On Tuesday, November 10, the City of Richmond hosted a special Veterans Appreciation Coffee and Communication gathering. Participants connected and heard from Human Resources Director Trinija Martin, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Operations Al Wiggins, and Mayor Danny Avula. Director Martin and DCAO Wiggins' remarks as prepared can be found below. 

Trinija Martin, Director of Human Resources

Good morning, everyone, and happy Veterans Day! 

Before we begin today's celebration, I ask that you rise for the posting of the colors, presented by the Richmond Police Department honor guard.

It is truly an honor and a privilege to stand before you today, not only as the Director of Human Resources for the City of Richmond, but also as a proud veteran of the United States Army.

I have to tell you, there’s something special about being in a room filled with individuals who understand what it means to serve something greater than themselves.

Veterans Day is more than a date on the calendar. It is more than a federal holiday, a ceremony, or a moment of recognition.

It’s a reminder that the freedoms we enjoy every day have been protected by ordinary men and women who made extraordinary commitments. Men and women who raised their right hands and took an oath to support and defend the constitution of the United States.

I know that commitment personally. As a United States Army veteran, I understand that military service is not simply something you do. It becomes part of who you are.

The army taught me discipline, resilience, accountability, courage, and the importance of teamwork. One of the greatest lessons it taught me was that leadership is not about rank or title. Leadership is about service, responsibility, and taking care of people.

Those lessons have followed me throughout my life and continue to shape how I lead today.

As we celebrate Veterans Day in the city of Richmond, I'm especially proud of the veterans who continue their commitment to service through careers in local government. You are living examples of what it means to carry the spirit of service beyond the military.

You have exchanged one form of public service for another, and our city and our communities are stronger because of it.

As we begin today's celebration, let us do so with gratitude in our hearts, pride in our nation, and renewed appreciation for the men and women who have worn the uniform.

From one veteran to another it is an honor to stand among you. Happy veteran's day and may God bless our veterans our military families the city of Richmond and the United States of America

It is now my distinct pleasure to introduce a leader who understands the importance of service, community, and our freedoms. Please join me in welcoming the Mayor of the City of Richmond, Dr. Danny Avula.

Al Wiggins, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Operations

Thank you, Mayor Avula, Director Martin, and our Richmond Police Department Color Guard for helping make this morning special.

With everything going on in the world, we are reminded of the dedication of those who answer the call to serve, often far from home and family. Today, we thank our veterans and recognize the families whose support makes that service possible.

I deeply value my eight years in the United States Air Force. It taught me discipline, accountability, and how to work with people from different backgrounds toward a shared goal. Those lessons have helped me in every workplace since. I often say that if the Air Force were a nonprofit, I would send them a check every month. That is how much that experience means to me.

Our veterans bring those same strengths into our workplaces and communities every day. To each of you: thank you for your service and for everything you continue to contribute.

Let’s carry that spirit into how we support one another, share what we know, and help each other succeed. That is how we build a stronger team and better serve Richmond.

Please stay, enjoy the refreshments, thank a veteran, and connect with someone you don’t know. Thank you for being here and for all you do.

Richmond, VA — Mayor Danny Avula shared the following statements following City Council's Informal Meeting and City Council Meeting. 

Informal Meeting: A Framework for Fiscal Health Presentation   

"As I've shared before, we are entering a more constrained fiscal environment, and keeping our commitments to increased school construction funding and tax relief will require thoughtful planning, difficult decisions, and continued collaboration with City Council. We need to take on some short-term measures today to protect Richmond’s long-term financial health. That means carefully managing spending, identifying efficiencies, and making strategic adjustments while protecting core services and continuing to invest in the priorities that matter most to our residents. I’m confident that by working together and making responsible decisions now, we can navigate these challenges and continue building a thriving Richmond.” 

ORD. 2026-297   

"We share Council’s commitment to supporting RRS retirees from the impacts of inflation. That is why we recommended that Council continue the ordinance’s consideration and fully evaluate the proposal’s goals, fiscal implications, and potential impacts, and do the thoughtful planning it deserves. Council chose to move forward without that analysis, potentially committing the City to an additional $5.2 million in annual contributions and up to $20 million in total liability. Decisions with significant, long-term financial impacts deserve thoughtful discussion and a clear understanding of the trade-offs involved. We owe that level of diligence to our retirees, our taxpayers, and all Richmond residents."

ORD. 2026-302 

“This is good stuff! I’m pleased this measure was approved, and grateful to Councilmember Lynch and our partners on City Council for their collaboration. This will strengthen one of our affordable housing tools to keep more Richmonders in their homes. This is exactly the kind of work we promised to do, and I’m glad we will soon deliver on it.”

ORD. 2026-298  

“This is wonderful news! I'm grateful to Councilmember Robertson, Manchester residents, advocates, and all of the partners for their dedication to this effort. This project is a great example of what’s possible when the public and private sectors work toward a shared goal: creating new opportunities for walking and biking, improving connectivity, and building the kind of livability we want to see in Manchester. I cannot wait to see Richmonders enjoying this urban trail for years to come!"

Local governments and homeless service providers across the Greater Richmond region are coordinating winter shelter operations for the 2026–2027 season to help protect individuals experiencing homelessness during cold weather. The regional response includes seasonal overnight shelter, additional surge capacity, warming centers during extreme cold weather, and emergency response for unhoused and at-risk families with minor children.

The winter shelter response is supported through partnerships among the City of Richmond, Henrico County, Chesterfield County, Hanover County, Homeward, The Salvation Army, CARITAS, GRTC and other regional homeless service providers. New this season, CARITAS will operate the extreme winter weather warming centers funded by the City of Richmond, strengthening coordination across the regional homeless services network.

