The Charlottesville area’s disproportionate minority contact study, possibly the first of its kind in the nation, verified an overall sense that African Americans are overrepresented in the criminal justice system in proportion to their population and that there are disparities in outcomes within the system. In City Hall, Kaki Dimock, director of human services, is […]
Author Archives: Charlotte Rene Woods
I was Charlottesville Tomorrow’s government reporter from 2019 to 2022. Thanks for letting me be your resident nerd on how local and state governments serve us. Keep up with me @charlottewords on Twitter. If you haven’t yet, consider subscribing to Charlottesville Tomorrow’s FREE newsletter to get updates from the newsroom on the things you want to know.
Posted inGovernment and public institutions, Health and safety, Our neighborhoods
Southwood residents receive energy efficient retrofits to homes ahead of overall neighborhood redevelopment
Southwood resident Rosemary Morris said her power bill has sometimes been more than $200. The price point weighs heavily on the 73-year-old with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease who lives on a fixed income in the mobile home she has resided in for 27 years. “Oh my Lord, the power bill went up” she said as her […]
Posted inOur neighborhoods
Development Digest: Parkway Place apartments eyes affordable units, trails and transportation enhancements
While a proposed Albemarle County development on Rio Road makes its way through board and commission amendments and the permitting process, ideas for affordability, trail connectivity and transportation improvements on the site are starting to coalesce. Kotarides Developers is working on the Parkway Place apartment community at the intersection of East Rio Road and the John […]
Posted inGovernment and public institutions, Health and safety, Our neighborhoods
An hour with… Claire Russo
Related Articles: 2020 Voter Guide Service is a calling for 5th Congressional District candidate Claire Russo. It inspired her to join the U.S. Marine Corps and her work with counterinsurgency, but it’s also what inspires her run to represent Virginia’s geographically largest congressional district. “I’ve spent the better part of my professional life fighting for […]
Posted inGovernment and public institutions, Health and safety
An hour with … John Lesinski
Related Articles: 2020 Voter Guide Marine veteran and Rappahannock resident John Lesinski wants to do his part to make the world better. Lesinski, who has also served in local government and state-level appointed positions, considers climate policy one of his biggest priorities if elected to Congress. He met with Charlottesville Tomorrow for warm tea on […]
Posted inGovernment and public institutions, Our neighborhoods
General Assembly setting stage for action on Confederate monuments
With the stroke of a pen this year, a journey that began in downtown Charlottesville could end in downtown Richmond. But any tangible results might not be seen until December. Two bills that propose granting local governments the authority to alter, remove or relocate war memorials — House Bill 1537 and Senate Bill 183 — […]
Posted inGovernment and public institutions, Our neighborhoods, Work/Life
How annual property assessments work: Sales drive them
The city of Charlottesville and Albemarle County recently completed their 2020 reassessments. While the assessor’s offices for both localities calculate the value of properties, it’s the real estate sales that take place during the year that play a large role in determining the final numbers. Charlottesville Of the city’s 15,138 taxable properties, home properties increased […]
Posted inGovernment and public institutions
Questions remain in the wake of the disproportionate minority contact report’s release
Black people in Charlottesville and Albemarle County are incarcerated at a disproportionate rate and there are disparities at virtually every point in the criminal justice process, a study formally released Monday to the City Council states. This places a strain on the criminal justice system and “erodes trust among Black residents regarding the justice process,” […]
