Another hiatus edition of Fifth District Community Engagement
Major production of this newsletter is currently on pause, but I really want to keep my eye on what's happening through links to media reports
It’s now been over six months since I’ve been south of Interstate 64 into Virginia’s Fifth Congressional District. This newsletter was created at a time when I thought I would be moving to Lynchburg. That did not happen. These days I am instead traveling up to Pennsylvania taking advantage of the trains that come through the northwestern part of the Fifth District.
This does not mean that this work isn’t worth doing. I have just had to focus on my main work at Charlottesville Community Engagement and Information Charlottesville. I’m trying to cover as much as I can in six localities, but find that all of the changes happening in the City of Charlottesville are taking up much of my time.
I made a decision after the election to hit pause on this work, but I know I’m missing out on a lot of comparative government. After all, I think much of my work takes a more academic approach than other journalists.
I feel I am not getting enough of a picture to understand a district where I’ve spent most of my life, either growing up in Campbell County or spending most of my life in Charlottesville. So, I am going to resume posting links to stories possibly once a week. I want to also subscribe to as many of the publications as possible and encourage others to do so as well.
Some of these stories I have not read because of difficulties I seem to be having subscribing to the Danville Register & Bee. I did not update my credit card information when the time came and dealing with circulation has become a Herculean task.
In any case, if I can find someone who would be interested in helping me with this work, then perhaps it can resume more quickly. For now, reading material!
Reading material:
School Board approves $55 million budget, Heather Michon, March 7, 2024
GRTC expands LINK microtransit to Chesterfield, Hanover and Powhatan coming soon, Will Gonzalez, WRIC, March 11, 2024
Amherst County budget proposes 3.7% pay raise, board grapples with public safety decisions, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News-Advance, March 13, 2024
Amherst County purchases portion of Ambler Farm site for $300K, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News-Advance, March 13, 2024
Revised solar ordinance set for March 19 public hearing in Amherst, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News-Advance, March 13, 2024
School board, county supervisors hold joint budget meeting, Appomattox Times-Virginian, Charles Conrad, March 13, 2024
Effort to curb local control of solar stalls, SoVaNow.com, March 13, 2024
Line of Duty benefits for private officers left out of bill, Nelson leaders to keep lobbying, Emily Barber, Nelson County Times, March 13, 2024
Bedford supervisors talk solar measures as 'preemptive strike' against state, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News-Advance, March 13, 2024
Danville council rules on public comment raise questions; officials say policy not unique, John Crane, Danville Register & Bee (paywall), March 15, 2024
Bedford County fiscal year '25 revenues project $4 million increase, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News & Advance, March 15, 2024
New deal sets up option for tobacco farmers, Brian Carlton, Kenbridge Victoria Dispatch, March 15, 2024
Lynchburg city manager proposes FY '25 budget ahead of public engagement opportunities, Emma Martin, Lynchburg News & Advance, March 16, 2024
Bedford supervisors pass sewage pump-out measure at lake properties, Justin Faulconer, Lynchburg News & Advance, March 16, 2024
New city brand price tag nearly $150k so far, Bobby Allen Roach, Chatham Star-Tribune, March 16, 2024
Pittsylvania County Schools propose $116 million budget, Shannon Kelly, Chatham Star-Tribune, March 17, 2024