Charlottesville Community Engagement

Another week is upon us with the prospect of many more stories about all of the usual topics covered by Charlottesville Community Engagement. I’m Sean Tubbs, the president and publisher of Town Crier Productions, an entity created in the summer of 2020 to help me try to bring in revenue so I can share my research into what happens in local, regional and Virginia government. This is an audio version that is largely based on what aired on WTJU on Saturday morning. This podcast edition adds a few other stories, and even contains one that has not yet been in print form.

In this edition:

* Charlottesville City Manager Sam Sanders details the need for a two cent increase on the real property tax rate (read the story

* Sanders also announces that Charlottesville’s pre-K center will be at Walker Upper Elementary School, not Oak Lawn (read the story)

* Charlottesville has installed equipment at garages to allow customers to pay without a phone (read the story)

* The city’s Board of Architectural Review takes a preliminary look at two development projects (read the story)

* The University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors met this week and the Buildings and Grounds committee learned of a new building on Ivy Road as well as a future road connection between Millmont and Copely Road. (stories not printed yet)

A word about shout-outs and the podcast in general

The sixth anniversary of the lockdown declared due to the COVID-19 pandemic is this week. That’s also the sixth anniversary of my return to journalism when I decided on March 15 to just put out a podcast covering local and state response.

What would become the Charlottesville Quarantine Report began because I had audio production skills that had atrophied, as well as journalistic ones that had nowhere to go. The audience was miniscule for the dozens of episodes I produced, but I knew that research and reporting was how I wanted to spend my time.

So I left a job to take a leap of faith to create this newsletter, experiment with Information Charlottesville, and create a business called Town Crier Productions to try to raise enough revenue to cover my bills.

Since then I’ve sent out well over a thousand newsletters and written hundreds of stories. For the first four years, all of the newsletters were also podcasts. About two years ago, I stopped that practice when I began producing a radio version for WTJU as a volunteer. I quickly learned I needed to increase attention to detail in the audio.

The audience for the podcast is much, much smaller than the print editions. As a result, I’ve tapered back audio production. Beginning in late January, I’ve begun to have equipment failure and these setbacks have made me less interested in producing the audio. Time spent away from the house was also less than ideal.

Yet, I do love producing the audio and I love the challenge of trying to balance stories across the newsletter, the website, C-Ville Weekly, the radio version, and the podcast. It will likely always be an experiment and my hopes to get it out at a regular time have been dashed.

In any case, this edition includes the public service announcements that aired on WTJU. I’m not going to report the print versions because in 2026 I am trying to transition the shout-outs to something more like formal underwriting. What you see now is a hodge-podge of a lot of different approaches and I have been moving to clean all of that up.

I’m also exploring the possibility of a different platform for this newsletter and will be experimenting first with Fifth District Community Engagement. That’s an experiment that has been on hiatus but I’m going to play around with it a little more.

There is also a new way for people to contribute. I’ve entered into a contract with the Tiny News Collective to allow people to make a charitable gift. Contact me if interested or visit this page.

And now, on to the next set of stories! But first, the obligatory picture posted here so there’s a good picture when it goes out to subscribers.

Can anyone prove that February 10, 2026 was the last time there was an audio edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement? Turns out it is not that difficult as there is clearly a link and the day in question was a Tuesday. This podcast version consists of some stories from recent weeks and links to them if you’ve not read them yet.

The next actual newsletter may or may not be out this afternoon depending on how well a new month’s energy sustains itself throughout the pre-spring day.

In this edition:

* Greene Supervisors appoint former member to fill vacancy (learn more)

* Albemarle Planning Commission wants to see another design for Windy Knoll (read the story)

* Albemarle Supervisors take action on Boulders Road project (need to produce)

* Charlottesville PC looks ahead to next set of zoning changes (need to produce)

* No tax rate increases included in proposed $724M Albemarle budget for FY2027 (read the story)

First shout-out: WTJU Puzzle Hunt returns on March 14

In today’s first shout-out: Cville Puzzle Hunt is back! Organized by WTJU 91.1 FM and designed by Puzzled Bee, the event is a citywide cerebral puzzle for teens and adults of all ages. The Cville Puzzle Hunt works like an escape room, but all of downtown Charlottesville is the “room.”

