Title
To designate the 500 block of North 3rd Street in honor of the late John Mitchell, Jr. (6th District)
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WHEREAS, upon information and belief of Council, John Mitchell, Jr., was born enslaved on July 11, 1863, at the Laburnum Plantation in Richmond; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of Council, John Mitchell, Jr., graduated from the Richmond Normal High School and began an apprenticeship with the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington, D.C., with the support of Frederick Douglass; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of Council, following his education and training, John Mitchell, Jr.’s career endeavors included becoming editor at the Richmond Planet in 1884, serving as president of the National Afro-American Press Association, being elected alderman for Jackson Ward in 1892, running for Governor of Virginia in 1921, and becoming nationally prominent for social activism in anti-lynching and organizing one of the nation’s first bus boycotts in 1904; and
WHEREAS, upon information and belief of Council, John Mitchell, Jr., died on December 3, 1929, and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to memorialize John Mitchell, Jr.’s contributions to the political and cultural life of Jackson Ward and beyond by designating the 500 block of North 3rd Street in his honor as “John Mitchell Manor;” and
WHEREAS, because this designation is honorary only, the provisions of sections 8-7 through 8-10 of the Code of the City of Richmond (2020), as amended, do not apply to the designation made hereby or to any signs erected pursuant to this ordinance;
NOW, THEREFORE,
THE CITY OF RICHMOND HEREBY ORDAINS:
§ 1. Designation of Street Block for Honorary Name. The 500 block of North 3rd Street shall be designated in honor of John Mitchell, Jr., as “John Mitchell Manor,” pursuant to this ordinance.
§ 2. Effect of Designation. The designation of the 500 block of North 3rd Street made pursuant to this ordinance shall be honorary only, shall not replace the existing name of the road, and shall have no effect on the address of any property with an address on the designated road. The sole effect of designation pursuant to this ordinance shall be to authorize the placement of commemorative signs in accordance with this ordinance memorializing the designation in honor of the named person.
§ 3. Administration of Ordinance. The Department of Public Works shall implement this ordinance by installing, as soon as practicable after the adoption of this ordinance, and maintaining commemorative signs in accordance with this section. The commemorative signs shall be clearly distinct from the street signs used to identify the road in question such that a reasonable person could not conclude that the commemorative signs reflect the actual name of the road. The commemorative signs (i) shall be affixed to a sign pole installed at each end of the block designated in section 1 of this ordinance for the purpose of fulfilling the requirements of this section or to any existing sign identifying the block designated in section 1 of this ordinance located at each end of the block road designated in section 1 of this ordinance and (ii) shall bear the name “John Mitchell Manor,” as set forth in section 1 of this ordinance.
§ 4. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be in force and effect upon adoption.