Thread by @socialistdogmom

not a single city councilor on the dais 14 minutes after our scheduled start time...

charlottesville.org/home/showdocum…

NOW THIS IS WHAT I’M TALKING ABOUT FOLKS. CIVIC ENGAGEMENT IS COOL NOW. THANK YOU.

https://twitter.com/vvcooldude/status/1013915402953424896?s=21

twenty minutes late and we’re playing musical chairs? signer, that ain’t your seat, my dude. #manspreading

nikuyah opens by apologizing for the late start — they were holding interviews for the city attorney positions. current acting city attorney lisa robertson is totally stone faced.

wes announces there will be a “resilient cville” event re: A12 on july 12 at 6pm, location TBA july 3. the event will be live-streamed.

they voted unanimously to add an 8th member to the CRB and voted unanimously again to appoint rosia parker.
ms rosia absolutely belongs on that board & i’m glad to see this change, but so does jeff fogel. so they got it half right...

now city manager’s response to matters by the public: the proposed blasting in belmont will be the subject of a public hearing (when?) & staff will present a report on the possibility of a strong mayor system of govt at the next meeting.

now matters by the public. former city council candidate paul long up first!

paul says it would be “entirely inappropriate” for any current city employee to be considered for the soon-to-be-open city manager position in light of what happened last summer. he says they should look to hire someone with extensive experience from a major city.

you can watch along with me at home, if you’re so inclined...

https://twitter.com/cvillecityhall/status/1013911736171126784?s=21

luis up now. last meeting, he presented councilors with a packet of information detailing credible threats of violence from groups like atomwaffen.
“you’re welcome, bootlickers” — antifascist activists have been working hard to expose & destroy violent altright groups.

what happened in portland the other day should be a lesson to our city council — portland did everything cville says they’ll do. barricades, banned items, increased police presence... and proud boys still brought violence.

“we were well aware of the patriot prayer event,” outgoing city manager maurice jones says they have a meeting with portland to discuss what they did, what went wrong. he says the info activists have supplied has been given to our police department (lotta good that’ll do)

“i gave it to y’all & y’all messed t up terrible!” mary carey started the petition to re-rename emancipation park. she says it was simple, but they made it so complicated now they can’t get it right. (seriously, it’s ABSURD what they’ve done with this process)

“is next meeting gonna be the deadline for y’all to stop this bullshit?”
“i don’t know what y’all are doing, but i don’t like it.”
don’t mess with mary carey, folks.

update from the director of communications: the online survey for the park re-renaming closed on saturday night, but they’re still accepting physical ballots as many of the utility bill ballots went out late. he says they should be able to discuss results at the next meeting.

lot of speakers on the list tonight speaking out against the proposed blasting in belmont. the speaker asked people who support the opposition to stand... half the chambers. it’s nice to see folks turning out for something they care about, but damn...

where were all these concerned white property owners on literally any other issue? this blasting does indeed seem bad... but it was bad when nazis came here & murdered somebody, too.

wow it’s remarkable how different the response from the dais is when the concern is from middle class property owners and the concern is about property. 4 out of 5 councilors are VERY CONCERNED and bending over backwards to make sure these people feel heard.

kathy needs to be put on a time limit for all comments.

more old white guys complaining about the issue they’ve already pledged to investigate, hold hearings about, and change zoning regulations for.
i’m also really tired of hearing the word “blasting.”

the timer went off. the old white man said, “i’ll quit if you like...” but he was encouraged to keep talking past the end of his time.
🌈✨🙌w h i t e n e s s is m a g i c a l 🙌✨🌈

oh wow he’s gone about double over his time with his intense concern over property. huge applause from all the other home owners.

more old white guys worried about this blasting situation

https://twitter.com/segatape/status/1013928677149696001?s=21

“if i wanted to build a sarin has factory, you’d tell me no!” buddy... this is not quite the same as a construction project that might damage your sewer line.

he finished his comment by asking “do you have any questions for me?”
we laughed at him until he sat down.

GOD GRANT ME THE CONFIDENCE OF A MEDIOCRE WHITE MAN!

tanesha up next!
“belmont is not the only area having an issue with housing.” she calls for the same compassion from councilors for other parts of the city facing serious issues.
“this city continues to display a narrative that this is a white only city.”

“you cannot create narratives like ‘the capital of resistance’ or ‘a world class city’ if you’re not for everybody!”
“until we can care for everybody in this city, we cannot and will not move forward”
tanesha’s entire comment was incredible 🔥

wes responds by asking tanesha to meet with someone (a staff member??) to talk about the city’s plans for minority owned businesses. which is good... “but at this point, we need a check cut,” she says. like the $75k DBAC got.

this speaker says it “really hurt” him to hear the city wasn’t extending city manager maurice jones’ contract. because he “did the best he could” and that he appreciates his sacrifices.
he closed by saying “thank you for being a friend.”

this very upset old white lady has had her BEAUTIFUL BACKYARD turned into an UGLY SCAR by the construction in her neighborhood. apparently her foundation was cracked when she bought her house, so she’s nervous about the blasting.

wow more people worried about the blasting. jfc.

