Podcasts about nikuyah walker

Round and round and round we go on this 333rd installment of Charlottesville Community Engagement. Where will we stop? In about 16 minutes if you’re listening to the podcast. If you’re reading it, that would depend on your pace, I suppose. Either way, this is February 17, 2022 and we are indeed one third of the way to a thousand editions of this program. I’m your host, Sean Tubbs, and I hope to be here for all three of the years it may take to get there. On today’s program:An update on former City Manager Tarron Richardson’s lawsuit against Charlottesville City CouncilThe Thomas Jefferson Planning District is working on two major housing initiativesA round-up of what’s happening in TJPDC communitiesLouisa Supervisors gets an update on water supply plan for Zion CrossroadsA closed-door group gets an early look at the University of Virginia’s master plan First Patreon-fueled shout-out goes to the Charlottesville Area Tree StewardsIn today’s first subscriber-supported Public Service Announcement, the Charlottesville Area Tree Stewards continues to offer classes this winter and spring to increase your awareness of our wooden neighbors and to prepare for the future. The next event is February 22 at 7 p.m. when tree steward Emily Ferguson will help you look beyond the monotonous winter forest by focusing on the finer details that will help you differentiate between species of trees. Learn more at charlottesvilleareatreestewards.org. (register for the February 22 session) And in the second shout-out, there’s still a long-time supporter who wants you to know: "Today is a great day to spread good cheer: reach out to an old friend, compliment a stranger, or pause for a moment of gratitude to savor a delight."Visit infocville.com and click on the Support the Info button to find out how you can support the show and get a shout-out!Richardson lawsuit update Both sides in a federal lawsuit filed by a former city manager against Charlottesville City Council have filed extensions requesting more time to file the next round of legal responses. Dr. Tarron Richardson sued Charlottesville City Council and several individuals by name in the Western District of Virginia last November alleging that the city had denied his first amendment rights by not allowing an op-ed to be published in the Daily Progress months after his resignation in September 2020. In addition to Council, former City Attorney John Blair, current City Attorney Lisa Robertson, former City Councilor Heather Hill, and former Mayor Nikuyah Walker are all named in the suit. Before resigning, Richardson had signed a release and waiver governing his $205,000 in severance that included a mutual non-disparagement clause. On January 26, an attorney for Lisa Robertson filed a motion asking for the suit against her to be thrown out. (read the motion)“The complaint does not state a claim against Robertson, as she did not personally deprive Plaintiff of his First Amendment rights,” reads that motion. “Plaintiff waived his claims against the City, as well as its employees and officials by signing the release.”The motion also states Robertson has qualified immunity and cannot be sued as a private individual. It goes on to refute Richardson’s claim that his publication of the op-ed was stopped by Robertson. Instead, the motion states the then interim city attorney warned Richardson’s counsel twice in February 2021 that the city could pursue action if he broke the non-disparagement clause. On February 8, Richardson’s attorneys filed a motion requesting more time to respond to Robertson’s request to be dismissed, a request granted by Judge Norman K. Moon on February 11. Charlottesville has hired Richard Milnor to represent the city and he filed a motion on January 20 requesting more time to respond to the initial complaint. On February 11, Milnor asked to have until February 28 to respond. Judge Norman K. Moon granted that extension. Yesterday, the suit turned 90 days old which triggered a notice to Richardson’s attorney that summons have not yet been served to Heather Hill, Nikuyah Walker, John Blair, or Robertson. Only the city of Charlottesville has received a summons. Land Use, Environment and Planning Committee to meet tomorrowA regularly-scheduled closed door meeting of planners from Albemarle, Charlottesville, and the University of Virginia is scheduled for tomorrow, and materials are now available from the last meeting.The Land Use, Environmental and Planning Committee (LUEPC) was created after November 2019 when the public Planning and Coordination Council which consisted of elected officials was disbanded. The group also consists of officials from the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority. In January, they got two briefings from the University of Virginia’s Office of the Architect. One was an update on the UVA Grounds Framework Plan, which is a master plan for UVA. The public Charlottesville-Albemarle Metropolitan Planning Organization got the same presentation a week later. (view the presentation)See also: UVA announces three sites for affordable housing projects, December 14, 2021MPO Policy Board briefed on the UVA Master Plan, February 1, 2022The second presentation was a four-slide review of the three sites the University of Virginia has selected as locations for up to 1,500 affordable housing units that would be build in partnership with a private developer. These are at the North Fork Discovery Park, Wertland Street, and the Piedmont site on Fontaine Avenue. Of those three, a rezoning application has been filed with Albemarle County for the North Fork site. (download)Third shout-out goes to Code for CharlottesvilleCode for Charlottesville is seeking volunteers with tech, data, design, and research skills to work on community service projects. Founded in September 2019, Code for Charlottesville has worked on projects such as an expungement project with the Legal Aid Justice Center, a map of Charlottesville streetlights, and the Charlottesville Housing Hub. Visit codeforcville.org to learn about those projects.TJDPC Roundtable: Fluvanna and Nelson both updating Comprehensive Plans this yearTo conclude the show today, let’s return to the February 10 meeting of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. Let’s start with a couple of staff reports. The TJPDC will work with a nonprofit partner to help prevent evictions through a pilot program with funding from the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development. (DHCD)“It’s $250,000 for Charlottesville and Albemarle County,” said executive director Christine Jacobs. “That grant actually will have a subrecipient and that will be Piedmont Housing Alliance and that will allow them to hire an eviction prevention case manager as well as a landlord outreach manager which was what we requested in the grant application.”Last year, the city of Charlottesville used $300,000 from American Rescue Plan Act funding to pay Legal Aid Justice Center to also work in the area of eviction prevention. Jacobs said the TJPDC used that funding as a local match to secure the DHCD grant.The TJPDC is also administering a $2 million grant from Virginia Housing to actually construct units. Jacobs said requests for proposals have been received and there three entities have been selected to proceed.“We will then have those three priority applicants submit their formal applications with all of their documentation and then a review panel will look at the feasibility of the project,” Jacobs said.Jacobs said the TJPDC Commissioners will be shown a recommendation at their meeting in April. Last year, the TJPDC completed a regional housing plan which has chapters for each of the six jurisdictions. Keith Smith represents Fluvanna County on the TJPDC Board. (plan website)“We’re starting our comp plan process and it looks like we’re going to be leaning pretty heavily on the work that the Regional Housing Partnership has done,” Smith said. Greene County Supervisor Dale Herring said his locality continues its separation from the Rapidan Service Authority. That entity did not want to proceed with Greene’s vision to create a new reservoir for an urban water supply. “For those who don’t know, we’ll stay with it until we actually own our own water authority,” Herring said. Greene County has recently created its own emergency medical services department and has offered to pay for full time firefighters. However, there may be an issue. “We had one fire department that has asked originally for four staff members,” Herring said. “They came back and asked for seven.” Herring said the county continues to hope to supplement fire service with volunteers, but numbers are dwindling. The TJPDC meetings are also an opportunity for urban communities to brief rural ones on trends that may affect them in the future. City Councilor Michael Payne shared information about the fundamentals informing the creation of the budget for next fiscal year.“We got our assessment increases and the average assessments were up eleven percent,” Payne said. “We’re beginning budget discussions and to afford everything currently in our budget, on top of that 11 percent increase will require a ten cent real estate tax increase.” The major driver is the renovations to Buford Middle School as a major plank in school reconfiguration, as well as an $10 million commitment to affordable housing projects. “So we are going to have to have some difficult, honest, and realistic conversations over the coming weeks about how to get our budget working,” Payne said. Another difficult conversation will be had when the public process related to the upgrade of the zoning code begins later this year. Planning Commission Chair Lyle-Solla Yates is a new member of the TJPDC and he said Rhodeside & Harwell and internal city staff are working on a review. “They’re doing an analysis of what we’ve got versus what our Comprehensive Plan says we need,” Solla-Yates said. “It’s going to be a big project and it’s going to be difficult. We should have something I’m recalling, an initial assessment in mid-April and once we have that we will go into public process and people will share their thoughts and feelings on zoning which is always a good thing.”Nelson County faces a lot of changes and challenges, according to Jesse Rutherford. He’s chair of both the Nelson Board of Supervisors as well as the TJPDC. A Comprehensive Plan review is soon to get underway. “And trying to figure out it is we can thrive as a community, which leads into the bigger thing which is even more important than the Comprehensive Plan - zoning,” Rutherford said. “How do you define things in rezoning? I think affordable housing has to be radically looked at and radically approached as opposed to pandered by the respective demographics in power. At the end of the day its about making sure that everybody and every income bracket has a place to live.” Rutherford said Nelson has many more people who are opting to work from home, and the county’s pledge for universal broadband by 2024 could accelerate a trend. “And we’re starting to see a change in the conversation of what does the future of a rural county look like,” Rutherford said. “Obviously preserving rural is such an interesting thing. Is it preserving trees? Is it water? For some people it’s culture.” That housing plan also has information for Nelson County. The TJPDC next meets on March 3. Louisa Board briefed on new intake for Zion Crossroads water supplyStaying regional to conclude this installment. The Louisa County Board of Supervisors got an update this Monday on the efforts of the James River Water Authority to secure a final permit to proceed with a plan to build a waterline between the James and Zion Crossroads for an urban water supply. One site for an intake is seriously contested by the Monacan Indian Nation because it on a major historical site called Rassawek. Archeological work has been conducted on a nearby site. “[GAI Consultants] who are the Authority’s current archeology consultant is very close to finalizing a phase one archeology report on alternative 1C and they are doing that in conjunction with Gray & Pape who are the Monacan’s selected archeologist so that’s a good team effort and that report is finished,” said Louisa County Administrator Christian Goodwin. If the Monacans agree, the JRWA will apply for a permit for that location from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as well as the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. “The attorney for the Monacan Indian Nation attended last week’s JRWA meeting and voiced the Monacan’s intent to continue supporting the project if the conditions are met, and those conditions being that we worked with their archeologist Gray & Pape and that no evidence of burials were found and that appears to be the route we are proceeding upon right now,” Goodwin said. The JRWA is next scheduled to meet on March 9. Support the program!Special announcement of a continuing promo with Ting! Are you interested in fast internet? Visit this site and enter your address to see if you can get service through Ting. If you decide to proceed to make the switch, you’ll get:Free installationSecond month of Ting service for freeA $75 gift card to the Downtown MallAdditionally, Ting will match your Substack subscription to support Town Crier Productions, the company that produces this newsletter and other community offerings. So, your $5 a month subscription yields $5 for TCP. Your $50 a year subscription yields $50 for TCP! The same goes for a $200 a year subscription! All goes to cover the costs of getting this newsletter out as often as possible. Learn more here! This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