This year’s event takes place Saturday, March 14, 2:30 - 6 p.m. The Puzzle Hunt starts and ends at IX Art Park, with puzzles to solve at various downtown locations. Those participating will have a wild afternoon running around trying to untangle five diabolical, large-scale puzzles inserted into the urban landscape.

Advance registration is requested at CvillePuzzleHunt.com. The event is free and a $10 a person donation is suggested or $20 if you want to sponsor someone else.

Thoughts at the end of CCE-1007A

Things have been off since the end of January culminating in a trip away from the place where I am best set up to be productive. But there were other odd things I’d like to mention to those who make their way to the ends of this newsletters.

* It felt off to make a transition from #999 to #1000. I have a hard time believing I’ve actually been doing this for five and a half years.

* The WTJU fundraiser pre-empted me for a week which threw off the rhythm.

* Something happened to my recording equipment. For one, the audio gain in my headphones was off so I couldn’t hear myself doing narrations. For another, something about the microphone isn’t processing certain frequencies. Today I have to fix that, hence this podcast edition.

* I’ve taken the first steps toward a new way people can support the work. I don’t have any sort of campaign planned to promote this, but I’m dropping the link.

* I learned I had to go away three days before the trip, which led to me taking some time off to get ready

* Being the sole proprietor and sole employee means there are a lot of levers that have to be pushed and it’s just me with arms that can do the work. I was sick for a couple of days and that means some work got displaced.

* I do two stories a week for C-Ville Weekly which has a harder deadline than audio work that is consumed by far fewer people. Today I’m making myself do this before I write this week’s stories. Friday was my last day with the family and I needed space.

A reality is that if the audio is to continue, I need to have help doing the work. One day I will have a plan to train people who would like to learn, but managing people takes up the most time of all for a former extrovert turned full-on introvert. Still, maybe one day.

There is a theory that both the next podcast edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement as well as the next written version might be delayed out of some sort of concern about whether the internal numbering system is equipped to deal with the impending approach of the 1,000th edition. At least, that is one possible explanation of why it has taken so long to produce these older stories from the last week. There was a slight disruption in the routine which sometimes results in delays. I’m Sean Tubbs, and I look forward to sorting it all out.

Audio versions of stories previously sent out in the newsletter:

* Charlottesville City Council agrees to reallocate funding intended to run low-barrier shelter (read the story)

* Charlottesville’s finance director presents more details on city’s $8.5 million surplus (read the story)

* The 700 block of Charlottesville’s West Main Street is now known as “Mel’s Walk” (read the story)

* Albemarle’s Economic Development Authority agrees to spend $500K on Boulders Road Extension (read the story)

* Supervisor Mike Pruitt shares information on CARTA with fellow elected officials (read the story)

* The Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission will try again for federal funding for design of Rivanna pedestrian bridge (read the story)

Charlottesville Community Engagement is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Today’s shout-out: Cville Village seeks volunteers!

Can you drive a neighbor to a doctor’s appointment? Change an overhead lightbulb, plant a flower, walk a dog for someone who is sick, visit someone who is lonely? If so, Cville Village needs you!

Cville Village is a local 501c3 nonprofit organization loosely affiliated with a national network of Villages whose goals are to help seniors stay in their own homes as long as possible, and to build connections among them that diminish social isolation. Volunteers do small chores for, and have gatherings of, professors and schoolteachers, nurses and lawyers, aides and housekeepers. Time and chance come to all – a fall, an order not to drive, failing eyesight, a sudden stroke. They assist folks continue living at home, with a little help from their friends.

Cville Village volunteers consult software that shows them who has requested a service and where they are located. Volunteers accept only the requests that fit their schedule and their skills.

Volunteering for Cville Village can expand your circle of friends and shower you with thanks.

To learn more, visit cvillevillage.org or attend one of their monthly Village “meet-ups” and see for yourself. To find out where and when the next meetup is, or to get more information and a volunteer application, email us at [email protected], or call them at (434) 218-3727.

End notes for #998-A

My thoughts were well-intentioned. As I was producing stories last week, I did produce the audio but I did not post them to the Information Charlottesville website. Somehow I forgot that finished audio segments had been made and it felt like a slog to have to do the audio again.

This is because the radio version did not air last week and so I didn’t feel the same pressure to follow all of the steps. This week there will be a radio show and I have enough material that I am considering slowing down a little this week to focus on business and administration things.

