In brief: Monkeypox spreading, school bus driver shortage, and more

Monkeypox a public health emergency The Biden administration has declared the nationwide monkeypox virus outbreak a public health emergency, allowing the federal government to assist states with testing, treatment, and vaccine distribution more quickly. “We’re prepared to take our response to the next level in addressing this virus, and we urge every American to take […]

‘They were waiting for July to come’

Shortly after the pandemic hit, Mable Christian’s daughter’s work hours were drastically cut. Christian, who has lived with her daughter at Mallside Forest Apartments—a low-income housing complex in Albemarle County—since 2015, has been unable to work for years due to workplace injury, and currently lives on Social Security benefits. The mother and daughter eventually fell […]

In brief: JMRL name change updates, two sisters missing, and more

No new names  Since the Reclaimed Roots Descendants Alliance called on the Jefferson Madison Regional Library to change its name to one that does not honor enslavers, the possibility of a name change has stirred up controversy among local residents. During a lengthy library board of trustees meeting last week, more than a dozen community […]

Sky high 

By Katie Kenny In the past few decades, rising housing costs have forced many families who have lived in Charlottesville for generations to move out of the city. They’ve left for Louisa, Fluvanna, and Greene counties and the City of Waynesboro, localities close enough to commute to Charlottesville but where the cost of living is […]

In brief: Rent soars, Khizr Khan honored, and more

Rent prices on the rise  While Charlottesville is seeking ways to make housing more affordable (see p. 12), rent prices keep climbing as pandemic eviction protection and rental assistance programs end.  “Just over the past month, the median rent increased by 2.3 percent. And when we look year over year, rents in Charlottesville are now […]

A lot of controversy

At its June 21 meeting, Charlottesville City Council voted to pay $1.6 million for a 39-spot parking lot at 921 E. Jefferson St. to expand downtown parking capacity. While a new parking lot has been framed as a pressing need for years, some community members claim the decision to purchase the lot is based on […]

In brief: JMRL name change, abortion rallies, and more

What’s in a name? A month after the president of a local descendants organization called on the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library to change its name to something more inclusive, library leadership says the effort would be an uphill battle. According to reporting in The Daily Progress, that’s because a 1974 agreement between the five localities—Charlottesville, Albemarle, […]

Money for nothing?

It’s a process that happens over and over again in Charlottesville and other localities. A big project is proposed, but before any money is spent on construction, the city hires a consulting firm, often to the tune of six or seven figures. Projects like the Belmont Bridge, the West Main Streetscape, and Cville Plans Together […]

Slow progress

After Charlottesville City Council voted to rezone Hinton Avenue United Methodist Church—the future site of Rachel’s Haven, a 15-unit apartment complex for low-income individuals, adults with developmental disabilities, and people at risk of homelessness—from residential to neighborhood commercial corridor in 2019, nearly three-dozen disgruntled residents filed a petition against the city, demanding a judge overturn […]