We’re now less than a week away from the solstice, which takes place at precisely 10:59 a.m. on December 21 on the eastern coast of the United States. Until then we’ve got a few more days of lengthening night before the pendulum shifts back to light and the march to 2022 continues with new energy. Between now and then there will be a few installments of Charlottesville Community Engagement and this is the one for December 16, 2021. I’m your host, Sean Tubbs.Charlottesville Community Engagement is a great way to find out about what’s happening and how you can get involved It’s free to sign-up, but there are many opportunities to support the work!On today’s show:Brian Pinkston and Juandiego Wade are officially sworn in as City Councilors, as well as members of the Charlottesville School BoardVirginia Tech and a Richmond consortium have both been awarded half-million grants for economic development A pair of transit updates, including the fact that Charlottesville Area Transit will remain fare-free for four years The Charlottesville Planning Commission provides direction on Charlottesville’s next capital budget In today’s first Patreon-fueled shout-out, Code for Charlottesville is seeking volunteers with tech, data, design, and research skills to work on community service projects. Founded in September 2019, Code for Charlottesville has worked on projects with the Legal Aid Justice Center, the Charlottesville Fire Department, and the Charlottesville Office of Human Rights. Visit codeforcville.org to learn about those projects. COVID UpdateThe number of new COVID cases in Virginia continues to climb, but the percent positivity has dipped slightly. This morning the Virginia Department of Health reported another 3,688 new cases and 102 of those are in the Blue Ridge Health District. Statewide the seven-day percent positivity is 8.5 percent and in the BRHD it’s at 7.2 percent. New elected officials sworn-inThere are still 15 days left in 2021, and City Councilors Heather Hill and Nikuyah Walker have one more meeting on Monday. The near future became a little closer on Wednesday as two incoming City Councilors and three members of the Charlottesville School Board took the oath of office on the steps of Charlottesville Circuit Court. The School Board went first with newcomers Emily Dooley and Dom Morse sworn in individually with family members at their side. Second-termer Lisa Larson-Torres went next. Then it was time for City Councilor-elect Brian Pinkston followed by Juandiego Wade. I asked both if they are ready to take on the task. “You know, I think I’m as ready as I’ll ever be,” Pinkston said. “I joke that it’s a little like getting married or having a kid. You think what you’re getting into but it’s not what you expected. There’s good part and bad parts to that and so the short answer is yes. I’m ready. I’m excited about it. I’m going to roll up my sleeves and try to make a difference.” “I’m ready, I am prepared,” Wade said. “I feel like I’ve been preparing for this for the last years being connected and involved in the community. I feel like now is an opportunity for me to take my service and my commitment to the city to a different level.” In a separate ceremony that also took place yesterday morning, the members of the Albemarle Board of Supervisors were also sworn in, including newcomer Jim Andrews, who will represent the Samuel Miller District. Andrews joined third-term Supervisor Diantha McKeel (Jack Jouett) and two-term Supervisor Ned Gallaway (Rio). Transit updatesIn yesterday’s newsletter, there’s a lot of information about planning for a Regional Transit Vision that may include formation of an authority that could raise funds for expanded service. There’s also a second study underway to determine the feasibility of additional routes to serve urbanized portions of Albemarle County as well as Monticello. The results are in from a survey conducted on two potential scenarios according to Lucinda Shannon, a transportation planner with the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. (project website)“They found that most of the services that people selected in that public outreach was scenario 2 for all three of the areas which is a lot of microtransit connecting with some fixed routes,” Shannon said. The study also found that 98 percent of people who travel to Monticello do so in a car that they either own or rent. That’s based on 51 respondents. The U.S. 29 North survey got 104 responses and the Pantops survey got 54 respondents. The consultants hired for this project are Michael Baker International and Foursquare ITP. The next step is a Board of Supervisors meeting on January 19, according to Shannon. Charlottesville Area Transit will remain fare-free for the next four years. The Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transportation awarded a $1.07 million grant through the Transit Ridership Incentive Program. CAT had already put some of the American Rescue Plan Act funding for this purpose, and the new grant covers fares for an additional year. CAT Director Garland Williams said he anticipates planned route changes will soon be implemented. The adjustments have been through the public process. Williams briefed the Regional Transit Partnership at their meeting on December 2. “We’re still moving forward and hoping to be able to implement in January unless something changes,” Williams said. Learn more about those route changes on the Charlottesville Area Transit website at catchthecat.org. In other news, Jaunt’s new chief executive officer has named Karen Davis the transit agency’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer. Davis served as interim CEO for exactly a year after the Board asked former CEO Brad Sheffield to resign. Ted Rieck started work as CEO earlier this month after heading a similar transit agency in Tulsa, Oklahoma. *Infrastructure grantsTwo entities in Virginia have been awarded $500,000 planning grants from the federal government to increase infrastructure necessary to increase commerce and trade. The U.S. Economic Development Authority awarded Build Back Better Regional Challenge awards to Virginia Tech and the Virginia Biotechnology Research Partnership Authority for initiatives that seek to create “regional industry clusters.” Virginia Tech’s application is called The Future of Transportation Logistics and covers a wide section of southwest and southern Virginia. The idea is to accelerate the adoption of electric and automated vehicles. “Projections by the World Economic Forum expect freight demand to triple by 2050,” reads their application. “This growing demand poses challenges from environmental degradation to a strained transportation workforce.”The New River Valley region includes three truck manufacturers, including the national headquarters for Volvo. The work will involve building a coalition to share information as well as demonstration projects such as upgrading a section of Interstate 81 between Salem to Dublin to accommodate automated vehicles. The Virginia Biotechnology Research Partnership Authority covers the Richmond and Petersburg area and is intended to create an Advanced Pharmaceutical and Research and Development cluster. “A staggering 73% of Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-registered active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) manufacturing facilities are located outside the United States,” reads that application. ”Overseas pharmaceutical manufacturing not only poses a security risk but also takes essential jobs away from the U.S.”Both entities will now be eligible to apply for additional funding from the U.S. Economic Development Authority to implement the projects. Thanks to Route 50 for the information on this grant program. (read their article)In today’s second subscriber-supported public service announcement: The Charlottesville Jazz Society at cvillejazz.org is dedicated to the promotion, preservation, and perpetuation of all that  jazz, and there’s no time like now to find a time to get out and watch people love to play. The Charlottesville Jazz Society keeps a running list of what’s coming up at cvillejazz.org. Sign up for their newsletter today. Tree canopy declineAt their meeting on Tuesday, the Charlottesville Planning Commission held three public hearings on three big topics. But first, they got updates from various committees. Commissioner Jody Lahendro and he relayed news from the Tree Commission about the forthcoming tree canopy study. A preliminary report states that the percentage of the city covered by trees has shrunk by at least four percent since 2015. “Because of COVID, the flyover for this tree canopy study was done in 2018 so it’s dated now,” Lahendro said. “The news is not great as you might imagine.” Lahendro said the city had a tree canopy of 50 percent in 2004 and that declined to 47 percent in 2009. “In 2014 it went down to 45 percent and in 2018, this latest, it’s to 40 percent,” Lahendro said. When you break the city down by neighborhood, nine out of 19 recognized areas are below 40 percent. Lahendro said that is the point where both health and economic development is affected.“And then two of our districts — Starr Hill and 10th and Page — are below twenty percent,” Lahendro said. “Those are where significant detrimental effects are happening.” Lahendro said the city is projected to lose 360 ash trees to emerald ash borers over the next five years. The city can only afford to treat 30 trees. Charlottesville’s FY23-27 CIP discussionThe Charlottesville City Planning Commission has made its recommendations for how to amend the draft capital budget for the next five years. That came at the end of a public hearing Tuesday that featured a discussion with City Council. Elected officials will make the final decision next spring as they adopt a budget that will be prepared under the supervision of a yet-to-be-named interim city manager. (draft FY23-FY27 CIP presentation to Planning Commission) (adopted FY22 budget)The Commission got a look at the information at a work session on November 23, and heard it a second time from Senior Budget Analyst Krissy Hammill in advance of the public hearing. To recap, the capital budget is close to capacity due to the increase of spending in recent years, including a $75 million placeholder for the reconfiguration of middle schools. Council has also authorized a reorientation of priorities to find more money for the schools project. (previous story)“There were some large projects that were previously authorized to use bonds for that we unfunded essentially to be able to move them to get us to a place where we could increase the $25 million for the school project,” Hammill said. “That was the West Main Street project which was originally in the CIP at $18.25 million and the 7th Street Parking Garage which we unfunded about $5 million of that project.”Hammill said to pay for the projects, the city will need additional revenue and will not be able to add any more capital projects for many years unless they are paid for in cash. The city has had a AAA bond rating from Standards and Poor since 1964 and from Moody’s since 1973. “Essentially the AAA bond rating gives the city the opportunity to borrow money at the lowest cost available so that means that more dollars are going to the projects and less dollars are going towards interest,” Hammill said. Hammill said the city is in good financial shape, but funding future investments will be a struggle. At the work session, Hammill invited ideas for further reallocations from other projects. She also said that the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will likely not be a salvation for the city. “Many of us in finance have sort of been waiting in the wings to find out what would be available and it’s actually not a one size fits all and it doesn’t deliver on a lot of what we already have in our CIP,” Hammill said. “So it not going to help us address our financing problems largely.”Another issue is that many of the funding sources will require local matches. She pointed out one opportunity for Charlottesville Area Transit to raise up to $37 million, but the city would have to provide a $2 million match.“That’s not in our curent CIP,” Hammill said. Revisising the Strategic Investment AreaThe two bodies discussed many aspects of the capital budget, including whether or not several general interest line items should be given additional funds in the next year’s budget. Councilor Lloyd Snook questioned one of them related to a 2013 small area plan known as the Strategic Investment Area. “One example would be that we’re suggesting another $200,000 for this coming year and three years beyond that for the [Strategic Investment Area] immediate area implementation,” Snook said. “And that balance in that account is over a million and has been as far as I can tell over a million dollars for quite a while.”Alex Ikefuna, the interim director of the Office of Community Solutions and former director of Neighborhood Development Services, said that balance has been used to pay for a $228,000 study of a form-based code for the area. Nolan Stout reported in the February 4, 2020 Daily Progress on the current Council’s decision to put that plan on hold indefinitely. Ikefuna pointed to one example of how the funding in the account will be used.“We have a Pollocks Branch pedestrian bridge which is currently being finalized for construction,” Ikefuna said. “There are several other project within the SIA that consume that balance.”One of them is a project to upgrade the streetscape on Elliot Avenue in an area where dozens of new homes have been built in the Burnet Commons area. The public housing site at South First Street is also expanding in residential density. Ikefuna also said the SIA fund could also be used for additional costs that may be incurred at Piedmont Housing Alliance’s redevelopment of Friendship Court. “Part of the Friendship Court project includes infrastructure improvement because they have to break up that neighborhood and then integrate that into the city’s grid,” Ikefuna said. “And they may have a cost overrun.”Council approved $5.5 million for the project in October 2020. (read my story)The current year’s capital budget allocated $2 million in cash for the line item of “Friendship Court Infrastructure Improvements” as well as $394,841 for Phase 1 and $750,000 for Phase 2. The draft five-year capital plan anticipates spending $2.5 million on Phase 2 in FY23, and a total of $3.25 million for phase 3 and $4.5 million for Phase 4. Ikefuna also said there’s a project called the Elliott Avenue Streetscape for which a design is almost complete. Snook said Council is not given information about what any of these plans are. “I assume somebody has a plan but it’s not been revealed to us,” Snook said. “I look at the next item. Small area plans. We’re putting in another $100,000 in and the balance of the project is $496,000.” Outgoing City Councilor Heather Hill had one suggestion for where that funding could go. In July 2020, Council chose to proceed with a Smart Scale project over the opposition of some nearby residents and businesses. (July 22, 2020 story on Information Charlottesville)“The Grady / Preston / 10th intersection area related to one of the VDOT projects for Smart Scale funding was identified at that time as something we would want to have more planning around because there was a lot of resistance that there wasn’t a lot of community engagement when that proposed plan was coming to fruition,” Hill said. According to the application for that project, the preliminary engineering phase will not begin until December 2025. There is no design for the Smart Scale project, which was funded on a set of parameters. “Preston Avenue will be realigned to create a consolidated intersection at Preston Avenue / Grady Avenue / 10th Street,” reads the application. “New sidewalks will be constructed throughout the project limits.”Hoping for a sales tax referendumSeveral commissioners expressed concern about the enormity of the school reconfiguration project. The draft plan shows $2.5 million in FY23 and $72.5 million in FY24. Hammill has previously said the money needs to be in place when a contractor is hired for new construction and renovation of Buford Middle School. The school project has not yet come directly before the Planning Commission. “The amount of that project is the entirety of the five-year [capital] FY2017 budget,” Stolzenberg said. “It’s this elephant in the room but it does seem like Council and the School Board have approved the project.” The idea of a dedicated one-cent sales tax increase has been floated to be dedicated funding for the project, but the General Assembly will have to approve a bill allowing Charlottesville voters decide on whether to impose it.