Redistricting may serve to isolate Charlottesville politically. I’d put money on it. #
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 #
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I would say we were already a political island. Drive 20 minutes away and people think of Cville much the way they think of Obama. Elitist, egg headed, ivory tower dwellers out of touch with the real world.
True or not, it is the reality of the perception.
Commence shelling.
Crozet is 20 minutes away.
And, done.
What counties can they add to the 5th that would add more Democrats?
Spend some quality time curled up with Dave’s Redistricting App, Cville Eye—you’ll find that you can basically do anything when redistricting. :)
I see what you’re saying. It’s fascinating.
I can’t even visit the site—before I know it, hours of my life have disappeared. :) And that’s just something that some guy put together as a hobby (which isn’t to knock it!)—the software that elected officials use is way more powerful. Caliper’s Mapitude for Redistricting is amazing. As I recall, it has some pretty questionable features, like the ability to pinpoint an incumbent’s home and automatically create a district that will skirt his house, or to mark two incumbents’ homes and put them in a district together. I mean, I don’t doubt that there’s a lot of demand for such features—I don’t fault Caliper for putting them in there.
With the existence of software this powerful containing built-in databases, I would like to see an investigation of putting redistricting in the hands of an independent commission or a body made up of retired judges.