Who’s Got Your Vote: Meet Maurice Neblett

Rich: Welcome to RVA’s Got Issues, a podcast about politics and public affairs in and around Richmond, Virginia. I’m your host, Rich Meagher. On this special election episode, RVA’s Got Issues with the Richmond mayoral election. Five candidates are vying to be Richmond’s next mayor. Each one wants to be the key decision maker that will shape the future of the city and the region. RVA’s We’ll sit down with the candidates for an in-depth conversation about who they are, what they plan to do, and why they should be the choice of Richmond’s voters in November. We’re joined now by Maurice Neblett, an entrepreneur and community organizer. Welcome Maurice.

Neblett: Hello, Rich. Thank you. Thank you for having me.

Q: Great. Thanks for being here. Now, you’ve been open about your upbringing and its difficulties, right? That your mom passed away when you were young. you kind of bounced around public housing, different schools. But in the midst of these challenges, you say you gravitated towards being a protector on that seems to have anchored you. Can you tell us a little bit about what that means to you that term protector?

A: So being a protector, you know, what it means to me is to ensure that every citizen in the city of Richmond is safe. You know, in each and every neighborhood, it’s about inclusivity. It’s about making sure that everyone’s feels positive and everyone has opportunity for growth. You know, it’s difficult to feel unsafe and expected to think positive and expect to perform well. So, I believe that being a protector gives individuals opportunity, opportunity for life, liberty, and a pursuit of happiness.

Q: And so, is it that, that’s the kind of opportunity that you weren’t able to experience when you were growing up?

A: Yes, sir. So, coming down to it, when I was growing up, you know, my mother, unfortunately, sometimes I wasn’t able to see her, see her. She was abused. So, that was an aspect I vowed to myself. Once I, reached 12 years old, I would be able to protect my mother. Unfortunately, you know, my mother did pass away before that, and it stayed with me. Stay with me and understand in an environment that I was living in, there were other individuals going through the same thing that I was going through. And then also individuals like my mother.

Rich: And so, is it that this quest to become Richmond mayor is one way that you might be able to protect folks like that?

Maurice: Yes, sir. Yes, sir.

Rich: And so how? How do you think the role of mayor, I mean, there’s lots of different roles you could take on, right? So, what is it about the role of mayor that appeals to you as a kind of protector role?

Maurice: I mean, it appeals to me because, you know, I’m from Richmond. I’m homegrown. You know, the challenges, I share the challenges that most Richmonders face. I’ve witnessed, you know, unfortunate circumstances that individuals have been victimized, while being victimized as well. So, the thing is, you know, I want to make sure that we have a physical safety, we have a financial safety net, and then just to ensure that we have self-sustainability for our future in the city of Richmond.

Q: So, a lot of people, I think, would have been derailed by the kinds of experiences you had as a kid. But here you are, running for mayor of Richmond. You called yourself a true son of Richmond. Can you talk more about what made the difference? For you that allowed you to rise through and that might make a difference for others.

Maurice: So, when I was a child, I believe at the time I was at Fairfax Elementary School, and I had the vision I saw. I had no idea that I was going to be a politician, and I’m like, what is that, you know, I had no one I could look up to, and I had no one I could really discuss that with, I had no idea, and the thing was that I had a vision, and I thought it was when I retired, right, because I saw white hair, I was older. But, you know, at 35, you know, I have white hair, so it all makes sense. It’s all coming together, you know, now. But one thing that they can, they can always reference is, you know, to live in the environment, but do not become your environment. That’s what got me through. I had to always remind myself, live in the environment, but not become their environment. Because there’s a bigger purpose. And today, this is the purpose. The purpose is, like, as you mentioned, to protect individuals in the community and make sure that our city thrives as well.

Q: So that kind of approach, right, where does that come from? Does that come from within? Did you kind of find it in yourself? Does someone teach it to you? Like, how do you learn that to live in the environment but not become of it?