“I really, really hope that if we go through with it that the sales tax comes through and frees us from this burden,” Stolzenberg said. Later in the meeting, Commissioners discussed several potential recommendations. One was whether to recommend increasing the amount for affordable housing. Here’s what’s in the proposed CIP. $3 million for the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority in FY23, and $9 million in the out yearsA base of $925,000 a year into the Charlottesville Affordable Housing Fund $900,000 a year to the CRHA to administer additional housing vouchers $2.5 million for the second phase of Friendship Court In March, Council adopted an affordable housing plan that set an ambitious spending target for each year, as noted by Stolzenberg. “It’s recommendations are pretty clear,” Stolzenberg said. “Ten million a year. $2 million are tax relief. A million to administration. So it’s really $7 million in direct subsidy and that’s all on page 49 of the plan for reference.” Here’s what the PC’s recommendations are:Reduce funding for the 7th Street parking structure funding to the minimum amount necessary to satisfy Charlottesville’s commitment to provide parking for Albemarle County per a 2018 agreement related to the joint General District Court that will be under construction.Find more more funds for the line items of tree planting, new sidewalks, and bicycle infrastructure, and hazardous tree removal. Reduce funds going to the line item for economic development strategic initiatives, small area plans, and Strategic Investment Area implementationFully fund the Stribling Avenue sidewalk project that Southern Development has agreed to pay upfront for as part of a rezoning that Council will consider in early 2022.Explore ways to add enhancements to the Drewary Brown Bridge to honor the Bridge Builders, potentially using a portion of funds for the West Main Streetscape. Increase budget for Charlottesville Affordable Housing Fund and find ways to fund housing requests that were requested but not included in the draft budget, possibly directing any budget surpluses for this purpose. On Monday, City Council will hold first of two readings on a proposal to reallocate the $5.5 million surplus from FY21 to employee compensation and bonuses. They’ll also consider the transfer of $6.7 million in cash from a COVID reserve fund into the Capital Improvement Plan Contingency Fund. (staff report) This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Is there a name for the day before Thanksgiving? Feast’s Eve? Blackout Wednesday? Drinksgiving? Food Prepageddon? What about "I hope I didn't forget anything at the store because I'm not going back Day?” In any case, even though it is a holiday week, there’s still time for Charlottesville Community Engagement. I’m your host, Sean Tubbs. On today’s program:A jury has found that the organizers of the Unite the Right rally guilty of a civil conspiracy and awarded damages, but did not reach a verdict on other claims Governor Northam and the Virginia Service Commission honor two area churches for their COVID testing work since the pandemic began Former City Manager Tarron Richardson is suing the city Albemarle County will revisit its 21 year old policy on cell tower placementAlbemarle says goodbye to long-time budget chief, and a Dean at the UVA School of Architecture takes a new jobSines v. Kessler verdict After a month-long trial, a jury has awarded more than $25 million in damages to the plaintiffs of a civil lawsuit against organizers and participants of the Unite the Right Rally in August 2017. The jury in Sines v. Kessler held that plaintiffs proved their civil conspiracy case under Virginia law as well as their claim that the defendants engaged in racial, religious, or ethnic harassment. Under the conspiracy count, twelve defendants must pay $500,000 each in damages and five organizations must pay a million each. On the harassment count, five individuals must $250,000 each to two plaintiffs $250,000 in compensatory damages. However, the jury did not reach a verdict on a count claiming the defendants “engaged in a conspiracy to commit racially motivated violence in violation” of federal code. (42 U.S. Code § 1985 - Conspiracy to interfere with civil rights) They also deadlocked on a second count on the defendants failure to prevent the conspiracy. The jury also found that James F. Fields owes damages for an assault and battery claim to specific victims of his deliberate decision to drive into a crowd of people on 4th Street SE on August 12, 2017, as well as another count for intentional infliction of emotional distress. Fields is currently serving time for a criminal conviction on those charges. Read the full verdict on Court Listener. Former City Manager sues CharlottesvilleAnother former Charlottesville official is seeking legal action against the City of Charlottesville. The Daily Progress reports that Dr. Tarron Richardson has filed a federal lawsuit against City Council and four individuals for entering into an agreement that prevented his ability to publicly critique the city after he left his position as City Manager in September 2020. “The First Amendment expressly forbids government bodies — including city councils — from engaging in viewpoint discrimination and retaliating against people based on the content of their speech,” reads the Nature of the Case section of the suit. Richardson wants a jury trial. The civil rights suit seeks damages as well as a declaration that a non-disparagement clause in his severance agreement is not enforceable. The suit also individually names City Councilors Heather Hill and Nikuyah Walker as well as City Attorney Lisa Robertson and former interim City Manager John Blair. The suit revisits Richardson’s tenure as city manager including his enactment of a policy to regulate use of city-issued credit cards and claims some Councilors sought to usurp his authority. “Because of ridiculous demands and the ongoing chicanery and obstructionism from Walker and Hill that would eventually prevent him from adequately performing his job, Dr. Richardson was constructively terminated,” the suit continues. The narrative claims that Councilors did not hold up their end of the severance agreement and disparaged him in social media posts and one interview that was later removed from a local media outlet. This past January, Dr. Richardson asked to publish an op-ed in the Daily Progress on race-relations in Charlottesville, but Robertson said the city would keep open the option of suing to compel Richardson to return the severance payment of $205,000. In all, the suit has four counts including violation of the First Amendment and breach of contract. He’s represented by the Haley Law Firm of Greenville, South Carolina, Keith B. French Law of Pearland, Texas, and Brand Law of Dallas. Earlier this month, former Police Chief RaShall Brackney announced she was filing a wrongful termination claim with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. That’s the first step toward a potential lawsuit. After Richardson left, Council appointed John Blair to serve as interim city manager before naming Chip Boyles this past January. Boyles resigned in October, six weeks after firing Brackney. Marc E. Woolley will become the next interim city manager on December 1. (view the suit on Court Listener)Richmond HUD awardThe agency that owns and operates public housing in Richmond has been awarded a planning grant for the revitalization of a property in Historic Jackson Word. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded $450,000 to the Richmond Redevelopment and Housing Authority for revitalization of Gilpin Court as part of HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods Initiative. “Known as “the Harlem of the South," the neighborhood’s once vibrant main street was filled with thriving theaters, stores, and medical practices,” reads a description in a HUD press release. “The historical heart of the neighborhood was all but destroyed by its bifurcation for the construction of Interstate 95/64.” The intent is for the process to be led by residents, a process already underway at the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority. The CRHA had applied for a planning grant in 2010 but was not selected. The agency has not applied since. (list of 2010 applicants)Outgoing budget chief The government of Albemarle County is in transition with many long-time staffers having already retired or about to do so. One of them is Lori Allshouse, who served for many years leading up the county’s budget preparation each year. Nelsie Birch joined Albemarle’s executive leadership in the summer of 2020 as Chief Financial Officer and had this to say about Allshouse at the Board of Supervisors meeting on November 17, 2020.“She’s been the face of all things budget, all things capital projects, capital planning, five-year financial planning, financial policies,” Birch said.  Birch thanked Allshouse for preparing her and the rest of the staff for all of the various budget challenges that have come during the past two years. Allshouse has worked for the county since 2000. Her last job title was Assistant Chief Financial Officer for Policy and Partnerships in the finance and budget department. Her last presentation dealt with cost allocations for partner organizations in next fiscal year. You’re reading Charlottesville Community Engagement and it’s time now for another subscriber-supported Public Service Announcement. Since the pandemic began, the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society has been offering virtual presentations on all manner of topics. This Sunday at 4 p.m. they’ll present an important topic to the Association for the Study of African American Life and History and the Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society. The ACHS is working on a Race and Sports initiative to tell the story of the “Desegregation of Central Virginia Public High School Athletics.” Dr. Shelly Murphy and other participants will update the Richmond groups on local efforts to collect stories from those who lived through the transition away from segregated schools, when institutions such as Jackson Burley High School vanished. This is part of the Sunday Sit-In series put on by the Richmond groups. Register online for the event, which begins at 4 p.m. this Sunday. (register)A-School moveAn associate dean at the University of Virginia’s School of Architecture is moving on to take a position at Georgia Tech. Ellen Bassett will become the Chair of the College of Design at the Atlanta-based university. Bassett is currently the associate dean for research at the School of Architecture. She’s also served as the chair of the Department of Urban and Environmental Planning and the director of the School of Architecture’s Real Estate Design and Development.*Service awardsTwo Charlottesville-area churches are among the recipients of Governor Ralph Northam’s Volunteerism and Community Service Awards for 2021. Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church and Church of the Incarnation have been honored as Outstanding Faith-Based Organizations for their offering of free COVID-19 testing in their respective neighborhoods.“Located within highly populated neighborhoods, the majority of those tested have been members of the community’s most vulnerable populations who would otherwise be unable to receive free, consistent, and timely testing,” reads the press release for the awards. Mt. Zion First African Baptist Church is located in the city’s Ridge Street neighborhood and the Church of Incarnation is located off of Hillsdale Drive in Albemarle County. Albemarle wirelessAlbemarle County will review the rules by which cell towers are regulated. A previous Board of Supervisors adopted a policy in December 2000 which among other things requires tall towers to be as invisible to the eye as possible. Several supervisors since then have asked for the policy to be revisited to increase the availability of voice and data service throughout the county. The Board has authorized $100,000 for a study, and Development Process Manager Bill Fritz checked in elected officials on November 17. (2000 Wireless Policy)“Staff wants to ensure that we put out a [request for proposals] that meets the Board’s expectations for the scope of work in the review of these regulations,” Fritz said. “The policy has never been revisited and changes in the regulations have been largely limited to keep up with changing federal regulations, court decisions, and changes in technology.” Fritz said the consultant would be charged with taking potential changes through a community engagement process eventually resulting in a public hearing before the Board of Supervisors. Changes might include elimination of some permits having to go to the Board for approval.