Tuesday, December 20
Charter school proposed for troubled students
Tonight, the Charlottesville City School Board heard a proposal for a charter school, grades 5 through 8. The proposal, advanced by Bobbi Snow, addresses the needs of kids having the most trouble in school—typically two years or more behind their classmates. Snow has already squared away a three-year, $450,000 federal grant for the project. She wants the school board to contribute $10,000 per student, with a first-year class of 60 students (that would equal just more than 1 percent of the ’05-’06 schools budget). At tonight’s meeting, board members seemed keen on some parts of the proposal (an arts curriculum) but they were sketched by the idea of spending up to $600,000 on so few students. Question: How much is too much to spend on the neediest kids?
Wednesday, December 21
Santa to vandals: You don’t even deserve coal
Four days before Christmas some Downtown residents who had parked on the street the night before awakened to slashed tires. According to City spokesperson Ric Barrick, the first call came in at 3am this morning. By Wednesday afternoon, there had been 10 reports of vandalized cars between the 200 and 600 blocks of E. High Street. As of press time there were no leads and no suspects.
Thursday, December 22
Deeds accepts loss in Attorney General race
Today Bath County Senator Creigh Deeds conceded the Attorney General race after a recount determined that Republican Bob McDonnell did, in fact, win. After the November 8 election, the State certified McDonnell as the winner by a scant 323 votes out of more than 1.9 million cast—a margin of about .017 percent. On Tuesday, vote totals were rechecked in 134 localities; Richmond Circuit Court ordered a hand count in 10 precincts because of problems with voting equipment. After the recount, reports indicated McDonnell actually picked up 37 votes, giving him a 360-vote margin of victory, the closest in modern Virginia history. State law says taxpayers foot the bill for a recount if the margin of victory is less than 0.5 percent, although the candidates must pay their own attorney fees.
Exploding dye sort of thwarts bank heist
Today a SunTrust bank teller slipped an exploding dye device into a bag of cash, stealing some of a bank robber’s thunder. At about 2:30pm, a 6′ white male wearing sunglasses and a dark coat entered the bank on Ivy Road and demanded money. He fled with an undisclosed amount of cash, but he had to drop some of it when the dye-pack exploded via radio transmitter. Witness-es say the man left the scene in a white vehicle, according to police.
Friday, December 23
Warner acts to save roadless areas
Today outgoing Governor Mark Warner asked the U.S. Forest Service to reinstate Clinton-era protections on Virginia’s sweetest national forests. In July, President Bush opened 60 million acres of America’s national forests to mining and development. The Commonwealth devotes 1.8 million acres to national forests, with 387,000 acres of undeveloped wilderness—more than any other state east of the Mississippi. Bush’s policy means governors have to beg the Forest Service to preserve their states’ forests, and Warner is apparently the first to do so. Given the record number of public comments supporting Clinton’s preservation policy, Warner’s move marks yet another positive talking point for the would-be presidential candidate.
Written by John Borgmeyer from staff and news reports.
Meet the activist
Ridge Street’s Antoinette Roades speaks on fighting big developers
As Southern Development proceeds with a 28-unit residential project called “Old Towne” at the corner of Ridge Street and Cherry Avenue, Oak Street resident Antoinette Roades has led neighborhood opposition. Her voluminous correspondence with City and State officials includes deep historical references that produced evidence of an old graveyard on the site and the history of certain trees, distinguishing her efforts from the normal NIMBY noise. Roades is a writer, journalist and fourth-generation Charlottesvillian who knows how to fight the power. In an interview via e-mail, she shared some of her secrets.—John Borgmeyer
C-VILLE: How did you get started fighting Southern Development’s project on Ridge/Cherry?
Antoinette Roades: In a way, we started the moment we moved over here in 1987. We saw that the five parcels that make up this property constituted a treasure. When we found that it was overzoned, we knew it was in trouble. We saw Southern Development’s plans for the first time in May 2004. They were really distressing.
Many citizens complain that development comes as a surprise. How would you improve citizen involvement?
My opinion is that we should understand that both City staff members and Councilors work for us, but developers do not. So we should constantly make City officials aware of what we value, like trees, greenspace and historical resources.
We should do our homework, which includes reading relevant ordinances, keeping up with proposed rule changes and developer applications. We should establish lines of communication with key City decision-makers. Also, we should get over the idea that only neighborhood associations or task forces can speak for us. Each of us is equally entitled to direct access to City Hall.
What have you learned about development politics by working on this case?
I’ve always known that anyone pursuing a good cause can enlist allies who’re not personally affected by the challenge at hand. You just have to ask.