A: So, it came through prayer. I faced a lot of challenges, a lot of disappointments as a child. Being in an environment where, you know, you had not much guidance, you know. The guidance came from above, and that’s where the notion, that’s where it came from, you know, live in your environment but not become your environment. And I had to stay focused. I had the opportunity to join the safety patrol in school. It was pretty, it was pretty great. It was pretty good. It gave me a sense of responsibility. It gave me a sense of responsibility. Being able to protect, you know, and it started, it really started, it started there, you know, as a child and even for me to even run for mayor.

Q: Who knows what happens when they hand out those badges right?

A: Right, right, right.

Q: Yeah. So, you use this term that I’m really struck by, right? And you’ve used it a couple of times before, I think, like that you describe yourself as a true son of Richmond. Like, what do you mean by that?

A: So, when you hear the term, it takes a village to raise a child. Literally. I am a that child. You know, it’s been circumstances where, as you mentioned, I live from place to place and, you know, I’ve lived with different individuals in the community along the way, and no one had custody of me for like a very long time. So, I’ve learned a lot. I learned a lot from, you know, individuals at community centers. And I can name them, thank them. I thank them all. You know, individually at the community centers, like the Boys and Girls Club, you know. My teachers in school, you know, that were there to, you know, to comfort me through the time, the hard times, and the heartaches. You know, and then when you have the huts. We call them the huts, but they still another community sector in the area where it really provided us, you know, opportunity to eat. You know, it was breakfast and lunch and that was the only meal I had. Then also, the community centers and inner neighborhoods as well, other than the Boys and Girls Club, but similar though. Just learning from individuals, and also with me being in a system, being in, um, group homes, right? There’s people that I’ve met. That have made a great impact on my life that helped me get to where I am today. I mean, I’m first-generation graduate of college. I had no one to talk to about that, you know, and I learned a lot from individuals in the community.

Q: So, Richmond could be considered a divided city. Not everyone has access to, a word you used before, opportunities, right? So, you make a big emphasis in your kind of policy arguments about career preparation, job preparation. How do you see that as, as working to, to make these opportunities happen for people in Richmond?

A: So, it’ll work by, you know, making sure that we take it to them, right? We don’t want to make it more, you know, difficult for them to reach the areas with some of the bus lines are not going to certain neighborhoods. And, you know, we want to make sure that we have community based vocational training. We want a place for training in schools also. For our youth, we need to introduce that early on, you know, starting in elementary school. We need to spark because that’s where it would spark. The spark having it happen would be a fourth grade. I mean, it’s unbelievable that I’m actually here but that’s where we need to start. We need to start the vocational training. In elementary school, we need to have community based vocational training as well. While we love the Richmond Technical Center, we need to start bringing the vocational and training centers back to the schools You know, that’s what I mean by bringing it back into the into the neighborhoods

Q: And so, I was wondering about this, right, because some of your opponents, other folks talk about like pre-K, they talk about investment in education, but you really see this sort of like job focus or vocational focus as really extending backward even into elementary school. And so why is that a better option than say some of these other options that might be out there in terms of investing in education?

A: Well, because I know certainly that there’s people that want to do in our community. They just feel that they do not have the opportunity but what comes with that is confidence and a skill set. So, we need to give them a skill set. We need to help build their confidence so they can contribute to our, our society. And I believe that’ll be, that’ll be our number one resolution.

Q: So, I like the idea, right? But as with sometimes ideas in mayoral campaigns, it sounds a little expensive, maybe a little difficult to happen. So how can you make this happen? Like what specifically could we do to make those opportunities available to kids in schools?

A: So, one thing as a community organizer, I work with nonprofit organizations and I know they’re nonprofit organizations that are in the mud. They’re doing the work and they are willing to partner with the city partner with, you know, Neblett administration when it comes to that. So that rolls over into the administration helping to help. We need to help the help so they can continue to work. It doesn’t take much. So, with that, we have to look at the procurement process and we have to cut the red tape.