“It could include revisions to the ordinance to eliminate the need for special exceptions that have been routinely approved,” Fritz said. “It could include allowance of facilities at greater height or lesser design standard in areas of poor coverage. These are just some ideas.”Supervisor Diantha McKeel has been asking for the policy to be revisited for many years. She suggested going right to making changes in the county code. “The policy is so old that to be honest with you I would just start over with an ordinance,” McKeel said. “And let’s get to the meat of it and let’s not worry about this old outdated policy.” McKeel said the new policy needed to put more emphasis on what she said were the positive benefits of more cell towers, including public safety. Supervisor Ann Mallek said there are other ways to provide more voice and data service that would not require a wholesale change to the policy. “This is taking the mantra of the sales people that this is the way to achieve broadband,” Mallek said. “The county has made a dedicated investment and will continue to make a dedicated investment that broadband is delivered through fiber.” Supervisor Donna Price said the county should explore any methods to expand data service. “We need to update our policy and acknowledge the changes in technology as well as the needs, not the desires, but the needs for connectivity through all of the mechanisms that are available,” Price said. The request for proposals has not yet been issued. END NOTES:Thanks to Becky Calvert and Jennie More for their assistance in coming up with names for the day. Special announcement of a continuing promo with Ting! Are you interested in fast internet? Visit this site and enter your address to see if you can get service through Ting. If you decide to proceed to make the switch, you’ll get:Free installationSecond month of Ting service for freeA $75 gift card to the Downtown MallAdditionally, Ting will match your Substack subscription to support Town Crier Productions, the company that produces this newsletter and other community offerings. So, your $5 a month subscription yields $5 for TCP. Your $50 a year subscription yields $50 for TCP! The same goes for a $200 a year subscription! All goes to cover the costs of getting this newsletter out as often as possible. Learn more here! This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Elections bring changes, and fundamental changes will likely come to the way Virginia is governed as Republicans appear to narrowly win all three statewide seats and regain the House of Delegates. Closer to home, Democrats continue to hold all of the seats on the City Council and the Albemarle Board of Supervisors. What will the landscape be like as 2022 begins? That’s for another day, for this installment of Charlottesville Community Engagement is solely about election returns:In this newsletter:Republicans narrowly win all three statewide seatsAn incumbent is ousted in the Charlottesville City School Board raceGraham Paige fends off a write-in candidateBob Babyok is defeated in Louisa County, while two Nelson incumbents hold onBut first, a Patreon-fueled shout-out. Colder temperatures are creeping in, and now is the perfect time to think about keeping your family warm through the holidays. Make sure you are getting the most out of your home with help from your local energy nonprofit, LEAP. LEAP wants you and yours to keep comfortable all year round, and offers FREE home weatherization to income- and age-qualifying residents. If you’re age 60 or older, or have an annual household income of less than $74,950, you may qualify for a free energy assessment and home energy improvements such as insulation and air sealing. Sign up today to lower your energy bills, increase comfort, and reduce energy waste at home!*As of this writing, the Virginia Department of Elections website has recorded 2,723 of Virginia’s 2,855 precincts have reported and Republican Glenn Youngkin has 50.68 percent of the vote to 48.55 percent for Democrat Terry McAuliffe. The difference is around 57,000 votes. These results are considered incomplete because qualified absentee ballots can be accepted through noon on November 5 and the results will be certified on November 15. These numbers will change but probably not very much. While none of the results here are technically complete, the Associated Press called the race for Youngkin after midnight last night and he took the stage in victory. “Alrighty Virginia, we won this thing,” Youngkin said. McAuliffe also appeared before supporters but did not offer a concession speech but appeared to continue his campaign for a return to the Governor’s mansion. “When Ralph and I were elected eight years ago, we had made our state open and welcoming but the fight continues,” McAuliffe said. McAuliffe then listed several pieces of his platform.“We are going to continue that fight tonight and every day going forward,” McAuliffee said Youngkin takes over a Commonwealth that appears to be in good financial shape. Unemployment has dropped for sixteen months straight to a September figure of 3.8 percent. Virginia had a $2.6 billion surplus at the end of fiscal year 2021. In his comments, Youngkin called his victory a defining moment that will change the trajectory of the state. “Friends, we are going to start that transformation on day one,” Youngkin said More on that transformation later on in the newsletter If the results hold up, Youngkin will be sworn in on January 15. The 2022 General Assembly will convene three days before. The Republicans appear to have retaken the majority of the House of Delegates with 51 to 49 seats, according to information tallied by the Virginia Public Access Project. (VPAP)The Lieutenant Governor presides over the Senate which did not have an election yesterday and will remain under Democratic control with a majority of 21 seats of 40 seats.Republican Winsome Sears will be the next Lieutenant Governor with 50.82 percent of the vote with Democrat Hala Ayala at 49.08 percent. Sears is the first Black woman to be elected to statewide office in Virginia and she said her victory is the embodiment of the American dream.“When my father came to this country, August 11 of 1963, he came at the height of the civil rights movement from Jamaica,” Sears said “He came and I said to him, it was such a bad time for us. Why did you come? And he said because America was where the jobs and the opportunities were.” For Attorney General, Republican Jason Miyares has 50.49 percent of the vote to incumbent Democrat Mark Herring at 49.43 percent. The Republican ticket carried most localities across rural Virginia. Youngkin carried Nelson County with 55.58 percent of the electorate with all but absentee ballots counted. The Governor-elect also carried Fluvanna with 56.86 percent of the vote. Louisa County also went for Youngkin with 66.28 percent of the vote. The Republican’s margin in Greene County was even higher at 71.86 percent The story is different in Albemarle and Charlottesville. McAuliffe carried Albemarle with 61.86 percent of the vote and Charlottesville with 82.87 percent of the vote.Local racesNow let’s look at local races. In Nelson County, Central District incumbent Democrat Ernie Reed fended off a challenge from Republican Pamela Brice with 50.78 percent of the vote. North District Incumbent Tommy Harvey defeated Democratic challenger Mary Cunningham. Harvey was first elected in 1984. (Nelson results) In Louisa County, incumbent Robert Babyok Jr. appears to have been defeated by challenger Rachel Jones. Jones has 53.2 percent as of production time. (Louisa results)In Albemarle, all three Democrats on the ballot for Supervisor won because they had no opposition. Graham Paige retained his seat representing Samuel Miller on the Albemarle School Board with 73.84 percent over a write-in candidate. (Albemarle results)In the Charlottesville City Council race, Democrat Juandiego Wade got the most votes with 11,582 before the absentee ballots are counted. Democrat Brian Pinkston got 10,041 votes. Independent Yas Washington secured 3,407 votes and withdrawn incumbent Nikuyah Walker got 1,916.  (Charlottesville results)In the School Board race, four-term incumbent Leah Puryear came in fourth, meaning she will not serve a fifth. Incumbent Lisa Larson-Torres got the most votes with 7,329, followed by newcomer Emily Dooley with 6,633, and newcomer Dom Morse with 6,500. Christa Bennett placed fifth with 4,488 votes. In Greene County, Abbey E. Heflin has a close lead over Tina A. Deane in the Stanardsville District race at 960 to 917 votes. Bill Martin opted not to run for re-election. (Greene results)There were no contested races for Supervisor in Fluvanna County. (Fluvanna results)Preparing for the Youngkin administration Back to the Governor-elect. Between now and January 15, Youngkin will appoint candidates to the Secretariats ranging alphabetically from Agriculture and Forestry to Transportation. A new governor will shape the entire tone of state and local government. Youngkin’s victory speech called for new spending.“We will invest the largest education budget in the history of the Commonwealth,” Youngkin said. “We’re going to invest in teachers, new facilities, special education. We’re going to introduce choice within our public school system.” For Youngkin, that means more charter schools and giving parents more control over what is taught in public schools. But the call for spending also came with a call to reduce revenue that comes into the state. “Friends, we will reduce our cost of living on day one,” Youngkin said. “On day one, we will declare the largest tax refund in the history of Virginia.” Among taxes Youngkin wants to reduce is an increase in the Virginia gas tax that passed the General Assembly in 2020, as well as increasing deductions. He also called for more spending on salaries for law enforcement. “We’re going to comprehensively fund law enforcement because they stand up for us and we’re going to stand up for them,” Youngkin said. Younkin also said he would replace all members of the Virginia Parole Board. The governor-elect also promised investments in economic development. This past July, CNBC named Virginia as the number one state in the nation to do business. “We’re going to get this economy moving again, growing 400,000 new jobs, fostering 10,000 start-up,” Youngkin said. “Friends, Virginia will be open for business.”Here’s a quick look at the legislative races that touch Albemarle County: Republican incumbent Chris Runion defeated Democratic challenger Jennifer Kitchen in the 25th District with 62.36 percent to 37.51 percent. Democratic incumbent Sally Hudson fended off Republican challenger Philip Hamilton in the 57th District with 78.37 percent to 21.41 percent.Republican incumbent Rob Bell defeated Democrat Sara Ratcliffe in the 58th District with 63.4 percent of the vote.Republican incumbent Matt Farris won against Democratic Ben Moses with 64.64 percent of the vote. Moses raised over $600,000 in the campaign. Pre-filing for the 2022 General Assembly begins on November 15. Special announcement of a continuing promo with Ting! Are you interested in fast internet? Visit this site and enter your address to see if you can get service through Ting. If you decide to proceed to make the switch, you’ll get:Free installationSecond month of Ting service for freeA $75 gift card to the Downtown MallAdditionally, Ting will match your Substack subscription to support Town Crier Productions, the company that produces this newsletter and other community offerings. So, your $5 a month subscription yields $5 for TCP. Your $50 a year subscription yields $50 for TCP? The same goes for a $200 a year subscription! All goes to cover the costs of getting this newsletter out as often as possible. Learn more here! This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

In today’s first Patreon-fueled shout-out is for the Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Campaign, an initiative that wants you to grow native plants in yards, farms, public spaces and gardens in the northern Piedmont. Native plants provide habitat, food sources for wildlife, ecosystem resiliency in the face of climate change, and clean water.  Start at the Plant Northern Piedmont Natives Facebook page and tell them Lonnie Murray sent you! On today’s show:Charlottesville’s Fire Department releases an annual report and the chief defends critiques of a new dispatch system City Council discusses the firing of Police Chief RaShall Brackney An incumbent drops out of the race for Charlottesville City Council Nikuyah Walker is withdrawing from the 2021 election and will be a one-term City Councilor. Walker made the announcement in a Facebook post this morning in which she stated that another Black candidate in the race is being used by the Democratic Party. She said racism she experienced at last night’s City Council meeting was “the final straw.” In the Facebook post, Walker blasted Council for being advocates of white power and called for reform of the city’s city-manager form of government. More on that at the end of today’s newsletter. Walker has so far raised no money during the campaign process. Democrats Brian Pinkston and Juandiego Wade have raised about $70,000 each. Independent Yas Washington has raised $315. The next campaign finance report is due next Wednesday. (VPAP data)The Virginia Department of Health reports another 4,474 new cases of COVID today, with a seven day average of 3,364. There have been 406 deaths since August 9. The seven-day percent positivity has decreased to 10. In the Blue Ridge Health District, there are another 92 cases reported today. There have been a total of 239 fatalities in the district with 146 of them reported in the current calendar year. Those seeking to file new unemployment claims in Virginia will now have to wait a week after enrolling with the Virginia Employment Commission.  The VEC issued a release today to notify people that a temporary suspension of “Waiting Week” first made at the beginning of the pandemic is now over. “In March 2020, Governor Ralph Northam waived the waiting week policy for all Virginia UI claimants as part of the COVID-19 pandemic emergency declaration,” states the release. “The reinstatement coincides with the end of temporary Federal benefit programs on September 4, 2021.”For more on Waiting Week, visit the VEC’s website.The Charlottesville Fire Department has released its annual report for the fiscal year that ended on June 2021. In the past year there is a new chief in Hezedean Smith, recruited 22 new firefighters, and boosted work in community risk reduction. There are 114 total employees in the fire department, including six civilians. There were 5,717 calls for service, with 2,105 of those for fire calls and 3,612 medical calls. Last week, the fire department issued a press release announcing a process change made in July called “proximity dispatch” where automatic vehicle locators and the global positioning system are used.  