Rail coming to Charlottesville
Maybe. It's been more two years since I first noted CvilleRail.org's efforts to bring commuter rail to the Charlottesville area, and certainly they've been working on it longer than that. Today brings good news - we could possibly have such a service in two years.…
Politics and the housing market
Spurred in part by Jonathan Miller's post today, this comment on a story I wrote at the Bloodhound, and a premonition that next year is going to bring a 15-25% reduction in the number of Realtors locally, one wonders - will the Realtor lobby be…
One taker on my blogging offer for politicians
Sort of. Ann Mallek posted a thank you on RealCrozetVA.com.
Then why aren’t the students going?
"Three Charlottesville school officials and two city councilors will travel to Italy next week on a six-day, publicly funded trip. ... Although the creation of an exchange program is not in the school division's strategic plan, Atkins said that exposure to different cultures would benefit…
An offer for politicians who blog in CharlAlbemarle
Of the current candidates and incumbents for Albemarle County's Board of Supervisors and the Charlottesville City Council, why don't more blog? In the City, incumbents Dave Norris and David Brown, who is running for re-election, blog. Candidates Peter Kleeman and Barbara Haskins do, too. In…
November Referendum on Growth in Albemarle
Will Goldsmith with C-Ville has an excellent summary of next month's Albemarle County BoS election: In electoral terms, this is an off year, with no federal offices up for grabs. Typically, voter turnout is particularly low in Virginia during odd years like these, when there's…
$270,000,000
Heads-up. The transportation conversation in the Charlottesville/Central Virginia region is about to get a whole lot more interesting. We may have to pay for our region's indecision and inability to move forward. That's the estimated cost for the Western Bypass, which has been debated and…
Efficiency in Government in Albemarle
I haven't even attended my first meeting for the Albemarle County Fiscal Impact Advisory Committee, but I am already curious. From the letter accompanying the entirety of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act: I am required to furnish you a copy of the FOIA because…
Are Libertarians gaining traction in Central Virginia?
Based on the recent press for Arin Sime, perhaps so, including this editorial from the Daily Progress - The most honest, positive and straightforward political ads this season, with issues and positions spelled out in plain English, without highly selective, emotional attacks, appear to be…
Three thousand square feet
That could be the threshold after which homeowners start to lose their mortgage interest deductibility. Michigan's Representative John D. Dingell's bill would: Phase out the mortgage interest deduction on large homes. These homes have contributed to increased sprawl and longer commutes. Despite new homes in…