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Dear Friend,
This week’s newsletter highlights my office’s recent excursion with the Greater Richmond Transit Company’s (GRTC) LINK microtransit service, provides updates from legislative commissions, and shares select community engagements from this past week. Thank you for reading this newsletter and for staying informed.
LINK, GRTC’s Microtransit Service
On Tuesday, my staff and I joined CEO Sheryl Adams and her leadership team from the Greater Richmond Transit Company (GRTC) to learn more about the LINK Microtransit Service [[link removed]] within the Clover Dale Zone [[link removed]] in Senate District 15. LINK is used in areas for which fixed GRTC routes may not be accessible or feasible, allowing more members of the public to take advantage of public transportation. Through a network of vans and buses, riders within the GRTC’s five LINK zones are able to access medical appointments, school, work, and run errands. Riders can access the service through GRTC On the Go [[link removed]] or by phone (804.358.4782) and can request a pickup within 20 to 30 minutes. All vehicles in the GRTC Microtransit fleet are wheelchair accessible. This service, as with all GRTC services, is free.
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Legislative Meetings
Thursday marked the 2024 Annual Joint Meeting of PlanRVA and the Central Virginia Transportation Authority (CVTA) , on which I serve as the representative for the Senate of Virginia. During our meeting, we heard from community partners at ChamberRVA, Community Foundation for a Greater Richmond, and United Way of Greater Richmond and Petersburg. Collaboration across agencies and localities is critical to the success of CVTA. We also had the opportunity during the meeting to honor former Henrico Supervisor and the first Chair (now Chair Emeritus) of the CVTA, Frank J. Thornton, for his service to the CVTA and to our region.
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On Friday, the Broadband Advisory Council met for its final meeting before the 2025 legislation session to hear updates on the Virginia Telecommunication Initiative (VATI) [[link removed]] and the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Program [[link removed]] , as we continue to expand broadband access and close the digital divide across the Commonwealth. Projects are currently under consideration that will address digital accessibility for residents with disabilities, expand access to telehealth, provide digital educational opportunities for our students, assist our Commonwealth’s core industries, including agriculture, with additional technologies, and more.
Select Community Engagements
It has been a very busy week, with a great deal of work both in Richmond and in other parts of Virginia.
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On Tuesday morning, members of the Chesterfield County General Assembly Delegation, Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors, and the Chesterfield County School Board convened for our annual delegation meeting to share our collective priorities for the 2025 General Assembly Session. Continuing to implement recommendations from the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission’s (JLARC) report on the K-12 Funding Formula [[link removed]] , funding for the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program, supporting public safety, and continued investments in our infrastructure are top priorities for the delegation.
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On Wednesday, the Council of State Government (CSG) South’s Education Committee met virtually to discuss education policies and trends members expect from across the Southern region. As the acting Chair of the Committee, I shared the efforts to revise the funding formula through the Joint Subcommittee on Elementary and Secondary Education Funding; I also spoke about our work to improve mathematics education, support teacher recruitment and retention, and improve support for English Learners and students with special needs.
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On Wednesday evening, I joined the Virginia Organizing Richmond Chapter for its Rental Inspection Program (RIP) Round Table. Richmond City residents spoke about the failures of the rental inspection systems that continue to allow for unacceptable conditions in some rental properties across Richmond. Residents spoke about untreated mold within their homes that leads to serious health complications; they described infestations of rodents and other serious failures within the system. I appreciate the insights that were shared at the round table, and I will be working with advocacy organizations and tenants to improve the quality and the accountability of our rental inspection program.
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Immediately following the Virginia Organizing meeting, I joined members of the Richmond Academy of Medicine (RAM) for the annual Legislative Meet and Greet. RAM members are focused on healthcare workforce development, workplace safety, public health, costs of prescription medicines, women’s reproductive health care, and much more. I appreciated the depth of the conversations I had with several members.
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On Thursday morning, the Jewish Community Federation of Richmond hosted members of the Metro Richmond Delegation and local elected officials for an Annual Legislative Breakfast Reception. Our conversations focused on the rise of anti-semitism and ways to address bigotry and hate crimes.
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Later on Thursday afternoon, I provided the keynote address at the Allied Healthcare Summit hosted by the Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA). I spoke about the upcoming 2025 Session and the areas of effort on which we have all been focused: developing and stabilizing the healthcare workforce, integrating technologies such as artificial intelligence in improving patient health outcomes, and expanding access to telehealth services.
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Immediately following the VHHA Healthcare Summit, I traveled to Roanoke to join the Asian American Business Owners Association (AABOA) to address the group and to thank AABOA members for their numerous contributions to the localities in which they have built their businesses. Virginia’s small businesses are the backbone of local economies.
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My office was also represented at the Richmond Area Chapter of Military Officers of America Association (RAC-MOAA) 17th annual virtual legislative forum during which members shared their legislative priorities. Topics included the need to combat bad actors who prey on veterans seeking to obtain or improve their benefits, increasing support for veterans in local and regional jails, restructuring the Virginia National Guard tuition assistance program, and much more.
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On Friday, my office was also represented at the 211 Virginia's [[link removed]] Regional Town Hall, which highlighted 2023-2024 data reports. The presentations provided insights into community needs, poverty rates, resource utilization, and population trends across our central region. To enhance user experience, 211 Virginia will launch a brand-new website and upgrade its resource data over the next few months.
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On Friday evening, I traveled to Reston for the first forum for the 2025 Lieutenant Governor’s race. The forum was well-attended by Virginians from both Northern Virginia and the metro Richmond area. I addressed questions that ranged from the constitutional amendment on reproductive healthcare, to gun safety legislation, to education concerns and our rural communities. I shared details about my legislative record on health care, education, environmental issues, housing, and more. I was also able to highlight my work on the Joint Commission on Health Care, the Joint Commission on Housing, the Disabilities Commission, and my work as Chair of the Senate Committee on Education and Health.
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On Saturday evening, I joined the 5th Congressional District in Lynchburg for its annual holiday gathering. We applauded the significant work of countless volunteers and members of the Democratic Committees of CD5 which helped to reelect Senator Tim Kaine, support congressional candidates, and secure a Virginia victory for Kamala Harris. We also reaffirmed our commitment to the upcoming critical elections in Virginia. I had the opportunity to share my efforts in the Lieutenant Governor’s race.
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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