A Silver Spring, MD resident was recently barred from taking photos downtown, the WP reports. Why? It’s been taken over by private developers, and it’s no longer a public space, thus no First Amendment rights. This is precisely what I have in mind when I warn people about developments like Albemarle Place. They’re trouble. #
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
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 #
-
Archive for Sideblog »
That, and the fact that Silver Spring “downtown” is a seething cesspool of chain stores that was apparently conveniently built right over the poor part of town. I can’t stand the place.
Yeah, I’m not sure why anyone would want to take photos of Silver Spring, much less be there.
Marc Fisher continues to cover the story at his blog at the Post’s website. You probably know the blog, it’s quoted cvillenews.com’s proprietor a couple of times…
Really? That’s cool. I had no idea. :) Or, I may have had an idea and then forgotten, which is just as likely. :)
Oooohhh, yeah, I remember now. :) His blog, Raw Fisher, has quoted me a few times, which I think is a result of his interviewing me for an American Journalism Review article about Virginia political blogging a couple of years ago. He’s a nice guy.
Man, my memory sucks. I need to blog if for no other reason than to have a place to record things that I’m bound to forget.
One other odd situation that can be caused by the town center developments is the lack of local representation. From speaking with residents of Columbia Maryland, I’ve come to understand that the city is basically governed by a corporation. That means that if you have a dispute with a local policy, then you have no real way of addressing that through your local elected officials.
It seems to me that any of these artifical towns, should come with provisions that create true public space owned by the public, and also provide for future elected representation when town or city status is merited. Otherwise, there’s a real risk of corporations really gaining frightening power over almost every aspect of our lives. Likewise, existing local governments must be vigilant not to give up too much power to these developments.
My family lived in Columbia when I was a kid, Lonnie — that’s precisely how it works. It’s very weird, very creepy.