“hitler was not the only nazi.”
strong fuckin’ opener, lisa.

we’ve moved on from blasting, obviously. we’re onto the banality of evil, folks. channeling hannah arendt tonight at public comment.
“things that would have been unthinkable became possible... and then desirable.”

lisa says we’ve seen fascism creeping into our institutions here in charlottesville: when white supremacists press criminal charges against the people they assaulted. when they sue women of color for hurting their feelings.

“normalize resistance. civility does not require compliance with a white supremacist agenda.”
LISA 🔥🔥
she closes by asking folks to donate to @CvilleFund
secure.actblue.com/donate/resilie…

ms katrina opens by saying we really need to stop starting meetings by pledging allegiance to the american flag. she also asks why there’s been no response to the letter she read on behalf of the CRB at the last meeting.

https://twitter.com/socialistdogmom/status/1008844681441169409?s=21

our new police chief is making no friends by refusing to just agree to meet ms katrina re: the issue of reopening her complaint about a case involving her son. just meet with her, jesus christ.

she keeps talking about how things SHOULD work, how she will contact people with complaints IF she has questions... this is not the same as saying what you WILL DO.

aaaand more folks concerned about the blasting. goddamn, how many people with OTHER CONCERNS didn’t get to speak tonight because a million old white people wanted to make the same damn comment?

thank you @girlziplocked for this beautiful button. it feels very appropriate tonight.

ten minute recess at the close of matters by the public

mmmm, i thought you weren’t allowed to speak during matters by the public about items actually on the agenda? 🤔
also most of the folks commenting about this issue HAVE LEFT and will not be here to hear the actual agenda item they care so much about.

reading a very dense consent agenda

no discussion, but mayor walker was the lone dissenting vote on the consent agenda. wonder which item caused that?

the first item on the agenda would allow the city to provide less parking when they redevelop friendship court, i believe. the staffer presenting the item says there’s no need for that much parking because these units are downtown & “near jobs” and “public transit.”

not everyone who lives in low income housing works downtown. people drive places other than their jobs. low income folks can’t afford to pay for private parking. public transit in this town fucking sucks.

the language from these people...
“we will park friendship court adequately” but they can’t spent money on “unnecessary” parking. they will meet “determined need.”

kathy now proposing motion to approve the ordinance modifying the zoning to allow this reduction of parking. she’s citing the cost per parking space stats we saw in the powerpoint last meeting

https://twitter.com/socialistdogmom/status/1008882526465781761?s=21

there’s no vote tonight, as this is only the first of two readings on the issue. kathy says this is important as it gives the developers “flexibility.”
no one stepped up during the offered public comment period.

real drive-through window zoning chat hours, who’s up?
(i’m falling asleep)

kathy seems really upset about drive throughs. kathy why do you hate french fries?

this speaker is pointing out the accessibility issues with eliminating drive through windows. people in wheelchairs, elderly folks, people with small children... “sometimes drive throughs were just a godsend,” she says of the days when her children were young.

we’re still talking about drive through window zoning. i took a little break to dunk on everyone’s favorite nazi lawyer. it never gets old.

washingtonpost.com/local/he-once-…

two public comments, both in favor of drive throughs. kathy now making a motion, “i’d like to make a motion... i don’t know if i’ll get a second or not,” she says argumentatively. she wants to deny the amendment. no second.
wes motions to approve, heather seconds.

wes, heather, and mike all speaking in favor of drive throughs. kathy is sulking terribly.

mmmm canceling drive throughs isn’t going to improve buses, though. kathy, what are you TALKING about?

https://twitter.com/socialistdogmom/status/1013925637202030592?s=21

no vote on this tonight, it’s also the first of two readings. kathy is INCREDIBLY PETULANT AND I AM VERY OVER IT.
moving on to “Mixed Use Development Standards Zoning Text Amendment (1st of 2 readings)”

i usually read the background. i did not. i do not know what this means.

heather clarified with the city atty that this is “just a placeholder” until the issue can be considered more closely. she says it is.
no takers on the public hearing for this agenda item. kathy moves they adopt the ordinance. heather seconds. no vote tonight.

fire chief had to be fetched from the hallway to speak on the next agenda item, $2.2mil for redesigning & rebuilding the fire station on the bypass.
no takers on the public hearing. heather moves they adopt the resolution, kathy seconds. no discussion, unanimous vote to approve.

