Kevin Lynch is circulating a document about the city budget, providing his take on the financial problems faced by the city, how money should be allocated within the budget, and offering short- and long-term solutions to budget problems. It’s a great read and, frankly, I’m really impressed that he put together this 14-page, single-spaced document. It was a little over a year ago that Kevin provided detailed answers to the questions provided by folks on cvillenews.com on the matter of the Meadowcreek Parkway; the point being that this isn’t new territory for him. Download it here as a PDF (116k), and check out tonight’s City Council meeting to see the submission of the draft budget proposal. 03/08 Update: John Yellig has a story about the white paper in today’s Progress.
Author Archive for Waldo Jaquith
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In December, City Council asked City Manager Gary O’Connell to prepare two budgets, one maintaining the $1.09 real estate tax and one cutting it to $1.07. O’Connell will end up proposing a cut to $1.05, the biggest drop in a quarter-century, at Monday night’s City Council meeting. The $106M budget is up 5.5% from last year’s $100.4M budget. One notable cut includes the Percent for Art fund, which sends 1% of capital improvement project funding to public art. John Yellig had the story in Friday’s Progress.
Homelessness is on the rise in the area, according to a census released by the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. The number of homeless in C’ville, Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa and Nelson has climbed from 156 to 175, though the number that are without any type of shelter has declined, thanks to People And Congregations Engaged in Ministry. 45% of the homeless people surveyed hold down full- or part-time jobs (but can’t save enough money for first and last month’s rent on an apartment), 5% have panhandled, 6% have received Social Security, and just 3% have received unemployment. Since last fall, PACEM has been taking in homeless men who would otherwise by denied entry to other facilities, a result of the gap between the Salvation Army (sobriety required) and the Mohr Center (serious intoxication required). John Yellig had the story in yesterday’s Progress.
Delegate Mitch Van Yahres (D-Charlottesville) announced this evening that he will not be running for reelection. After 24 years in office, Mitch has cited both age and the need for a new generation of leadership as reasons ending his lengthy service in the House of Delegates. Cue a half dozen Democrats and one foolish brave Republican declaring their candidacy. Press release follows, and the Progress already has a story by Bob Gibson on their website, which is impressive.
Continue reading ‘Van Yahres to Retire’
Board of Supervisors Chair Dennis Rooker, elected in the Jack Jouett district, has announced that he will run for re-election in this November’s election, hoping for a second four-year term. Rooker cites his desire to complete the work that he’s started, including the rural areas portion of the Comprehensive Plan, solving the water shortage, and instituting a mountaintop protection ordinance. Julie Stavitski has the story in today’s Progress.
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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