Monthly Archive for January, 2005

Page 2 of 2

Progress Employees Get $8 Christmas Bonus

The good news is that Media General saw “a sharply higher profit” and beat analysts’ expectations for earnings in 4Q 2004, with their stock rising 6.6% on the news. The bad news is that they apparently hate their employees. At least, that’s the message that they seem to be sending with their round of Daily Progress Christmas bonuses, which consisted of a gift card. To Kroger. For $8. As one staffer pointed it out, “They could have made it an even $10.” As gone-on-to-better-things ex-Progress reporter Jake Mooney said, “You get the feeling they’re trying to be insulting– but you’re not sure. Maybe they’re just inconsiderate.” Lisa Provence has the story in this week’s Hook.

Election Study Results Released

On the heels of Council’s July decision to move city elections to November comes the newly-released results (PDF) of the citizen-based Charlottesville Elections Study Task Force’s review of the electoral process. Over the past few months, the bi-partisan group reviewed perceived problems with city government, looking at different proposed electoral solutions. The group made no recommendations, as per their mandate, only a review of the options, weighing the merits of each. Scenarios described include direct election of the mayor, increasing the number of councilors, non-partisan elections, moving to a ward system, and switching to instant runoff voting. Now the debate can begin as to whether or not any of these changes would be helpful. John Yellig has the story in today’s Progress.

Sideblog