(As of last Friday) Headed northbound on North Ave, very (very) roughly near the intersection with E. Norwood Ave.

I thought you were saying that the people in RVA reddit exaggerate their rent price? That the housing report showed lower prices than you'd expect from the way people talk on here? If I misunderstood, then I apologize. But I share the following from my experiences all the same, because the difference moving to this area was a surprise.

When renting an apartment (in a few northern states plus Maryland), I've never paid for water, or sewer, or trash, or security, or pest control as separate (but required to pay) fees. Those services/utilities were all included as part of the stated/advertised rental price (except "security" was not available at most places I've lived). Then my partner and I moved to Richmond last year. All the apartment "communities" had at least 4 of those 5 services/utilities as separate required fees. With all the fees added up (to the real price of rent), what had sounded like affordable rent (until we learned the truth), wasn't actually.

We ended up renting the one place we found advertising rent with water, sewer, and trash included in the advertised price (it's a half-house, not an apartment community). No security to pay for and I think pest control is included (we've had no need to check for that in the lease). But if I was renting a place that advertised as $1310 but I was required to pay security, trash, sewer/water, and pest control =$1425, then I'd absolutely say my rent is $1425 when talking to other people, yet I would write "$1310" when answering a survey or filling out any kind of relevant paperwork.

I bet that "nearly $1,400" doesn't include the required payment of water, sewer, trash, security, and sometimes pest control fees. Listed "rent" is not what people actually pay in many apartment "communities."
Most people expect to pay for electricity, internet/cable, and gas (if present) separately. Not including the other fees in the listed rent price, especially those which are a set-amount monthly fee (not based on usage) is just false advertising to make the rental price appear lower than it is.

When people include these required fees when they talk about how much their apartment costs to rent, they aren't telling lies, they're telling the real truth.

I wish I knew what the situation on that one was, just for the sake of my burning curiosity. Still I'm very glad that this subreddit taught me last year that the Active Calls website exists. It's interesting to learn which areas of the city (or even specific blocks) get a lot of calls. I've seen "officer down" on there a few times (but I've never heard/learned anything about what had happened). What amazes me is how often I see "IN-PROGRESS (Assault or battery by mob)" on there.

Yeah that's one of the sales pitches that I didn't want to deal with. Thanks!

It's important work.

Any return address on the envelopes? Any address on the checks? I know "call VCU" is not quality advice because which, out of a few thousand(?), phone numbers do you call but maybe looking up the address online will give you a number or two. Or call a general VCU info number? Maybe the police have heard about a scam?