In 2011, the Republican-controlled General Assembly passed a redistricting plan designed to disadvantage Democrats by concentrating substantial numbers of African-American voters into fewer districts, thereby diluting their strength in other surrounding districts. After years of court arguments generated by a lawsuit brought by citizens in the most affected eleven districts, that plan has now been ruled unconstitutional and, in an opinion issued June 26, 2018, the court directed the General Assembly to redraw the districts. Since that date, the Republican majority has been unwilling to engage with Democrats in developing a plan to address the Constitutional problem. In mid-July and again in August, I wrote to the Speaker of the House to request that we act to create a new plan. In August, the court asked the Republican Majority to indicate their intention about drawing a new plan. The majority response has been both to ignore my letters and to provide no commitment to the court about any intention to produce a plan. Consequently, Gov. Northam called the General Assembly into a Special Session on August 30, 2018, and the House Democratic Caucus produced and introduced a plan of its own designed to address the Constitutional infirmities of the 2011 bill. As of this date, the Republicans have not introduced a plan of their own to remedy these problems. [Read more…]
Preparing for August 11-12
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.
Reflections on Immigration, Race, and the Week of the 4th of July.
Almost every year since I arrived in Charlottesville in 1981, my wife Nancy and I have attended the annual July 4th naturalization ceremony at Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello. Last week, another 67 people born in countries as diverse as Iraq and Ghana took the oath of U.S. citizenship, pledging to protect and defend our Constitution, and also renouncing “all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty….” Over the years, we have heard thoughtful or insightful speeches discussing Jefferson and his role in the founding of the country, and celebrating countless people from foreign shores who decided to take the oath and become American citizens. It is among the most inspiring events that an American can attend, largely because it links the power of Jefferson’s words with the promise of so many seeking a better life.
This week continued with two other significant events in Charlottesville, one to memorialize and remember the horrific lynching of John Henry James in 1898 as part of the Charlottesville Pilgrimage for Justice, and the following day, the LatinX picnic and Harmonia music benefit for migrant families in our area. Placing these alongside the Monticello celebration draws attention to critical fissures in our society and the work of citizens to address them.
Independence Day
Celebrating Our Nation of Laws on Independence Day
Happy Independence Day! As we endure this summer heat, I’d like to take the opportunity to make you aware of some important updates in our state and region.
As always on July 1st, a host of new laws went into effect in the Commonwealth of Virginia. I shared “In Due Course,” a summary of new laws published by our Division of Legislative Services, on social media Monday. I am often able to share news more quickly on my social media pages. I encourage you to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to ensure you receive updates quickly and efficiently. [Read more…]
Six Highlights from the 2018 Session
My constituents continue to ask me if the House of Delegates is different in light of the dramatic change in composition brought on by the Blue Wave Democratic victories last fall. The answer is both a resounding “yes” and a more complicated “no.” Six highlights from this session (including the special session) help explain why this is so [Read more…]
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