Sticking Together: Organizing Productively During Challenging Times

Sticking Together

This blog is designed to serve as a vehicle by which I will post constituents’ ideas and articles that are sent to me about how we can reshape our future. The only rules are that the ideas should be presented civilly and respectfully. Remember the adage, “When they go low, we go high.” I will try to post as much productive material as I can. Please send me your ideas for inclusion by emailing erin@davidtoscano.com.

Sticking Together — Next Steps Recap

December 12, 2016 by David Toscano

From the December 6 Community Meeting at Charlottesville High School

Our meeting, “Sticking Together in Challenging Times,” produced an outpouring of citizens with ideas about what we need to do next.

It was one of the most energizing meetings that I have attended in years. In fact, the crowd was so large and the ideas so many that it is taking a little longer to assemble them than we originally expected.

We will have a more detailed report soon, but, in the interim, we thought we should post this summary written by one of the attendees. While in no way exhaustive, it details some of the ideas, with links so you can make contact.

Thanks again to all who attended this meeting and contributed their ideas and energy. We are creating an online survey of the most frequently mentioned ideas from the meeting for you to vote to let us know what YOU think the next step priorities should be. We’ll also post a document of all of the ideas recorded at the meeting. [Read more…]

Solar Power Continues To Grow in Virginia

December 10, 2016 by David Toscano

Dominion Power just announced a major expansion of solar generation in Virginia. This announcement comes on the heels of several other significant developments in the field. Partnering with the University of Virginia and the Darden School of Business, Dominion will construct a 21-megawatt project (dubbed the Hollyfield Solar Project) in King William County; the University will purchase all of the power generated. [Read more…]

Silver Linings and Next Steps

November 28, 2016 by David Toscano

Friends,
Like many of you, I have had numerous conversations with friends, colleagues, and constituents over the last weeks about the 2016 presidential election. I cannot remember a time when people have been more disappointed and shocked by the results of an election. Citizens find it difficult to understand how Donald Trump could be elected in light of his insensitivity to race, gender, and cultural norms, not to mention his policy proposals. I have encouraged people to take stock of the election, take heart in the strength and resolve that we share to make this a better country, and then act! [Read more…]

The Reaction Election — What’s Next for Virginia?

November 9, 2016 by David Toscano

We should have seen it coming. Yet few of us did. The pollsters, pundits, media moguls, and establishment of both parties are all asking themselves “how could this happen – and what happens next?”

We are hearing that this is a “change” election. I submit that it is something quite different; it was nothing short of a massive and unadulterated “reaction election.” It was a reaction to a country and world that sometimes appear to be spinning out of control. [Read more…]

Politics and The Great Cost Shift in State-Funded Higher Education

October 20, 2016 by David Toscano

“Starving the Beast,” a film produced by Bill Banowsky and directed by Steve Mims detailing political and financial assaults on America’s system of public university education, hit theaters last month. Early reviews suggest that this is a “must see” for anyone concerned about higher education and where our country may be heading. The film provides examples, including from the University of Virginia, illustrating political attacks on institutions of higher learning and efforts to reduce funding across the country. [Read more…]