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Dear Friend,
This week has been busy with travel: a tour of restaurants participating in Chesterfield County’s first annual Restaurant Week, and a press tour across Virginia to put a spotlight on The Right to Contraception Act, a bill that the governor has yet to sign.
This week’s newsletter highlights the Right to Contraception Act tour, shares reflections on the inaugural Chesterfield Restaurant Week, commemorates both Community College Month and Autism Month, and highlights select community meetings from this past week. Thank you for reading and staying informed.
The Right to Contraception Press Tour
This week, I held a press tour, along with several of my colleagues, members from the Virginia chapter of Red, Wine, and Blue [[link removed]] , and other advocacy groups, to urge Governor Youngkin to sign the Right to Contraception Act, legislation that I and Delegate Marcia “Cia” Price (D - Newport News) carried this Session and that passed out of both Chambers with healthy support.
Why is this legislation necessary? I wish that it was not. Regrettably, however, nearly 60 years after the landmark US Supreme Court decision in Griswold v. Connecticut (1965), the right to privacy to use contraception is now coming under attack. After the disastrous SCOTUS opinion in the Dobbs case, as presented by Justices Alito, Thomas, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett, Justice Thomas stated that he was ready to revisit Griswold .
In Griswold , SCOTUS ruled that individual states had no right to ban contraception for married couples. This landmark decision established, for the first time, a constitutional right to privacy regarding reproductive decisions and also paved the way for the subsequent legalization of birth control for unmarried couples. It also served later as one of the foundational cases that would support the SCOTUS decision in Roe .
Should the partisan players on SCOTUS decide to reverse Griswold , as they did Roe v Wade , the constitutional right to privacy for reproductive decisions will be further eroded. In some states, we have already seen state legislatures introducing bills to ban the use of IUDs and hormonal contraceptives. We are seeing efforts to make false comparisons between contraception and abortion. Further, in efforts to erode public confidence, we are also seeing deliberate misinformation about the medical safety of contraceptives.
Contraception is an essential part of family planning. Equally important are the numerous ways in which contraceptive medications are used to treat a host of medical issues such as endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, debilitating menstrual pain and heavy bleeding, and more.
The right to make private medical decisions about whether or not to use contraceptives and the health reasons for doing so is a right that is currently guaranteed at the federal level. Should SCOTUS reverse the Griswold decision, however, it is imperative that this right be preserved for Virginians. We protected safe and legal access to abortion in Virginia through legislative actions in 2020, prior to the fall of Roe; similarly, we need to protect access to contraception, prior to any disastrous reversals of Griswold .
Our press tour received coverage by a variety of media, including CBS19 News [[link removed]] and The Daily Progress [[link removed]] in Charlottesville; WRIC ABC 8 [[link removed]] , Courthouse News [[link removed]] , and Virginia Dogwood [[link removed]] in Richmond; and WSVA Radio [[link removed]] and WHSV 3 News [[link removed]] in Harrisonburg.
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Our first stop was in the City of Charlottesville. I was joined that morning by Delegate Katrina Callsen (HD-54) and Penny Blue of Red, Wine, and Blue Virginia. We spoke to several area citizens all concerned about the attacks on reproductive rights and health care, including access to contraception.
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Thursday morning brought us to Richmond, and we were joined by several RVA-area Delegates: Destiny Bolling, Rae Cousins, and Michael Jones, as well as representatives from the Virginia League for Planned Parenthood, Birth in Color, and Red, Wine, and Blue. After holding our press conference in the General Assembly Building, we joined our community advocates in marching to the Governor’s mansion to deliver our 900+ page petition containing over 37,000 signatures of Virginians who support the Virginia Right to Contraception Act.
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Our tour concluded yesterday in Harrisonburg, and I was joined by Harrisonburg Mayor Deanna Reed and our advocates with Red, Wine, and Blue. Concerned nursing students from Eastern Mennonite University also attended the press conference to show support for the legislation as well as to learn further details about legislative processes.
