Mayor Nikuyah Walker announced this morning that she has withdrawn from the current city council race and she will not seek a second term on council.In a Facebook post announcing her decision, Walker alleged that in-fighting and racism within city government, as well as her need to take care of herself, are among her reasons […]
Author Archives: Erin O'Hare
I'm Charlottesville Tomorrow's neighborhoods reporter. I’ve never met a stranger and love to listen, so, get in touch with me here. If you’re not already subscribed to our free newsletter, you can do that here, and we’ll let you know when there’s a fresh story for you to read. I’m looking forward to getting to know more of you.
Posted inGovernment and public institutions
Former translator for U.S. troops in Iraq talks about resettling in a place he’d never heard of — Charlottesville
This is the third installment of a multi-part series, in Razul’s own words, as told to Erin O’Hare. Catch up on the first and second parts. After growing up in a poor family in Iraq, teaching himself English, and doing life-threatening work as a translator for United States Army and allied troops in Iraq, Tony […]
Posted inOur neighborhoods
Citizens, planning commissioners, city councilors continue to clash over contested vision for city’s future as suggested in the draft future land use map
This story has been updated with more information on when the Planning Commission and City Council are expected to vote on recommending and adopting, respectively, the comprehensive plan. A five and a half hour Planning Commission work session Tuesday night proved that the Future Land Use Map remains the most contentious part of the City […]
Posted inGovernment and public institutions
‘As soon as they arrive they get killed’ — former Iraqi translator for U.S. Army describes the slow and gut-wrenching process of immigrating from a war zone
This is the second installment of a multi-part series, in Razul’s own words, as told to Erin O’Hare. If you missed the first part, you can read it here.In the next installment of his resettlement story, Tony Razul, a former translator for the United States Army and allied troops in Iraq, lays out just how […]
Posted inGovernment and public institutions
Former translator from Iraq talks about his journey to resettlement in Charlottesville, what the process might be like for Afghans
What’s happening in Afghanistan looks familiar to Tony Razul. Born and raised in Karbala City, Iraq, he knew early on in his life that he wanted to leave Iraq for a better chance at education and a better life. He taught himself English and, not long after U.S. and allied troops arrived in Iraq in […]
Posted inHealth and safety
Food equity advocates survey often overlooked public housing communities about their unique food needs and wants
When Alfred Shirley was a kid, his mom gave him some sound advice: If someone’s knocking at the door and they don’t look familiar, don’t answer — especially if they’re knocking with one hand and holding a clipboard in the other. Shirley has long heeded his mother’s guidance, and he heard it anew when he […]
Posted inGovernment and public institutions, Race and equity
Charlottesville community will help resettle Afghan refugees, as it has for decades
Kari Miller’s phone is ringing off the hook this week. Two families that recently fled Afghanistan when the Taliban seized control of the country arrived in Charlottesville and needed assistance immediately. The families need homes so that they can get out of the hotels they’re staying in, so that their children can start school with […]
Posted inRace and equity
PHAR interns graduate from their program ready to help public housing residents learn their rights and use their voices
Syleethia Carr was always finding flyers for one thing or another posted to the screen door of her home in Westhaven, Charlottesville’s oldest public housing community. But in the time she lived there, only one flyer ever caught her eye: One advertising an internship with the Public Housing Association of Residents, or PHAR. “It was […]
Posted inHealth and safety
The state has $700 million available in rent assistance, but local nonprofits fear the complicated application process will prevent vulnerable people from applying
As the saying goes, home is where the heart is. And in its physical manifestation as housing, home is very much the heart, central to all other aspects of a person’s life. If someone loses their housing, they might not be able to get to work as easily, and they could lose their job. If […]
Posted inHealth and safety, Race and equity
The CDC just issued a complicated new eviction protection order that may — or may not — cover Charlottesville and Albemarle
Issuing new eviction protections amid the COVID-19 pandemic sounds like it should be a simple solution — but it isn’t.
