This week’s RVA News question for the candidates:

“What do you consider to be Richmond’s greatest asset? What do you consider to be its greatest liability?”

Tyron Bey

There are so many great assets. History, people, location, GRTC, and many others. I would say that one of the best (but not necessarily the greatest) would be our higher education community.

Virginia Union can boast about being the institution which graduated the First Black Mayor of Richmond, Governor of Virginia, and Admiral in the Navy. No other school in the nation has that distinction. Virginia Union, along with Virginia State, implements the regions Upward Bound program. This program tutors and mentors high school students so that they may become strong candidates for admission to college. If it were not for Union, Richmond may not be here as we know it today.
Reynolds also works in tandem with our School System to help improve the performance of our middle school students with the New Horizons program.

MCV has been recognized nationally for its great trauma center.

UofR Law School is ranked in the top 100 of our Nations Best Law Schools by US News and World Reports.

VCU is celebrating 40 years as an institution.

Our 2 & 4 year institutions are doing great things and we need to continue to show our support.

The greatest liability is the Region’s unwillingness, until now, to work together. As we face the economic times that we are in, we must not continue to find ways to separate and divide us. I believe that now is the time for us to work together to help insure our economic viability as a region. This is done with regional partnerships with thematic schools, regional transportation, and business community support with education.

Charles Samuels

Richmond’s greatest asset is its history. It is a draw to tourists, corporations and families moving to our area. A big factor that differentiates Richmond from surrounding counties is the historic neighborhoods within the City’s boundaries, including Jackson Ward – once known as the Harlem of the South. I believe Richmond’s history is what differentiates it from any other U.S. destination.

Richmond’s greatest liability is its inability to move past its history to build its future. The Crupi report clearly illustrates the problem and the potential for a bright future if we can overcome the problem. The City, and arguably the region, needs an agreed upon set of strategic goals and the strength to move forward to achieve them.