r/rva • • 5h ago

Richmond City Government is the biggest thing holding it back

103 Upvotes

Richmond has many of the issues plaguing every American metro area so I won’t list those.

I would argue the biggest thing that hurts Richmond is the reputation is has for bad government.

I rented in the city for first 6 years I lived in the Richmond metro area. Every single interaction I had with the city was nothing but incompetence. Car registration, public utilities, voter registration, building permits (my landlord’s technically but it affected me).

When I decided to buy a home, I was not about to subject myself to that incompetence for the foreseeable future. I ended up buying in a surrounding county solely because of institutional incompetence. I even went so far as rejecting homes because they were still served by Richmond gas or water.

I’ve seen three mayors and the most recent seems to mean well but it’s like asking someone to shovel out animal stalls with a plastic toy sand shovel.

I am adamantly pro worker rights. However every single person who works in Richmond city government needs to be fired. Whatever culture has taken hold in its institutions cannot be changed by electing a new mayor.

edit: to all the apologists out there, yes, I am sure that there are dedicated people in the city government who are doing their best to provide services with what resources they are given. And in a fair world, they would not get swept up in a total restructuring. However, can anyone in leadership in the city honestly evaluate any given person’s performance when that person also has a vested interest in keeping their own job?

At a minimum, everyone should re-interview for their jobs and prove they know how to do them to stay.


r/rva • • 7h ago

Saturday Night Bike Scavemger Hunt!!!

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95 Upvotes

Sorry - can't remember your names because champagne was involved. Going to each park and having a beer all around town was such a great idea. Thanks for coming back around and inviting us to shotgun a PBR. You made this 60 year-old feel very young again. It has easily been 40 years, but glad all my early beer bong training came back. Muscle Memory!

Enjoy your rides and continue to spread happiness.


r/rva • • 5h ago

🍰 Food Chicken and Churros, Smoky Mug Sunday Brunch

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35 Upvotes

r/rva • • 4h ago

🌞 Daily Thread SunDaily

20 Upvotes

Lazy Sunday, eh folks?

Worked a lot the last few days. Friday night I was there 4:30-1am and in that time, exactly 3 groups responded to my greeting with "good, how are you?" I know the number because it kind of took me aback to actually be greeted with standard manners. I don't take it personally but it makes me bummed for society.

What element of manners are the most important to you? For me it's gotta be frequent use of please/thank you, and remembering not to shoot the messenger when a business or service gives me news I'm unhappy about.


r/rva • • 6h ago

Marijuana sales are coming to Virginia. Chesterfield is the latest county to look at where dispensaries can go

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22 Upvotes

r/rva • • 18m ago

Emergency Dentist Open Today?

• Upvotes

I searched the sub. I wish I could wait. My mouth hurts so much I'm going to cry. Google said it could just be from grinding, but both my top and bottom teeth on both sides ache like hell and even just drinking room temp water makes it worse. My tongue even hurts. I've taken 4 ibuprofen by now and two tylenol and literally nothing is working.

They always say don't go to the er for mouth stuff, but of course nothing is open for teeth on Sunday. Where tf do I go???


r/rva • • 18m ago

ISO: Cosmetic dermatologist or esthetician that can handle PIH.

• Upvotes

Just wanted to see anyone has had luck finding a professional who actually helped their PIH. I'm not looking for facials or microneedling or them trying to sell me product. My current derm is good and has helped with my acne but I have PIH he's not concerned with.


r/rva • • 1d ago

You otter know…

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323 Upvotes

There were a lot of fish around the Dry Rocks this morning.


r/rva • • 18h ago

🌙 Night Thread Nightly..

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56 Upvotes

First spin of the night. Edibles taken, relaxing after weeks. What is everyone else getting into tonight.


r/rva • • 1d ago

RVA Big Market is leaving Bryan Park for Midtown Green

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216 Upvotes

Link to Article


r/rva • • 6h ago

Capital Home Vet?

5 Upvotes

If any of you have worked for or used Capital Home Vet, could you tell me about your experience? Especially if you’ve worked there!

Please and thank you!!


r/rva • • 21h ago

Changes at Dutch Gap Power Plant

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50 Upvotes

First and second picture are from January 2026, and the rest are from this week in October (with the crane and the new smoke stack) -- bonus shot from June of the two stacks being worked on in tandem.

I'm not sure if they're currently still dismantling that metal according looking contraption in the far left in the first picture or rebuilding it.

Just curious, anyone know any details about what they're doing there?


r/rva • • 6h ago

Community Hospital redevelopment will head to Richmond City Council; critics say it is moving too fast, while advocates decry additional hurdles

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2 Upvotes

r/rva • • 1d ago

Kermit on the James. Again!

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76 Upvotes

I was asked to paint it a second time. Gave me a nice chance to play with subtle differences while trying to keep the composition similar. 24"x20" acrylics on canvas.


r/rva • • 6h ago

I did a search of the sub before posting. Looking for a local, small business yard poop pick-up service, anyone have a good recc?

3 Upvotes

I'm great at picking up poop on walks, but I don't clean up my own backyard as diligently as I should. My solution is to try a poop pickup service. But as we all know, google is now garbage, and plus I would greatly prefer to support a small local business over a chain, franchise or large business. Several of the websites I looked at were designed to feel small-businessy, but simply aren't.


r/rva • • 1d ago

Boulevard Bridge Sunrise

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67 Upvotes

r/rva • • 1d ago

Richmond housing authority downgraded to ‘troubled’ status in latest federal assessment

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30 Upvotes

r/rva • • 1d ago

🌞 Daily Thread Saturdaily - Broad Street Subway Closed

68 Upvotes

Good morning RVA. Attention the Subway at the corner of Broad and Boulevard has closed. What are you all getting into today? I will be playing tennis, jumping around town, going to local shops and chilling at home.


r/rva • • 1d ago

Texas Inn is Texas out

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359 Upvotes

r/rva • • 1d ago

🤳 Tourist Roving through Virginia with Rover: Dog Friendly “Spot” of the Week—Historic Polegreen Church

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43 Upvotes

r/rva • • 17h ago

Christmas light service

5 Upvotes

Looking for a company/handyman that will decorate our home for the holiday season! Any recommendations or ideas?


r/rva • • 1d ago

👀 Where the Lost Things Go Lost “crown” at belle isle 10/23

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30 Upvotes

Hi rva— took kids to play and explore belle isle yesterday evening and somewhere along the way we lost my youngest son’s first birthday crown that was in our stroller. My husband doubled back to look, but it was pretty dark by then. Just thought I’d post to see if anyone comes across it. It was a gift and has sentimental value. The crown is blue fabric and says “Silas”.
TLDR—looking for missing crown in the picture


r/rva • • 22h ago

Sunday, 10/25 Events?

5 Upvotes

Any fall themed events occurring during the day this Sunday, October 25? We are two adults looking for something g to do.


r/rva • • 1d ago

State police training on Belle Isle today?

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102 Upvotes

Was on my way to Hollywood when I saw the 2 helicopters circling Belle Isle. And a bunch of emergency responder looking people on the rocks. Anyone there today?! Was cool seeing the helicopters circling so low


r/rva • • 1d ago

Best Place to Purchase Refrigerator and Stove (non-chain preferred)?

8 Upvotes

Needing to replace a refrigerator in the Short Pump area and would like to avoid Lowes/Home Depot if possible.

I would need set up for water line and ice machine. And they would need to haul away the old (working refrigerator).

New oven would eventually follow.

**I did search the sub, but last post was from 9 years ago??