Although it’s easy to start a nonprofit, professionalizing & making it sustainable is another story—esp. when your focus is CJ reform, the “popularity” of which waxes & wanes among donors & legislators Rob took over as JFV ED when it was unclear if we could make that transition successfully 1/3
Rob Poggenklass@rpogge.bsky.social · 6d agoSome personal news: after 3 1/2 years, I’m moving on from @justicefwdva.bsky.social. Doing criminal legal reform with these public defenders has been enormously rewarding. I’m grateful to @bradleyrhaywood.bsky.social and others for the chance. The org will continue its essential work. 1/3
![In Staunton’s case, an unsolicited email from Flock’s CEO to its chief of police helped to turn the tide against the tech by baselessly casting residents’ objections to the technology as a “coordinated attack” by “activist groups who want to defund the police, weaken public safety, and normalize lawlessness.”
Edwards echoed this framing, saying that “there [are] a lot of powerful entities that want to see this technology go away.”
When asked to clarify, he alluded to “certain lobbyists that go to the General Assembly trying to tear this down,” but did not identify any critics by name.
Flock, for its part, has powerful entities behind it as it pushes to expand in Virginia and across the country. … Flock touted its value at $7.5 billion. By contrast, Justice Forward Virginia, which has emerged as a key opponent of Flock’s lobbyists at the General Assembly, reported revenues of just $126,200 on its most recent filing with the IRS.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:miqxzx56ytakczwpmev5fsj2/bafkreifl6nlltcwsrjoicxj52qx2dydhvpb35sq6rjwafn422tdn66dwoe)
