Any time that Republican City Councilor Rob Schilling finds himself in the majority on a split vote, things ain’t right at City Hall. City Council is looking to sell 9.2 acres of McIntire Park to VDOT, in order to create the Meadowcreek Parkway, but long-time Parkway-foes Mayor Maurice Cox and Councilor Kevin Lynch refuse to support the sale. In a recent press release, the two argue that four conditions were established by Council in 2000 under which they would agree to sell the land, and that none of them have been met. The Council majority, in a dueling press release, argues that those conditions “is either in place or continues to be negotiated,” and that the Parkway is “essential to the long-term economic viability of Charlottesville.” The reason that this split is important is that, under the Virginia Constitution, three-fourths of Council must agree to sell the land, or four members in total. In an effort to circumvent this, the majority on Council is seeking to essentially give away the land, rather than sell it, thus ducking the supermajority requirement. The subtext to all of this is that Vice Mayor Meredith Richards is up for reelection in May, as is Cox and Lynch. However, the most active Charlottesville Democrats, the ones that show up at the nomination convention, tend to be strongly anti-Parkway, and it appears that Richards’ position is endangering her ability to gain the nomination to run again. Liz Nelson has the story in the Daily Progress.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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