Month: January 2009

Quick, what’s the link between the White House and Charlottesville’s Jefferson School? If you said “community organizing,” you got it right.

READ MORE FROM OUR INAUGURATION FEATURE • Celebrating Obama with Monroe At Ash Lawn, talk is all "timid feeders on the lagoon" • Barack in the John Paul Jones Alone in a crowd, eyes trained on history • What your dreams of Obama say about you or, Night school • How C-VILLE’s arts guy spent 48 hours covering Obama’s inauguration We’re off to see the Wizard!

“It just meant the world to me to see a community organizer recognized in the national arena,” said Karen Waters, executive director of the Quality Community Council, last Tuesday night. “So often, with my family and friends, I have to explain what I do, and now they all know what community organizing is.”

Waters’ group, a nonprofit, citizen-driven community coalition dedicated to improving the quality of life in Charlottesville’s neighborhoods, hosted some 300 people for a dinner and dance party to celebrate the inauguration of the Organizer in Chief. And President Barack Obama’s image was everywhere on view that night at the Jefferson School, and not just on the TV sets that replayed the speech from earlier in the day. I had been wondering what happened to the big Obama mural that once welcomed the public to the campaign office on the Downtown Mall. I found myself staring at it inside the Jefferson School, and the irony of being in a place that is a standing symbol of Charlottesville’s segregationist past, was, I bet, lost on few. And there were even more reminders of how times have changed: Obama keychains, clothing, and a life-sized cardboard cutout that at one point earned a hearty hug from Waters as if it were the man himself, the 44th president of these United States.

What: Inauguration party hosted by Quality Community Council Where: The Jefferson School When: Tuesday, January 20

Obama worked with the people of Chicago’s Southside, and similarly QCC knocked on about 300 doors in the city’s public housing projects, reaching out and registering people to vote. “We made change,” Waters declared, when taking the stage to introduce the night’s program. Platters of cheesy lasagna sent warm, comforting aromas through the crowd and then, with the swearing-in playing on the big TV, Nickie Hill clapped her hands and declared, “Hallelujah!”  There were more than a few tears rolling down cheeks all around the tables where most everyone was seated. “It’s just awesome. It’s just wonderful. It’s a historic moment. I am just lost for words, because for so long we have been waiting for this,” Hill says, choking back tears. “I am just excited for what’s to come. We have a bright future.”

Real joy: Karen Waters, executive director of the Quality Community Council, loves how a community organizer has been “recognized in a national arena.”

Michael “Bigup” Stewart predicts change will be the hallmark of the next four years. “To have someone who really seems to want to listen to the American people and says that we really need change, it means more than words can say,” he says. Stewart, a restaurant worker who says he’s the only black on the staff, finds in that fact another link between him and Obama. “At times I feel like I have to work twice as hard, because I might come in with a hat or a do-rag and I am subject to preconceived notions of what they think I may be,” he says. “But when you put forth the hard work, it speaks for itself.”

Time for tears was at that point over, as the DJ called on all those in the room to get up and hug the person standing next to them. In the midst of “Thank you Jesus!” and “Hallelujahs,” the funk portion of the evening began. Earlier, The Righteous Friendz, a reggae band had filled the space with good vibrations. To the tunes of Sister Sledge’s “We are Family,” Delegate David Toscano took a spin on the dance floor with Waters until they were overwhelmed by the Conga line that was prompted by Kool and The Gang’s “Celebration.”

Around the same moment when the Obamas were serenaded by Beyoncé with an a cappella rendition of Etta James’ “At Last,” the Carver Recreation Center in the Jefferson School was uplifted by the commanding sounds of Aretha Franklin’s “Respect.” Young and old, black and white, volunteers and elected officials—all present stood up and joined the courageous still-few on the dance floor. Waters stepped back and observed in awe. “I am so pleased of the diversity of the crowd,” she said with evident pride. “One thing about Charlottesville, people are really willing to work together, to do things together and that is really exciting.”

Even as the bulldozers are revving their engines to begin work on the county portion of the Meadowcreek Parkway—that two-mile road that has gestated in the womb of government for 40-plus years—some activists are still hoping for a last-minute halt.

A group calling themselves the Coalition to Preserve McIntire Park has been sharpening its legal toolkit, having hired Andrea Ferster, a D.C. attorney who specializes in environmental and historic preservation litigation.

Opponents are still hopeful that the McIntire Park portion of the Meadowcreek Parkway can be ditched, and John Warner’s earmark used for an interchange and bikeway instead.