Q: So easier to get funds and grants, I guess, to these like community organizations.

Maurice: Yes, sir. Access and resource.

Q: So, this raises a good question here about what is going on now in the city? Do you feel like, you know, you’re saying cut the red tape. Do you feel like there’s too much red tape now? Do you feel like it’s not easy now for the help to be helped, as you say?

A: Is difficult. I run into it a lot when one individual, well individuals to have nonprofits or businesses come to me asking for help. And the issue runs into the red tape, the bureaucracy and obtaining financial assistance or shelter so that they are able to operate their nonprofit, you know, so I believe is simple solutions and it just is going to just take someone to meet them at the table and give them access to the table.

Q: So, speaking of red tape, like speaking of, of government bureaucracy, you know, I think trust is a key ingredient for any mayor. I think there’s a little bit of distrust of city government right now, especially here in Richmond. Some high profile stories about meals taxes, the finance department that may have weakened people’s trust in city government. Now this will be your first experience working in government. So how would you rebuild trust in government as someone coming from outside?

A: So, and that’s the thing, you know, I’m coming from the inside. I’m coming from inside of the community. So, I’m familiar with the meals tax issue because a company came to me, you know, seeking help and I provided them that help. I laid out the evidence and errors, you know, that laid upon the city and that’s where we went forth with it and that’s why it was publicized in the media, in regards to the meals tax. So, with understanding the inner workings and the outer workings, because I believe the mass population is the people and that’s the most important aspect with the meals tax being designed to provide funding to our schools. We just recently really got the funding for it. I mean, it’s like we have to roll back and look and say what happened to the funds that we were supposed to be receiving, you know, along the way. So, coming in through that aspect of understanding the inner workings, I think that’s going to be the most effective, you know, when will it be a time that we have someone of the people represent the people. That’s the key.

Q: So, I kind of get this argument, right? It’s that, I like this idea, right? Outer workings, inner workings, but still, right? There is a sense that, you know, sometimes reformers are like, it’s easy. I will go in and fire everyone and we’ll just change everything, and it may not be that simple, right? So, what would you say to voters who would be worried about, you know, let’s say your lack of experience with city government or the fact that you haven’t worked in city government in order to fix it. Like how do you know about these inner workings?

A: Right. So, despite the fact that I lived them, right? I lived them on a day-to-day basis. I came up through foster care. I aged out of foster care. I had to start a business instead of being an exterior entrepreneur, which was successful. But also, you know, me reaching back to the community. You know, seeing the issues that they still faced, and some faced worse issues. You know? I believe that humility is a key component to being successful in this. But not only that though. I’m a first graduate of a college, you know, at Virginia University. I studied criminology and criminal justice, and with that unique approach, I believe that I have the skills to give us safer streets and, you know, give us a more sound and secure governance in this race. But what I’ll say is we have five of us that’s running. None of us have the experience, right? None of us, you know, none of us have been mayor, right? So, while we have attributes of leadership, you know, and characteristics, the key thing is, for me, what I’m here to offer is transparency, accountability. That’s what, from the beginning, my platform has been about, right? It’s about character and integrity. And that’s what I bring. The city needs character and integrity. Integrity more so than anything. What we’ve been having for so long is that corporate interests have been, you know, involved in running our city. And as we know now, we have a few candidates they have big bucks behind them. The thing is how can you be for the people, and you have the interests of the corporate individuals involved? You can’t be in a bed with both.

Q: So, I mean, I hear what you’re saying, right? And so, it’s this idea that character matters more than let’s say experience, particularly let’s say in government experience. And you’re arguing here, if I can summarize this, right, you’re arguing that it’s character and its experience. It’s just not necessarily experience in government that can make the difference.

