everyone, particularly people […]