“She was kind of hesitant about this until finally we explained to her that the interchange goes 775′ into McIntire Park,” says John Cruickshank, president of the local chapter of the Sierra Club and lead organizer for the Coalition, which has raised $3,500 for the fight.

The Meadowcreek Parkway was conceived as a strange beast, one snake-like creature with multiple parents to be born tail-first in three segments. About two-thirds of the road—from Rio Road to Melbourne Road —is a county project. The Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) hired Faulconer Construction Company for $11.8 million to deliver that section. Work is slated to start in February.

The midsection is the progeny of the city and VDOT, and called McIntire Road Extended. It would slither from Melbourne Road through the McIntire Park golf course to the 250 Bypass. City Council has no more votes left on it, and it is scheduled to go to bid in April.

READ MORE ON THIS TOPIC • Lawsuits brewing over MCP Project critics point to "segmentation" • MCP vote comes with symbolic opposition Final public hearing draws detractors but to no avail • Council to hold final public hearing on MCP August 18 could be doomsday • Council picks interchange for MCP Eastern Connector would go through Pen Park • Council stops interchange dead in its tracks School Board likely to give away fields for parkway • Agency says MCP needs another look DHR: Environmental assessment may not go far enough • Council makes final step towards MCP Norris forced to choose between principle and pragmatism • City Calls out county over MCP Lynch, Norris skeptical about county’s commitment to regional network • Meadowcreek Parkway to-do list in city Council approves two designs for 250 interchange

The third portion is the split-grade interchange at 250, which will come last. City Council is expected to see a final design in the summer. Unlike the other sections, it was spawned by the federal government, in the form of a $27 million earmark in 2005 from former U.S. senator John Warner.

And therein lies the opponents’ opportunity. Federal money requires a different standard of review, particularly where public parks are concerned, and so the fact that the interchange segment extends into McIntire Park and seems to be connected to the McIntire Road Extended project, which didn’t get that higher level federal review, gives a legal wedge for termination.

A federal suit, however, would require triggers that haven’t yet happened on the McIntire Extended project. So the main effort right now is to keep the entire thing stalled a little longer.

“We’re asking government leaders and VDOT not to begin that northern section of it until the other sections have been reconciled,” Cruickshank says. If only the county portion is built, he says, “I think it would be a disaster for people in that neighborhood around Melbourne Road.”

But it doesn’t appear likely that work will stop on the county portion. VDOT won’t even acknowledge the possibility of a halt on the county portion. “We’re moving ahead with construction,” says Lou Hatter. “Weather permitting, [Faulconer’s] beginning to mobilize for construction starting.”

Coalition members are asking city councilors to request that VDOT and the county hold off, but that would require a change of heart from one of the MCP supporters on Council, Satyendra Huja, David Brown or Julian Taliaferro.

The county is standing firm. “To my knowledge, anytime the Board of Supervisors has had to take action on the Meadowcreek Parkway, we’ve voted unanimously to support the project,” says Dennis Rooker, a supervisor since 2002. “I actually talked to John Cruickshank and told him I thought they were opposing probably the most environmentally friendly [automobile] transportation project that’s ever been built in the area.”

“I completely disagree,” says Cruickshank. “I think that parks should be protected. It’s ridiculous to be taking a centrally located park in the city and cutting it up like that.”

On putting a road through a park, Rooker says, “I wouldn’t say it wasn’t an issue. I would say that the decision was made long ago that this project was going to go through the park, and I think it’s been done in a way that’s the best way possible to do that.” He points out that the McIntire golf course is rarely used, that the Pen Park course was built in part to replace it, and that replacement parkland has been secured.

But even if the beast is partially delivered, the Coalition will keep fighting, according to Cruickshank. “I think some people think it’s a done deal, but there are a lot of people who just want to fight it, even if they’re not sure we can win.”

One of those who has been tireless in the fight is Stratton Salidis. For the umpteenth time, he requested last week that City Council stop the project.

“People ask, ‘This road has been around 40 years, why hasn’t it been built yet, why have people been fighting it so long?’” said Salidis. “I think a better question is, why has it been around 40 years? Who keeps trying to bring it up?”

The Coalition, which includes Rich Collins, Dan Bluestone, Peter Kleeman and Colette Hall, wants to keep Warner’s earmark to create a smaller creature, a split grade interchange and bikeway through the park, sans automobiles. “Who could possibly be against a bikeway?” asks Salidis.

