The mayor speaks of the new “justice center” created on “his watch.” The same Sheriff C. T. Woody that he cites will tell you that without my administration doing the grunt work of dealing with the major prerequisites of gaining approval of the state Department of Corrections and the Department of General Services, it would have been most difficult. I appointed the task forces that spearheaded those advances. And we should not forget the money was in my budget for building a new jail.

My City of the Future plan outlined how we could have built 15 schools without raising a dime in new taxes. Jones chose not to follow that blueprint. Instead, his administration seized upon the plan to spend the money on pet projects and growing government, which have not shown meaningful returns.

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The mayor says he has $19 million to “tell Richmond’s story,” up from zero when he took office. Where will, or did, he get that money?

If he is referring to the funds former Gov. Bob McDonnell put in his final budget, Jones is off base. The state legislature will determine when and how that money is allocated and utilized — and if entrusting it to Jones’ discretion is wise and appropriate.