Early in this fight, Ben Ford, an archaeologist by profession, helped by putting on the public record Preservation Piedmont’s concerns about the project. That took some of our objections out of the NIMBY category and made them matters of larger principal. And Doug Coleman, executive director of the Wintergreen Nature Foundation, helped immensely in July ‘04 by agreeing to guide a walk-around of the property. Seeing it through his eyes really galvanized those who took part.
We asked for City support. It came late, but it did come. In fact, [Neighborhood Services Director] Jim Tolbert knocked our collective socks off in November when he put Southern Development on official notice that the site is “sensitive” and that there’d be no free passes on this one. Obviously, he was listening.
I’d gotten in touch with both the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, because of Southern Development’s utter refusal even to acknowledge both deeded and anecdotal evidence of a 19th-century family cemetery on the property. [When contacted by C-VILLE, Charlie Armstrong of Southern Development said the company hired surveyors and consulted old deeds, but found no evidence of a cemetery.—ed.] As it turned out, an array of other impacts on adjacent historic resources were also relevant. I was told by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources that the Corps is suspending a permit issued to Southern Development in May of last year pending resolution of all those historic resource-impact issues. [Armstrong says he has not received any notice of a suspension; he says the company agreed to hold the project until hearing from the Corps regarding the site’s historic significance.—ed.]
So, even though the woods at Ridge and Cherry aren’t out of the woods yet, we feel confirmed in long-held beliefs that facts weigh more than feelings, that persistence pays and that compromise is way, way overrated.
Judge rules for Faulconer
Governor-elect Tim Kaine plans to tackle issues raised by local case
After a yearlong battle in Albe-marle Circuit Court, a judge has ruled that the County cannot deny a site plan based on how traffic from the project might affect existing roads. However, Democratic Governor-elect Tim Kaine has proposed new legislation that could reopen the debate over how much control local governments have over new development.
A court battle between Faulconer Con-struction Company and Albemarle County over the County’s de-nial of a site plan based on the conditions of current roads and in-frastructure came to (at least) a temporary conclusion December 14. Judge Paul Peatross ruled in favor of the construction company, writing, “The Court remands the case to the Board of Supervisors with direction that it approve the final site plan…”
In September 2004, the County Plan-ning Commission rejected Faulconer’s plan to build on Morgantown Road, saying that although the site is zoned for light industry, existing roads couldn’t handle the increased traffic such development would bring. Faulconer took the issue to court, citing the Dillon Rule, which says that localities only have powers they are expressly granted by the Commonwealth. In other words, Faul-coner argued that unless Virginia specifically allows Albemarle to make infrastructure requirements, such requirements are illegal. Peatross concurred.
In this case, Peatross deemed the County’s reasoning “illegal and in-valid.” Tim Kaine, however, promises to take up a similar issue on a statewide level once he’s sworn in. Among the governor-elect’s many transportation-related proposals, Kaine supports giving local governments the authority to deny rezoning when roads are insufficient.
According to Dennis Rooker, chairman of the Albemarle Board of Supervisors, not only the County, but also the entire Virginia Association of Counties has lobbied the legislature for that power for years. However, says Rooker, development interests have wielded their political power against giving localities more control over development. Last year, the development and real estate industries donated more than $9 million to political campaigns, more than any other private industry.
The difference between Kaine’s proposal and the Faulconer case is a question of zoning. In the Faulconer case, the site was already zoned for light industrial uses; Kaine stipulates that a property cannot be rezoned if the roads in place cannot handle resulting traffic.
Local developer Frank Stoner understands the County’s concerns, and agrees that if infrastructure can’t support development then the issue of who is responsible for providing that infrastructure is legit.
And yet, Stoner points out that in this particular case the County should have thought ahead. “The County went out and zoned that property industrial,” says Stoner. “If they didn’t want it zoned that way, they could have rezoned it. If you can’t support the uses you’ve zoned for, then down-zone.”—Nell Boeschenstein
Inside Warner’s final budget
Outgoing guv to cement his legacy as fiscal savior?
Come January 14, outgoing Gov-ernor Mark Warner is out of a job. The self-made Democratic millionaire who founded Nextel would like to move into the White House, and he’s already at work crafting the image he hopes will get him there. Warner’s 2006-08 biennial budget will be his curtain call, his last big gesture as governor.
In a December 16 speech to legislators outlining the $72 billion budget, Warner cast himself as the common-sense business guy who saved Virginia from the financial wreckage of conservative folly. When Warner took office four years ago, the Commonwealth faced about $6 billion in budget deficits caused in large part by former Governor Jim Gilmore’s tax cuts.
