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#RichmondRentStrike

Image submitted on reddit by 3raccoonsinacoat

There’s an interesting discussion on this sign as “Seen in Church Hill this morning“. Check out the Reddit post here.

We like this suggestion the best:

Alternative idea – in a lot of cases, landlords are just normal people who are also going through this. Contact them if you’re unable to pay the full amount or at all and work with them. It’s not like it’s going to be easy to fill a unit right now – it’s better to keep someone in that’s paying a little and taking care of the place than go through the cost of kicking someone out and finding a new tenant.

A lot of landlords are being proactive in this as well, asking residents what their situation is and figuring out a plan.

Fight the man by all means, but in this case you might be just fighting another person who is going through similar tough times.

What do you think folks?

4 comments

Debbie Kearns 03/27/2020 at 8:44 AM

Re: #RichmondRentStrike Article
“Fight the Man” what are we in 1967? HA! Ha!
I think posting signs around Richmond advocating across the board that people occupying other person’s spaces not pay rent, is incredibly irresponsible. Not everyone is in dire straights yet and this call to arms identifies an enemy before they’re an enemy! Landlords didn’t crash the economy. A virus did.

I agree with your approach. Contact your landlord immediately and speak to them like the human beings they are(at least most of them are anyway!). Speak to relatives about a loan if that’s an option. See if waiting for one of these stimulus checks that the Dems held up trying to add ridiculously unrelated riders to a bill that should have been all about getting people and small businesses in our country some immediate financial relief is do-able. Maybe when this is all over they can post something about that around the city!

In the meantime, Richmond is a great community and residents of this city are already doing everything they can to show support for our neighbors and local businesses. It would be a shame to denigrate into anarchy because that seems exciting. It will benefit no one.

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Lee Thomas 03/27/2020 at 1:59 PM

I mean, I could be wrong, but the hold on eviction proceedings only runs until April 6th. So, like, good luck with that…

Reply
Guest 03/29/2020 at 10:47 AM

I see a pay or quit notice in your future. No rent payment = no place to live.

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Joshua 03/30/2020 at 11:42 AM

Supreme Court of Virginia
IN RE: ORDER EXTENDING DECLARATION OF JUDICIAL EMERGENCY

IN RESPONSE TO COVID-19 EMERGENCY

On March 16, 2020, the Chief Justice, having received a request from the Governor pursuant to
Va. Code § 17.1-330, entered an Order declaring a judicial emergency, recognizing the need to protect
the health and safety of court employees, litigants, attorneys, judges, and the general public. After
careful consideration and review, the Justices of this Court hereby unanimously ORDER that the
declaration of judicial emergency be in effect and continue beginning April 6 through April 26, 2020,
for all district and circuit courts of the Commonwealth.
Except as provided in this order, the courts and clerks’ offices shall remain operational and
provide services required by law while, at the same time, maintaining protections for the health and
safety of court users and personnel. With the exception of matters enumerated herein, all applicable
deadlines, time schedules and filing requirements, including any applicable statute of limitations which
would otherwise run during the period this order is in effect, are hereby tolled and extended, pursuant
to Va. Code § 17.1-330(D), for the duration of this Order.
All courts shall implement the following measures during this extended period absent a specific
exception as listed below.
1. The court shall continue all civil, traffic and criminal matters, including jury trials, except for
emergency and other matters as provided in this Order. For example, routine proceedings,
including but not limited to non-emergency: warrants in debt, unlawful detainers, issuance of
garnishments and writs of eviction shall be continued during the period this Order is in effect.
2. In any matter heard or considered by a court as provided in this order, judges shall exercise
their discretion as necessary in determining whether the matter is urgent and must be heard

