Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - Richmond mayor Levar Stoney on Tuesday delivered his final State of the City address at the Science Museum of Virginia.
Stoney, who has served eight years as mayor, spent much of his 40-minute speech talking about education in Richmond. He highlighted the increase in school funding over the course of his two terms, noting that the city has increased teachers’ pay by $12,000 a year each and allocated around $200 for new schools.
“We increased funding for [Richmond Public Schools] by almost 50%,” Stoney said during the speech. “The city provides almost three times more funding than the state requires. We do this because the state hasn’t stepped up, and we refuse to let our kids suffer because of it.”
Stoney also touted his administration’s progress in other areas, including improving roads and making gains in affordable housing. He said failed projects like Navy Hill and the Casino were not his defining moments and pointed to new ventures like the Riverfront Amphitheater and the Diamond District.
He also said that he will never forget July 1, 2020, when he ordered the removal of Confederate statues across the city.
“Those statues had to come down,” he said. “And they did, swiftly and without apology.”
Stoney has already announced that he is running for governor in 2025.
“I am proud to have helped rewrite Richmond’s story,” said Stoney. “I am proud to have done it with all of you by my side. It has been the greatest honor of my life.”