Council will have a work session on this change on September 20. “When an emergency prompts a 911 call, the region's Emergency Communications Center activates an automated process that immediately finds the closest emergency resources,” reads the release. “Based on the proximity of the vehicles and the city's roadway network, the emergency communication center dispatches the closest units.” At last night’s City Council, Dr. Forest Calland spoke out in objection to the new system. He’s a trauma surgeon at the University of Virginia Health system concerned that Charlottesville - Albemarle Rescue Squad (CARS) units are not being used efficiently. “The system that has been designed and implemented is not well-conceived,” Dr. Calland said. “Survival in an urban EMS system is inversely proportional to the number of paramedics that are deployed out in the city.” Later on in the meeting, CARS chief Virginia Leavell gave a specific example of how the new system is not working. There are a lot of acronyms in this soundbite to explain first. ALS stands for Advanced Life Support and offers advanced care for critical patients. BLS stands for basic life support. “On July 27, two fire engines and a CARS BLS ambulance were dispatched to an ALS level chest pain call because [Charlottesville Fire Department]’s ALS unit was on a BLS call and unavailable,” Leavell said. “CARS had three BLS ambulances in service and available within 1.2 miles of that BLS call at the time of dispatch.” Chief Leavell said CARS should be handling those basic calls. “The new dispatch protocol is an ineffective system in the city,” Leavell said. “It has not resulted in improved patient care. In fact it puts those at the highest risk in jeopardy.”Leavell said she has attempted to meet with Fire Chief Smith but has not been able to do so. In this year’s budget cycle as well as the last, Leavell and others made the claim that the fire department was not holding up its end of a memorandum of agreement related to funding. “I raised the concern last year that I thought what was happening last year to the rescue squad and their budget was grossly unfair to them,” Snook said. “I’m concerned that this year —I don’t know the details but I would like to know more — I’m concerned that we appeared to be headed toward a situation where the present EMS providers to not value the contributions of the rescue squad, which has really been a beloved institution in this town for many, many years.” Remember that quote. We’re going to need it later on. Later on in the meeting, Chief Smith was asked to comment. “Ultimately the enhancements that have been adopted are appropriate for the ten square miles in a city and it is used in other regions that provide EMS and fire services,” Smith said. “We don’t have to look far as it relates to proximity dispatch. Albemarle County right next to us has implemented proximity dispatch since 2016 or 2017. Proximity dispatch ensures that our residents and visitors get the closest appropriately staffed ambulance and or first response vehicles based on established national standards and best practices.” Smith said the changes have lowered response times to the Tenth and Page neighborhood. The conversation on September 20 will shed more light on what may become a legal issue. City Attorney Lisa Robertson said a meeting was to have been held between Chief Smith and CARS, but a string of correspondence from CARS attorney led to that being delayed. Thanks for reading Charlottesville Community Engagement. In today’s second Patreon-fueled shout-out. A concerned Charlottesville parent wants to make sure the community participates in the Middle School Reconfiguration process that is currently underway. After years of discussion, concrete plans are being put forward. You can learn more and contribute at the City of Charlottesville Schools/VMDOs information page at charlottesvilleschools.org/facilities.The Charlottesville City Council meeting on September 7, 2021 was dominated by one of its members’ opposition to the termination on September 1 of former Police Chief RaShall Brackney. No official explanation has been given. Council selects one of its own every two years to serve as Mayor, a position held since January 2018 by Nikuyah Walker. At the beginning of the meeting, a fellow Councilor requested to add an item for discussion that was not previously on the agenda. “Madam Mayor, I would like to ask to add one thing to the agenda,” said Councilor Lloyd Snook. “It would be to move to add the discussion of an appointment of an acting [Americans with Disabilities Act] coordinator.”“And I would like to also request to add the discussion of the termination of the police chief,” Walker said. Snooks’ request was granted on a unanimous vote, but Walker could not get a second to add her discussion to the official agenda. But her opposition would be felt throughout the entire meeting including a few minutes later when she used the Proclamations section of the meeting to thank Brackney for her three years of service to Charlottesville. “I would just like to thank Chief Brackney for her leadership and apologize on behalf of the city for a termination that has tarnished her reputation when she was doing exactly as someone who sat around a table to hire her and was able to participate in that democratic process which as apparently has changed,” Walker said. The powers of City Council are outlined in Chapter 2, Article II of the Charlottesville city code and further detailed in the City Charter. Council appoints a city manager to serve as an executive, and also appoints a finance director and a clerk. Council plays no official role in selecting a police chief.“All departments of city government, including the fire department and police department, shall be under the general supervision of the city manager,” reads Section 5.01 of the charter. The charter is also clear that all Councilors have the same powers. “The mayor, or vice-mayor when performing the duties of the mayor, shall be entitled to a vote on all questions as any other councilor, but in no case shall they be entitled to a second vote on any question,” reads a portion of Section 9. Brackney terminated on September 1City Manager Chip Boyles opted to terminate Brackney’s contract on September 1, 2021 and immediately placed her on administrative leave through November 1, the end of a 90-day period of notification. (read the press release)During the proclamations period, Walker took nearly nine minutes to talk about Brackney’s firing, and to tell future employers that she was treated poorly. She spoke of the need to address systemic racism and to tell Council why the termination was the wrong choice. None of the other Councilors responded and the body moved on to the consent agenda, which Walker voted against. The meeting proceeded with updates from City Manager Chip Boyles. “Staff has developed a formal application process to create roadside memorials along certain city streets for family members of those fatally injured in auto accidents,” Boyles said. “This program should be available by October 1.” Then Council moved on to one of two public comment periods known as Community Matters, where several members addressed the issue. Attorney Jeff Fogel called Council rude for not responding to complaints the firing. “We expect an answer,” Fogel said. “If you meet me on the street and ask me a question on the street, dammit I’m going to answer it? You got a problem? Get off the Council.” Melvin Burruss thanked Walker for speaking out about the firing, and said it was all based on hearsay related to an informal survey conducted by the Police Benevolent Association. An unsigned statement in response to the survey was posted on the city’s website on August 20 shortly after 5 p.m on a Friday. Addressing Boyles, Burruss accused Councilor Snook of acting to remove the chief.“I’m really disappointed there wasn’t an investigation,” Burruss said. “Snook counseled you and he was part of it with you on the termination. You didn’t go to the Council and discuss it with all of them because they are acting… if you did, they are acting kind of ‘I don’t know what happened.’ Or that’s the conveyance they are giving to us. You should do better than that, Chip. We thought better of you when you took over this position.”When it was Council’s turn to speak, Snook wanted to respond why he did not second Walker’s desire to place Brackney’s termination on the record. Virginia’s open meetings law allows for elected bodies to discuss personnel in closed session. (code)“I asked the question when we were in closed session what would be the ground rules if we did so,” Snook said. “Nobody could answer. I am concerned that if we have a public discussion without any ground rules, recognizing that there are libel, slander, other procedural issues that may come up, that we’re opening ourselves up for more problems and I just don’t know what the ground rules are.”Councilor Michael Payne said the timing of the firing created doubt in the minds of the community. “What are we going to do to ensure and ensure for the public that we do not go backwards on reform and that is a real concern,” Payne said. “Has this sent a signal that it is time to go back to the old ways of doing things? I desperately hope that it’s not.”Payne said city leadership must demonstrate that Brackney’s firing was not motivated by a sense that reform was going too far in the department. Councilor Heather Hill said she also did not feel comfortable discussing the matter in public.“These are personnel discussions and I am really sensitive to how much we will discuss publicly at this time without really understanding what the scope of that discussion would be,” Hill said. Vice Mayor Sena Magill did not comment. In rebuttal, Walker took issue with the comment Councilor Snook made about the Charlottesville - Albemarle Rescue Squad. “You used the words ‘grossly unfair’,” Walker said. “So maybe you don’t know how to monitor yourself but that would be a good time to do that. You would need to find out more information without critiquing employees publicly when you and Councilor Hill already have a lot of information because you’ve been meeting with them.” To be clear, Snook did not mention the names of any employees of the fire department.  Council is to have a work session on these issues. Walker said she hoped the process would be fair. But back to the termination. Walker noted that Dr. Brackney was on the call and willing to have a public conversation. “And so if there’s any questions about whether there is a willingness to have that conversation and if it’s about personnel, then we can ask her that question,” Walker said.“It would also involve personnel discussions of other people than Chief Brackney,” Snook said. “Well the other people were not terminated,” Walker said. “Doesn’t matter, “ Snook said. “They still have rights to confidentiality that we are bound legally to respect.” In another back and forth, Walker pressed Hill on whether she was involved in the decision to terminate Brackney. “I have not influenced this process,” Hill said. “I found at the same time at the rest of this Council. That decision has been made. Do I support that decision? I do.”Walker said the time has come for reform of the way Charlottesville is governed. “I know there’s been a lot of discussion about one-fifth means, and I know there’s been a lot of confusion about the fact that I’m a strong Black woman and people don’t like that,” Walker said. Walker said the city manager position should be elected.“Not because I see myself in the position,” Walker said. “But because of the power of that position. I hope the community is understanding that while that is not something that today, this is your community and deciding whether you want someone who doesn’t have to answer your questions to be able to make a decision this important behind closed doors and never answer.”The last time the topic of elections came up was in 2004 when an election study task force was commissioned. Review the results here.Walker asked each Councilor to say if they supported the decision. Vice Mayor Magill went on the record.