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Virginia Beach’s Acting City Manager Tom Leahy said Friday he would not order a Black Lives Matter mural painted on the boardwalk without council giving him direction to do so.
Protesters have not gathered at the site in recent days, but Virginia Beach Acting City Manager Tom Leahy said he made the order to protect people from hurting themselves and others, to protect property and to abide by laws and regulations.
The COVID-19 pandemic and Black Lives Matter protests encouraged Jody Wagner to run for Virginia Beach mayor. She is a former state finance secretary and treasurer who now owns a business.
The city implemented new rules on the short-term rental industry in November, but several council members don’t think the rules go far enough and are floating the idea of creating $200 to $500 civil penalties for violations.
On May 31, 2019, a longtime city employee killed 12 people and seriously injured four others before dying in a shootout with police. One year later, city workers, including many who lived through the tragedy, find themselves still recovering while coping with the coronavirus pandemic. It's not easy.
On Friday, Virginia Beach city workers and members of the community stood in front of Building 2 for a moment of silence to remember the 12 who died and four who were wounded during a mass shooting last year.
The city had planned to hold a memorial ceremony for all who were lost and impacted by the tragedy, but those plans were canceled in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, the city arranged several activities and a virtual ceremony.
The coronavirus pandemic has not only created uncertainty for residents and businesses, but also for the city government. The council plans to continually monitor incoming revenues and will make adjustments to the budget as needed throughout the year as the pandemic drags on.
Some of the council members say it doesn’t deliver enough tax relief and could underestimate the financial impact the coronavirus will have on city revenue.