“I do not need to recount for you the roots of the…shortfall,” Warner said before proceeding to do just that. “We will not make spending or tax policy commitments whose cost will show up or escalate in the out years. We will not casually assume that Virginia’s revenues will continue to show extraordinary growth for the next two-and-a-half years.”
This year, Warner’s got a $3 billion surplus to play with, the result of his 2004 collaboration with moderate Republicans to raise new revenue. It’s another selling point at a time when Democrats are search-ing for ways to subvert the Republicans’ powerful right wing. However, it will be Warner’s protégé, Governor-elect Tim Kaine, who will steer Warner’s budget through the Repub-lican-controlled Gen-eral Assembly. This chart highlights some of Warner’s proposed expenditures and comments from his December 16 speech.—John Borgmeyer
Warner’s money
$1.5 billion in one-time investments in economic growth, transportation and environment
$142 million to match federal grants for projects earmarked in the recently passed federal transportation bill
$518 million in new money for higher education
$200 million to upgrade water treatment plants in the Chesapeake Bay watershed
$137 million to give State employees a 3 percent raise
Warner’s money quote
“We will not start major new programs.”
“The hidden truth is that these federal earmarks came from funds Virginia would have received anyway, without the strings attached.”
“The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill—with no medical school—conducts as much federally funded research as the Univer-sity of Virginia and Virginia Tech combined.”
“The funding is sufficient to reduce nitrogen discharges by 2.6 million pounds each year [and] keep wastewater charges at reasonable levels.”
“Virginia’s government functions as well as it does because of the knowledge, dedication and commitment that State employees display.”
What’s the price of county security? $4.3 million
Albemarle’s homeland security grants bought SCUBA gear and gas masks
All aboard the anti-terror gravy train! Since 2003, the Department of Homeland Security has awarded state and local governments more than $8 billion. A nice chunk of those grants landed right here—according to documents, Albemarle County appropriated Home-land Security grants totaling $4,284,476, including money for computers, gas masks, night vision goggles and SCUBA gear during the past three years.
Here are examples of local domestic preparedness grants. Interesting, isn’t it, that most of the money went for cool new gadgets for police, fire and rescue departments, while none seemed specifically earmarked to provide food, shelter and medicine to victims of a major catastrophe?—John Borgmeyer
$3,250,000
Part of a $14 million grant split between the City, County and UVA to establish “interoperable” regional mobile communication and data systems.
$301,339
The Department of Homeland Security awarded this grant to provide “a wellness and fitness program” for volunteer and career personnel that includes annual nutrition, back care and abdominal health education.
$280,754
This grant will be split evenly among fire, rescue and police for mobile data computers, video cameras and emergency response training in the event of an attack using weapons of mass destruction.
$224,335
Police, fire and rescue departments got this grant, one of several earmarked for night-vision tools, digital cameras and other “tactical equipment.”
$3,136
These funds reimbursed the costs of having off-duty police officers patrol the county’s reservoirs during the “heightened alertness” period, March 17-April 16, 2003.
State considers cost-of-living bonus for UVA workers
University supports new salary calculation, politicians say maybe
On Wednesday, December 21, local representatives to the General Assembly met with UVA officials and workers to discuss the legislative session that begins January 11.
Delegate Steve Landes (R-Waynesboro), Delegate Rob Bell (R-Albemarle) and Delegate-elect David Toscano (D-Char-lottesville) sat on a panel with UVA President John Casteen to field questions about the upcoming session.
Brad Sayler, a computer systems engineer at UVA, asked whether the General Assembly could give the school a salary differential to help UVA paychecks keep up with Charlottesville’s escalating cost of living.
State salaries must fall within approved “pay bands” corresponding to different types of jobs. Throughout most of Virginia, the first pay band, for example, starts with a minimum salary of $14,212 with a maximum of $29,168. In Northern Virginia, however, pay bands are higher. There, the first pay band has a maximum of $37,918. Sayler says Charlottesville should get legislative approval to expand pay bands at UVA.
“I like working at UVA. I just wish I got a little bit more in my paycheck,” Sayler told the delegates.
Casteen and the delegates say they generally support an expansion of pay bands in Charlottesville, but it’s not that simple. NoVa’s pay expansion is actually based on regional salaries, not cost of living. Because UVA is the largest regional employer—and because recent studies indicate Charlottesville’s salaries are relatively lower than other parts of Virginia—it could be difficult for the school to convince the General Assembly that higher salaries are necessary.
“They’re usually fairly cautious about that,” says Greg Noland at the State Department of Human Resources. Cities like Fredericksburg have made similar requests, but to no avail, he says.