OH IT’S TIME TO TALK ABOUT BLASTING AGAIN 💥

there’s gonna be a whole public hearing about the blasting, don’t worry y’all.

it is hilarious, disappointing, and not at all surprising that the dozens of concerned property owners who showed up to complain about this issue tonight left after complaining. they did not stay to actually hear the scheduled discussion on the blasting permit.

wes accidentally says “bombing” instead of “blasting” but quickly corrects himself. one of the few remaining concerned homeowners pipes up from the gallery, “it feels like bombing to us!”
oh becky, that’s a little melodramatic.

we’re 💥 still 💥 talking 💥 about 💥 blasting

they’ve invited one of the concerned homeowners back up to talk some more.

... and it ain’t even over, folks

https://twitter.com/dalegrungus/status/1013967679823196160?s=21

i’m not sure what they’re voting on and neither are they

motion to amend the ordinance carried 4-1 with signer dissenting. heather motions to waive the second reading, which passes unanimously. then they voted unanimously to pass the amended ordinance.

now moving on out of order, temporarily skipping over items 7 & 8 to hear item 9, a report from the minority business task force. we’ll take a much-needed break after this.

if kathy didn’t feel like her voice needed to be heard after every single thing any person said about literally anything, we’d be done by now.

back in session, on item # 7

aw yeah, it’s nearly 11pm and i’m watching a powerpoint.

these developers have talked about the angle of the sun & how that’s been considered in their architectural plans in a previous presentation. i was distracted last time, too, but for very different reasons. just bored tonight

https://twitter.com/socialistdogmom/status/980948437217705984?s=21

z5n8

wes asks “where are we on that?” re: increasing the number of affordable units in this project. the developer says they plan to provide 20 units, valued at $1.9mil, 3x the amount required by city ordinance.

what he isn’t saying is that “affordable,” as defined by the ordinance isn’t exactly affordable...

https://twitter.com/socialistdogmom/status/974056439252766721?s=21

councilors are taking turns congratulating the developer on how great they’re doing

kathy moves to approve the SUP. wes seconds.
i was at a planning commission meeting discussing this SUP back in march...

https://twitter.com/socialistdogmom/status/974059799724855296?s=21

yes, thank you, i am a hero.

https://twitter.com/mjhaugen/status/1013982350911426560?s=21

“the public does want us to be bold when it comes to producing affordable housing, but we cannot be financially, fiscally blind”
kathy is committed to profit over people & continues to couch it in language like this

“it does do an awful lot of many things at the same time that we all need”
kathy is uncritically supportive of the project & is also sundowning hard

nikuyah says that 20 units is good, but she’d hoped for 75 & for units at a lower AMI, but is ultimately supportive of the project. she says she’s looking for some guarantees, though, that are “not here yet.”

nikuyah has some concerns, is “not supportive of this right now,” but praises the developer’s “level of respect” and commitment to community engagement

“you’re on really strong footing in terms of policy,” kathy tells the developer, encouragingly.

(why is there no good gif of boot licking?)

the resolution carries 4-1 with nikuyah dissenting.

heather motions to approve the resolution in item 8 (funding for the courthouse renovation). wes & mike second simultaneously. it carries unanimously after no discussion. moving right aloW2lN

more powerpoints, excellent

sounds like a goddamn party is going on in the hallway. i’m bored & grumpy & i resent that anyone might be having a nice time out there.

i’m almost positive that of the remaining ten or so people in the gallery, there is exactly one other person here who doesn’t work for the city.

big news: most people are pretty satisfied with parks

SHOW ME SOME FUCKIN CHARTS & GRAPHS HELL YVT7w

communications director wheeler up now talking about the proposed addition of a staff position to handle social media — he’s got a job description & budgetary impact written up.

wes voices enthusiastic support for this position. “sometimes people look to twitter before they look to news websites.”
pay me, charlottesville.

wes points out that with the A12 anniversary coming up, “a lot of people are gonna be looking to our social media” — they need to act quickly.

motion to begin trying to hire a social media coordinator passes 3-2, with mike & nikuyah dissenting. total budget (which includes cost of salary & benefits) is $85,000

heather is reading a proposal to allow someone else to take over the city manager’s job if he is not able/present to fulfill those duties. the line of succession is:

asst city mgr leslie beauregard
asst city mgr mike murphy
director of emergency mgmt
fire chief
police chief

this passed unanimously. next they voted 4-1 to acknowledge the city has elected not to renew the city manager’s contract. they didn’t leave the votes up for more than a damn second — who dissented?!

people who wait until after midnight to make their public comment at the end of the meeting are braver than the troops. i have no idea what he’s talking about, but i respect his commitment.