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    Issues surrounding city blight were what originally brought the members of Virginia First Cities together more than two decades ago. Despite some real gains, there remains cause for concern, and it is why the recent water issues in Richmond are perhaps symptomatic of systemic issues that all Virginia local governments are facing head-on.

    The editorial board oversees the opinions section and pens editorials, with the board’s consensus, with the goal of offering perspective and contextualization to the Richmond Times-Dispatch’s daily coverage.

    The flames ripping through parts of Los Angeles and neighboring counties for the past week have been an unprecedented disaster, and persistent Santa Ana winds threaten to keep the smoke and horror going. At least 24 people have died and more than 40,000 acres have burned. Many residents will soon return to leveled neighborhoods, having watched via home security cameras or news feeds as the inferno engulfed their homes and businesses.

    Regarding Michael Paul Williams' diagnosis of Richmond's water crisis ("City Hall must tap into competence," Jan. 11), I couldn't agree more. It's only the latest instance of a long, depressing record of Richmond city mismanagement, incompetence and can-kicking.

    I commend Gov. Glenn Youngkin for proposing that the state give some relief on personal property (car) taxes (“Youngkin taking on car tax again,” Dec. 18). This effort will not have any lasting impact unless the state reins in the amount of real estate taxes localities can collect. This is w…

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