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In brief: Rally shooting & beating arrests, intro to local government and more

City Manager Maurice Jones. Photo Amy Jackson

Charlottesville civics 101

At last week’s tumultuous City Council meeting, many citizens asked questions that suggest Charlottesville’s form of government is not well understood. Here are a few basics.

  • City Council: Five elected members choose a mayor and vice-mayor. The mayor is one among equals who represents the city at ribbon cuttings and who sets the agenda for City Council meetings.
  • Council-manager form of government: City Council hires a city manager to be CEO and run the city, and almost all of city staff, including the police chief, report to him. Council acts like a board of trustees, setting policy, passing a budget prepared by the city manager, and addressing citizen concerns. City Council can fire the city manager; a single councilor or the mayor cannot.

Why couldn’t City Council refuse to grant the Unite the Right permit?

  • The First Amendment protects speech, even if it’s a hateful affront to the values of this city. The city’s attempt to move the rally to McIntire Park was blocked by a federal judge as unconstitutional.
  • Mayor Mike Signer has called for the Constitution to be amended to address “intentional  mayhem,” such as the violence planned by alt-right attendees.

Why is the statue of General Robert E. Lee still here months after City Council voted to remove it, while other states took down statues immediately after August 12?

  • Virginia is a Dillon Rule state. That means that unless the General Assembly says it’s okay to do something,
    city and county governments can’t do it.
  • And in fact, state law specifically prohibits the removal of war memorials, which to many includes the Lee and Jackson statues. Odds of the General Assembly changing that law to allow localities to do with monuments as they see fit: murky.
  • A lawsuit has been filed against Charlottesville for City Council’s vote to dispatch the Lee statue. The issue could be decided in court, but it seems unlikely it will happen at the local circuit court level, where a hearing is scheduled September 1.

Who’s in charge?

In Virginia, it’s pretty much the General  Assembly, which grants limited power to localities.

City Council: has the power to hire and fire city manager; acts like a board of trustees; addresses citizen concerns.

Mike Signer, Kristin Szakos, Wes Bellamy, Kathy Galvin, Bob Fenwick

City manager: is the top administrator and runs city operations; prepares annual budget. Reports to City Council.

 

 

Chief Al Thomas. Photo Eze Amos

Police chief: runs the day-to-day operations of the police department. Reports to city manager.   

 

 

 

“Please provide an explanation.”—Used 16 times in a leaked memo written by Mayor Mike Signer to City Manager Maurice Jones before an August 24 closed-door meeting with City Council

Retroactive retribution

ACLU video

Richard Wilson Preston, 52, was arrested August 26 for allegedly firing a gun on West Market Street during the August 12 Unite the Right rally and is being held in Towson, Maryland. Daniel Patrick Borden, 18, was arrested August 25 for malicious wounding related to a beating in the Market Street Parking Garage of Deandre Harris, and he’s in custody in Cincinnati. Alex Michael Ramos, 33, has been charged with malicious wounding for the same assault. Police are still looking for Ramos.

Marching season

First, Dreamers set foot from UVA to Richmond August 25 to fight for protection from deportation, and to stand up against the repeal of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals. Three days later, a group of about 100 people, including several clergy members, began their March to Confront White Supremacy from Emancipation Park to D.C.

Sisters sue white supremacists

In a lawsuit seeking $3 million in damages, Tradint and Micah Washington say they were physically and emotionally injured when James Alex Fields Jr. plowed into their Toyota Camry during the August 12 rally, in an act that killed one person and injured many. They have named 28 alt-right defendants, including Jason Kessler and David Duke, in their suit.

MTV gets involved

The popular music television network’s Video Music Awards turned political August 27 when Susan Bro took the stage to present the award for Best Fight Against the System and to announce the creation of a nonprofit for her daughter. The Heather Heyer Foundation will provide scholarships for students interested in social justice. Pastor Robert Lee IV, a direct descendant of General Robert E. Lee, introduced Bro.

By the numbers

Stop and frisks

Civil rights attorney Jeff Fogel released information obtained from a Freedom
of Information Act request with Charlottesville police, which indicates the continuing trend that the majority of those detained by police are black. In the first half of 2017, 72 people out of 102 detainees were African-American.

Percent of people detained that are black

70 percent

First half of 2017

76 percent

January 1 to October 13, 2016

68 percent

2015

78 percent

2014

68 percent

2013

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In brief: Congressman Garrett, media lies, torched motel and more

After Congressman Tom Garrett toured DaVita, a dialysis center on Pantops, Monday, he told reporters he’s upset with the backlash he’s received from media "lies" following his May 4 vote to repeal the Affordable Care Act. Eze Amos

Tom Garrett is mad as hell

Fresh off the heels of voting May 4 to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, U.S. Representative Tom Garrett was in town May 11 to tour DaVita, a dialysis facility on Pantops, and to squeeze in a few minutes with local media (see excerpts below). That’s when we learned Garrett is angry about threats and hate mail he and his family have received stemming from an MSNBC interview and subsequent coverage of that, and he’s threatening legal action.

What he said in an interview with MSNBC when asked about Charlottesville protests against the repeal of ACA: “I would wager based on the locality that that particular event occurred in, I wasn’t there, that none of those people did vote for me.”

