The Charlottesville Coalition for Gun Violence Prevention (CCGVP) has organized a Town Hall to be held at Buford Middle School on Thursday March 23 from 6:00-7:30pm.
Speakers will include Charlottesville Police Chief Michael Kochis, State Sen. Creigh Deeds, and representatives from the BUCK Squad and Charlottesville and Albemarle County Public Schools.
If you have ideas to share, or want to know what you can do to help stop the violence, please attend or show your support in other ways!
Candidate Forum + (maybe) a Zoning Forum
The Cville Dems will definitely be sponsoring one or more candidate forums, probably in coordination with the Albemarle Dems; we’ll announce details as soon as they’re worked out.
We’re also wondering if people (you!?) would find it helpful for us to sponsor an informational forum about the upcoming Draft Zoning Plan (Module 1 of 3 available here) that City Council will be voting on in June. The party hasn’t taken a position, but it’s an important issue and we’re wondering if a panel representing a wide variety of stakeholders would be valuable in sharing the many perspectives held within the community.
So:
- Would you like to see some kind of panel/forum on Zoning?
- If so, what groups/people would you be most interested in hearing from?
- Any other thoughts about this that you’d like to share with us?
Please send your thoughts to cvilledemschair@gmail.com
Getting Ready for UVA/Bert Ellis Shenanigans
Bert Ellis, long-time reactionary and new UVA Board of Visitors member, has already telegraphed his intention to shake things up at UVA even if he’s restrained from cutting down First Amendment-protected student political speech he doesn’t like on Grounds.
The Washington Post profiled him as “controversial board newcomer who has voiced skepticism of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, been protective of the legacy of Jefferson and advocated for a new course for the flagship university. They also underscore mounting political tensions throughout public higher education as Republican governors and their appointees challenge university culture, norms and operations.”
We’re thinking it might be good to identify some Dems in advance as a quick reaction group that would be ready if/when Ellis and others in his Gov. Youngkin-appointed cohort try to push through changes that threaten academic and/or personal freedom at UVA. We’d coordinate with the UVA Dems on this. Note that there may be pressure from the UVA Administration on faculty and students not to speak publicly about Ellis or other Board of Visitor actions.
If anyone’s interested in being part of such a group, please contact cvilledemschair@gmail.com
Guidance for Potential Candidates in June 2023 Primary Elections
Not relevant to most of us, but if you’re thinking of/planning to run in a Democratic primary for a local or state elected office, we’ve compiled a cheat sheet for most of what you need to know. The filing period is between March 20 and April 6, so it’s decision time for you now or very soon!
2023 Liberation and Freedom Day Events
One event on Friday, two events Saturday… would be great to see lots of Dems at the community celebration!
Liberation and Freedom Days Celebration (presented by DEC-UVA)
Jefferson School Annual Liberation and Freedom Day Reparations Run/Walk
Highlights of the Executive Committee 2/27 Meeting
- Our party must collect the paperwork from all primary candidates between March 20 and April 6, and immediately afterwards verify the petition signatures to get each candidate on the ballot. It’s fun, and much quicker, as a group project; please email cvilledemschair@gmail.com for information if you might be able to pitch in a few hours.
- We’d like to organize some candidate forums in April, possibly in collaboration with the Albemarle Democrats. Details will be announced when they’re worked out.
- Nancy Damon updated us on the upcoming annual dinner fundraiser, tentatively scheduled for Friday June 2 (see below). Thanks to Nancy and the committee for doing all the planning!
- We want to increase our efforts at community engagement to get more people (and more diversity!) in our membership. If you or someone you know might be interested in joining this effort, please contact cvilledemschair@gmail.com.
- We’ve formalized some policies and procedures for covering the primary candidates, so we can pass on information to our members without showing favoritism to any candidate.
- Kate Vasiloff, a local activist working with Compassion and Choices to expand end-of-life options, briefed us on a proposed bill that would allow for assisted suicide in very narrowly prescribed cases of incurable terminal illnesses. In past years, the General Assembly hasn’t passed similar bills, despite large majority support from both Democratic and Republican voters. The Charlottesville Democrats have not taken any position on this issue. If you’d like to learn more, or to participate in this effort, you can contact Kate: kate@untoldresearch.com
- Erin Monaghan gave 5th District and DPVA reports (see below).