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back to the Church Hill House
08/16/2006 6:46 AM by John M
Style takes a look at the ongoing security issues at the Church Hill House in this week’s article Cat Among the Pigeons; the Richmond Voice gives us Miller and the Church Hill House: A never-ending battle.
From Style:
Church Hill House, a large brick building, stands in a rough neighborhood near Venable and 25th streets. People who don’t live there often sneak into the building, residents say, including prostitutes and drug dealers.
A rough neighborhood? Duh! I live less than a block away and have argued unsuccessfully against the proliferation of ABC licenses in the immediate environs: in the 7 city blocks where Church Hill House sits there are 7 stores that sell alcohol – and 1 of these is the state-owned ABC store with the highest volume of sales in Virgina. Now, just takin’ a guess, but do you ‘spose there might be some connection between the eagerness with which the state of Virginia makes booze available and the level of violence at Church Hill House and the rest of the neighborhood? Huh, huh, huh?
Paradoxically, there are also a density of churches on Venable and its immediate streets. Have any of these church leaders taken any interest or exhibited any energy towards our local issues? This was a strategy successfully implemented in Boston
(see David Kennedy’s piece in the Post and a related discussion)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/11/AR2006081101333.html
Bob, Seven churches and seven stores that sell alcohol in a seven block area. I brought all of that up to the ABC Board, to no avail.The Board’s decision upon hearing the appeal was that the evidence we presented against granting the license showed that if an ABC license was granted bad things would happen in the neighborhood in violation of Virginia and Richmond laws…but the ABC Board issued the license in direct contradiction to the evidence they reviewed and found valid. Two follow-up letters to the Governor’s office have resulted in ‘it’s too late now…not even the Governor can revoke the license…call ABC if you’ve got a problem.’ I do have a problem with this, such a down-home example of our government at work – against the safety and welfare of its citizens!
Unbelievable! Ann, do you think a petition would work to reverse the ABC Board’s actions? Or maybe publicity to apply pressure? This is ridiculous, and I don’t believe that the governor or anyone else has their “hands tied.”
Nick, no…the governor’s Public Safety office, which responded on his behalf, has made clear that the governor can/will take no action. However there is the possibility of a petition to declare the place a public nuisance. I’ve only heard rumours about the process so I’m digging a bit and will share what I find…when and if I actually find it. In fact I’d be happy to share any of the documentation about what’s gone on, some of which is already here in the archives, including, I think, the text of one of my letters to the governor. CHPN’s ‘Father John’ attended the ABC appeal hearing and posted copious notes.
Oooh. Let me know if you need help digging.
I haven’t seen the letter, so I’ll have to look for it. I did read the entire blog on the hearing that John wrote. I’m pretty certain my blood was boiling when I read the decision.
ann,
Have you contacted Susanne Bielaski the Community Prosecutor for our area? I believe she may be able to start the public nuisance process.