A: Right. Well, so to clear that up, you know, it’s, you know, character doesn’t outweigh experience. Character is like the number one component, though. I mean, that’s the most important thing, Who are you? And how are you going to be? Not just when you’re in front of a microphone, like, what are those side conversations like. You know, how is your personality towards people? It’s important, and the experience aspect of it, I have it, you know, I can roll into some of the, I’m a compliance agent, right, so that’s a key component. I know the inner workings, like I said. It’s inside out, you know, and that’s important with developing policy and being able to meet, you know, the policy agreements, for the people. That’s the key. It’s not just about, you know, developing a policy, it’s about you being compliant, making sure you are being accountable for what you are offering the people. So, when it comes to experience, I can, we can draw up, you know, in line by line, what does it take to be a leader, right? You know, I’m a born leader. I’m a proven leader, you know, in the community, and I believe that I’m the most effective and the most important aspect to what this mayoral race needs. I’m the candidate of the people, for the people, and by the people. And experience, I have it, I have it. But when you look at the inner workings of governance part, we have so many and we have a lot of different components that operates the city, right? We have the finance department, you know, we have personnel, HR, you know. We have the mayor; we have the CAO. So, it’s, it’s the mayor’s playing an intermediate role, right? I’m looking to, you know, make sure that I bridge the gap with city, city council, you know, and, and the school board where we’ve seen what individuals would experience for so long. It seemed like they haven’t been able to work together. And we’re talking about inner governance, right? So, I believe that there’s other aspects of experience that’s needed, right? We need experience of someone who can relate to the people. We need someone who has a versatile skill set, right? So, while we look at the experience and the character and integrity, we need both. We need them on the plan. We need both of them at the table. And that’s what I would bring, you know, with this, I’m bringing the opportunity for Richmond to be at the table to their government. That’s important. So, I’m wise enough. And I know that that’s the most important thing for the city and its residents to run the city.

Q: Now, Maurice, I wanted to ask about a brutal encounter that you had with the Richmond police back in your college days. So, officers mistakenly entered the wrong apartment. They arrested you. I know there’s been a settlement, so you can’t really comment on it specifically, but it was reported extensively at the time, and it is a harrowing story. Without getting into details, is there anything you’d like voters to know about how this experience impacted your views of police and public safety?

A: So, you know, I had an aspiration always to protect, right? And with that, I wanted to be a law enforcement officer, right? So that was my aspiration. So, my view on law and order is well appreciated, right? The views of community and this is a national concern. The views of police and the community have been striking, you know, over the past years. And that’s the part of being able to give trust back to the community and being able to support officers that want to serve the community. Unfortunately, you have some bad actors in the nation that are in police departments, and they make it an eyesore for other officers who on a day to day basis buttoned up and tie their shoes to serve and protect and place their life on the line. And that’s what I want to make sure I bring back to Richmond. I want to make sure we have a strong community policing, and we want to make sure we have a community formation because, you know, that has to be a balance, the community has to be accountable as well. So, I want to give opportunity for us to work together in our communities.

Q: So, what do you mean by that, that the community needs to be accountable as well? Like, what do you mean?

A: So, when it comes to the accountability side of it, we have a duty as citizens, you know, to be a good Samaritan, to be a good neighbor. And that’s the key component to, you know, the community accountability. We want to give the trust though to them. It’s been a long time, you know, especially even with the governance that we have, you know, with a lot of misappropriation of funds and corruption. And we have to build that trust back, you know, but it’s just going to take also another step for community members to step to the table and have opportunity at the table. And that’s what I want to make sure I have for them.

Q: So, I mean, this sounds like a, a fairly, optimistic approach to public safety. I mean, so some folks who have had negative encounters. With police in the past might be more inclined to kind of like write off the police or write off public safety. It sounds to me like you’re trying to be a little more, like literally constructive, like let’s construct a relationship between the community and the police. Why do you think that’s the right approach to take?

A: Well, see, the right approach really, you know, is for a mayor, as I will be the mayor to step up and step out and get involved. You know, with the police department, with the community, not leaving either side alone in this when it comes to training, I want to, you know, look at the efficiency. You know, I want to look at, you know, for the use of force continuum to incorporate mental health, skill building so that, you know, officers, when they arrive to a scene, they’re able to react. To someone who’s having a mental duress under mental duress. So that’s the aspect of it, and I believe that’ll work.

