Not so nice
A response to Chiara Canzi’s story “Making nice,” August 30, which looks at Charlottesville’s Democratic City Council candidates and their efforts to create a unified election ticket.
Mr. Nix,
Potentially skyrocketing water and power bills ARE an integral part of the big picture for a city whose home ownership numbers are below the national average (44% vs 67%) and whose percentage of renters is above the rage (56% vs 33%). Individuals in the city under the poverty line number 21%. This percentage does not include the working poor, technically above the poverty line but unable to make ends meet. (These figures are from The American Community Survey, a publication of the Population Estimates Bureau, for 2005-2009.) Rising utility costs can only undermine a less than satisfactory local economic situation.
Ms. Galvin,
In the article, you describe speaking with many black city residents. Were they asked if they would support a water plan that would likely cause their water and power bills to increase? Were they asked if they approve of the Bypass plan given that it will do nothing to facilitate transportation to potential jobs and could eat up our share of state and federal transportation funds?
You go on to state that you and Mr. Huja were elected, which is not the case. The primary only qualified you to run in the election. You do not reveal the number of votes you received, but describe it as a “clear majority” and insist that it represents a mandate to stop considering the controversial aspects of the 50 Year Water Plan and the Parkway
The two sitting Council members supporting the 50 Year Plan were elected before this year’s in-depth reporting on crucial details of the Plan and the mechanics of how it was nursed along. In this “Firehouse Primary,” 2,582 people cast ballots, a 60% increase over 2009. According to the recount, Ms. Smith received 1,188 votes and Mr. Beyer 1,159. If Ms. Blount had received 300 more votes, she would have qualified. These numbers indicate not that we’ve “had enough” but that we’re just getting started!
In 2009’s Council election 16,268 residents voted, an increase over 2007 when 15,612 people participated. There are three seats to be filled in November. Three Democrats, one an incumbent, and five Independents are running; anything can happen. The election is not over.
James Simcoe
Charlottesville