Transparency in politics takes a giant leap forward

Posted on January 9, 2007 by Jim Duncan

At least in Virginia.

Waldo introduces Richmond Sunlight. Bookmark this site. Subscribe to the RSS feeds. Become an involved citizen.

The number of bills that are going to be introduced in the upcoming General Assembly Session that will impact the buying and selling of real estate in the Charlottesville area, other localities and statewide is phenomenal.

Impact fees, property taxes, transportation bills, growth, eminent domain … all of these will have an impact on the real estate market, both existing and new construction. Wouldn’t you rather be aware before you read the news that the State can come and take your property via eminent domain?

I know that I have become more and more a politics geek in the past couple of years, primarily because I have recognized just how much politics affect the local real estate market … Richmond Sunlight will only help feed this jones. I had the privilege of playing around with the site for the past couple of weeks, and I have only two things to say – Wow, and Thank you, Waldo!

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About Jim Duncan

A Charlottesville Realtor who tries to stay on the bleeding/cutting/functional edge of technology and real estate trends. I have been selling real estate for the past 10 years, lived in C'Ville for twenty+ and am married to one of few Charlottesville natives left.
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  • http://waldo.jaquith.org/ Waldo Jaquith

    Thank you for your help. As the first alpha tester, your input was really useful.

  • http://www.realcentralva.com Jim Duncan

    Waldo –

    Now I just need to figure out a way to stop spending so much time there!

  • http://transparentre.com Pat Kitano

    Great find Jim, every state should have a Richmond Sunlight.

    My favorite sunshine quote, as applied to politics:

    “You have a market that was completely dark for 200 years and instead of letting a little bit of transparency in there, they just opened the windows completely and all the shades and everything, and it was complete sunshine,” said Jeff Stambovski, a senior high-yield bond salesman.

  • Ray Hyde

    Waldo and I have had running battles in the blogosphere. I have accused him of being environmentally uneconomic, which amounts to be un-environmental, in my view.

    I now eat my hat.

    This may be his best effort ever, and I heartily compliment him on the effort he has expended.

    My hat is off, and my compliments.

    This is really a tremendous effort, and well worth it.

    If there is anything I can do to help, please let me know.

  • http://www.realcentralva.com Jim Duncan

    Ray –

    I agree; I think that Richmond Sunlight could be one of the single greatest advances in political transparency since blogs developed.