A couple of weeks ago, the much-debated Hollymead Town Center project, a huge shopping center under development in Hollymead (which is not, in fact, a town) was the victim of some $30,000 in vandalism. But it wasn’t your regular vandalism — the perps left a banner reading “Your construction = long-term destruction — ELF.” The Earth Liberation Front describes themselves as “an international underground organization that uses direct action in the form of economic sabotage to stop the destruction of the natural environment.” They estimate that they’ve done $100M in damage to those businesses who “profit from the destruction of life and the planet.” ELF issued a press release taking credit for the attack, describing the action as “part of the ELF’s ongoing actions against large-scale developments going up at the expense of what little green space is left in North America.” Lisa Provence has the story in The Hook.
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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HA, commando hippies on the loose! Well, the day they actually kill a innocent, all hell will break loose.
BTW, what a lame name ELF. "I am part of a mass terrorist organization called ELF, hear me roar".
UPDATE in the other news – There are still people on the construction site of the HTC working. I guess ELF’s raid didn’t work.
Oh yeah, WOW nice link to the HTC site. Boy I forgot how many people here didnt’ want that thing. Yet Best Buy and Albemarle Town Center were going to take the cake.
GO BYPASS!
<sigh>
ELF’s goal is a noble one, but their tactics suck. "Economic sabotage" equals info campaigns, boycotting and the like. While I agree that the environment should be protected, and that many people, including the developers of large shopping malls, are causing massive harm to the environment without considering the long-term consequences, resorting to violence only discredits the cause. Why should I pay attention to any group like ELF as anything other than a bunch of vandals? Committing violence in the name of environmentalism simply hurts the cause.
BTW, what a lame name ELF. “I am part of a mass terrorist organization called ELF, hear me roar”.
Almost as stupid as the Animal Liberation Front.
One word for these folks: losers!
and if they get caught, they should be treated like terrorists. ship em off to guantanamo!
Where are all of the people that think some grownth in Charlottesville is ok? Now im not suggesting that we should become New York City or anything but I at least would like to be able to go shopping without driving an hour to Richmond or Fredericksburg. The county is losing tons of tax dollars (which they could be using to fix the horrible traffic in many places) because people spend their money out of town rather than here. You all should really visit the sites of the new centers. http://www.albemarleplace.com http://www.northpointecharlottesville.com. I graduated from high school recently and you would be surprised how having nothing to do affects teens (drinking habits). Now in my opinion the county and city are very hard on developers and I feel that all the old conservative-types should stop trying to stiffle growth. WE ARE A LONNNNGGG WAY from becoming a major city!
One last thing.. As a resident along Rio Road, I am tired of people holding back this meadowcreek parkway because they dont like the idea of a narrow strip being paved to ease congestion on Rio. Most, if not all, of the people who complain probably live no where near the hectic congested Rio Road. Imagine siting in front of your neighborhood for 10 minutes just because you want to turn left and the traffic is so heavy.