In brief: Youngkin policy rejected, and more

Collective bargaining approved Charlottesville City Council unanimously passed a long-awaited collective bargaining ordinance during its October 3 meeting, giving many city employees the right to unionize. After union supporters pushed back against the ordinance initially proposed by interim City Manager Michael Rogers and D.C.-based law firm Venable LLP in August, city leadership and Venable representatives […]

Questionable investigation

After more than two years of internal disputes and legislative setbacks, Charlottesville’s Police Civilian Oversight Board has finally delivered an evaluation of its first case. The board was scheduled to hold its initial hearing in July—but on the day of the hearing, complainant Jeff Fogel, a local attorney, and the Charlottesville Police Department agreed to […]

(Don’t) melt ’em down?

Charlottesville Circuit Court ruled that a lawsuit to stop the city’s infamous Robert E. Lee statue from being melted down will go to trial in February. On October 10, Judge Paul M. Peatross heard motions for the case filed against the City of Charlottesville by two organizations that unsuccessfully bid on the statue, the Trevilian […]

In brief: CHS student protest, and more

CHS students protest Youngkin’s proposed transgender student policy Several hundred Charlottesville High School students walked out of class in protest of Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s proposed transgender student policy on September 28, emphasizing the harmful impacts the guidelines could have on the health and safety of transgender students across Virginia. The controversial policy would force transgender […]

A more humane approach 

By Ezra Maille Julie, a 21-year-old UVA student, was at a bar with her friends when she was physically assaulted. A stranger grabbed the baseball hat off her head, and when she attempted to get it back, he struck her in the face, before fleeing the scene and being apprehended by university police. After the […]

In brief: Fashion Square gets new owner, multiple shootings, and more

Re-Fashioned Square After years of increasing vacancies and rumors of big development plans, Fashion Square Mall has a new owner: Home Depot. The Atlanta-based hardware big-box company purchased the entire property at the corner of Seminole Trail and Rio Road, minus the Belk Women’s store and the former JCPenny location on September 1, according to […]

Bargaining bargaining 

Since interim Charlottesville City Manager Michael Rogers and D.C.-based law firm Venable LLP presented a proposed collective bargaining ordinance last month, the Amalgamated Transit Union, Charlottesville Area Transit employees, and other union supporters have pushed back against numerous restrictions, including initially limiting bargaining to police, firefighters, and bus drivers—and keeping certain items, like health and […]

In brief: Jail renovation, Brackney out of retirement, and more

‘People don’t get well in a cell’  Charlottesville City Council passed a resolution last week supporting the Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail’s request for state funding for a massive $49 million renovation project. Jail leadership hopes the state will contribute around $12 million, leaving the three localities that use the facility—the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle […]

In brief: City wants Brackney lawsuit dismissed

City asks judge to throw out Brackney lawsuit More than two months after former police chief RaShall Brackney filed a $10 million lawsuit against the City of Charlottesville—and 10 current and former city officials—alleging she was wrongfully terminated based on her sex and gender, the city has asked a federal judge to dismiss the suit. […]

In brief: Violent arrest under review, and more

PCOB director to review first case In July, Charlottesville’s Police Civilian Oversight Board was scheduled to hold its long-awaited first hearing concerning the 2020 violent arrest of a man experiencing homelessness, but on the day of the hearing, complainant Jeff Fogel, a local attorney, and the Charlottesville Police Department agreed to an alternative dispute resolution […]