Thursday!

☀️ Today's weather: Sunny, with a high of 84 and a low of 56.

🎧 Sounds like: "Gimme Some Truth" by John Lennon.

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Today’s newsletter is 1,077 words — a 4-minute read.

Richmond is considering a temporary hiring freeze as slowing revenue growth threatens to push City Hall into the red and complicate Mayor Avula's plans to cut taxes.

Why it matters: City leaders are heading into the next budget cycle potentially forced to make tougher choices on taxes, employee raises and services.

By the numbers: A new five-year forecast presented to City Council this week projects a $17.3 million deficit in fiscal 2028 if Richmond keeps its real estate tax rate unchanged.

• Cutting the rate by one cent — as Avula has proposed — would widen the gap to nearly $22 million.
• A four-cent cut, per some council members' suggestions, would widen it to $35.6 million.

Reality check: City consultants stressed the forecast is a baseline projection, not a prediction.

• It doesn't account for most future salary increases from upcoming union negotiations, which could change the outlook.

Between the lines: Richmond's costs for personnel, pensions, schools and debt are growing faster than its revenue.

• Property assessment growth is slowing, car values are normalizing and pandemic-era federal aid has expired.
• CAO Odie Donald II also pointed to the Iran war and high interest rates as headwinds.

What they're saying: "You still got Kool-Aid, just no sugar," Donald said.

Threat level: Avula said he'd still "like to be true to" his plan to propose real estate and meals tax cuts, but the new fiscal picture could change his budget in March.

• Donald said officials are considering a temporary hiring freeze and pausing noncritical vacancies to control costs without layoffs.

Friction point: Council members questioned whether the city's revenue forecast is too conservative, whether Richmond can still afford tax cuts, and whether Diamond District delays pose additional budget risks.

What's next: Avula will propose his budget in March. Until then, the city must refine its revenue forecast, negotiate union contracts and decide what — if anything — to cut for tax relief.

Keep reading

Hotels have become an increasingly common last resort for Richmond-area families experiencing homelessness, according to a new report from Henrico-based advocacy group Housing Families First.

Why it matters: They're filling the gap for families who may be able to afford monthly rent but can't overcome the barriers to securing long-term housing.

By the numbers: Of the 2,854 students experiencing homelessness across Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield in 2022-23, the latest year available, about 830 — or 29% — were living in hotels or motels, per SchoolHouse Connection data cited in the report.

The share increased in all three localities between 2019-20 and 2022-23.

• Henrico: 20.4% ➡️ 32.8%
• Richmond: 16.6% ➡️ 26.6%
• Chesterfield: 19.1% ➡️ 26.6%
• Statewide: 15.9% ➡️ 21.5%

Zoom out: In all, 904 local families — representing more than 3,000 adults and children — received homeless services between July 2025 and June 2026 after becoming homeless or coming within three days of losing their housing.

The good news: The report says early intervention — like school-based support and housing coaching — can help families avoid hotels and shelters altogether.

• If you want to help, Homeward has a list of Richmond-area nonprofits doing this work and ways to support local families in need.

Full story

🌵 The iconic "Cactus House" aka Saguaro Hill on Staples Mill Road could becoming a 20-home subdivision, per plans filed with Henrico. (BizSense)

• The longtime owners of the 3-bedroom Henrico home known for its Southwestern-theme sold it to local builder StyleCraft in 2024 for $1 million.

⚾️ Richmond's EDA ordered the Flying Squirrels to clear all remaining equipment out of The Diamond by Oct. 16 — and warned that entering after that could be treated as trespassing — as its increasingly bitter dispute with the team escalates. (The Richmonder)

The former owners of Shoosmith Landfill turned themselves in at Chesterfield Circuit Court Wednesday on felony charges alleging they abandoned the waste facility. (Times-Dispatch)

• The Texas residents are out on bond and required to stay in Virginia while their cases are pending.

💰 A Boston private equity firm bought the Richmond Trade Center — a five-building Chesterfield warehouse complex built for Philip Morris — for $108 million in the region's largest real estate deal this year. (BizSense)

🏃🏻‍♂️ The Richmond Marathon has a new finish line this year: Byrd and 5th streets. (News release)

Folk music, sunset parties and Francine are all on the list in Richmond this weekend.

Tonight

🌅 Vibes at Sunset is ending its season at the Virginia War Memorial. 5-9pm. Free but RSVPs encouraged.

Friday

🪕 The Richmond Folk Festival returns to the riverfront starting Friday, 6:30-10pm. Free.

👻 Hanover's SpookyFUN Fest fills Pole Green Park with trick-or-treating and a not-so-spooky hayride. 4:30-8pm. Free.

🎨 VisArts' Second Fridays offers pay-what-you-will classes. Sessions at 6pm and 7:30pm.

🎤 There's an R&B singalong party at Black Olive for VSU Homecoming. 10pm-2am. $17.64.

Saturday

🐈 Francine Fest returns to Main Line Brewery. 2-10pm. Free.

🛍️ Richmond Night Market takes over 17th Street Market. 5-9pm. Free.

Full list including a massive adoption event and Hardywood's anniversary

If you bought food or drinks at a show at Capital One Arena in D.C. last year, you may be owed money.

Why it matters: Thousands of customers could get a share of a $4.5 million settlement over a 3% concession "venue fee."

Driving the news: Settlement notices began landing in customers' inboxes this week for people who paid the fee between Oct. 1, 2024, and Dec. 31, 2025.

• That window included shows by Mary J. Blige, Kylie Minogue, Burna Boy and Justin Timberlake.

Catch up quick: Travelers United sued Aramark last November, alleging the 3% fee wasn't disclosed on concession menus.

• The group called it a deceptive junk fees. Aramark said it covered maintenance and administrative costs.

The other side: Aramark denies wrongdoing and says it settled to avoid litigation, per the agreement.

Go deeper.

Editor's note: This headline has been updated to clarify that the payouts involve purchases at Capital One Arena.

🧁 Karri doesn't know who needs to hear this, but Garnett's is celebrating its 17th anniversary today — and giving away free WPA cupcakes (with purchase and until they run out, but they say they've got plenty).

🐈‍⬛ Sabrina is loving this cat named Cochiloco. He's up for adoption at the Richmond Animal League for anyone not allergic to cats like she is.

Thanks to Alexa Mencia Orozco for editing today's edition