2

without delay in order to protect important liberty and constitutional interests and the health and
safety of the parties, and others necessarily involved and affected by the proceedings.
3. The court’s determination that a criminal case must be heard in order to avoid violating a
defendant’s right to a speedy trial shall be made by the presiding judge on a case by case basis.
Among other things, considerations may include the liberty interests of the defendant, and the
health and safety of the parties, attorneys, court personnel, and others necessarily involved and
the ability of the court to safely proceed, taking into account the ability of the court to use
technology as authorized by law, social distancing and other measures.
4. The court shall give precedence on the docket to emergency matters including, but are not
limited to, quarantine or isolation matters, criminal arraignments, bail reviews, protective order
cases, emergency child custody or protection cases, civil commitment hearings, petitions for
temporary injunctive relief, proceedings related to emergency protection of elderly or
vulnerable persons, petitions for appointment of a guardian or conservator, and proceedings
necessary to safeguard applicable constitutional protections. Judges should exercise their
discretion with regard to holding ongoing jury trials, grand jury proceedings, cases where the
defendant is incarcerated, foster care cases, and child dependency cases. The exercise of
discretion should focus primarily on considerations of the liberty and constitutional interests at
stake, the health and safety of the parties, attorneys, court personnel, and others necessarily
involved, and the ability of the court to safely proceed, taking into account the ability of the
court to use technology as authorized by law, social distancing and other measures.
5. To the extent authorized by law, all matters that a court hears pursuant to this Order should be
conducted by two-way electronic audio-visual communication, if available. The parties,

attorneys, witnesses and others should be allowed to appear by such two-way electronic audio-
visual communication in order to reduce or eliminate the need for parties, attorneys and others

necessarily involved to physically appear in the courthouse. If a party, witness, or other

3

participant is unable to participate via the provided secure communication platform such as
Polycom or Webex, if available, then, upon request to the court, they may participate by
telephone. Requests to participate by telephone should be liberally granted.
6. The court shall continue all ceremonies, such as specialty court graduations and juvenile
licensing ceremonies.
7. The court shall limit courtroom attendance in any matters that cannot be continued to attorneys,
parties, necessary witnesses, interpreters, court personnel, court reporters, bailiffs and those
deemed necessary by the presiding judge, and members of the press where permitted by law.
8. The court should issue summonses in lieu of capiases for failure to appear.
9. For jury trials that cannot be continued, the court should excuse or postpone jury service for
jurors who are in a high-risk category as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) at https://www.cdc.gov/, or who are ill, caring for someone who is ill, or are
caring for children under the age of 16.
10. The court should require attorneys to use e-Filing if available.
11. The court should require individuals with legitimate court business who are ill, caring for
someone who is ill, or who are otherwise in a high-risk category, as defined by the CDC, to call
the clerk of court or other appropriate court personnel to request an appropriate
accommodation.
12. The court shall consult with the sheriff about posting signage at all public entry points
advising individuals not to enter the building if they have, within the previous 14 days:
a. visited China, Iran, South Korea, any European countries, or any other high-risk countries
identified by the CDC;
b. traveled domestically within the United States where COVID-19 has sustained widespread
community transmission;
c. been asked to quarantine, isolate, or self-monitor by any doctor, hospital, or health agency;

4

d. been diagnosed with, or have had contact with anyone who has been diagnosed with,
COVID-19;
e. experienced a fever, cough, or shortness of breath; or
f. resided with or been in close contact with any person in the above-mentioned categories.
Individuals attempting to enter the court in violation of these protocols shall be denied
entrance by a bailiff or court security officer, and will be directed to contact the clerk’s
office by telephone or other remote means to inform the clerk of their business before the
court so as to receive further instruction regarding alternate arrangements for court access.
13. The sheriff and/or bailiffs shall prohibit individuals or groups from congregating
anywhere in the courthouse, and require social distancing throughout the courthouse, including
inside the courtroom.
14. Nothing in this Order shall preclude the chief district and chief circuit judges from implementing
additional local policies as needed, and as allowed by law.
15. If a court finds it necessary to limit access to the court clerk’s office for any time during the
scope of this order, the clerk’s office shall, nonetheless remain accessible during regular
business hours by telephone and email, with such contact information posted on the Internet
and at any public entrance(s). If available, drop boxes should be used for any conventionally
filed documents and clerks shall take steps to safely accommodate any individual(s) requiring
access for important matters, including but not limited to, title or record searches and
recordation of land records.
This Order shall be effective beginning April 6 through April 26, 2020. This Order may be
extended for additional periods as provided in Va. Code § 17.1-330. It is so ORDERED.

THE SUPREME COURT OF VIRGINIA

_____________________________________

CHIEF JUSTICE DONALD W. LEMONS Entered 3/27/2020

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