~Cites city poverty and economic vulnerability concerns~ Mayor Dwight C. Jones issued the following statement today: After listening to President Obama last night, I am compelled to speak out about the need for Congress to move forward responsibly on issues of great economic impact – addressing the debt crisis and the Federal budget. “It might be interesting to sit back and watch the partisan wars in Washington, if the stakes were not so high. And, the stakes are high – for the world economy, for the stability of the U.S. markets, and for our state and local governments. Virginia is a state with a AAA bond rating – something that the City of Richmond has been working hard to attain. Just recently, Moody’s warned that it may have to review Virginia’s rating in light of the instability in the U.S. economy. In fact, the U.S. government’s AAA bond rating could be downgraded. All of this troubles me greatly, and it has the same effect on my colleagues at both the state and local level...

Mayor Dwight C. Jones Breastfeeding Commission Stephanie Ferguson PhD | Co-Chair, Mayor’s Breastfeeding Commission Associate Professor, School of Nursing, Virginia Commonwealth University Doris Moseley, MSM | Co-Chair, Mayor’s Breastfeeding Commission Director, Department of Social Services Health Care Amy Turner | Community Ed and Outreach Director, Bon Secours Virginia Stephanie Ferguson PhD | Co-Chair, Mayor’s Breastfeeding Commission Associate Professor, School of Nursing, Virginia Commonwealth University Valerie Coleman RN | Lactation Specialist Virginia Commonwealth University Health Systems Susie Dunton, RN | Lactation Specialist, Chippenham Hospital Alice Freeman CNC | Healthy Heart Plus II, Inc. Basmah Karriem | This is Your Birth , Birth Doula Leslie Lytle | OmMamma – Yoga for Childbearing Years Joyce Branch | Birth Doula, The Rejuvenation Space Vernessa Holmes | WIC Breastfeeding Coordinator and Nutritionist Richmond City Health District Ang...

The City’s Chief Administrative Officer Byron Marshall today announced that Anedra Bourne has been selected as the Business Management Officer – Tourism Coordinator for the City’s Department of Economic and Community Development. Bourne will begin her new position on July 18, 2011. “Along with the recent hire of new Economic Development Director Lee Downey, Anedra’s talents as tourism coordinator will bolster the Mayor’s strategy for a Richmond centric approach to marketing by creating energy for tourism in our city,” said Marshall. “She will work with a diverse group that includes civic, public, and private stakeholders to lead the implementation of recommendations that will emerge from the Mayor’s Tourism Commission. Most recently, Bourne served as the director of marketing and public relations for the American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar, where she was instrumental in the museum's grand opening in 2006 as well as the center's recent designation as the "G...