Good morning, RVA! It's 52 °F, and today's highs will float around in the 60s. The sun will poke it's head out of the clouds at some point this morning, and the next couple of days look like they'll bring warmer weather.
Water cooler
As of this morning, the Virginia Department of Health reports 600 new positive cases of the coronavirus in the Commonwealth and 17 new deaths as a result of the virus. VDH reports 67 new cases in and around Richmond (Chesterfield: 36, Henrico: 23, and Richmond: 8). Since this pandemic began, 1,295 people have died in the Richmond region. The seven-day average of new reported cases across the state sits at 699.
Over in vaccine world, I've got three things to share. First, remember that today the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices will meet and most likely vote on authorizing the Pfizer vaccine for kids 12–15 years old. I'd bet VDH will move quickly following ACIP's vote, so get ready parents, caregivers, teens, and tweens. Second, the New York Times asked a bunch of epidemiologists what they're doing out in the world now that they're fully vaccinated. Hiking with friends? Totally. Attending a wedding or a funeral? Not so much. Keep in mind that even though they have big science brains, epidemiologists are (mostly) people, too, and will have some of the same issues with reemerging into the world after a year of hibernation as the rest of us. Finally, also in the New York Times, a look at this "third group" of folks—people who aren't necessarily vaccine hesitant, don't have any of the classic barriers to access, but still haven't gotten an appointment yet...because. That sounds snarky, but it's not. People are busy living life and finding time to make it out to a pharmacy or one of the region's vaccination sites is a lot of work for some folks. This quote sums it up: "I know you’re trying to find out the reason people aren’t doing it...I’m going to tell you. People are trying to take care of their household. You don’t have much time in the day."
Yesterday, the Governor declared a state of emergency due to the cyberattack on the Colonial Pipeline system. This feels like an extremely Mad Max headline. From the Governor's remarks it doesn't sound like folks in Virginia should expect any sort of long-term impacts or extreme fuel shortages, although I've already seen some reports of price gouging at local gas stations (which is illegal) as people run out to top off their tanks. If you want to know more about the specifics, Krebs on Security has a fascinating/terrifying look at DarkSide, the group behind the attack. And because I can't help myself: It's hard to cyberattack a bicycle. You can follow the Colonial Pipeline's crisis PR blog here, for a bit of morning schadenfreude.
The Richmond Times-Dispatch's Michael Paul Williams weighs in on the School Board's recent decision to take over school facility procurement and construction. Even if you're tired of thinking about it and the impact this whole thing is having on the George Wythe community, Williams' piece is worth reading! A couple years back he was pro-schools running their own construction process, but, after the mostly successful construction of three new schools, he's mellowed a bit on that. Here's the rub and the truest of true sentences: "The reality is, schools don’t get built in this town without political support. Until the Richmond School Board has taxing power — everyone, hold your breath at the count of three! — the mayor and City Council will maintain a grip on the purse strings."
Mike Platania at Richmond BizSense has the details on the sale of the Mowbray Paint Co. building on Arthur Ashe Boulevard. There's one world where this building becomes a restaurant, brewery, or other space for people. There's another world where it becomes a bank or pharmacy with a focus on drive-through service. If we want that corridor to feel like a thriving neighborhood, we have limit the amount of car-focused businesses! Those business can and should exist, but probably not fronting a thoroughfare we want to see become a second city center.
I haven't listened yet, but I posted the audio from Council's formal meeting to approve RPS's budget over on The Boring Show.
This morning's patron longread
In Defense of Liberal Conspirators
Submitted by Patron Alix. I keep reading unrelated things about labor movements—and this wide-ranging longread is one!
The book A Lot of People Are Saying, from 2019, epitomizes the genre. Authors Nancy Rosenblum and Russell Muirhead describe what they call the “new conspiracism,” or “conspiracy without theory.” In their schema, classic conspiracism’s evidentiary basis (picture dozens of JFK assassination aficionados poring over photographs of the grassy knoll) has been abandoned in favor of pure affect; hypotheses and suppositions gain purchase through repetition, not proof. Digital networks drown internet users in dubious information designed less to persuade than to overwhelm, as social networks circulate and recirculate sensational claims. Those who know how to game algorithms amass enormous followings, and those with the most “engaging” content always win, accuracy be damned.
If you’d like your longread to show up here, go chip in a couple bucks on the ol’ Patreon.
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.