What he says he didn’t say: “Tom Garrett says he doesn’t care if people get care and if people die because they didn’t vote for him anyway. That’s a lie.”

Responses he got on social media: “Mr. Garrett, I want to slash your face with a knife until you no longer resemble anything human.”

His heated response to social media attacks: “I’m doing the best I can. We might have different economic preferences. Shame on the people who do that sort of thing. “

What he says is the media’s responsibility: “You have a duty to point out when people lie.”

On not reading the American Health Care Act: “The reality of life is you have a staff to do this job.”

On protests at his office: “Keep protesting. It’s okay. This is America. It’s awesome. Disagreement is fine. Don’t lie.”

“I think it’s probably time to repeal and replace the beard.”

—Congressman Tom Garrett on his look since the election

MLK slept here

HotelFire_StaffPhotoThe motel where Martin Luther King Jr. stayed in 1963, a few weeks before he was jailed in Birmingham, went up in flames May 4. The 1955-built Gallery Court Motel on Emmet Street became a Budget Inn and in its latest incarnation, was rehabbed into Excel Inn. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Burned

Victor Andrei, the man who allegedly assaulted a firefighter and led police on a brief chase when he was denied entry into the Excel Inn during the fire, was granted bond May 8. Andrei, a grad student at George Mason University, told NBC29 he had a school project due the following day and his materials were in his hotel room.

Staff photo

Catlin decamps

Former Albemarle spokesperson Lee Catlin, now assistant county executive, will retire November 1 after 25 years. Catlin was half of a county power couple, and her husband, former planning director Wayne Cilimberg, retired last year.

Next to last of the Republican mayors

dutchVogt-JenFarielloGunther “Dutch” Vogt, 95, who was Charlottesville’s mayor in 1968, died May 2 in Knoxville. The big issue of the day then was an unsuccessful referendum to merge the city with Albemarle County, which council supported, he said in a 2006 interview. About serving on City Council, he said, “It was a good experience, but I wouldn’t want to do it again.”

Late night snack

County police are asking for information about a Saturday night attempted food truck robbery behind Pro Re Nata in Crozet. A white man described as in his 20s or 30s and a woman in her late teens or early 20s fled on foot. One held a gun, but no injuries were reported and no money was stolen.

Driving amok

Amherst woman Mary C. Tenhoopen-Jones, 75, was charged May 3 after driving the wrong way on U.S. 29 in Nelson County around 10pm, refusing to stop and crashing into a state trooper cruiser while going 20mph, according to a release.

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In brief: Best of Bellamy tweets, surreptitious sheriff filming and more

A sign pops up in Lee Park November 28 after a blogger digs up old Wes Bellamy tweets. Staff photo

Quote of the week

“I really #hate how almost 80% of the black people here talk white…#petpeeve. #itstheniggainme. #dontjudgeme.”—Wes Bellamy tweet, March 30, 2010. Read related story, “Tweetstorm: Bellamy apologizes for ‘inappropriate’ posts.”

Korte in courtwalter korte

Former UVA film studies professor Walter Korte appeared in court November 28 and waived a preliminary hearing on the two possessions of child porn charges he faces. Korte was arrested in August, and after his release from jail September 6, he attempted suicide. His case goes to the grand jury December 5.

Requiem for a music teacher

Western Albemarle’s Eric Betthauser, 43, aka “Mr. B.,” died November 22 when his Mazda was struck by a Camaro on Fifth Street Extended. Aaron A. Johnson, 27, of Richmond is charged with involuntary manslaughter and DUI.

Copping a plea

Former Nelson County sheriff David Brooks, 54, entered Alford pleas November 28 for unlawful dissemination of images and malfeasance for setting up political rival Mac Bridgwater with a woman in a Lynchburg Econo Lodge and filming him. Brooks’ two-year sentence was suspended and he can’t work in law enforcement for five years.

Photo by Jackson SmithBronco’s debut season

UVA’s new head football coach Bronco Mendenhall ended an inglorious 2-10 season November 26 with a 52-10 rout by Virginia Tech.

Drinking age change

In a snafu publicized by the Market Street Wineshop & Grocery on Facebook, the Virginia Alcoholic Beverage Control handed out fliers that said “anyone born on or before today’s date in 1996” may not buy or consume alcohol. “A good editor is worth their weight in gold,” the wineshop posted. We wonder how this would hold up in court.

Leafy substances

Colorful fallen maple leaves on a sidewalk in warm Autumn day. View from ground level.They’re still here. As much as Charlottesville loves its green canopy, disposing of fall foliage can be a major pain. At least the city offers pickup options—in Albemarle County you’re on your own.

So for those of you who can’t just ignore the leaves and let them blow into your neighbor’s yard, or who don’t mow and mulch, here’s some tips when you stuff your free, city-provided plastic bags. And if you’re concerned about how environmentally appropriate it is to use plastic to
dispose of biodegradable materials, city spokesperson Miriam Dickler says the plastic bags are the thinnest that work, and once the leaves are dumped at Panorama Farm, where they’re composted, the bags are recycled.

  • Bagged leaves are collected weekly through January 27, 2017
  • Only clear plastic bags will be picked up
  • Fill them only ¾ full and keep them under 50 pounds
  • No sticks or stones or bones.
  • Loose leaves will be vacuumed twice during the season. The schedule depends on what leaf zone you’re in.