Lucas also became the de-facto Twitter spokeswoman for Richmond Democrats this year, launching taunting tweets at Gov. The $300 million project includes a casino, restaurant, hotel and event center. Two years later, construction has begun on Rivers Casino Portsmouth, at the intersection of Victory Boulevard and Freedom Avenue. “I think the legislature has finally realized exactly how much money we’ve been losing, not just from people going across the state lines going to casinos all across this nation, but I think they realize how many dollars we’ve had that we could’ve been using for our own roads and schools and just a multitude of things we could’ve taken care of had we passed something like this 20 years ago,” Lucas told The Virginian-Pilot in 2020. Those efforts finally paid off at the state level in 2020, when Virginia legalized gambling in five cities, including Portsmouth and Norfolk.Īt the time, Lucas called the victory “surreal.” Lucas, a longtime Democratic state senator from Portsmouth, has spent most of her 20-year tenure in the legislature pushing for a casino in her city. The Virginia Beach City Council gave the development group more time to finish financing plans at a November meeting. He’s still part of a long-planned surf park project at the old Dome site at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.
Last fall, Williams also opened Yellowhab, a tuition-free private school in Norfolk for students from low-income families. He is part of a group vying to redevelop Military Circle in Norfolk into an arena, hotel, housing and offices. However, Williams is still involved with several development projects in the region. In a letter to Virginia Beach City Manager Patrick Duhaney, Williams expressed his disappointment with the handling of his cousin’s death and said the city was run by “toxic energy,” mentioning the narratives created after his cousin’s killing and the 2019 mass shooting at the city municipal complex. While other hospital systems made the decision to furlough and lay off team members, Downey said system leaders felt that in order to handle the crisis long term, they needed everyone engaged and ready.Īfter being canceled for two years because of the coronavirus pandemic, Williams chose not to bring the festival back to the city after a Virginia Beach police officer shot and killed his cousin Donovon Lynch during a chaotic night at the Oceanfront in March 2021. He took over his current position 10 years ago.Īside from the expansions and renovations under Downey’s watch that included replacing two hospitals, adding a new one and rebuilding a retirement community, he was faced with maintaining fluidity during the coronavirus breakout.ĭowney said those coordinated efforts across the Riverside Health System, which employs approximately 9,500 people, was nothing short of phenomenal. Stints at two other hospitals - one in Salem and another in Hudson, Florida - followed before Downey’s return in 2001. He returned again, for 10 years of service, in 1985 after he earned his master’s degree in health administration. “Bill” Downey, CEO, Riverside Health System (Alexander Kravets) Bill DowneyĬEO William “Bill” Downey first joined Riverside Health System in 1981.
“There is really nothing like it that exists anywhere in the country.”ĭahling said in a news release that the hospital has a history of identifying needs and crafting visionary solutions that make it a true champion for children. “It’ll put Norfolk and our Hampton Roads area on the map for these type of services,” Lawson said. Initiated to fill a critical gap in a statewide shortage of pediatric mental health services, the state-of-the-art facility includes 60 private inpatient rooms with parental sleeping accommodations an outdoor recreation area indoor gym, music room and recording studio rooftop garden multisensory room and family lounge.
“It’s the best work I’ve ever done in my life,” Lawson said. And because the importance of the issue resonates with people, philanthropists and businesses in the region stepped up to help. Jordan Co., stepped in as the chair for the campaign that he said needed to galvanize support from every corner, as there was nothing more important to focus on than the pediatric mental health crisis.
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