Local Attorney Sues to Block Diamond District Funding Plan

Richmond, Va. (Newsradiowrva.com) - Richmond activist and attorney Paul Goldman has filed a lawsuit against city officials to block the funding method approved this week for the Diamond District, which includes a new ballpark for the Flying Squirrels.

Defendants in the suit include Mayor Stoney, Richmond City Council members, the Clerk of Richmond’s Circuit Court, and the City Clerk of Richmond.

Richmond City Council approved the funding plan on Wednesday, May 8.

The lawsuit centers around the use of $170 million in public improvement bonds to help finance the district’s $2.4 million mixed-development. Goldman argues that this approach bypasses the voices of Richmond residents and puts the burden on taxpayers, ultimately saddling them with loan paybacks.

“I am leading the fight against the $280 million stadium debt Mayor Stoney wants to saddle the city with for the same reason I led the winning fight against the Casino: this latest Stoney/Council deal doesn’t pass the smell test the way they done it,” Goldman said in a statement to our partners at 8News .

“They’re doing it in a way that will enable politicians and their cronies to hand out tens of millions in contracts without following city bidding laws because the goal is to give these financial benefits to the political friends of the politicians and make the people pay for it,” he continued.

Lincoln Saunders, Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Richmond, responded to the lawsuit and said the city will “continue the work and move this game-changing project forward.”