Q: So, more about, like, those kinds of specific training, I mean, that would be my other question, it’s like, it sounds great, right, how do you bring this connection together, the community and the police, but how do you do it? Is it training? Are there other things that you would do to try to make that connection happen?

A: Yeah. So, it’s other parts to, to, you know, really pulling everything together. You know, first of all, we need to promote, you know, the police department with grace, right? We want to give opportunity for individuals that are in the community to give them opportunity to join the police force because when you have individuals that are from the community, they understand the community. Interactions will be different. Then we also want to incentivize first responders to come back into the city. It’s unfortunate due to the unaffordable housing that we have first responders and other, you know, officials that live outside of the city. So, I believe that would be an aspect that’ll be a great resolution to that. And then also when it comes to the community, you know, giving them a seat at the table. Let’s have a conversation. Let’s talk about the issues. Let’s address the issues. And, you know, and not having any bias, you know, in regards to everyone’s point of view, because there’s a perspective and that’s the divide that you mentioned earlier.

Q: Yeah. You mentioned housing too, right? And that’s another big issue. Everybody agrees about that. I’ve heard less, I think, from you on that than some of the other candidates, at least like on your website, like there’s not a lot about housing. Is there any particular message about that from you? Are you feeling like housing is less of a priority than some of the other issues that you want to focus on or what do you think about housing and what Richmond needs to do about

A: So, you know, and this is, I even asked you this question, you know, today, are we better off than we were four, eight or 12 years ago? You know, if the answer is no, you know, the answer is clear to vote Neblett, you know. Reason being that we’ve had an increase of housing over the 12 years without resolution to individuals that were being displaced. And we’re not just talking about displacement of gentrification, we’re talking about taxes. You know, we have individuals or grandparents that have lost their home, they own their home, but they lost their home due to taxes. I mean, we have a program where, you know, they are able to have relief. You know, for tax relief, but it was so many loops and hoops they have to go through. It kind of became a deterrence. They actually lost that, that department, had to send back 2 million, you know, and it’s unfortunate because that’s 2 million that it could have covered and protected. Those individuals and help them with their legacy. You know, a lot of legacy is lost. A lot of history that’s in our city is lost on all sides.

Q: So, do you think we should cut the property tax, or are you arguing more for strengthening the tax rebate program?

A: So, we definitely look to strengthen the tax rebate program. I know we had some candidates that spoke on the real estate tax. They’re saying it was impossible. I understand Roday. He said it was impossible and it was a state issue because That’s the most revenue that we have in the city. And I believe that there’s something that we can do. I believe that no one should have to pay over 35 percent of the income, no matter what, what would pay a wage that you have throughout the city. The cost-of-living wages. That’s it doesn’t equate the economy.

Q: So how do you fix that? Right. I mean, I agree too, right? 35 percent it’s a lot, but how do you do that? I mean, is it about reducing housing costs? Is it about the taxes? Like what can you as mayor do to change that ratio?

A: So, it’s about who we have our pool about our partners You know, we have to bring in partners that understand what Richmond is going through the dynamic of Richmond. We have affordable housing, but it hadn’t been affordable for individuals for a long time We have voucher programs and I know the candidate mentioned that you know people choose to take their vouchers outside the city. That’s not true. It’s unfortunate that we have landlords that’s not accepting the vouchers in the city of Richmond. That’s like total displacement and it’s totally unfair. What we do need to do is look at the Maggie L Walker Land Trust. We need to utilize that. We need to bring in developers that understand and we don’t need just 10 units, you know, per builder. We need to commit to an affordable housing that’s going to be committed to that development itself. We need over 5,000 units to save people that’s on the streets. I mean, I’ve helped feed individuals that have their children, I mean, that doesn’t walk. They’re babies. You know, I’ve seen teenagers that are homeless with their parents. I mean, we’re sending them on a daily basis. Expectation that they still should be happy, and they still should meet the guides of our society expectations. And it’s not fair. It’s not fair when we have affordable housing. But who is it affordable to?

