Big_Al writes: Interesting article about the Jefferson School debate in today’s Washington Post. It seems to spell out most of the issues better than what I’ve seen in the local media.
Full disclosure: this reporter is a candidate for Charlottesville City Council. I’m told that this coverage is courtesy of City Council candidate Alexandria Searls, who convinced the Post to come down here and do the story.
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 four six 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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The article says there’s a debate on the Jefferson School’s future. What debate? It looks like Caravatti and Cox already caved in the face of community opposition. The only debate is what taxes will they raise to pay for the refurbishment? As the Post article says this was all discussed in secret. Anything important the city hides from us. Let’s elect a city counselor who understands the Sunshine Law and stops any discussion in “executive session” of matters not actually confidential. Then they’d have to fling open the closed doors.
“Let’s elect a city counselor who understands the Sunshine Law and stops any discussion in “executive session” of matters not actually confidential. Then they’d have to fling open the closed doors.”
Nice thought, however it will never happen. For years I have watched the wide-eyed become politicans and almost all succumb to goverment group think. They get chummy with staff, are loathed to fire people, and their day-to-day real life cause them to have to trust staff when the probably shouldn’t have.
Unless the canidate was rich, this pattern has repeated itself for years. Maybe this will be different-I remain hopeful.
Yes I take your point. A few years on city council and the “collegiality” takes on a life of its own–people let things slide just to avoid seeming a troublemaker. Good reason for getting rid of incumbents. We need fresh idealism; a “renewed capacity for outrage.” I don’t know about firing staffers though. Firing is rarely the right response to simple laziness about complying with awkward open-door rules. All we need is people who have a greater sense of integrity about obeying the law and not cutting corners.
We need people on City Council who are in touch with reality and know what the people of Charlottesville are all about.
What do you mean by “in touch with reality”? What is being said about the current crop of city councilors?
What do you mean by “in touch with reality”?
Great question, there are many days i have trouble stating that my world is “reality”.
As for firing people, I can’t think of a better way to reward the hard-working then to rid a organizaton of deadwood. For the most part government workers are good and true. But we have all met those who distain for work is only matched by the smugness of the knowledge they can’t be fired.
PO
Absolutely – there are people working for the City of whom their colleagues have said things like “Thank God she retires in four years.” Non-performance seems to be tolerated at a level that would never be acceptable in the private sector. The level of customer service provided by these employees is beyond unacceptable. Complain and absolutely nothing happens.