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Dear Friend,
This week’s newsletter highlights proposed impacts of the Senate budget on our K-12 system, as well as provides information about the final days of early voting in Virginia's primary elections, celebrates Juneteenth and Father’s Day, and shares details from recent community engagements and events. Thank you for taking the time to read the newsletter and for staying informed.
The Senate Budget’s Impacts on K-12 in Senate District 10
Our state budget conferees are still negotiating the details of various amendments proposed this past Session to the biennium budget. We hope that they will achieve resolution in the next few weeks. At stake is nearly $1 billion; the Senate budget proposes to direct historic funding to our schools, while the Governor’s and House proposals direct hundreds of millions of dollars to corporate tax breaks.
How would the Senate budget proposals impact families and children in Senate District 10 (parts of Richmond City and Chesterfield County, and all of Powhatan County)?
In FY23-24, Richmond would receive an additional $18 million in funding, Chesterfield an additional $34 million, and Powhatan an additional $1.5 million. Additional funding is based on student population and other factors.
The Senate budget also proposes to lift the cap on support staff that was imposed during the 2008 financial crisis. Lifting the cap would increase state-supported staff in our localities: Richmond - 107 positions; Chesterfield - 343 positions; Powhatan - 22 positions.
Boosting at-risk add-on for high poverty schools, as the Senate budget proposes to do, means that Richmond would receive $1.7 million in additional funding, Chesterfield would receive $1.2 million.
We hear a lot about improving education outcomes for our students, and much of the discussion is focused on assessment of learning and academic rigor. Research, however, demonstrates that students learn better and retain learning when they are in classrooms with fewer students and more adults; when they have more opportunities for one-on-one instruction; when they are challenged to think critically and exposed to problem-solving and collaborative work. The Senate budget proposals are designed to equip school divisions with increased support and resources so that we can improve the quality of educational opportunities for all of our students.
Early Voting for June Primaries & Primary Election Day
Primary Election Day is Tuesday, June 20 . In-person early voting opportunities are still available through Saturday, the final day for in-person early voting. Early voting is not available on Monday, and voters who do not participate in early voting will need to cast ballots on the actual Primary Election Day.
Early, In-Person Voting
Early, in-person voting in the current 10th Senatorial District is available only at the Registrar's Office for the June Primary Election. No other polling locations are open for early voting.
Chesterfield County voters are able to vote early in-person [[link removed]] until 5:00pm today (Friday) and Saturday, June 17, at the Chesterfield County Registrar’s Office (9848 Lori Road).
Richmond City voters are able to vote early in-person [[link removed]] until 4:00pm today (Friday) and Saturday, June 17 until 5:00pm, at the Richmond City Registrar’s Office (2134 West Laburnum Avenue).
Powhatan County [[link removed]] is not holding any primary elections this cycle. The only race that had more than one candidate competing to be the party’s nominee was the Republican race for the newly-drawn 10th Senatorial District [[link removed]] . The Republican party selected its nominee a few weeks ago without going through the primary election process.
Absentee Voting
All ballots must be postmarked by June 20 (Primary Election Day), or dropped off at the corresponding drop off location. Using a delivery service that allows tracking is recommended.
Voting on Primary Election Day - Tuesday, June 20
Polling locations will be open from 6:00am until 7:00pm. If voters are in line by 7:00pm, they will be allowed to vote. Additional information on Primary Day voting is available on the Registrar’s Offices for the City of Richmond [[link removed]] and Chesterfield County [[link removed]] , and on the Virginia Department of Elections website [[link removed]] .
ALERT: Voters in the City of Richmond should note recent changes in polling locations due to summer school courses within Richmond Public Schools. A full list of polling location changes can be found here [[link removed]] and on the Registrar’s website [[link removed]] .
Celebrating Father’s Day
Sunday, June 18, is Father’s Day. Fathers and father-figures play such an important role in the lives of children and young people. I wish all who take on this role and these responsibilities a very joyful Father’s Day.
For those who feel an absence this year, I hope that the day offers opportunities for reflections and memories.
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Commemorating Juneteenth
Juneteenth [[link removed]] , also known as Freedom Day, commemorates the news of the Emancipation Proclamation reaching Galveston, Texas, which was the last state to abolish slavery, on June 19, 1865. Juneteenth became a state holiday in the Commonwealth in October 2020, and President Biden officially recognized Juneteenth as a federal holiday in June 2021. State and federal offices will be closed on Monday.
Here are just a few of the Juneteenth events occurring across the district:
Drexel-Morrell Center, Habitat for Humanity-Powhatan, Powhatan African American Cultural Arts Museum, Powhatan County NAACP and Powhatan County Parks and Recreation will be hosting their annual Juneteenth Celebration on Saturday, June 17, at the Pocahontas Landmark Center located at 4290 Anderson Highway
The City of Richmond Department of Parks, Recreation, and Community Facilities will be hosting the Second Annual Jubilation in June Festival on Sunday, June 18, at Intermediate Terminal located at 3101 Wharf Street
Chesterfield County is partnering with a number of community organizations for a series of Juneteenth events occurring through Saturday, June 24
Highlights from Community Events & Meetings
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Last Thursday evening, I traveled to Northern Virginia to celebrate the Hamkae Center’s 10th Anniversary. The Hamkae Center [[link removed]] ’s mission is to organize Asian Americans to achieve social, economic, and racial justice in Virginia. The organization has worked effectively and passionately on several key concerns, including education access and opportunity, language access, civic engagement, youth development and mentorship, and much more. I was delighted to see other members of the Virginia Asian American Pacific Islander Caucus members at the event: former Delegate Mark Keam and Delegate Irene Shin.
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This past weekend, I attended the Southern Regional Education Board’s 72nd Annual Legislative Work Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, alongside colleagues and Virginia representatives: Senators Mamie Locke and Todd Pillion, Delegate Carrie Coyner, Peter Blake (Director, State Council of Higher Education for Virginia), and Keesha Jackson-Muir, Principal of Braddock Elementary School in Annandale.
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On Tuesday evening, I was honored to attend Japan-Virginia Night at Ambassador Tomita’s residence in Washington, DC. The event highlighted the strong relationship between the Commonwealth and Japan. Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, Delegate Kathy Tran (Chair of the Virginia Asian American and Pacific Islander Caucus), and many other House and Senate colleagues attended the evening’s celebration of economic and cultural ties between Virginia, the greater United States, and Japan.
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On Tuesday evening, my Chief of Staff attended the Virginia Cannabis Control Authority’s Town Hall in Chester focused on the role of the VCCA [[link removed]] and Virginia’s cannabis laws. VCCA members also responded to questions from community members. VCCA events [[link removed]] will be held throughout the summer across the state.
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Thursday morning, my staff and I visited Eco Inspired, a small business focused on zero-waste products and refills in Bon Air. On average, every American creates about five pounds of waste per day [[link removed]] . Businesses like Eco Inspired seek to combat the rise in waste by offering refillable options, opportunities for recycling, and products in compostable packaging.
Connecting With My Office
Please email us at [email protected] [[email protected]] or call our office at 804-698-7510. If you were forwarded this email, you can sign up to receive my office’s weekly newsletter here [[link removed]] [[link removed]] .
— Ghazala
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