But if the Coalition gets its way, it could fracture relations among the Parkway’s parents. Rooker says it would be “ruinous” for city-county relations. “We’ve been working 20 years on this project. There’s a point at which you reach a point of no return.”

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City Council has committed to spending $10,000 on a community-wide “dialogue on race,” and during budget hearings, it will weigh whether to spend up to $50,000 more. But the very idea of a dialogue on race seems to have started one, even before Council has spent a dime.

Eugene Williams wants the city to go beyond talking about race, and do something to improve its hiring and promotions.

The idea was initiated by City Councilor Holly Edwards, and identified by Council as a priority at its retreat in the fall. Assistant City Manager Maurice Jones was tasked with coming up with a plan to promote diversity and address race relations. On January 20, he presented City Council with a proposed “Dialogue on Race”—a series of “study circles,” each composed of 10 to 15 local citizens and moderated by a “trained neutral facilitator,” that would meet regularly in the fall and complete various “discussion assignments.” The City of Lynchburg had a similar dialogue last year.

“Our issues with race didn’t develop overnight, and they certainly won’t be changed overnight,” said Jones. “It will take many months of discussion, and ultimately action, to truly address the tensions that exist in our community.”

About a half dozen local residents showed up to Council’s meeting to express support for the initiative.

“It would raise the awareness of white citizens, who live in a bubble of comfort,” said Carolyn Micklem, outgoing director of the African-American Teaching Fellows program. “It would provide an atmosphere where we can listen and learn from each other.”

“It is so very critical that [Edwards’] proposal be adopted and supported fully for implementation,” said Joy Johnson, a board member on the Public Housing Association of Residents. “Racism must be eradicated through forceful, intelligent efforts on the part of all of us.”

But Eugene Williams is not satisfied with the city’s response. Williams is a retired property manager and civil rights agitator who was among those who sued the city schools in the 1950s to end segregation, an end that didn’t come until after schools closed down in 1958 as part of Virginia’s “massive resistance.”

“I guess what we have to do is hope it’s not going to be the same thing that we’ve seen over and over again that we’ve seen over these years,” says Williams. “It gets in a study stage, and a talking stage, and four or five years after that, it boils down that there’s no progress. If anything, it’s retrogressing.”

He doesn’t see a need for spending lots of money on a community dialogue until the city has gotten more blacks into prominent government roles, and he sent a four-page letter to Mayor Dave Norris after reading about the initiative in C-VILLE. Williams thought that Council discussion should have been postponed until after Inauguration Day, so that it could have gotten more press coverage.

After receiving the letter, Norris met with Williams. “Eugene Williams wants to make sure that we lead by example, that we’re not foisting it off on staff,” says Norris. “This really is a commitment from the top down —from Council, the Mayor and the City Manager.” The city says it is studying itself, an effort led by the human resources office.

After Jones’ report, a group eager to talk about race congregated outside of Council chambers. Most of them were from the Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church, a local Unitarian congregation. “It seemed really appropriate to have on the inauguration day,” said Emerald Young.

But they recognized that it can’t just be a city discussion. “This must include the University and the county,” said Elizabeth Breeden.

Norris understands that for the effort to be successful, it has to move beyond “the usual suspects” who normally attend such conversations. “How do we reach out beyond the choir?” he asked Jones.

Jones said that he’s talking with groups “that work with the folks who may be disenfranchised, and they’ve said they’d love to work with us on this.”

Perhaps a bigger problem will be those who feel too enfranchised—those among the area’s well off who don’t think they need to talk about race.

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If you’ve ever dreamed of brandishing a lance and racing at windmills like a modern-day Don Quixote, your fantasy may soon become a reality. Though the Albemarle County Planning Commission has been debating the addition of a wind turbine ordinance for about eight months, the Commission seems close to formulating a resolution.

Jason Ivey, vice president of local wind energy company Skyline Turbine, is petitioning Albemarle County to allow residential wind turbines.

The Commission voted 6-0 on January 13 to move forward with drafting an ordinance, though the commissioners and staff are not without reservations. According to Director of Community Development Mark Graham, the biggest concern is aesthetic.

“There’s a recognition that the prime location [for turbines] is along hilltops,” Graham said. “We have to consider how we are impacting [the county’s] natural heritage.”

To Skyline Turbine Senior Vice President Jason Ivey, however, the benefits of wind turbines are clear. “Why rent your electricity if you can own it?” he said.

