Press elect on School Board
I understand why City Council appointed an advisory commission to assist the School Board in its search for a new superintendent [“Trying to resume course?” The Week, May 24]. Council had to do something to reduce the chances that the mistakes of the past year won’t be repeated. The Board and the advisory commission will have to define their relationship carefully so as to avoid unnecessary conflict.
I hope that once a new superintendent is selected, Council will begin to think about systemic reform as well. The current system of appointing School Board members is flawed. An elected board is likely to function more transparently, to be more responsive to the public and to enact policies that enjoy community support. I hope that the Democrats on City Council will support efforts by other Charlottesville Democrats to put a referendum on the November ballot that would authorize a gradual transition to an elected board from 2006 to 2008.
There is no reason to doubt that Charlottesville’s progressive voters would, if granted the opportunity, elect a diverse group of qualified individuals to the School Board. Councilors should demonstrate the same faith in the voters that the voters demonstrated in Councilors when they put them in office. Democracy is the best system of government, and an elected School Board will be good for the city, the schools, parents, staff and students.
Jeffrey Rossman
Charlottesville
DJ remix
Hello. After reading your article about “The Boombox” [“Hip hop hooray,” The Week, May 31], I would like to say that as a fan of “Thugged Out Thursdays” I was very disappointed that you did not bother to give props to the two talented DJs for that slot. The Music Resource Center is having its 10th anniversary; Bumpy Brown (Curtis Brown) and John Doe (Chris Newman) are alumni of this local program. Both Curtis and Chris are local celebrities in underground hip hop. Having participated in numerous talent showcases, these guys have earned their “bragging” rights. I understand that with the popularity of Eminem, putting DJ Illustrious on the front page can increase readership. Why did you ignore the contributions of the other DJs from “The Boombox”?
Gloria Newman
Charlottesville
Liberal application
I submit that your blurb heaping praise on Sen. John Warner and the other “moderates” who framed the sellout of several of the President’s judicial nominees was somewhat premature [“Allen polishes ultra-con credentials,” 7 Days, The Week, May 31]. It did not take the Democrats long to revert to their obstructionist tactics in denying John Bolton a vote on his nomination. Sen. George Allen was entirely correct and Sen. Warner totally duped.
By the way, just what made the two “dumped” nominees arch-conservatives? I suppose in your ultra-liberal mind, any judge who believes in strict construction of our Constitution. I also await with baited breath your calling some Democrats “ultra-liberal” but I fear that I will never see that day.
Frederick W. Kahler
Earlysville
CORRECTION
In last week’s Ask Ace column, we incorrectly spelled the name of the Charlottesville-Albemarle Historical Society’s Margaret O’Bryant, for which we apologize.