Also, it is going to be in the fifties later and I want to go for a walk and watch the ice and snow melt. So I am going to aim to have the next newsletter out tomorrow. That will be #999 and after that will be #1000. No comma. I think that’s how I’ll get through adding a fourth digit.

Another reason things were difficult this week is that my copy of Adobe Audition reset and a lot of my bookmarks disappeared. Because I could not see the recent links to session files, I assumed I had not produced them.

I’m writing this as I produce the podcast and also missing are my links to various sound files I use as punctuation in between stories. Youngers versions of me used to love playing around with audio production. I still do, but these days the need to produce takes the capacity away from being creative.

Which is why this may be a week I listen to my brain and take a slight reset. All I know is that I’m very glad to have this edition done and to have a few hours off away from writing. There are many stories to tell, but there are also days I need to do a little more.

Oh! Another reason this week is weird. For some reason, the gain on the headphones for my recording set-up is really low so I can’t really hear myself while narrating. This is an annoyance but also causes issues. Perhaps I’ll spend the rest of the day setting up a new place to work!

There is an inkling of a legend that one day scientists will perfect a regular orbit for the audio edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. Or at least, in the current day and age, this podcast edition happens as a secondary or perhaps tertiary by-product of the creation of many stories. The optimal time for this to come is Monday morning but the mini Ice Age has taken its toll on normal routines. I’m Sean Tubbs, and I do hope you’ll take a listen whenever you can.

In this edition:

* City Council took a look at national financial picture at recent retreat (read the story)

* Charlottesville City Council briefed on FY27 budget; assessments up an average of 3.72 percent in 2026 (read the story)

* Charlottesville’s FY25 surplus totals $8.5 million (read the story)

* The Charlottesville-Albemarle Regional Transit Authority meets for the first time in 2026 (read the story)

* Albemarle County seeking changes to form-based code at Rio / 29 (read the story)

* Council confirms willingness to let group build bridge to Vietnam memorial, accept the infrastructure (read the story)

* City Manager Sanders goes through his work plan; Ashley Marshall leaving city government (read the story)

First shout-out: Camp Albemarle!

Today’s subscriber-supported public service announcement goes out to Camp Albemarle, which has for over eighty years been a “wholesome rural, rustic and restful site for youth activities, church groups, civic events and occasional private programs.”

Located on 14 acres on the banks of the Moorman’s River near Free Union, Camp Albemarle continues as a legacy of being a Civilian Conservation Corps project that sought to promote the importance of rural activities. Rebuilt in the early 1980’s, a legacy of 4-H programming thrives along with a wide range of additional activities. Educational initiatives from schools across the region spark environmental learning moments at every turn.

Second shout-out: WTJU Folk Marathon running this week

WTJU’s volunteer hosts are curating a Folk music mecca, running February 2 – 9, all to raise money for the non-commercial radio station as it continues to find its footing after federal funding cuts. Check out the schedule on the website here!

Keep your dial set to 91.1 FM (or stream from their player) for a week of Folk sounds, including old-time, honky tonk, global music, roots, and mind-bending psych folk. There will be deep dives into the work of singular artists, including Brandi Carlile, John Prine, Jesse Welles, Martin Carthy, and many more. There will be tributes to some of the musicians we lost in 2025, including Raul Malo, Danny Thompson, Joe Ely, Michael Hurley, and Todd Snider.The Marathon will boast eight live concerts, open to the public, and broadcast on air, online, and on the WTJU YouTube channel. Stop by to see Mama Tried, Scuffletown, the Buzzard Hollow Boys, Red and the Romantics, Ramona and the Holy Smokes, and others! Every hour of the seven days and nights broadcasts directly from WTJU; even the overnight programming is populated with archived concerts from our very own stage! We have also invited some of our favorite local musicians in to present special programming, including Banjo Hall of Fame member Bill Evans, singer/songwriter extraordinaire Terri Allard, and band leader Waverly Minor. Where else but WTJU can you find such support from the community?

End notes on #995-A

People who listen to the audio of this one may notice some interesting errors. More than usual, I’m popping my p’s and otherwise hitting plosives. That’s because something weird is happening with my recording set-up that I can’t hear proper gain on my voice when I’m recording. If I can’t hear them when I’m narrating a script, then they end up in the final mix because there’s no choice.

