Council finalists share priorities
After 20 residents applied to fill Sena Magill’s seat on Charlottesville City Council, the current councilors trimmed the list to six finalists: former IX Art Park Foundation director Alex Bryant, former Charlottesville School Board member Leah Puryear, wedding sales manager Natalie Oschrin, city school board member Lisa Larson-Torres, and former councilors Kathy Galvin and Kristin Szakos. During the February 6 council meeting, each candidate shared their priorities and their reasons for wanting to join City Council.
Puryear, who moved to Charlottesville in 1980, stressed the importance of listening to the community, and touted her work as the longtime director of Uplift @ UVA. Bryant pledged to approach solutions “with an innovative and creative mindset,” and advocate for causes championed by Magill.
“I have the experience to hit the ground running,” said Szakos, noting her votes in favor of housing affordability, racial equity, and other progressive measures while on council. “I’ve earned the reputation as someone who tries to listen to everyone.”
Galvin pointed to her previous work on zoning, and stressed the need for improved transit and cyclist and pedestrian infrastructure. Advocating for better transit and affordable housing, Oschrin vowed to bring “fresh eyes and energy” to council.
Larson-Torres discussed the leadership experience she has gained while serving as city school board chair, preparing her for many of the issues facing council. Equity and transformation “guide me through my work,” she said.
During public comment, residents Mark Kavit and Marcia Geyer encouraged council to select either of the two former councilors for their experience, while activist Don Gathers supported Szakos, but criticized council for cutting down the applicant list without community input. Barbara Myer felt Larson-Torres would be “an excellent choice.”
The councilors will interview the finalists during a closed February 10 meeting, and select the new councilor during their February 21 meeting.
CASPCA Board hires third party investigator
The Charlottesville-Albemarle SPCA Board of Directors has hired a third party investigator after more than 100 current and former staff and volunteers made allegations of internal dysfunction and animal mistreatment last month. The shelter has also begun filling open leadership positions and implementing new staff training plans, according to a January 31 statement.
“Although we are prohibited from discussing individual personnel matters, we appreciate the concern of the community and those who took the time to write letters regarding their experiences,” reads the statement.
In a February 2 statement, CASPCA Concerns pushed the board to
place shelter CEO Angie Gunter on administrative leave, and publicize the investigator’s name. The group also claimed the board and investigator have yet to reach out to former employees and volunteers.
“Given the number and gravity of our accounts of her mismanagement, as well as her well-established practice of threatening staff with retaliation, [Gunter] should, at the minimum, be relieved of active leadership responsibilities while the investigation is conducted,” reads the statement. “Given the Board’s history of hiring personal friends to conduct business, we remain skeptical that this investigation will be truly impartial until the third party is named and vetted by the community.”
In brief
Murder charge
On February 3, the Charlottesville Police Department arrested Tadashi Demetrius Keys of Charlottesville in connection with the murder of Eldridge Vandrew Smith of Charlottesville. Six days before, officers found Smith, 36, inside a parked SUV in the 1100 block of Grove Street. He had been shot multiple times, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Keys, 38, was charged with second-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. In 2003, Keyes, then 18, was sentenced to life in prison on gun and drug charges, but later had his sentence reduced due to his age at the time of the crime and new sentencing laws, and was released in September. Keyes and Smith knew each other and the murder was not random, but it was not related to Smith being a member of the B.U.C.K. Squad, a local gun violence prevention group, according to CPD Chief Michael Kochis. Anyone with information about the homicide should call the Crime Stoppers tip line at 977-4000.
Shots fired
On February 2, the CPD responded to a shots fired report in the 200 block of 10th St. NW, and found casings but no one injured.
City buys CATEC
Charlottesville City Schools will purchase Albemarle County Public Schools’ share of the Charlottesville Albemarle Technical Education Center for $5.3 million. Last year, ACPS offered to buy the center, but CCS refused the offer, citing concerns over ACPS limiting city students’ access. (The county denied these accusations.) ACPS students will still be able to attend the school under city ownership.
Chime in
The City of Charlottesville has opened a community survey on its five-year Economic Development Strategic Plan, which is set to be completed by July. The survey should take no more than 10 minutes to complete, and will close on March 1.