Further, State officials point out that expanding the pay bands in Charlottesville would not guarantee UVA employees more money. It would simply mean that UVA would have more freedom to spend more on salaries.
Currently, UVA has authority to pay faculty outside the State pay bands, which allows the school to compete with other universities to hire top teachers. Classified staff, however, must be paid within approved pay bands. UVA officials say that the impending “charter” legislation would give the school more flexibility to pay classified staff competitive salaries. Whether freedom from State-mandated salaries would come through a pay differential or a new arrangement with the State like the charter bill, State officials say that under no circumstances is higher pay guaranteed.—John Borgmeyer
The Wahoos are gone…
reclaim your town!
How to make the most of UVA’s holiday break
UVA’s winter break runs until January 18, giving us another three weeks’ respite from the usual Wahoo occupation. To celebrate these precious days of unclogged streets and a more refined nightlife, C-VILLE offers the following ways that you can take advantage of UVA’s holiday break.—John Borgmeyer
Visit a friend who lives on JPA—you can finally find a spot to park.
Buy groceries in Harris Teeter without hearing Buffy on her cell phone yammering about, like, did you see how wasted Travis and Jen got last night? OMG! WTF?
Play touch football on the Lawn.
Sit down and drink a beer at Michael’s Bistro without being forced to wade through a throng of trust-fund hippies.
Just to freak them out, write odes to racial harmony on students’ dry-erase boards.
Get a copy of Charles Wright’s Negative Blue from Alderman Library, then sit near one of the big Palladian windows and read his poems about Charlottesville.
Enjoy a vomit-free game of pool at Orbit’s.
Savor a streetscape free of popped collars.
Go check out UVA’s men’s basketball home game against the University of Hartford Hawks at University Hall on December 31. Come and see what could be UVA’s last close game all year!
Emergency system switches to 800 MHz
Goal: To improve police, rescue communication
If Gramps got a shiny new radio transmitter under the tree this year, he should sit down and get cozy with it now or never. The local Emergency Communications Center, which serves Charlottesville, Albemarle and UVA, will switch to a new 800 MHz system sometime after January 1, according to Tom Hanson, the Center’s executive director. No exact date has been set for the switch because last-minute glitches in the computer system are still getting worked out.
The changeover is bad news for Gramps—he won’t be able to track the latest car crash or house fire anymore—but good news for emergency services. Now, instead of going through dispatchers to communicate, emergency personnel will be able to radio each other directly, and thus respond more quickly to situations, says Hanson.
For example, Hanson points out that the ice storm at the beginning of December would have been easier to manage had the new system been in place. Police would have been able to talk directly not only among different offices in the police departments, but also with rescue squads or fire departments.
Hanson says the new 800 MHz system will standardize communication across the board. Right now, “each different entity has its own system—some low-band, some high-band. It’s a menagerie of different old components.”
In preparation for the new system, everything from radios and portable hand units, to transmitters, microwave equipment and a couple of towers have been replaced—to the tune of $18 million. A Homeland Security grant covers one-third of that; the rest gets picked up by the City, County, UVA and the airport.
The change is needed, too, says Hanson, because of the area’s continuing growth. A steady 2 percent growth rate for the past 10 years means Albemarle’s population doubles every 32 years, and as the population booms the need for emergency services to be coordinated increases, too.—Nell Boeschenstein
DUIs spike during holidays
Boozin’ and cruisin’ don’t mix with ho ho hoIt’s nothing to be proud of, but ’tis the season to drink and drive. At least so say the roadside statistics. For example, in 2002, of the 17,524 drunk driving-related deaths in the United States, just more than 1 percent, 207, were between Christmas and New Year’s. But in Virginia, the State Police reported 375 drunk driving related deaths in 2002, with 22, or 6 percent, occurring over the winter holidays.
The trend holds true in Charlottesville as well. Locally, the average number of DUI arrests in December for the past four years is 33; the av-erage number of DUI arrests per month for the rest of the year is 25, according to City police. (Stats for the County were not available by press time.)
City Sgt. Michael Farruggio speculates that the duration of the holiday season accounts for the spike in DUI arrests.
“People spread out parties,” says Farruggio. “Instead of a single party day like the 4th of July, at Christmastime you’ll have parties almost every weekend for three or four weeks. All that leads to a higher probability of someone who does drink too much being on the road.”
Farruggio also says it’s not a matter of officers being more vigilant about drunk driving over the holidays, but rather that the drunk drivers simply present themselves. Throughout the year the police department sets up road blocks around the city to check for sobriety, and the holidays are no different. Likewise, as part of a statewide campaign, between Christmas and New Year’s, troopers also maintain checkpoints on the state highways.—Nell Boeschenstein