I’ll figure it out, but I left it in for this one because this may have been one of the hardest audio editions to have done for a while. I barely took a breather in January and sometimes when I do too much work I don’t process all of the stories properly.

So yesterday I took off from writing new stories to get caught up with what I’ve already done. I usually do this work on Saturdays but I wanted to look at the General Assembly.

This particular audio version also includes brand new interstitials. Those are the bits of sound in between the audio segments. One of the original ideas was that I would continue to make new ones but I’ve been using the same 20 stings over and over. So, today I made an effort to make new ones from existing weird things I’ve made over the years.

Speaking of which, I’ve had an idea. In the coming weeks I’ll be announcing a new way people can support my work, and that also involves changing the Patreon away from reporting and to something more artistic and creative. Probably not at all even close to the mainstream and it may not work, but I don’t want to close the account.

In any case, there may or may not be a regular newsletter today. I have to attend to the business of it all and this is a day where I may need to give myself over to that.

Then again, maybe I won’t.

If there’s anything I have learned in my thirty years of reporting, it is that there is always more to be learned. One reason to do journalism is to document potential solutions to problems over time. At least, there’s the point of Charlottesville Community Engagement and this edition is a collection of audio stories from the past week. For those of you who do not want to listen, there are also links to this newsletter’s archive at Information Charlottesville.

In this edition:

* Charlottesville Planning Commission briefed on tax abatement, student housing review (read the story)

* Albemarle Supervisors begin 2026 with a transportation update (read the story)

* Albemarle assessments have increased by 6.17 percent in 2026 (read the story)

* Spanberger signed ten first executive orders on first day in office (read the story)

* Charlottesville City Council weighs in on student housing changes

Charlottesville Community Engagement is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

First shout-out: Plant Virginia Natives

The year is now 2026 and time is running out for me to plan for what my yard could look like if I were to get it ready for spring! The invasive plants won again and I’ve got maybe a month until they begin to come back to life. Is this the year I get ahead of the creeper and vine that thrive in the humidity and the hot sun? What else could I plant instead?

One resource I could consult is Plant Virginia Natives to figure my way out of my predicament. Plant Virginia Natives is part of a partnership with ten regional campaigns for ten different ecosystems across Virginia, from the Northern Piedmont to the Eastern Shore. Take a look at the full map below for the campaign for native species where you are in the Commonwealth. For the Charlottesville area, download a free copy of the handbook: Piedmont Native Plants: A Guide for Landscapes and Gardens.

A glimpse of the story spreadsheet

Second shout-out: Charlottesville Scholarship Program

Today’s second subscriber-supported shout-out goes to the Charlottesville Scholarship Program. Started in 2001 by an initial investment by Charlottesville City Council, the Charlottesville Scholarship Program has grown their endowment to over $1.3 million, and has awarded 201 scholarships totaling more than $1.1 million.

The goal of the program has remained constant: to assist low- and moderate-income City residents and City employees who wish to improve their lives through post-secondary education. Many of these students are the first in their family to attend college.

Income-eligible Charlottesville Public School System high school seniors, City residents who are Charlottesville Public School System graduates or GED recipients, and City municipal and City School System employees, no matter where they reside, are all eligible for CSP scholarships. In a typical year, CSP awards eleven new, renewable scholarships. Ten of these are designated for eligible high school seniors, and the 11th scholarship is designated for an eligible adult applicant.

To learn more about the program, sign up for their newsletter, or make a donation, visit their website.

Today’s edition is sponsored by the Ragged Mountain Running and Walking Shop

When was the last time you played a musical instrument? When was the last time you recorded a song you wanted to write either for yourself or for others? In an attempt to change the tone of these introductory paragraphs of Charlottesville Community Engagement, I decide to look instead at this day in music.

Two sources report that on January 22, 1959, Buddy Holly hit record on a machine and captured his final performances on a tape recorder, recordings that would later be posthumously produced professionally after his death in an aircraft crash on a snowy night. I’m Sean Tubbs, and more on that rabbit hole at the end of this edition.

In this edition:

* There is a vacancy on the Greene County Board of Supervisors as Francis McGuigan resigns

* Albemarle and Charlottesville officials are preparing for a weekend storm expected this

* The Charlottesville Albemarle Regional Transit Authority will meet today the first time in 2026

* Albemarle County promotes Amy Smith to be the next Parks and Recreation Director

Charlottesville Community Engagement is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

First shout-out: Cville Village seeks volunteers

Can you drive a neighbor to a doctor’s appointment? Change an overhead lightbulb, plant a flower, walk a dog for someone who is sick, visit someone who is lonely? If so, Cville Village needs you!

