Broken Cities Like Richmond Tear Down Statues Instead Of Fixing Potholes
America’s cities are crumbling, plagued by rampant crime and a lack of protection for law-abiding citizens. As Common Sense Society fellow Douglas Murray emphasizes, it seems that politicians are more interested in defending the wrongdoers than the victims. In Virginia’s capital city, Richmond, the situation is dire. Violent crime rates are soaring, and that’s just one of the city’s many concerns. Richmond is trapped in a perpetual state of decay, with ineffective leadership and radical factions within the population using the levers of municipal government to push their extreme agendas.
My journey into Richmond’s city government began in early 2018 when I took on the role of first district liaison for Councilman Andreas Addison. Coming from a background in the British Parliament, I was excited to be part of one of the most historically significant cities in the United States. However, my illusions about Richmond were shattered within weeks.
Before I reveal the details, let me acknowledge that there are many dedicated individuals within Richmond’s city government who work tirelessly to provide services despite the limitations they face. Additionally, grassroots organizations like The Virginia Council are emerging to defend the city’s history and future. However, the overall state of Richmond’s government is nothing short of a farce.
Ineffective City Councils
City Council meetings are a prime example of this dysfunction. Many council members seem more interested in hearing themselves speak than understanding the challenges faced by taxpayers. They revel in endless debates on cultural issues, discouraging citizen participation while attracting radical activists who push their own agendas. Some council members, like then-Vice President Cynthia Newbille, try to rein in these tendencies, but the majority often goes along with the chaos.
As a council liaison, I was the first point of contact for any issues brought to my councilman’s office. This often involved spending countless hours communicating with residents about infrastructure failures. Anyone familiar with Richmond knows that the city’s roads are in a deplorable state. When repairs are finally attempted, crews often make mistakes that lead to flooding or neglect their responsibility for public property.
My councilman’s office tried to maintain a cordial relationship with the mayor’s office and other departments, but this fear of offending resulted in a failure to address constituents’ needs effectively. This lack of assertiveness has come at a high cost for the citizens of Richmond.
Prioritizing Activists Over Taxpayers
The excuse of insufficient funds is often used to justify the city’s failure to address infrastructure issues promptly. Yet, Richmond aggressively collects taxes from its residents. Many have experienced mistreatment when dealing with the city’s revenue department, facing collections notices even after moving out of state. The city officials consistently ignore pleas for essential services, such as clearing snow-covered streets or investigating reports of gunfire near residential areas. It’s worth noting that Richmond operates with a budget of $2.7 billion, while Boise, Idaho, with more residents, manages with $661.8 million.
While claiming a lack of resources for essential functions, the city government quickly responds to matters related to history and culture by capitulating to radical leftists.
Radical activists have infiltrated Richmond and are exploiting the city government to advance their goals. They slander the city’s history, deface statues, and vandalize public art, all with the support of certain City Council members. Even today, political violence persists in Richmond, as seen when Antifa targeted a conference organized by The Virginia Council and Common Sense Society. The threats forced venue changes and cancellation, highlighting the city’s inability to ensure safety.
Destroying History, Neglecting Responsibilities
Back in 2019, my office noticed the growing radical agenda and attempted to appease the most extreme constituents. We explored the history and legislation surrounding Jefferson Davis Highway’s name, considering its removal due to its association with individuals deemed “problematic” by contemporary standards. Little did we know that this was just the beginning.
Other council members began pushing for the removal of the Jefferson Davis statue on Monument Avenue. I expressed my disagreement, suggesting that instead of tearing down, we should build new monuments to represent underrepresented groups. However, my council member dismissed the idea as impractical.
As the radical agenda gained momentum within the city government, I voiced my concerns to the mayor’s office. I argued that altering the monuments would only deepen racial divisions and presented evidence from primary sources to support my stance. To my surprise, one of the mayor’s staffers reacted with shock, implying that my commitment to historic preservation was somehow objectionable.
These experiences became all too common. In one incident, when I jokingly mentioned wanting to visit Hollywood Cemetery before it was destroyed by the mob, a council liaison accused me of being a Trump supporter and blamed me for the country’s problems.
Faced with the city’s ongoing negligence and failure to fulfill its basic duties, I made the difficult decision to resign from my position. I could no longer be complicit in the charade that passed for city government. My only regret is that I left before the wave of iconoclastic destruction in 2020, as my resignation could have drawn more attention to these issues.
The municipal government in Richmond is failing its people. It neglects essential functions such as public infrastructure, responsible spending, and public safety. Instead, the mayor and council seem determined to erase the city’s history and transform it into a Californian replica.
Richmond has the potential to be the capital and cultural center of the American South once again. However, the heart of Virginia is bleeding. The city’s leaders must be held accountable for their mismanagement, which is destroying Virginia’s history, culture, and uniqueness. Virginians must continue to raise their voices within and outside of formal government institutions, taking inspiration from groups like The Virginia Council, who bravely defend the state’s traditions and promote true prosperity despite attempts by local Antifa elements to silence them. If Virginians lead, America will follow.
What role does the preservation of historical monuments play in protecting a city’s heritage?
And erase an important part of Richmond’s history. But my concerns fell on deaf ears as the mayor’s office appeared more interested in appeasing the activists than in preserving our city’s heritage.
Since then, the destruction of historical monuments has become a regular occurrence in Richmond. The city government has allowed mobs to tear down statues without consequence, ignoring the fact that these monuments hold cultural and historical significance for many residents. By prioritizing the demands of a small group of activists, the city government is neglecting its responsibility to protect and preserve our heritage.
Conclusion
Richmond’s city government is failing its residents. The rampant crime, decaying infrastructure, and disregard for our history and heritage are all symptoms of a broken system. The radical factions within the government are using their positions to push their agendas, while the majority of council members lack the courage to stand up for the rights and needs of taxpayers.
If Richmond is to thrive once again, it needs new leadership that is committed to the safety and well-being of its citizens. We need representatives who prioritize the needs of the community over the demands of activists. And we need a government that is transparent, accountable, and responsive to the concerns of the people.
It is my hope that by shedding light on the dysfunction within Richmond’s city government, we can inspire change
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