The presence of Boyd Tinsley at Governor Tim Kaine’s morning conservation press conference wasn’t necessarily a surprise; Tinsley made a few remarks to the crowd about his relationship with and support for Kaine.
What was surprising, however, were remarks from Tinsley that suggested the financial involvement of one or more members of Dave Matthews Band in Biscuit Run.
"I learned about it a couple of weeks ago, so it was a surprise to me as well. It was a very pleasant surprise," said Tinsley of the sale. Moments later: "The financial loss that we’ve taken pales in comparison to the contribution that we make to the community." Taken together, those statements suggest some financial investment by members of the Dave Matthews Band prior to the recent sale of Biscuit Run.
And while the sale seems more in line with Dave Matthews Band’s history of eco-friendly giving, an investment in Biscuit Run prior to its sale might suggest a contrary message to those familiar with the band’s history of giving. Particularly given the historic concerns over surges in traffic, strain on water and sewage systems and environmental damage that came with the territory of being the largest proposed residential development in county history.
After all, the website for the Bama Works Fund—Dave Matthews Band’s philanthropic arm guided by the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation—features a long list of environmentally savvy recipients. And NBC29 published a detailed list of the June 2009 recipients of Bama Works funds.
All to say, an investment in a 1,200-acre state park is different from an investment in a 3,100-unit development. And while the band’s ability to support the former might not raise any questions, a possible involvement in the latter certainly does.