Cville Village is a local 501c3 nonprofit organization loosely affiliated with a national network of Villages whose goals are to help seniors stay in their own homes as long as possible, and to build connections among them that diminish social isolation. Volunteers do small chores for, and have gatherings of, professors and schoolteachers, nurses and lawyers, aides and housekeepers. Time and chance come to all – a fall, an order not to drive, failing eyesight, a sudden stroke. They assist folks continue living at home, with a little help from their friends.

Cville Village volunteers consult software that shows them who has requested a service and where they are located. Volunteers accept only the requests that fit their schedule and their skills.

Volunteering for Cville Village can expand your circle of friends and shower you with thanks.

To learn more, visit cvillevillage.org or attend one of their monthly Village “meet-ups” and see for yourself. To find out where and when the next meetup is, or to get more information and a volunteer application, email us at [email protected], or call them at (434) 218-3727.

McGuigan resigns from the Greene County Board of Supervisors

The Greene County Board of Supervisors will once again need to fill a vacancy now that one of its members has resigned while in office.

Francis McGuigan turned in his resignation as the at-large Supervisor today, just over two years after being elected in November 2023.

“We would like to thank Supervisor McGuigan for his commitment to the community,” said Board Chairman Steve Catalano in an information release.

On January 13, McGuigan had voted for Catalano to be chair during the annual organization meeting. Midway Representative Matt Hartung was not present for the vote but joined the meeting later.

The release states Supervisors will discuss how to move forward with a replacement at their next meeting on January 27.

In the fall of October 2023, former Supervisor Abby Heflin resigned as the Stanardsville representative and the Board accepted applications for a replacement. The person appointed was Steve Catalano.

For more on this story, take a look at this story on the Piedmont Journal-Recorder.

Area preparing for heavy winter storm

A large winter storm is heading for the east coast this weekend and that’s expected to leave a heavy accumulation of snow and ice. Preparations are underway by first responders and the Virginia Department of Transportation.

Albemarle’s Deputy County Executive, Trevor Henry, briefed the Board of Supervisors Wednesday night about what was known at that time.

“We have through our emergency manager a process by which we spin up our planning efforts,” Henry said. “And so I wanted to just assure the board but also use this as a reminder to the community that they should be paying attention to this weekend.”

Henry said any snow and ice that falls may continue to be a problem as the forecast is for temperatures to remain below freezing through the end of next week. He added public safety will be ready.

“Police and fire are really looking at a Saturday morning to at least initially through Monday night,” Henry said. “That may be a longer operational period where there’s going to be additional resources.”

Henry said the county is asking residents to be prepared to be without power for up to three days. To that effect, the county set out a message this afternoon with information including a checklist for an emergency kit created by the Virginia Department of Emergency Management.

Soon afterward, the City of Charlottesville announced it has activated the Snow Operations Team with a description of their duty.

“The City is responsible for winter operations across approximately 165 centerline miles of roadway, 49 miles of sidewalks (including Safe Routes to School and City-owned properties), more than 45 municipal and school parking lots, City parks facilities, and the Downtown Pedestrian Mall,” reads the message.

The city has over 165 people working on snow operations as well as a sizable inventory of equipment including “25 dedicated snowplow trucks equipped with salt spreaders and brine tanks.”

Roads will be pretreated with brine and crews will begin clearing snow when necessary.

“Snow response follows a priority plan,” reads the message from the city. “Crews will begin with primary routes, including major corridors and roads critical for emergency response and transit service.”

Emergency snow routes will also be in effect as of 9 a.m. Saturday. Anyone who parks along these corridors must move their vehicle or it may be towed.

Designated Emergency Snow Routes include:

* Market Street (Old Preston Avenue to 9th Street NE)

* High Street (Preston Avenue to 9th Street NE)

* Water Street (Ridge Street to 10th Street NE)

* 2nd Street West (Market Street to Water Street)

* 4th Street East (Market Street to Water Street)

* West Main Street (Ridge Street to JPA)

* University Avenue (JPA to Rugby Road)

There will be free parking in the two municipal parking garages Friday, January 23 at 6:00 PM through Tuesday, January 27 at 8:00 AM.