Q: So, it sounds to me like a theme that through some of these answers, right, in terms of like bringing people to the table and connecting folks, whether we’re housing or talking about other stuff, is about making these community connections and particularly partners, right? So how do you as mayor, like what kind of power do you have as mayor to forge those partnerships?

A: Well, first of all, it needs to be etched in our procurement process, you know. I mean, that’s just simple. You know, we can’t meet the guides for what Richmond need is that’s not what we’re going to select I mean, that’s simple when it comes to policy.

Q: Sorry go back to the procurement. Like when you’re buying stuff, when you’re giving money out as a city, you should be giving it or favoring community partners, folks in the city or folks who are helping. Like what do you mean by that?

A: So, I mean, let’s go with the policy hand in hand. When we write a requisition and we request them for contractors to aid us and, and development projects. I mean, the literature, you know, is at our stake. You know, the pen is mightier than a sword here. So, we just have to make sure that we include what Richmond needs and not just look at placing a band aid over an issue, but we’re not really resolving the issue at hand. If that makes sense.

Q: Yeah, so you want in the contract if this is what we need. These are the kinds of housing that we need you want to change the way that we’re sort of giving out the money.

A: Right. Yeah. We need to do business with people that understands Richmond, understands the history and it maintains the morals, the values that we have in Richmond. There’s companies that will participate. They have to have the opportunity to do so.

Q: Okay. Yeah. I was going to say, what if they say no? Like, what if there aren’t any companies out there? You believe that there are?

A: Yes, yes, I believe that they are. I mean, we’ve been giving incentives, you know, for over seven years. Incentive tax breaks. I mean, and we still have, you know, a housing crisis. I mean, it has to make sense. I mean, what else is there to give?

Q: Right. And so how do you navigate challenges to this? Right? Let’s say your step one doesn’t work. Like, you know, you’re like, well, we’re gonna look for these companies and then the companies aren’t there. What’s step two? Like what, what do you do next after that?

A: So, you know, when I spoke previously on the vocational aspects, I mean, we need to be self-sustainable, right? We need to give those training and skills to our community members that will participate. Nonprofit organizations that will participate. We have programs that that build homes right for individuals and let the individuals be a part of the home building process, right? So, if the tenant is going to be or the new homeowner is going to be a part of that program they have to go through training because you have OSHA standards that you still have to abide by, which I’m an OSHA professional as well. So, we can give the training to our citizens that want to participate. There are so many people that want to do the work. If we have to do it, self-sustainability is key. And, you know, and coming up to this upcoming presidential election, either way it go, it’s going to come down to the mayor having to make sure that they protect the city and its residents. So, we have to make sure that we are economically strong. We have to make sure that we’re strong and with our infrastructure and development and it’s going to come to us really putting our hands together and getting the work done. I’ll roll my sleeves up. I will work out there as well. And like I said, I know there’s other individuals and organizations that’ll do the same.

Q: So, what do you think, and this is kind of a broader question here, what do you think people get wrong about you as a candidate?

A: Well, well, one of which the experience, right? I’m not oblivious of the issues. I definitely have a plan that will be of strong resolution. And it comes down to being able to partner. with individuals. I’m a community organizer. I came up organizing and pulling people together and networking. That’s what it comes down to is there’s so many individuals that’s in our community and that are in our governance, that’s smart, that’s talented. And we need to allow them to, you know, express that. Express that in a way that is going to be beneficial to everyone in the city. Making sure that we have inclusivity, as well. So, I think what they have wrong is, you know, the understanding why I’m in the race, you know. I’m in the race because I want to make sure that people have opportunity again. I’m in a race to make sure that transparency and accountability is there. I mean, you hear it, and you see it around in the media and the news, and it’s even rolling off some of the candidates mouth now. That, you know, they, they speak of wholesome in the city and they speak of transparency and accountability. And that’s been my focus since the beginning, someone who some that may suspect that I don’t have any experience. Now, if I don’t have that much experience, why is it that we have candidates going the same route or taking the same approach that that I’ve mentioned, you know, and then we also have what we have now in the media is being the attention has been drawn. And I believe that that is important. And that’s showing the aspect of leadership. That’s showing the aspect of skill without even being in the seat.