Recapping Chesterfield Restaurant Week
This week marked the inaugural Chesterfield County Restaurant Week, a time to support local businesses and taste the many culinary delights across the county. I hope RVA residents will visit participating restaurants [[link removed]] before the commemoration ends on April 7. A percentage of profits is going to support the Chesterfield Food Bank and Outreach Center (CFBOC) [[link removed]] , a nonprofit organization that focuses on ending hunger in our communities.
My staff and I visited all of the eight participating restaurants within Senate District 15. A common theme I heard throughout this week is how our communities are integral to each restaurant’s success and how each of our business owners work hard to give back to the communities that support them. Local businesses are the heart of our local economy. As we visited these establishments, we saw how the menus and the food cultures reflect the many diverse communities that make up Chesterfield County.
I asked my staff, June and Gerardo , to share their impressions of the restaurants we visited, and here is what struck them the most about each establishment.
Gerardo’s Comments:
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Carena's Jamaican Grille [[link removed]] is owned and operated by Carena with help from her son Randolph (pictured above). Carena is a Jamaican native and has been a fellow Richmonder for over forty years. She comes from a family of restaurant owners and shares her passion for Jamaican food and culture. Her success in the Food Network game show “Guy's Grocery Games'' [[link removed]] exemplifies her leadership. After winning, she offered her staff paid vacations or a paid week of time off during the pandemic. I look forward to my return visit, and the opportunity to look even more closely at the beautiful mural of Jamaica’s coastline painted by a local artist and to taste Carena’s highly-regarded curry.
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La Milpa [[link removed]] is owned and operated by Martín and Mónica. It serves staple Mexican dishes and shares Mexican history through its market-style floor plan. La Milpa opened its doors twenty-four years ago and is regarded as an important part of our region's rich restaurant culture. Martín and Mónica's vision goes beyond serving fresh, quality traditional dishes; for them, their passion is all about involvement, engagement, and education; they share a strong desire to give back to the Latino community through outreach, donations, and positive change. They have also started a small farm-to-table vegetable garden and hope to teach the next generation about sustainable farming. La Milpa is highlighted in the book 100 Things to do in Richmond before You Die.
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Swagat Indian Cuisine [[link removed]] is a true family business run by Himanshu and his father. Their passion for sharing Indian culture translates through their warmth, excellent customer service, and traditional dishes. Himanshu is an impressive young man studying business management at the Virginia Commonwealth University while also helping to manage three restaurants, with Swagat representing the newest establishment. Like many minority-owned success stories, their stories are told through flavorful dishes, and their restaurant is no exception.
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Saffron Indian Cuisine [[link removed]] is owned and operated by three partners, including Manish and Chef Parminder (pictured). They began their journey by opening their first restaurant in Farmville, Virginia, and later finding a home in Chesterfield County in 2022. Saffron brings an authentic taste of India thanks to its diverse staff from different regions of India. The community has embraced them, and they now seek to reciprocate that love by finding outreach opportunities and helping those most in need.
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Mr. B's Soul Food [[link removed]] is owned and operated by Mr. Harvey Butler (aka Mr. B), a Richmond native of Church Hill who opened his first restaurant in Hopewell, Virginia. His homestyle soul food has been serving Chesterfield residents and beyond for over eight years. Like many businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, the restaurant industry also had to readjust in order to continue serving customers. During these challenging times, the community embraced small businesses like Mr. B’s, and now his take-out establishment is stronger than before. I look forward to seeing his friendly staff and enjoying more tasty meals.
June's Comments:
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Don Papa Grande [[link removed]] in Chester has extensive offerings of burritos, tacos, grilled meats, and vegetarian fare. When my husband and I arrived for dinner on Monday evening, almost every table was filled with customers—a true testament to how much this restaurant is loved by the Chesterfield community. Kind and helpful staff like Olivia (pictured), the manager of Don Papa Grande, made the experience all the better.
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Ashton Creek Vineyard [[link removed]] located on Route 1 in Chester is owned and operated by the Thibault Family. The matriarch of the family, Lori (pictured), spoke with me about the family business that she runs alongside her husband, Kirk, and their master winemaker son, Adam. In addition to their gorgeous tasting room, their vineyard has a large, modern barn used for weddings, birthdays, and other private events. Ashton Creek Vineyard is not only a great piece of SD-15’s small business community, but also a crucial piece of Virginia’s viticulture industry here in the Greater Richmond Region.
