David Toscano

Commentary on Virginia and U.S. Politics & Culture

David Toscano
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Preparing for August 11-12

August 9, 2018 by David Toscano

Many in our region are justifiably concerned about what might happen this weekend, August 11 and 12. The good news is that much has been done during the past year to prepare our city and region for possible disruption. Various court cases have led to consent orders that prohibit most all of the “Unite the Right” groups from returning. The City has denied permits to many groups in hopes of ensuring the safety of our residents. The Virginia State Police have been here for months, helping to organize a unified command to respond to any illegal or violent activities.

The First Amendment guarantees us all the right to assemble, speak our minds, and petition our government. The City of Charlottesville, University of Virginia, Albemarle County, and Governor of Virginia are working very hard to protect these rights while keeping everyone safe.

What You May See, What You May Expect, And How It Will Be Different Than Last Year

  • Virginia State Police will be in town beginning on Wednesday; most will be dressed in regular uniform, but some may be dressed in protective gear. No badges will be covered.
  • The unified command (city, county, UVA, and state) will conduct a practice “table top” scenario for all of the senior first responders and government actors this week.
  • As an additional precaution, state government may issue a “state of emergency” declaration before the weekend—not because violence or disruption is imminent, but so that the unified command will have the legal authority if it becomes needed to mobilize forces more effectively.
  • The Virginia National Guard is available, if their help is needed.
  • The city’s ordinance prohibiting items that could cause harm in a crowd if used improperly will be robustly enforced for the weekend at any gatherings, and law enforcement officers will be policing violations of law based solely on behavior/action, not on the message(s) being expressed.
  • City and State police will enforce the law by making arrests. Safety is important and laws will be enforced to prevent people from being injured.
  • Real-time monitoring of activity around the city will occur throughout the weekend.
  • Road closures and No-Parking zones will take effect on Friday at 6:00 pm, and continue through Monday at 6:00 am.
  • Various city buildings in the downtown area, such as the Transit Center/bus transfer area, will be closed, and other activities have been canceled or moved.
  • The city’s special website page #ResilientCville (www.charlottesville.org/resilientcville) and the city’s Twitter account (@cvillecityhall) will be important sources of information this week and this weekend. You may also follow my Twitter feed (@deltoscano), but the city’s online media will have the most updated information.
  • The University of Virginia has also set up a dedicated website page for its operations and plans for this weekend.
  • Together Cville has created a list of events occurring this week and this weekend and is also sharing event postings on its Facebook page. I will be speaking at the NAACP forum on Sunday afternoon, and plan to attend other events earlier in the day.

The level of preparedness and coordination is much higher than last year. We all have a responsibility to keep calm and report activity that appears suspicious. When in doubt, call 911.

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Filed Under: News

The Heaphy Report – What’s Next?

December 13, 2017 by David Toscano

We now have had several weeks to digest the city-initiated 207-page report on the July 8 and August 11-12, 2017, demonstrations in Charlottesville. While there are many nuances in the report of Timothy Heaphy and his team, and various ways by which it may be interpreted, the conclusions are clear — the city and law enforcement failed in two critical areas. First, the city and law enforcement were unable to ensure that citizens’ First Amendment rights of free speech were protected, whether that speech involved the hateful speech of the neo-Nazis and white supremacists, or the speech of counter demonstrators. Second, the city and law enforcement failed to protect citizens from the violent confrontations that occurred on August 11 and 12. Heaphy did a thorough job of reviewing the events, and we need to pay careful attention to it. [Read more…]

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Filed Under: Blog, News Tagged With: Charlottesville and Albemarle County, Gun Safety, Virginia General Assembly Process

Toscano to Tour UVa Rooftop Solar Panel Installations

June 4, 2017 by Jane Dittmar

Virginia House of Delegates Democratic Leader’s Legislation Led to UVa Installations

David J. Toscano (D-57), Democratic Leader of the Virginia House of Delegates, today confirmed that he will tour UVa’s Solar Panel installations, the latest of which was celebrated at an event at UVa during a series of Earth Week observations in April.

Toscano has championed solar energy legislation in the Virginia General Assembly every year since his election in 2005.

“UVa and other higher education institutions are helping move us to a future based on renewable energy,” said Toscano. “The Commonwealth can and will be more actively involved in confronting the challenges of climate change and UVa will be essential to this effort.”

A bill sponsored by Toscano that passed the General Assembly in 2011 led to the initial solar panel installations at UVa’s Ruffner Hall and above the University Bookstore. HB 1686 offered special tariffs to facilitate customer-owned distributed solar generation.  UVa used this legislation to further invest in solar panels to produce renewable energy.

Members of the press are invited to join the tour by meeting on June 6th at Clemons Library at 4PM.  Parking instructions can be obtained by calling Jane Dittmar @ 434.220.1660.

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Filed Under: News, Press Releases Tagged With: Climate Change, Environmental Protection, Renewable Energy

Statement on President Trump’s Decision to Exit the Paris Climate Accord
States Will Need to Step Up

June 1, 2017 by Erin Monaghan

David J. Toscano, Delegate from the 57th District (Charlottesville/Albemarle) and the Democratic Leader of the Virginia House of Delegates, today issued the following statement:

If the federal government will not act, states need to take an even stronger leadership role to combat climate change.

The President’s action today is extremely disappointing, but not unexpected. During his campaign, Donald Trump indicated that he would withdraw the United States from the Paris climate agreement, and now he has delivered on that pledge. His action removes this nation from an agreement that has broad-based support in the international community. This will not only have a dramatic impact on our environment and our economy, but will lessen the role of the United States’ leadership in the world. Refusing to confront climate change will not reduce the real threat it poses to our lives and our children’s lives.

“If the federal government will not act, states need to take an even stronger leadership role to combat climate change. Several months ago, I requested an Attorney General’s opinion on how the state could act independently to cut carbon emissions. The opinion clearly states that we have broad authority to do more in our state and to make Virginia a leader in creating a clean energy economy. Today’s decision by the Trump administration only reinforces our commitment to finding ways for Virginia to join with other states to protect our environment and cut the rising carbon emissions that threaten our planet.”

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Filed Under: News, Press Releases Tagged With: Climate Change, Environmental Protection, Renewable Energy

Toscano Applauds Governor’s Initiative to Reduce Carbon Emissions

May 16, 2017 by Jane Dittmar

When Washington Defaults, States Really Do Matter

David J. Toscano, delegate from the 57th District (Charlottesville / Albemarle) and the Democratic Leader of the Virginia House of Delegates, today issued the following statement:

“Our Governor clearly recognizes the threat to Virginia imposed by climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, and is attempting to do all that he can within his authority to protect the quality of life and economic wellbeing of Virginians in the face of this challenge,” said Toscano.  “As President Trump undermines the EPA, protective action will increasingly occur in the states, and Virginia should be a leader.”

Toscano recently sought and obtained an opinion by the Attorney General of Virginia, Mark R. Herring, that stated the Virginia State Air Pollution Control Board has the ability, under state law, to regulate carbon pollution and to place a “statewide cap” on greenhouse gas emissions from new and existing fossil fuel electric generating units.

“It is clear that Donald Trump will take us backward on climate protection, and the only chance we have to make our future better is through state initiatives.  I applaud the Governor on his courage to take on a difficult issue and manage it for the public good.”

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Filed Under: News, Press Releases Tagged With: Climate Change, Environmental Protection, Renewable Energy

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211 E. High Street
Charlottesville, VA 22902
Phone: 434-220-1660
Fax: 434-220-1677
david@davidtoscano.com

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