Jones hails immigrants as inspiration

This new VA mayor, who is also a pastor, is telling his constituents that they have to work hard and help themselves, not just wait for the government to do everything. He uses the example of how hard new immigrants work to better themselves. DP

By Zachary Reid

On his first full day as mayor, Dwight C. Jones put Richmond on notice that hard times are here to stay and that the path to renewed prosperity doesn't necessarily go through City Hall.

The preacher politician pointed to the immigrant community, not the city's social service agencies, as the place to look for hope during a 35-minute sermon yesterday at the annual Emancipation Proclamation Day service at Fifth Baptist Church on Cary Street.

"These people who have been here 10 or 15 years have more than folks who've been here 100, 150 years," he said of the immigrant community.

They have more, Jones said, because they've been willing to live in crowded quarters and work long, often grueling days for the greater good of their families.

The problem, he said, is "we're unwilling to work like that."

Speaking to a nearly full house of more than 300 people, his message was heavy on spiritual intervention though not neglectful of the power of the local government he now leads.

One minute he was imploring the crowd to look to the power of God for answers, and the next he was asking everyone to roll up their sleeves and prepare to pitch in "like we haven't done in a long time."

"I wish this was good times," he said. "But we are living in bad times. I want you to know we are in a bad way today. If the recession hasn't touched you, just look two or three pews in front of you or behind you, and you'll see someone it has.

"It's not time to be passive about your church, and it's not time to be passive about your civic responsibilities."

Jones also challenged the local news media to share his passion, seemingly ending any debate over whether he'll continue to preach while serving his four years as mayor.
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