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Brew Craft Bar & Kitchen [[link removed]] located off of Iron Bridge Road is a cozy space with a great food menu and extensive selection of local beers, wines, and spirits. Owned and operated by Karen and Matt Verdisco, who also own Local Craft Pizza & Beer [[link removed]] , Brew first opened its doors in 2013 and has hosted a steady stream of loyal customers ever since. If you go, be sure to get an order of the pretzel sticks to start. Pillowy, buttery, and salty—they can’t be beat!
Commemorations: Community College Month and National Autism Month
April has a number of commemorations, including Community College Month . In March, I hosted a town hall with Dr. David Doré, Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). We discussed how our community colleges provide an invaluable opportunity for people to further their education, expand employment opportunities, and create generational impact for families of all backgrounds. My conversation with Chancellor Doré is available here [[link removed]] , and further information about Virginia’s community colleges is available on the VCCS website [[link removed]] .
April also commemorates National Autism Month, also known as National Autism Acceptance Month. The Autism Society of Central Virginia [[link removed]] has compiled a list of resources and action items surrounding spreading awareness, promoting acceptance, and creating opportunity for people with autism and their families. Services are also accessible through the Commonwealth’s agencies and affiliates such as the Virginia Division of Rehabilitative Services [[link removed]] and the Virginia Commonwealth University Autism Center for Excellence [[link removed]] .
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Select Community Engagements
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Last Saturday evening, I joined members of Majid Anwaar for an interfaith iftar focused on the theme “Voices for Peace.” In my remarks that evening, I asked that we step away from the larger considerations of worldly peace and focus, instead on our own individual work to find peace within ourselves. Here is a brief excerpt from my comments that evening:
“Thus it is that this holy month [of Ramadan] is so profoundly important. It is a pause. It is an annual moment of retreat from the noise of the world. It is a deliberate and meditative step towards an internal peace. At the heart of Ramadan is the quest for a personal calm and a negotiation between our worldly and our spiritual selves. We separate ourselves from the hustle of the world. The rituals of prayer, of self-regulation and self-reflection, the opportunities to focus not just on personal needs such as hunger and thirst but more importantly on our ability to manage and control our thoughts, the words we utter, and the actions we take: all of these key aspects of Ramadan guide us to the cultivation of our own voice of peace.”
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On Tuesday, I joined hundreds of supporters from across the Commonwealth for United States Senator Tim Kaine’s re-election campaign launch in Richmond. A public servant for more than three decades, Senator Kaine’s commitment to service and to Virginia is indisputable, and Virginia is better because of his leadership. I look forward to working alongside a broad coalition of elected officials, constituents, and organizations to re-elect him to the United States Senate.
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On Wednesday evening, my staff and I attended the annual Virginia Center for Inclusive Communities (VCIC) Interfaith Iftar, hosted in collaboration with the Islamic Center of Virginia and Bon Air United Methodist Church. For its fifth year, community members and elected officials from across our central region came together to break the Ramadan fast and share a delicious potluck-style dinner with neighbors.
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Friday evening, I joined Sportable CEO Hunter Leemon and other organizers as they hosted the National Wheelchair Basketball Association Adult and Junior National Tournament in RVA for the first time in history. Sportable’s mission has been to create opportunities and transform the lives of individuals with physical disabilities and visual impairments through sport since 2005. As Central Virginia's adaptive sports club, Sportable provides sporting opportunities by offering a variety of competitive and recreational adaptive sports programs. Over the next two weekends, the top 32 ranked teams at the varsity level and top 16 teams at the prep level will compete for the national title. In many respects these adult and junior athletes have already achieved greatness by overcoming adversity with grit and perseverance.
Connecting With My Office
My office can be reached at the following:
Email: [email protected] [gmail.com]
Phone: 804.698.7515
If you were forwarded this email, you can sign up to receive my office’s weekly newsletter here [[link removed]] .
— Ghazala
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