“I feel that this is a decision of the City Manager, and we hired the City Manager and this is his job,” Magill said. “It is his job to run the city under our overarching policies. I feel like he talks to us, I feel he communicates with us and fundamentally this is his decision and I’m behind him on it, period.”Walker accused the rest of the Council of speaking with Boyles before the termination. “Mayor Walker, one of your fundamental premises is correct,” Snook said. “I have never recommended to Mr. Boyles that he fire Chief Brackney and I’ve told you that.” Walker has more questionsAfter that, Council moved on to other business, business we’ll cover in a future newsletter. After that business concluded, Walker had several questions about what happened with the police chief. Some dealt with comments made by Bellamy Brown, the chair of the Police Civilian Review Board, related to the Police Benevolent Association survey. “The August 20th press release was also unsigned and that was a concern, where people thought this was something the chief forced out,” Walker said. “I would like a public response to who worked on that survey and why their name was left off of it. Specifically, for the city manager. Why wasn’t your name on it?”Walker also wanted to know when the decision was made to place Chief Brackney on leave. Walker also wants to know if Assistant Chief James Mooney will receive special dispensation after rescinding his retirement in order to lead the department in the interim. In the second public comment period at the end of the meeting, Michael Wells of the Central Virginia Chapter of the Police Benevolent Association thanked Boyles for terminating Brackney. “Unfortunately for Dr. Brackney, the Police Benevolent Association climate survey is largely focused not on policy but internal procedural justice issues,” Wells said. “I just want to tell you guys that you have a real issue in Charlottesville City. You have a few people that speak up all the time and those people garner your attention all the time. Now I’m going to be one of those people. Because I’m involved, I want to be involved. I want the city to have a good chief. I wish it had worked out with Dr. Brackney but it did not.”When he was done, Walker took the opportunity to question Wells. That exchange is fully documented in the audio version of this newsletter. Here is some of it:Walker: “Do you think that internal procedural justice is important than healing the wrongs that have been done by policing in this community?” Wells: “I think if you want your police officers to take on other policies and procedures that you have to have buy-in from them.”Walker: “So, 21st century reform, you think our focus should be getting buy-in from police officers?”Wells: “I think your focus should be safe streets because about every other night you have shootings now, so I think your focus needs to be on supporting your officers.”Walker: “So you think throughout the history of policing that there hasn’t been a need for reform?” Wells: “No, I think it’s important for officers to have confidence in their command in order to be most effective, and effective officers are what you need and deserve… you can’t afford a police department with limitless internal distractions and non-existent morale. There’s work to be done.”Walker: “They surveys talked about the reform was causing that low [morale].”Wells: “No, you’re wrong. You’re wrong. You’re wrong. How long have you been a cop?”Walker: “I’m telling you what I read. Your survey also said that both the citizens of the community and the command were a problem.”Wells: “That’s right. They need support from the community…. the community is what’s most important and that means everyone, every race and color and not just Black and brown. Everyone.”Walker: “So the community that’s most affected by policing practices, you don’t believe…”Wells: “Where are your facts about racist policing? Where is that? Provide it?”At this point, a report on 21st Century Policing came up. Have you read it? Here’s a link to a 36-page document with its results. (report)Another resource that was not discussed was the Disproportionate Minority Contact report from January 2020. (report)Walker: “Why did President Obama institute that task force?”Wells: “I think we know why.”Walker: “Tell me!”Wells: “Good day, Mayor.”Walker then addressed Council. “That’s what you just signed on for and you all should be ashamed because as I told you in closed session, they’re not coming for your kids.” Walker said. “They’re not going to target you.”To conclude today, I want to draw your attention to legislation that passed the General Assembly in a special session held in the summer of 2020. Localities in Virginia are subdivisions of the state government. Legislation in that session included:Officers are now required to intervene if they see a fellow officer using excessive force Law enforcement agencies are no longer allowed to purchase surplus military gearPolice civilian review boards received additional oversight powers Neck restraints are explicitly banned Attorney general obtained more power to pursue civil suits against law-enforcement officersDepartment of Criminal Justice required to add implicit bias training to uniform curriculum for sworn officerCreation of the Marcus Alert system to create reform of how government first-responders operate in mental health crisesSome of this legislation was discussed in the pilot episode of a new program on Radio IQ that I helped produce. William Fralin moderates a discussion of police use of force with guests Claire Gastañaga, formerly of the Virginia ACLU, and Chief Maggie DeBoard, of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police. Take a listen.What’s next in Charlottesville? Not sure. As you can hear in this newsletter, the community faces a lot of problems. This newsletter intends to try to track as much of it as I can and I appreciate your reading and listening. I do not know the answers and my role is never to tell you what to think. Thanks for reading. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

Saturday at City Hall at 2pm. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yes, Rush Limbaugh passed away the day before but, as JT points out, he'd be furious if we ignored this corruption story in exchange for(apologies to the Bard); "siting on the ground telling sad stories of the death of kings." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The City's Commonwealth Attorney is apparently looking into gift cards purchased by Mayor Walker to give to activists attending meetings.What could be wrong with that? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charlottesville loses it's interim City Manager but amazingly they were able to find a permanent replacement with hardly any search. Brace yourself for the reaction.... See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two City Managers, one Asst City Manager (that was also a Temp City Mgr for a while), one Comm's Dir, two Neighborhood Development Service Dir's (one that didn't even START), Two Police Chiefs and now the headhunter they hired to FIND them a new City Manger have ALL quit Charlottesville since 2017! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today’s edition is made possible through contributions through Patreon or subscriptions through the newsletter. Your support enables the research and the writing and helps us all create a community resource. After two days where the number of new cases COVID-19 were below the seven-day average, the Virginia Department of Health has reported 1,844 cases this morning. The statewide seven-day average for positive cases remains at 4.8 percent for a second day. Seeing a potential anomaly, I contacted the VDH and got this response. “The case count reported on Thursday, October 8, includes 689 cases that should have been reported on Wednesday, October 7, but were not because of a surveillance system reporting issue,” reads a notice posted on the website. “A reminder: cases are not reported on the day the patient became ill, but on the day they have been classified as meeting the case definition for COVID-19.  In order to observe the spread of illness most effectively, please review the  charts that show cases by date of symptom onset.” Likewise, the number of new cases in the Blue Ridge Health District is also higher than the seven-day average, with 64 cases. In Charlottesville, there are another 35 cases, above the city’s average of 21 new cases. In Albemarle, the new cases reported today is 19, above the county’s average of 13 cases.  (A reminder: the Blue Ridge Health District is the new name for the Thomas Jefferson Health District, effective January 1. )The University of Virginia reports 217 active cases as of Tuesday, with 190 of them students. Twenty-one percent of quarantine rooms are in use, and eight percent of the isolation rooms are in place. *The Albemarle County School Board will be briefed tonight on a plan to return kindergarten through third grade students to in-person class for two days a week. What is known as “Stage 3” would involve around 4,000 students, or 2,000 students a day. Virtual learning would continue for most pupils, though optional in-person access would be extended to English learners, special-education students, and “students exhibiting a lack of engagement in the virtual experience.” This stage would also allow athletics and extracurricular activities to recur upon individual approval. Slides provided in advance of the meeting state there would be no more than 12 students in each classroom at any time. One of the metrics the School Board will be asked to take into account a dashboard provided by the Centers for Disease Control with core indicators including the total number of new cases per 100,000 in the past 14 days, and the percentage of positive  tests during the past 14 days. On the dashboard, the former is colored in the “higher risk” category and the latter is in the “moderate risk” category.  Dr. Denise Bonds of the Blue Ridge Health District has issued a statement about the recommendation by Superintendent Matthew Haas to proceed to stage 3. "The value of in-person education for preK - 3rd grade is critical to this age group's overall development and growth. Providing the opportunity for students to return at this time is important and the current public health conditions in the community support a decision that enables parents and guardians to send their children to school for in-person instruction. The public health considerations that are being met and support this decision include the implementation of masking and distancing policies, widespread access to testing, quick turnaround for results, and as of right now lower community transmission among Albemarle County residents than in July. Based on the current public health conditions and Albemarle County Public School's plan for minimizing risk within school settings, the Thomas Jefferson Health District supports a decision to implement a hybrid teaching model for preK - 3rd grade."  Read the slides for more information. *The Albemarle Board of Supervisors has adopted a plan that offers a wide array of strategies to help the community reduce greenhouse gas emissions in order to meet the ambitious goals of a 45 percent reduction by 2030, and to be “net zero” by 2050. “The list of strategies and actions that make up the heart of the plan were developed from ideas suggested by the community,” said Greg Harper, the county’s chief of environmental services. “At its most reductive level the plan is a list of strategies and actions designed to contribute to the mitigation of global climate change through decreases in community-wide greenhouse gas emissions and increases in carbon sequestrations in the county’s landscape.” The vote on the plan was unanimous, but Supervisors also gave notes to staff on what they’d like to see improve. Supervisor Ann Mallek said she was concerned the plan did not adequately cover one area. “I am worried that solid waste seems to be completely set aside in here except for some mild-mannered paragraph, so if that’s coming in some way, that’s great, but if there is a way to focus on very specifically cutting the use of single-use plastic,” Mallek said.The next step is for the county to conduct a new inventory on greenhouse gas emissions. The last was conducted in 2008. Supervisor Donna Price said the plan demonstrated how many of the county’s plans and initiatives can work together if coordinated.“My hope is that we will collect objective data and metrics that will allow us to provide detailed analysis of the progress and shortcomings for future improvement to the plan,” Price said. Supervisor Liz Palmer suggested that the plan should also help inform what legislation the county seeks in the General Assembly. “There’s a lot of things we could be doing if we had help from the state,” Palmer said. Notably, Palmer would like Virginia to encourage glass recycling by requiring beverage producers to participate in programs, thereby increasing the potential market. Supervisors also approved a rezoning for the Albemarle Business Campus, a proposed mixed-use development across from the county’s office on 5th Street Extended. *Charlottesville City Council has agreed to keep an advisory board intended to provide guidance on how Charlottesville Area Transit is operated. Garland Williams is the director of CAT."I do think that we need to particularly look at how it is constructed," Williams said. "I think it doesn't have the mix that we need to have it move to more of a regional model. There's no individual from the business community at all."  Williams said there is an opportunity to use the CAT Board to figure out how the agency might secure more funding in order to become a regional model. CAT is in the running for a planning grant, while the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission is seeking funding from the Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transit for a vision plan for regional service, including a transit plan for Albemarle County. Two other transit agencies in our community are Jaunt and the University Transit Service. Garland Williams explained some of how transit works currently in the region. "You don't have oversight over the University Transit System, but you have total ownership over CAT and I think we just need to position CAT that we really dive into it and figure out how we can position an advisory group of peers and individuals in this region to really put CAT in the position to put CAT to go to the legislature three to five years from now and say, this is what we want because we've done the hard work and we want potentially to position ourselves like Richmond to get dedicated funding for CAT for the region."Council discussed the matter at an October 6 meeting where they discussed the future of various boards and commissions. There is also a Regional Transit Partnership that has been meeting for three years. The next scheduled meeting is on October 22. Councilors Lloyd Snook and Nikuyah Walker are the city's representatives. Council will meet with the Albemarle Board of Supervisors and top University of Officials on October 28. *In meetings today, the PLACE Design Task Force meets at noon for a gathering that includes another discussion of its own future. On Tuesday, Council opted to convert this board to a staff-advisory panel. (agenda)The Charlottesville Police Civilian Review Board meets at 6:30 p.m. (meeting info)Correction time! In the Building Goodness Foundation segment yesterday, I used the incorrect word to describe the disposition of the group's international projects. They paused those projects and hope to resume them when they can. This is a public episode. Get access to private episodes at communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

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Joe warned that the obvious friction between the Charlottesville City Council leader, the Police Chief and City Manager over following the laws passed by council would drive the City Manager out and one of the organizers of the march that was the 'last straw' heard JT's coverage and calls in. See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

