About Kathy Graziano
Kathy Graziano Bio
Kathy Graziano has been a resident of Richmond and of the Fourth District for more than 35 years. Her children played in Forest Hill Park and now her grandchildren come to the park.
Kathy has been active in parent teacher organizations, in her civic associations and for a number of years worked in the General Assembly representing non-profit organizations.
She has served the city on the Electoral Board, the Richmond Ambulance Authority, the City Personnel board, and a number of other boards and commissions.
She hit the ground running in January, 2005. Her first measure introduced and passed successfully was an expansion of the tax abatement plan for senior and the handicapped. She followed that this year, with another expansion of the plan. She is also the patron of the measure to extend the tax credits for rehabilitation of residential properties.
She organized a funding plan and put it into place for vitally-needed upgrades for Forest Hill Park. She promised a greater police presence in the parks, and the police have responded with great success.
In the Huguenot area, Kathy is also the driving force behind the development of the Lewis G. Larus Park as a nature park.
Kathy is also the patron for a conservation easement for James River Park, a plan that will forever protect the park from development pressures. The resolution has passed Council unanimously, and is being negotiated now, with final passage expected this summer
She promised to support more police on the streets, lobbied with the Mayor, and is s strong supporter of the plan for 50 more patrol officers and more officers on the streets of the Fourth District.
Kathy was also a strong supporter of the performing arts center as an economic stimulus for Downtown Richmond. In addition, she crafted the creation of an economic development consortium for Downtown Richmond that, this year, will result in a $200,000 savings for the city, while providing more cooperation between downtown organizations.
Kathy holds quarterly district meetings for residents, and so far more than 500 residents have attended, to receive help with real estate assessments or to file tax abatement plans, to hear briefings from public safety officers, or to discuss service delivery issues. Kathy also does a quarterly newsletter that reaches more than 7,000 homes in the district, providing contact information on city services, advise on new programs or activities, and general briefings on Council and city programs.
