Belle writes: The current issue of C-Ville Weekly names and describes the 20 local persons whom it deems to most “shape life in our community.” Would perhaps some cvillenews.com folks like to take a crack at debunking the importance of some of the names on the list and suggesting alternatives?
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
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
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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OK, after giving it a bit of pause for others to take their stap at it, I’ll kick off the debunk-and-swap game.
I’ll swap DMB manager and local businessman Coran Capshaw for Atsushi Miura (I’m starting at the top of the C-Ville list). Capshaw is developing properties to connect the Downtown/UVa corridor, as well as owning development property in Fifeville, on Pantops, on the Mall, and the old industrial complex in Crozet. Miura just hosts some (self-identified) “counter-culture” shows. To my mind, Capshaw’s local importance eclipses Miura.
Odd that Waldo isn’t on there. He shapes life in Cville more so than 90% of the people on that list. Ditto for Hawes Spencer. A little animosity from his old command, perhaps.
I have to say, it’s quite telling how our mayor, Blake Caravati didn’t make it in. Pants-down, (ahh, I mean hands…) he’s the most bland and irrelevant member of council.
This article irked me so much with its title’s exclusivity that I almost couldn’t enjoy the profiles (which were interesting). If it had been “20 of Charlottesville’s Most Influential People,” it would probably taste just fine. But the whole idea that you can rank something so qualititative as “influence” is just plain silly — what is this, People magazine? Although I guess People has its following, I’ll be disappointed if that’s the editorial direction the new C-Ville is heading.
I’m not inclined to play any kind of substitution game because I don’t disagree that these folks shape Charlottesville life significantly. There are other folks that do more in some respects, less in other respects, than the people profiled in the article. The number of people who “shape life in our community” is a lot higher than 20.
I’ll swap DMB manager and local businessman Coran Capshaw for Atsushi Miura (I’m starting at the top of the C-Ville list). Capshaw is developing properties to connect the Downtown/UVa corridor, as well as owning development property in Fifeville, on Pantops, on the Mall, and the old industrial complex in Crozet.
It’s easy to play Monday morning quarterback on such lists (witness the letters to major magazines after they run “The Top X Ys Ever” type of stories), but the omission of both Coran and Dave Matthews does strike me as odd. They’re two of the most influential people in town.
While any list that highlights lesser known people who toil in obscurity is a good thing i would suggest the following:
Corey Harris:out good choice but a pale shadow next to DMB.
Replaced by Dave et al. How much do these guys have to give back before we realize the serious changes they have made?
Carter Myers:out This guy is done but he buys lot of ads
Replaced by Lee Middleditch. this guy has been in the middle of everything for what seems like forever. Most recently the county/city fire agreement.
The Mudhouse:out really good but not as big as
Tim Burgess and Vincent Derquenne the owners of bizou, metro, and bang. These guys change the the area of downtown food and drink more than anyone since the early days of the C&O.
John Gibson:out C-ville needs to stop it’s obsession with live arts. Run free ads but spare me the over the top praise. It’s awful close to incest
Replaced by John Grisham, This guy has put a ton of his own money and time into many areas of this town form Covescreek to Legal Aid. The man’s a giver.
Browning Porter: Out while he done alot for writing he hasn’t done as much for reading as
Hawes Spencer. Without Hawes there would be no C-ville and no HooK. You would just have the regress and the observer. Just think about that world for a moment. Also his theater has been improved without the subsidy of local goverment or wasteful fund raising.
“Blake Caravati didn’t make it in. Pants-down, (ahh, I mean hands…) he’s the most bland and irrelevant member of council.”
You forgot World class suck-up!
I agree with all of your debunk/swaps and reasons thereunto!
“To my mind, Capshaw’s local importance eclipses Miura.”
on the music front sure. But when I want good sushi Miura’s my man and that is of great importance to sushi lovers everywhere. Otherwise I would have to go to DC for my fix.
These rumors persist… do you think the man would be STUPID enough to actually do this on his own home turf? I can see heading up to D.C. or something but come on…
DMB and Coran really don’t need to be on this list. If you were to go for the “mega-stardom well-no-duh” kind of list, then you would just put the 20 most famous people on the list.
I think the list was meant to highlight some of the names that we don’t normally see. Granted, they still sold out to a few (Pete Gillen is just a basketball coach, and the political party chairmen and anyone from city council are also “no shit sherlock” choices). For the most part, however, the list does highlight some of the lesser known, but very involved names.
Could it be because Cville publisher Bill Chapman is in bed with both guys and doesn’t want to appear to be playing ‘favorites’ or acting as a suck up? Or because Coran and Dave loathed the old Cville as run by Hawes because Hawes had so much fun teasing the band for being a bunch of hotheads and Chapman wants to play kiss and make-up?
Discuss….