Mayor Avula bets on inspiration-first State of the City
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Mayor Avula's State of the City was the first one held at a community center, per city officials. Photo: Sabrina Moreno/Axios
In an unusual change from past administrations, Mayor Danny Avula spent his State of the City passing the mic to local leaders instead of giving a traditional speech.
Why it matters: The format showed his administration is betting on an inspiration-first governing style built around storytelling and community voices.
- It's unclear whether it'll resonate with residents navigating rising housing and utility costs, pedestrian deaths, and immigration crackdowns.
State of play: At Wednesday's State of the City — Avula's first after last year's water crisis cancellation — the mayor moderated panel-style conversations on housing, economic development and how Richmond's future is framed through its past.
- Housing advocates warned about displacement and homelessness while championing the controversial zoning overhaul, Code Refresh, as a tool to ease the housing crisis.
- Economic development officials touted as long-term financial wins the Diamond District, Allianz Amphitheater and downtown investments from CoStar, which laid off hundreds in the past year.
- Avula highlighted a 12% drop in violent crime since last year, $121 million invested in affordable housing over five years, and a growing population now at about 245,000.
Zoom in: Outside of the panels, Virginia Union University's Gospel Choir also sang, WWBT meteorologist Andrew Freiden bantered with the mayor and Flying Squirrels mascots Nutzy and Nutasha danced to "Uptown Funk."
- Avula later told reporters he expects an update in 30 to 60 days on funding for the Coliseum demolition, which he hopes to complete by the end of the year.
What they're saying: At Southside Community Center, Avula said he hopes residents feel "a profound sense of pride in what's happening in Richmond."
- And he told reporters that the format was designed to give Richmonders a chance "to know about people who are doing work on behalf of them in their city."
Yes, but: It can be difficult to sell civic pride to residents who feel basic city services — the benchmark Avula has said he wants to be judged on — are still failing.
- In a Reddit Ask Me Anything with the mayor earlier this month, hundreds of commenters complained about missed trash pickups, botched water bills, ignored 311 requests and deadly crosswalks.
- In response to his State of the City, other online commenters said they didn't want a "city pep rally" in the wake of surveillance camera concerns, skyrocketing housing and the February mass shooting in Shockoe.
What we're watching: Whether the inspiration-first mayor can close the gap between the city he described Wednesday night and the one residents say they're living in.