Month: February 2007

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Rooker predicts tax rate will be lowered, but overall taxes will increase to address County’s needs

Charlottesville TomorrowThis morning, Albemarle County Supervisor, Dennis Rooker (I-Jack Jouett), appeared on WINA’s Charlottesville Live with Jane Foy and Rob Schilling, and spoke with callers about tax rates, the budget, and expanding businesses in the community. The highlight of the radio program was when Mr. Rooker predicted the County’s tax rate would be lowered in this year’s budget and then Keith Drake, Chairman of the Albemarle County Republican Party, called in and debated the exact meaning of that statement and the effect on local taxes. [Read more on Charlottesville Tomorrow’s blog]



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Charlottesville Right Now: Virginia’s Role in the 2008 Presidential Election

Shaun Kenney, Director of Communications for the Republican Party of Virginia, and Mark Bergman, Director of Communications for the Democratic Party of Virginia, discuss the elections on this edition of Charlottesville Right Now! Both parties are already hard at work raising funds for next year, with Virginia being in play for the next presidential race. Major political players will be making the trip to Virginia in the coming months, such as Senator Barack Obama for the Democratic Jefferson-Jackson Dinner this Saturday.

Kenney and Bergman also discuss an interaction between Chris Matthews of MSNBC Hardball and Congressman Eric Cantor of Virginia.

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Charlottesville–Right Now: Charlottesville/Albemarle to get New Voting Machines?

Political Reporter Bob Gibson of the Charlottesville Daily Progress joins Coy Barefoot every Monday for a discussion on Virginia politics. Straight from the capitol, Gibson informs us on some new legislation moving through the General Assembly, including a plan to replace the touch-screen voting machines in Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Gibson also speaks on transportation, and limiting the impact of new development in the area.

Later on, Gibson comments on former Virginia Governor James Gilmore’s bid for the Presidency in 2008. He started off the show paying his respects to a former University of Virginia Rector, the late Hovey Dabney.

CPN recorded a recent debate on this issue sponsored by the Democratic parties in Charlottesville and Albemarle County.
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Charlottesville–Right Now: Virginia’s Role in ’08

Shaun Kenney, Director of Communications for the Republican Party of Virginia, and Mark Bergman, Director of Communications for the Democratic Party of Virginia, discuss the ’08 elections on this edition of Charlottesville–Right Now! Both parties are already hard at work raising funds for next year, with Virginia being “in play” for the next presidential race. Major political players will be making the trip to Virginia in the coming months, such as Senator Barack Obama for the Democratic Jefferson-Jackson Dinner this Saturday.

Kenney and Bergman also discuss an interaction between Chris Matthews of MSNBC’s Hardball and Congressman Eric Cantor of Virginia.

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Supervisors discuss open government and procedures for ‘other business’ matters

Charlottesville TomorrowAt the February 7, 2007 meeting of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors there was a discussion about improving the public’s access to matters raised under the category of other business.kj This has typically been a time reserved late in the meeting for ad-hoc informational items and committee reports, the details of which are not published on the meeting agenda. The Board reached consensus to move other business and committee reports both to the beginning of future meetings for the benefit of the public who are often in attendance at the start but not at the very end of a meeting. [Read more on Charlottesville Tomorrow’s blog]



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Wake-Up Call: 2007 Homeless Census and Survey

Jeff Cornelius is with the Thomas Jefferson Area Coalition for the Homeless. The group conducted its annual homeless census in late January. In the five counties surveyed (Fluvanna, Albemarle, Louisa, Greene and Nelson), the TJACH estimates that there are over 200 residents that would be considered homeless.

Cornelius and callers discuss the necessity of and difficulties in counting the homeless. He also refutes some of the stereotypes people associate with those without a permanent residence. “A lot of [the homeless] have full time jobs,” says Cornelius. “They’re just not coming up with enough money to get a full-time apartment in Charlottesville.”

How can we as a community help these people? Listen to the podcast, and tell us what you think!



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Charlottesville–Right Now: Students Given Chance to Work in State Government

Steven Gould is a Senior Special Assistant to Governor Kaine, and oversees the Governor’s Fellows Program. On the February 9th edition of Charlottesville–Right Now with Coy Barefoot, Gould talks about the program, where graduating college seniors and current graduate students get a chance to work at the highest level of state government for two months in the summer in Richmond.

About 20 students will be accepted – applications are now available on their website.

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Charlottesville–Right Now: U.Va Fellow Comments on Obama’s Presidential Run

Larycia Hawkins is a fellow at the Governing America in a Global Era program at U.Va’s Miller Center for Public Affairs. The Chicago Tribune recently published an op-ed she wrote in response to Senator Joe Biden’s controversial remarks about Barack Obama.

On this edition of Charlottesville–Right Now! with Coy Barefoot, Hawkins discusses how much race plays an issue in politics, specifically about Obama’s run for the Democratic Presidential Nomination. Is America ready for a black President? Is that really the issue? Listen to the podcast, and post your thoughts!


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Charlottesville–Right Now: Local High Schooler Gets Kids Involved with Politics

Brian Bills is a senior at Charlottesville High School, and founder of its “Young Liberals” club. On the Friday, February 9th edition of Charlottesville–Right Now! with Coy Barefoot, Bills talks about the different types of political volunteering in which members of the club participate, as well as what it means to be a “liberal”. As one of the more politically active young people in the area, Bills also discusses how today’s youth think of politics and what we can do to involve them.

“When you look up ‘liberal’ in the dictionary, it means broad minded, it means tolerant, it means open to change” said Bills when asked what he thought of the word liberal. “My question is, ‘Who isn’t a liberal?’ when you really look at it?”

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Charlottesville–Right Now: Power Bills Going Up, Up, Up?

Jim Bacon is a political blogger, and the man behind Bacon’s Rebellion. On this segment of Charlottesville–Right Now, Bacon talks about possible changes to the gas tax, and the differences between Republican and Democratic ideas of taxing. Also on the table are “HOT Lanes” – the idea of paying extra to drive in “fast lanes” during rush hour.

Later in the program, Bacon discusses Dominion Virginia Power. With generating capacity being reached, what are the possibilities of your power bill going up? And how will implementing more environmentally friendly energy sources affect prices? Bacon answers all this and more – listen in!

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