Winter Shelter Operations

The regional winter shelter response includes three components for single adults:

• Inclement Weather Shelter (IWS): Operated by The Salvation Army at 1900 Chamberlayne Avenue. The shelter will operate November 15, 2026, through April 15, 2027, from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily, accommodating up to 106 single adults. Any single adult seeking walk-up shelter should report to Salvation Army first, regardless of Surge Shelter activation. Transportation to Surge Shelter will be available if IWS is at capacity.

• Surge Shelter: Operated by CARITAS, the Surge will accommodate up to 70 individuals and will operate December 1, 2026, through March 31, 2027, from 5pm-8am when activated. Surge capacity may be activated when IWS occupancy reaches 85 percent and temperatures are 40°F or below for two consecutive hours.

• Overnight Extreme Winter Weather Warming Center: Operated by CARITAS, the warming center will activate when the IWS and Surge shelters have reached capacity and overnight temperatures are forecasted to reach 20°F or below for two or more consecutive hours, or when other life-safety hazards warrant activation. The warming center at Marshall Plaza will accommodate up to 60 individuals and operates from 5 p.m. to 8 a.m.

Operating hours for all three shelter programs may be extended as needed based on weather conditions, community needs, and public safety considerations, including 24-hour operations when warranted.

Shelter Access for Families

Families at risk of sleeping outside in Richmond should visit the Community Resource and Training Center (CRTC) at 1900 Chamberlayne Avenue, Richmond, VA 23222, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

After 5 p.m. or on weekends or holidays, families should report to The Salvation Army at the same address, where staff will coordinate with the City of Richmond's Office of Homeless Services to assess needs and identify available resources, including temporary emergency placement.

Public Notifications and Transportation

Surge shelter and warming center activations, as well as extended operating hours for all shelter programs, will be announced through Richmond Ready Alerts and RVA311, including locations, operating hours, and access instructions.

To sign up for Richmond Ready Alerts follow this registration link. Once registered, select “Homeless Shelter Operations” as an alert subscription type you would like to receive.

The Salvation Army Inclement Weather Shelter is accessible by GRTC Route 1. Residents can visit ridegrtc.com for transportation information.

For additional information about winter shelter operations and available resources, visit the Office of Homeless Services webpage.

10-year designation to incentivize targeted investments across the City  

Richmond, VA  — The City of Richmond is proud to announce that the U.S. Department of Treasury has approved the designation of eight new “Opportunity Zones” in the City, providing an important vehicle to attract private investment to revitalize and reinvigorate communities throughout Richmond.

First created in 2017, the Opportunity Zone program is an economic development tool meant to spur economic growth, encourage investment, and uplift communities by providing tax incentives to investors. In 2025, the program was made permanent by establishing a recurring program framework in which, every 10 years, new census tracts will be eligible for Opportunity Zones designation. 

Earlier this year, the City of Richmond submitted its priority investment areas to the Commonwealth and, with support and advocacy from the City’s state delegation, Governor Abigail Spanberger nominated eight Census Tracts for Opportunity Zone designation to the U.S. Department of Treasury. 

“We are thrilled with the outcomes from the 2026-2037 Opportunity Zone designation,” said Mayor Danny Avula . “To meaningfully strengthen our communities, we need to find ways to encourage investment. Federal tax incentives like the Opportunity Zone program, when applied to priority reinvestment areas such as Gilpin Court, Monroe Ward, Southside, and others, can spur important economic and community development that is sure to last far beyond the program years.” 

A map of the 2026-2037 Virginia Opportunity Zones can be found on the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development website . City of Richmond Designations include areas around Monroe Ward, Gilpin Court, Southside Plaza, Hioaks, Virginia Union University, and more. 

“There are so many partners to thank for making this possible,” said Richmond Director of Housing and Community Development Merrick Malone . “From local leaders and advocacy groups to local and state legislators, there are no shortage of smart, talented Richmonders doing the hard work necessary to attract investment and encourage thoughtful growth in priority areas.” 

Click here to learn more about the City of Richmond Opportunity Zones. 

On Tuesday, Richmond overwhelmingly voted Yes 4 RPS. It’s been incredibly inspiring to witness such deep belief in the promise of Richmond’s future from every corner of our city.

More than 67% of our neighbors voted to authorize a dedicated 1% local sales tax for school construction. This will create a steady funding source expected to generate nearly $47 million every year for school construction. Over time, that revenue can support as much as $850 million in investments, helping to break the cycle of generation after generation of students learning in aging and outdated facilities.

As I said in July when I announced my plan, I am committed to accelerating school construction while also providing targeted tax relief.

Next Steps

1. I will introduce legislation in partnership with City Council leadership to increase the sales tax rate by 1% and reduce the meals tax rate from 7.5% to 6.5%. The new sales tax rate can take effect no sooner than the first day of a month at least 120 days after ordinance passes. Council and Administrative leadership have already initiated that process, and we’ll have a timeline for the legislation soon.

2. I will introduce a budget in March based on a real estate tax rate of $1.19 instead of the current $1.20.

    

Keeping these commitments to increased funding for school construction and tax relief will require thoughtful planning with our partners on City Council. We will need to make some short-term sacrifices this fiscal year and continue carefully managing our spending.

I want to reiterate my commitment to ensure that your tax dollars are stewarded well and invested thoughtfully. I have attended several of RPS’s community meetings for their Facilities Modernization Plan, and am encouraged by their thoughtful work to ensure that our residents’ voices are shaping facility priorities.

I will continue to follow the process closely, and I have asked that their final plan consider all options for maximizing the impact of every dollar. 

Our shared goal must be to use these resources wisely so that as many current and future RPS students as possible have access to modern school buildings as quickly as possible.

That is our obligation to the next generation, and it is the vision that will guide my administration as we help shape the path forward.