Q: So, let me ask the question a different way too and get a thought. So, there are five candidates in this race, right? What’s specifically makes you best prepared for the challenges that Richmond’s gonna face over the next four years?

A: So, it makes me the best because I’m community bound, right? I can connect with the community. I’m of the community. I’m all about transparency and accountability. We need that for our city so that we’ll be able to move forward. We have the new way forward, you know, and also the character and integrity. Right? I have that, you know, even with, you know, the circumstances you mentioned earlier with RPD, you know, when people face challenges, it shows you who they really are, right? I’ve faced a lot of adversities, and I’m still able to be the great person that I am because I just know that you just hold on to a little bit of joy, even if it’s a mustard seed and it can grow. It can grow, and you know, and I’m appreciative of that. So, though I haven’t been in the political scene. I am not a part of the establishment, right? The city has been ran for so long by individuals a part of the establishment that have corporate interests that are basically influencing our city. I haven’t accepted funds from those because I’m putting the people first. That’s, that’s what needs to happen. I’m not the COVID Caesar, you know, but you know that I’m not the only individual in this race that doesn’t have the political experience for governing the city as mayor. When we look at Avula and we talk about COVID, COVID is over. You know, those shots are not going to stop the shots in our city. We have a gun violence issue in the city. I mean it’s gotten worse, you know. I mean, it’s increased substantially, you know, over the past four, eight and 12 years, you know. We have inconsistent candidates, you know, they say that, that we’re going to, they can’t do one thing. Now they’re saying they could do another. And we have candidates where all of us said that we would not run for office while we seat a current office, you know, in Addison is in the current seat. I mean, we talked about Levar running office as mayor, but then we have political candidates that are running for office now to run for mayor. I mean, it has to make sense. We need consistency, right?

Q: Yeah, and you said earlier too about this idea about corporate interests and things like that. I mean, there are candidates who are taking money from folks who are connected to some corporate interests. And, you know, it’s hard to resist that. Even when you’re in office, let’s say you win and some of the large corporations come by and say, we can help, let’s join with you, let’s be one of those partners. Is that a concern of yours?

Maurice: No, it’s not. I mean, yes. We wanna we want to have a conversation and seat at the table but the thing is that people have to be involved with making the decision. We have to lay it all out on a table so that city council can know what the plans are, and they don’t be left in the blind. We have to make sure that we have our school board representatives, school board members, they know what is at the table when it comes to our taxes. How much is gonna be allotted towards them? They need to have more purview. They need more access. They need more transparency and so when it comes to these corporate interests, I’m all welcome to seeing how we can come together and make our city great with each other. Right? But the citizens have to be involved. We have to have referendum over some basis, especially large projects, because the citizens have to pay that money back,.

Q: Right. And so, are you thinking that some of the other candidates might not be so interested in that kind of putting the community first?

A: Well, I’ll let VPM evaluate, you know, VPAP and who contributed what. You can’t be in a bed with both. I mean, how, how can you give the citizens a seat at the table when the corporate interest vote brought up all the seats?

Rich: Maurice Neblett is running for mayor of Richmond. Thanks so much,

Neblett: Yes, sir. Thank you, Rich.

Rich: If you’d like to hear more about the important issues facing RVA, and more from the inspiring people working on these issues, I hope you’ll subscribe to our podcast at our website, rvasgotissues.vpm.org. You can find my interviews with all five candidates on YouTube, VPM.org, or wherever you find your podcasts. I’m Rich Meagher, thanks for watching.