Monthly Archive for June, 2007

Page 2 of 4

Whisper Ridge Employees Indicted

Published by Waldo Jaquith on June 21, 2007 in Law and Justice. 4 Comments

The director of operations at Whisper Ridge Behavioral Health System has pleaded guilty to attempted carnal knowledge of a minor in her care, the Daily Progress reported yesterday. Bianca Nicole Johnson has been sentenced to a year’s probation, and is cooperating in the cases against four other employees indicted on similar charges. The facility (formerly known as The Brown Schools, formerly known as The Millmont Center, and I think it was Charter before that) has been in trouble time and time again for sexual assault, an inability to deal with their own patients, even human rights violations.

And Whisper Ridge changes their name again in 3…2…1…

Police Want Cameras Downtown

Published by Waldo Jaquith on June 21, 2007 in Crime and Law and Justice. 36 Comments

The Charlottesville Police want to install 30 cameras to monitor your every movement while downtown, Seth Rosen writes in today’s Progress. The two city councilors contacted for the story both expressed unease at the proposal, with Kendra Hamilton citing George Orwell’s “1984.” The cost of the cameras alone is estimated at $300,000. It’s my understanding that the crime downtown is quite low, in proportion to the population, a result of there being so many eyes on would-be criminals most of the time. Wouldn’t it make more sense to propose an CCTV installation in the areas with the most crime?

Kleeman Announces Council Campaign

Published by Waldo Jaquith on June 20, 2007 in Politics. 3 Comments

Democrat Peter Kleeman launched his independent bid for election to Charlottesville’s City Council on Monday, Sean Tubbs reports for Charlottesville Tomorrow. In a ten-minute presentation in front of City Hall, Kleeman explained why he’s running and what he’d like to accomplish. He listed his top issues as public involvement, transportation challenges, growth & environment, and issues related to neighborhoods. With degrees from MIT and Harvard, Kleeman’s background as a transportation planner and his years as a fixture at City Council meetings will make him a formidable candidate.

Charlottesville Tomorrow provides video of his announcement:

Peter Kleeman is well-known and well-liked among progressive Democrats in Charlottesville. His candidacy will present a real conundrum for many Democrats, split between supporting the Democratic ticket and supporting an old friend running as an independent. At times like this, I’m glad I live in the county — there’s just no way that I could fail to support Peter, but now I get to rely on the “I can’t vote” excuse.

UVa Provides Same-Sex Benefits

Published by Waldo Jaquith on June 18, 2007 in UVa. 20 Comments

In a press release, UVa has announced they’re providing at least one benefit to same-sex couples:

Effective immediately, current full-time students, as well as faculty and staff members who are eligible for University benefits, will be able to sponsor one adult (18 years or older) who resides in the same household for a University Recreation membership. All other existing policies related to membership, including family membership, remain unchanged.

The Plus One program is being implemented as a result of a recent opinion — issued June 7, 2007 — by Virginia Attorney General Robert F. McDonnell. The opinion, which was requested by the University, states “the University of Virginia is authorized to provide a recreational gym membership to an adult who is not a spouse and who lives in the household of an employee or student.”

It looks like both the university and McDonnell are treating this gingerly.

Rt. 29 Sinkhole Returns Again

Published by Waldo Jaquith on June 18, 2007 in Transportation. 18 Comments

Remember the sinkhole that opened up on 29 near Hollymead last year? Remember that it had opened up the year before that? Last time around they repaired it in something like three days, and I’d suggested a week might be better if they could fix it for good. NBC-29 reports that that the same sinkhole has opened again. One lane of southbound traffic is shut down.

Sideblog