Ivey, who, according to Graham, is the only person to seek wind turbine permits in Albemarle County on behalf of two clients, also pointed out the environmental benefits—turbines are considered “carbon neutral.”

Another concern is whether Albemarle County has enough wind to make turbines an effective source of energy.

“We simply don’t have a lot of wind,” Graham said, and a low wind necessitates taller turbines. A wind turbine must be a minimum of 30 feet above any trees within 100 feet of it in order to be effective, Graham said. “We’re talking wind turbines within the range of 120 to 150 feet.”

Ivey, however, said turbines can work for anyone.

“There are all kinds of wind turbines for all kinds of environments,” Ivey said. “If they are correctly installed, they do nothing but benefit the community.”

During the January 13 meeting, several commissioners expressed a desire to make Albemarle County a leader in renewable energy. Commissioner Marcia Joseph said she feared that halting discussion for two years, as recommended by staff, would put Albemarle County behind in renewable energy exploration.

Morgan Butler, director of the Charlottesville-Albemarle project of the Southern Environmental Law Center, echoed this sentiment.

“Albemarle County rightfully prides itself on trying to stay in front of the curve on issues like promoting clean and renewable energy sources,” he said.

In the coming months, this discussion will continue through meetings between the Planning Commission staff and commissioners Marcia Joseph and Bill Edgerton, Graham said. The goal of the group will be to draft a new ordinance.

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At Westminster Presbyterian Church on Rugby Road, a crowd of several hundred—including University faculty, administrators, students and Congressman Tom Perriello —paid tribute to one of UVA’s most beloved figures. Dean of Admissions John Blackburn —known as Jack—lost his battle against cancer on Tuesday, January 20. He was 67. Even the additional church hall, set up with a big screen and speakers, was overflowing with mourners.

Blackburn was the University’s longest-serving admissions dean, having held the position since 1985. UVA President John Casteen, then dean of admissions, hired Blackburn in 1979 as associate dean.

Jack Blackburn, who spent 24 years as admissions dean, passed away January 20.

Blackburn will be remembered as an avid advocate for increased diversity at UVA, says Gregory Roberts, senior associate dean of admission. “Professionally, he is really one of the legends in this field,” he says. “He is considered a trailblazer when it comes to the important issues of the day, which are diversity and equity and affordability, and his impact can be felt far beyond the University.”

In February 2008, Blackburn was diagnosed with cancer. For the first few months, he was as actively and physically involved in the daily activities of his position as he always had been. In the later months of the year, says Roberts, his health began deteriorating. “He is a very brave guy,” says Roberts. “He loved this place and loved what he did and he was sad when he couldn’t come in as much as he thought he could.”

Blackburn was a graduate of Western Maryland College and a lieutenant with U.S. Army ROTC commission. Thanks to the GI Bill, Blackburn went back to college and earned a master’s degree from Indiana University in 1968.

“He was deeply committed to his profession as Dean of Admissions, negotiating a huge and often controversial landscape of desires, and disappointments,” wrote UVA Dean of the School of Architecture Karen Van Lengen in an e-mail to faculty.

Ed Ayers, president of the University of Richmond and former dean of the School of Arts and Sciences at UVA, says that Blackburn’s legacy will be his “sense of authenticity” and service to students. He worked with Blackburn for 20 years, often traveling together to recruiting events.

“The great discovery for me is that Jack was the same all the way through,” Ayers says. “The same person you’d see on stage being so charming and representing the University so beautifully was the same person behind the scenes.”

Among some of Blackburn’s hard-fought victories, two are most notable: the creation of AccessUVA, one of the most aggressive financial aid programs in the country, and the elimination of early-decision admissions, which gave more affluent students an admissions advantage over students who needed to know their financial aid packages. “He felt that the University was a great treasure that should be shared equally,” says Ayers.

For these efforts, Blackburn was awarded the Thomas Jefferson Award last October, the highest honor bestowed upon members of the University community.

A week before his death, friends and colleagues donated more than $1.5 million in a scholarship fund to honor Blackburn.

Roberts says that the admission process, unfortunately, has to move on. “We anticipated his absence,” he says. “It’s unfortunate and sad, but we have compensated by bringing some other people for some additional application reading, and we should be absolutely fine and everything should be done by April 1.”

Blackburn left the office with a lot of work: 21,511 students applied this year, a UVA record and 16 percent more than last year.

C-VILLE welcomes news tips from readers. Send them to news@c-ville.com.