How does government currently work in Charlottesville? That was the general question posted to panelists Sunday at a forum cosponsored by Charlottesville Tomorrow and the League of Women Voters. "People tend to look at local government to solve all community problems even though their powers are limited," said Bitsy Waters, a former Charlottesville mayor. "It's the job of [city] Councils to listen and figure out what they can and can't do.” The event held at the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library’s Central Branch was the first of a series designed to educate newcomers to local politics on what’s come before and what could change. "In the aftermath of the events in Charlottesville this past August, many citizens have asked us to hold educational programs that would inform citizens about how the local city government is structured today and how it might be structured in the future," said Kerin Yates, president of the League of Women Voters. Richard Schragger, a professor of law at the University of Virginia, is the author of City Power: Urban Governance in a Global Age. He said citizens should understand both how local governments fit into our country's federal system as well as how localities are structured in Virginia. "Often the folks that are exercising power are not in fact the elected officials of the city but are actually officials either in the state government or the federal government," Schragger said. "Cities all across the country are considered to be creatures of the state as a matter of federal Constitutional law." Schragger said most localities across the country have a council-manager form of government such as Charlottesville. In this set-up, elected officials serve as a legislature that acts as an executive and sometimes makes quasi-judicial decisions such as those related to land use. "We do not have a singular executive that exercises power," Schragger said. "The mayor is elected among the folks on the Council and that person speaks for the Council to the extent the Council wants them to do." Since 2010, City Manager Maurice Jones has made decisions that in other U.S. localities would be the realm of an elected mayor. In Virginia, only Richmond citizens have what is known as a "strong" mayor. "The city manager doesn't have political authority, but managerial authority," Schragger said. "It's a little bit confusing about who is supposed to do what in these kinds of systems." Charles Barbour served as the first African-American mayor from 1974 to 1976. He was clear who had the power when he was an elected official. "The buck stopped with the Council even though the city manager ran the city," Barbour said, who was served on Council from 1970 to 1978. At the time, Barbour said Charlottesville was still coming out of state-sanctioned segregation and there was an opportunity for many changes. When Barbour joined Council in 1970, there was only one African-American on the school board, which was an appointed body at the time. He nominated a second person of color. "That created a big stir because traditionally there was just one African-American on the school board," Barbour said. "If you look around today you have many things that have changed." Barbour said African-Americans in the mid-20th century and before could only live in the heart of the city. "Yet anyone could build a service station or garage next to African-American housing because that was the rule," Barbour said. "We changed those rules. We rezoned so that could never happen again." Bitsy Waters was first elected to Council in 1988 and was made Mayor during her first term, just as has happened with current Mayor Nikuyah Walker, "It was a steep learning curve," Waters said. "Lots of things have changed since then but our form of government is basically the same." Waters explained that Councilors are elected in staggered terms to provide change as well as continuity. Each member represents the entire city rather than an individual ward. She said Virginia is unique in that cities and counties are separate from each other. That leads to duplication of services. "We have the constraint of state and federal governments that have substantially reduced their financial support for schools, affordable housing and other services," Waters said. "City government does not have the financial resources to make up for all of those deficits." Waters said the effects of those constraints can be seen in current events. Council cannot remove Confederate statues in municipal parks without permission from the General Assembly. A House bill to allow cities to relocate them to a museum failed to make it out of a committee late last month. Tom Walls, executive director of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia, was also a panelist. The next event in the series will be held on Feb. 25 at the Jefferson School African-American Heritage Center beginning at 2:00 p.m. The topic will be "How might Charlottesville be governed differently in the future?"   TIMELINE FOR PODCAST 0:01:00 - Introduction from Kerin Yates, president of the  League Women of Votes 0:03:00 - Comments from Brian Wheeler of Charlottesville 0:04:00 - Comments from Andrea Douglas of the Jefferson School African-American Heritage Center 0:07:15 - Opening comments from Richard Schragger, a professor of law at the University of Virginia 0:21:15 - Opening comments from Charles Barbour, the first African-American mayor who served from 1974 to 1976 0:26:00 - Opening coments from Bitsy Waters, mayor from 1988 to 1990 0:38:10 - Opening comments from Tom Walls of the Jefferson School African-American Heritage Center 0:45:30 – Question and answer period begins   Download

Independent Nikuyah Walker is a candidate for Charlottesville City Council. Two of the five seats on council will be determined in the November 7 general election. Other candidates in this race include John Hall (I), Heather Hill (D), Kenneth Jackson (I), Amy Laufer (D), Paul Long (I).  Each candidate was interviewed by Charlottesville Tomorrow and asked 10 questions about their qualifications, priorities and important quality of life issues.  Included in the box at the right are links to the full transcript and audio recording of those interviews. Bio: My name is Nikuyah Walker. I’m a native of Charlottesville. I graduated from Charlottesville High School in 1998 and then went on to Virginia Commonwealth University where I earned a bachelor’s degree in Political Science in 2004. Education: Virginia Commonwealth University BA- Political Science Occupation: City of Charlottesville - Parks and Recreation - Rec Aide Previous political experience: None Age on Election Day: 37 Neighborhood or area of residence: Belmont Family: I have three children. Other interests and experiences: Music, Theatre and Reading.  Telephone: (434) 882-1805 Email: nwcvillecouncilrun17@gmail.com Website: www.votenikuyahforcouncil.com Download

At the final City Council candidate forum for the 2017 general election, the six candidates for two open seats were asked for their views on whether Charlottesville is a place where everyone is able to be successful. “A strong community is one where all sectors are thriving,” said Andi Copeland-Whitsett, the moderator for the event held Wednesday at the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center. Copeland-Whitsett asked the candidates what their plans are to support and build the African-American and Hispanic middle class in Charlottesville. Independent Kenneth Jackson said the question was loaded and said Councilors cannot take actions to address one racial demographic over others. “If you were to ask me what I would do for poor people, we would put programs like we had before into effect like the Wheels to Work program and job training,” Jackson said. “That helps pick the lower-income people up.” Democrat Heather Hill said the city should invest in child-care programs to help the youngest community members to have a place to go so their parents can work. Investing in education is also important. “I think every three and four-year old in our preschool system should have access to a free education starting at those ages and working up through our public education system,” Hill said. “For our minority communities we need to make sure we are supporting them with mentoring that can happen in the middle-schools and into high school.” Independent Nikuyah Walker said decisions need to be made by more diverse groups and existing policies need to be challenged. “There isn’t a system in Charlottesville that isn’t broken in terms of making sure the needs of black and Hispanic families are met,” Walker said. Walker said the city needs a citizen police advisory board with enforcement powers and there needs to be reform in the Commonwealth’s Attorney office to stop the targeting of African-Americans. Independent Paul Long called for more government programs to address poverty. “The black community needs special attention because it’s been systematically oppressed,” Long said. “But numerically nationwide there are more poor white people than there are black people so trying to uplift people out of poverty should be to lift up everybody.” Long said both the University of Virginia and Charlottesville businesses should be forced to pay employees more. He called upon people to picket outside of fast-food restaurants.  Democrat Amy Laufer, a member of the city school board, said the number of pre-school seats has been increased to 260 seats and city tax dollars have gone to extend that to three-year olds. “This has been a very effective way of helping families to access great services,” Laufer said. “There are organizations like ReadyKids. There are things happening that we should strengthen such as City of Promise.” Laufer said she would like to expand the city’s Growing Opportunities workforce program which she said has trained bus drivers and electricians. Independent John Edward Hall sounded a similar note. “Job training is good no matter what the color of your skin,” Hall said. “Employers need to be considered in the answer. Money from city council subsidies could help employers provide good jobs with a living wage.” Copeland-Whitsett took aim at whether Charlottesville’s central core was truly a place for everyone. “For downtown and midtown to thrive, there must be accessibility to workers and consumers alike,” she said. “What is your plan to guarantee affordable access to all?” Hill said the city needs to do more in this area. “I think both our public transit system is falling short within the city and within the region, and I feel like we don’t have safe paths for people to take alternative forms of transportation whether they want to walk or bike,” Hill said. “I also feel like we have to create an environment that they want to be invited to. There is not diversity in our downtown area that reflects the broader community. We have to unlock and understand why.” Walker agreed there is a lack of diversity on the Downtown Mall and on West Main Street but there shouldn’t be. “You have a community like Friendship Court which is right downtown and within walking distance and you do not see representation of that community being that close to the Downtown Mall area,” Walker said. “It’s also about who is working in those spaces and who is able to create employment options.” Walker said she is concerned redevelopment of Friendship Court by adding market-rate units will change the diversity of the community.  Later in the forum, she said she would try to halt development on West Main Street because it is not benefiting the entire community.    Long said an improved public transit would bring more people downtown to shop but the current stores cater to the rich. “The stores in the Downtown Mall area are boutique stores and if you’re making over $200,000 a year some of those stores may be of interest to you,” Long said. “There needs to be a greater diversity in the types of businesses down there. We need businesses owned by African-Americans.” Laufer agreed that the Downtown Mall is mostly boutique stores but the CVS is always crowded. “I though a great addition was the Market Street Market because that actually has groceries that people need,” Laufer said. “A lot of what is offered [on the Mall] is geared for tourism. There should be a wider variety of businesses.” Hall said the city’s sidewalks and streetlights need to be repaired. Jackson said the city’s “master plan” needs to be updated. “The city’s master plan only has the boutiques and the little upscale shops where most of us don’t even eat and shop in,” Jackson said, adding things were better in the 1970’s before all of the department stores left for shopping centers.  Jackson said Downtown establishments such as the Paramount are too expensive for people who live in Garrett Square, referring to the old name for Friendship Court. Closing statements While there will be campaign events up until Election Day, candidates had one last opportunity to make a closing statement. Laufer said campaigning has not been easy. “It really makes you introspective in ways that you had no idea,” Laufer said. “I campaigned six years ago for the school board and the city really has changed a lot.  I knocked on a lot of the same doors and it is a lot different. We need to be aware of that and come up with policies and budgetary decisions that can help our community as it is changing to be the best it can be.” Long thanked and lauded his fellow candidates, and encouraged more participation from voters. “I’m not going to ask people to vote for me,” Long said. “I’m going to ask people to vote your conscience. I’ve been in this community long enough and you just don’t hear from me when elections come around. I’ve been in this community protesting and having demonstrations year-round.” Walker asked for people to show up on Election Day. “I posted on Facebook the other day ‘let’s have a rebellion at the polls’ and no matter who you vote for, make sure that you’re voting for the future where everyone can thrive in Charlottesville,” Walker said. “I have been doing this work for so long behind the scenes questioning, challenging and no matter who you elect, I’m going to continue to do the work I do.” Hill said transparency is a major part of her campaign. “That could not be more important now as we look at our local government and our national government,” Hill said. “More than ever we need strong leaders who are committed to taking responsibility and seeking the answers all of us are so desperately seeking.” Jackson said he is not a perfect candidate and is a person just like everyone else. “I don’t hold my color up because I know my color does not define me,” Jackson said. “It is who I am inside and the education I get… I am proud of who I am and I want everyone in Charlottesville to be proud of who they are. We are all role models, each and every one of us.” Hall said he has been excited to participate in the forums. “If elected to City Council on Nov. 7, I will help fellow Councilors as a freshman team player,” Hall said. “Because of the events stemming from the plan to remove the Lee and Jackson statues, the good work of the City Council has been delayed by public demonstrations.”    TIMELINE FOR PODCAST: 01:00 – Introduction from moderator Andi Copeland-Whitsett 02:00 - Opening statement from Independent John Edward Hall 03:20 - Opening statement from Independent Kenneth Jackson 05:30 - Opening statement from Democrat Heather Hill 08:00 - Opening statement from Independent Nikuyah Walker 10:20 - Opening statement from Independent Paul Long 12:40 - Opening statement from Democrat Amy Laufer 15:30 - Question #1: There is a perception that a populist agenda has taken hold of Council. Can you address that? 28:00 - Question #2:  What are your plans if you're elected to develop a strong middle-sector particularly among the African-American and Hispanic communities? 41:30 - Question #3: For downtown and midtown to thrive, there must be accessibility to workers and consumers alike. What is your plan to guarantee affordable access to all? 52:30: - Candidates were given another   opportunity to address a previous question May 1:05:10 - Closing statement from Laufer 1:06:15 - Closing statement from Long 1:07:35 - Closing statement from Walker 1:10:00 - Closing statement from Hill 1:12:00 - Closing statement from Jackson 1:14:25 - Closing statement from Hall Download

The six candidates for two seats on the Charlottesville City Council were asked to give their views on governance at a forum held Wednesday by the area branch of the League of Women Voters. “We do take position on issues but never on candidates,” said Marge Cox, the moderator of the event. This was the third time the candidates in the general election race met in an open forum. One previous event was held by Virginia Organizing and the other was sponsored by the Fry’s Spring and Johnson Village neighborhood associations. Democrat Heather Hill said her background as an industrial and systems engineer has helped prepare her for the position. “Transparency and accountability in how our city is managed has always been a top priority of mine and I feel like it could not be more important than now,” Hill said. “Our city needs strong leaders who are committed to taking responsibility, finding the answers we desperately seek and working with our community to solve its most complex issues.” Kenneth Jackson told the audience he is running as an independent because he does not want to be beholden to a party. “To me this is people’s lives and it’s not a game,” Jackson said. “I don’t want to be beholden to business or industry. I want to be beholden to the citizens.” Democrat Amy Laufer, a member of the League of Women Voters, was elected to the school board in 2011. “This summer has been really traumatic and this past couple of months have been full of their own tumult,” Laufer said, adding Councilors need to listen to the concerns of people and come up with solutions. Independent Paul Long has lived in Charlottesville for nearly twenty years and ran in 2009 and withdrew from the race in 2011. “I’m running for City Council because I believe the present City Council is a disgrace to this city and their lack of leadership has further aggravated the problems that we’re facing,” Long said. Independent Nikuyah Walker said her service working as substance-abuse counselor for Region 10 is one of the most important jobs she has performed. It also led to her current desire to run for Council. “The very first time I came to a City Council meeting was in 2011 or 2012 asking the Council at that time to provide oversight for money they had signed off on, grant funding for Region 10 that I didn’t think we were fulfilling,” Walker said. “Since that time I have spent a considerable amount of time at Council meetings, very involved, watching meetings, writing emails.” Independent John Edward Hall said he suffers with bipolar disorder but he is on good medication now. “I will be sure to take what is necessary,” Hall said. “I am sure that as a design engineer with six U.S. patents and two U.S. copyrights as an illustrator, I am best qualified for the office of councilor.” The role of the Dillon rule The first question asked the candidates about an aspect of state government that prevents localities from writing its own laws. “Virginia is not a home-rule state,” Cox said. “It’s a Dillon Rule state. The Virginia courts have concluded because of that that local governments in Virginia have those powers that are specifically conferred upon them by the Virginia General Assembly. They have those powers that are ‘necessarily or fairly implied’ from a specific grant or authority. And they have those powers that are essential to the purposes of government and not simply convenient but indispensable.” Cox did not ask a specific question but candidates ruminated on those definitions. “That means we have very limited authority,” Laufer said. “I know a couple of years ago we talked about reduced sentencing for people who had small amounts of marijuana. We couldn’t do that. I know there are a lot of housing issues we can’t enact because of the Dillon Rule. I don’t know what else I can say. Almost every aspect that we’d want to do something different, the state won’t allow it. We saw that most recently with the [Confederate statues].” Long said it is a disgrace that the Dillon rule is in effect. “According to Jeffersonian democracy, the best government is at the local level and I think the Dillon rule should be repealed and replaced,” Long said, adding the city should have the ability to ban militias from carrying rifles at local rallies. Walker said she has been working to increase the minimum wage in the city and has come up against the Dillon rule on multiple occasions. “Being able to increase that wage, the city has the authority to say they will pay a higher wage within the city government but to mandate it for businesses within the city, that’s something prohibited by the Dillon Rule,” Walker said. Walker went on to say many economic disparities in Charlottesville could be addressed if higher wages could be mandated. Hill said the Dillon Rule affects the ability of the city to require that more affordable housing is built. “We’re constrained and there’s only so much we can ask of developers given what the state has determined,” Hill said. She credited former Charlottesville Mayor Dave Norris for helping lobby the General Assembly for permission to receive cash contributions from developers. “With the right kind of focus, we actually can create change and go to the state level and get those rules in place,” Hill said. “But we continue to be very bound by the restriction put in place that are done by-right.” Jackson said the Dillon Rule is not stopping affordable housing from being built. “It’s our own ordinances which for decades the City Council has made so difficult and then they put fees and taxes and stuff on people,” Jackson said. “Who do you think the landlords will pass that on to?” The changing character of Charlottesville Cox’s second question built on the first one. “The character of the city is changing with increasing gentrification, fewer vacant lots, new technology companies and a growing senior population,” she said. “How should the City Council address these changes?” Jackson said he thought Council can take action to fix the tax issues he said come with gentrification. “You buy a house and someone puts a big McMansion that’s $400,000 and suddenly you’re paying almost the same tax they’re paying,” Jackson said. “The city does not have to do that. The city doesn’t have to charge you the same.” Laufer said Charlottesville has changed a lot since she was first elected in 2011. “I’ve really seen the neighborhoods change,” Laufer said. “We can see the schools too have changed and we have increased enrollment. We are a changing community and I don’t think we can just stop. I think we should count ourselves fortunate that we are a place that people want to be.” Laufer said the city needs to do more to help people maintain their own homes. She called for the raising of the maximum income level for seniors to qualify for the city’s tax reduction program. Long said the increases in property tax assessments this year were a disgrace. “They went up outrageously,” he said. “I think City Council should have done something. I can stand to be corrected, but I believe some assessments went up 200 to 300 percent. There’s no way that should have happened.” Walker said the policies that have led to a changing Charlottesville were enacted by decision-makers who were around the table at the time. “The character of the city is changing and that didn’t happen by an act of God,” Walker said. “It happened because people are at the table implementing policies that haven’t been equitable.” Walker said the city needs to limit tax breaks and other incentives for developers. For instance, she said Council should not have approved the extension of an $850,000 loan given to developer Keith Woodard recently for 57 units at Dogwood Housing. Hall said the city should partner with the county and the Jefferson Area Board of Aging to address the community’s senior needs. Hill said the city lacks a vision for growth. “I think too often in Neighborhood Development Services, it’s very transactional and about whatever development is happening at this time,” Hill said. “It’s not really looking forward to where we’re going to be and I think that’s gotten us into the situation we’re in.” Hill said the city does need to partner with the private sector to develop affordable housing. Charlottesville’s form of government The final question from the moderator dealt with the make-up of city government. “Considering the fact that Charlottesville has a city manager form of government, what do you see as the proper relationship between Council, the city manager and his staff, as well as appointed boards and commission, and paid or citizen consultant groups?” Cox asked. Walker said Council frequently overrides recommendations of staff and cited a time when Council overturned a recommendation from Parks and Recreation staff to open Smith Aquatic Center later on Saturdays. “There were some patrons who came in who wanted the center to remain open on Saturday mornings even though staff going through the budgeting process decided it wasn’t producing the revenue to keep the center open,” Walker said. “Without consulting the city manager and his staff there was a decision made immediately because Council did not want citizens to be upset about the closing of it.” After the events in Charlottesville on August 12, Walker said more power needs to be given back to staff to make decisions and set priorities. Hall said he believes that City Manager Maurice Jones has done a good job. “I believe the city manager form of government serves Charlottesville well and will continue to do so,” Hall said. “The city manager is the quarterback of the City Council ‘football team.’” Hill said she agreed with Walker that Council often burdens staff with conflicting directions. “We also have to arm them with the right tools in which to prioritize,” Hill said. “I feel like staff is constantly chasing their tails trying to figure out who they are reporting to and following. The onus does certainly fall on Council to understand its role. Its role is to have accountability on the city manager.” Jackson said power rests with City Council. “The City Council governs and runs with the city and that’s what they’re elected to do,” Jackson said. “The city manager is underneath them and he oversees the day-to-day operations. We should always have a working relationship with the city manager.” Jackson also said Council should listen more to the recommendations and rely less on consultants. Laufer said the school board has a similar relationship with Superintendent Rosa Atkins that Council has with Jones. “The role of the council or the school board is to set a vision,” Laufer said. “They are directly responsible for evaluating and hiring the manager or superintendent. They make budgetary and policy decisions based on the vision that they’re working toward.” However, Laufer said it is hard for school board members or Councilors to avoid getting involved with day-to-day operations, but elected officials must hold themselves back from overly doing so. For that to work, staff must provide information and frequent reports. Long said Jones is “doing an excellent job” but Council has abdicated its responsibility and has allowed Mayor Mike Signer to have too much power. “I believe this city is spending too much money on outside consulting firms coming in and doing studies,” Long said. Election Day is Nov. 7. The last day to register to vote is Monday. TIMELINE FOR PODCAST 00:45 – Introduction from moderator 02:00 – Opening statement from Democrat Heather Hill 04:15 – Opening statement from Independent Kenny Jackson 06:30 – Opening statement from Democrat Amy Laufer 08:40 – Opening statement from Independent Paul Long 10:20 – Opening statement from Independent Nikuyah Walker 12:30 – Opening statement from Independent John Edward Hall 13:40 – Question #1: Candidates are asked to weigh in on the Dillon Rule 22:30 – Question #2: Candidates are asked to weigh in on changing nature of Charlottesville 34:50 – Question #3: Candidates are asked to describe their views on the appropriate relationship between city council, city manager and appointed boards and commissions 46:30 – Summary statement from John Edward Hall 48:45 – Summary statement from Heather Hill 51:00 – Summary statement from Kenneth Jackson 53:00 – Summary statement from Amy Laufer 55:15 – Summary statement from Paul Long 57:25 – Summary statement from Nikuyah Walker 59:50 – Audience question #1: Do you support the approach of Solidarity Charlottesville to disrupt city government meetings? Why or why not? 1:09:30 - Audience question #2: As a city councilor, describe your own approach to working with city staff and appointed boards. 01:20:30 – Audience question #3: With political climate so volatile what concrete steps will you take to bring unity to Charlottesville? 01:30:40 – Audience question #4: When the collective wisdom of city council fails to answer a question, would you be willing to refer the matter to the voters in a referendum?         Download