For the city’s full list, click here.

Thanks for reading Charlottesville Community Engagement ! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Charlottesville Albemarle Regional Transit Authority to meet today

In late 2025, an entity known as the Regional Transit Partnership ended and transferred many of its duties to a recently created authority intended to promote greater cooperation and coordination between the area’s multiple transit agencies.

Today the Board of Directors of the Charlottesville Albemarle Regional Transit Authority will meet for the first time in 2026 at the Water Street Center. (CARTA website)

The agenda for today’s meeting looks much like an RTP agenda with opportunities for Jaunt, Charlottesville Area Transit, and University Transit Service representatives to tell what they’re doing and how they fit into the bigger picture. So far, though, the only two voting members are Albemarle and Charlottesville.

Scottsville Supervisor Michael Pruitt will be joined by newcomer Jack Jouett Supervisor Sally Duncan, and Charlottesville City Councilor Natalie Oschrin will be joined by newcomer Jen Fleisher. Fleisher has attended multiple meetings of the RTP as an alternative representing the Blue Ridge Health District.

There are details on both Jaunt and the University Transit Service in the packet, but nothing from Charlottesville Area Transit.

One of the main tasks for CARTA this year will be to conduct something called the “Regional Transit Service Prioritization and Implementation Feasibility Study” which builds off of the 2022 Regional Transit Vision Plan and the Regional Transit Governance Study from 2023.

Not on the agenda is a discussion of how CARTA might be able to help increase funding for CAT’s mission to hire a total of 108 drivers. That’s the amount CAT Director Garland Williams says is needed to restore full service and make long-awaited route changes.

Here’s a story about that from December 2025 as well as a story from August in which a representative from IMPACT said the organization is watching.

Patreon-fueled shout-out: Design Develop

Architectural firm Design Develop is offering a new service aimed at the development community that the rest of us might want to know about , too — 3D point cloud scanning! This technique uses specialized equipment, such as 3D scanner systems, to gather a large amount of data points that represent the surface of the scanned object or scene. This really comes in handy when working with historic structures, as the firm knows from its experience in Baltimore and Charlottesville. Read their blog post for more information!The applications of 3D point cloud scanning are extensive and cover various fields, including architecture, construction, cultural heritage preservation, virtual reality, industrial design, manufacturing, and more. These applications require accurate 3D spatial information, and Design Develop’s workflow provides precise and comprehensive results, all while being more cost-effective than traditional methods.Design Develop has expertise in this workflow for their own needs and now has a dedicated team offering this service in the Charlottesville and Albemarle Area. If you’re involved in the real estate, design, or construction industry, contact them for more information or a free quote.

Visit their website for an introductory video that captures the 3D point cloud scanning of the Downtown Transit Center and a booklet that will explain more!

Albemarle promotes Smith to Parks and Recreation Director

After a nationwide search, Albemarle County has named a veteran of the Parks and Recreation Department to lead the office after the retirement of former director Bob Crickenberger.

“Our own Amy Smith, who has been the deputy director and, and has enjoyed a wonderful career serving Albemarle county, was our top candidate,” said County Executive Jeffrey Richardson.

Smith will lead a department with a $5,584,028 budget for fiscal year 2026 and 27 full-time employees. Two objectives in the county’s strategic plan address how parks can help reach Quality of Life Goals.

These are:

* 4.4 — Integrate parks planning with multi-modal transportation planning across the County

* 4.5 — Enhance overall access to parks and recreational opportunities with an emphasis on urban neighborhoods.

The FY26 budget also includes $1.5 million for work to pursue the latter objective through creation of a new urban pocket park on Hillsdale Drive as well as new amenities at Humphris Park.

Soon after being announced, Smith explained her philosophy toward parks and recreation.

“Our parks protect natural beauty, promote health and wellness, provide spaces for connection, and ensure that residents of all ages and abilities can enjoy the outdoors. I’m truly inspired by Albemarle’s commitment to quality of life,” Smith said. “I plan to build upon the same foundation through increasing innovation, strategic management of resources, and furthering, uniting and empowering our dedicated Parks and Rec staff and our amazing community partners.”

Smith began working for the county in 1993. Jack Jouett Supervisor Sally Duncan just joined the Board and said she was impressed by the time Smith has spent working for Albemarle.

“I just think it’s really great when we can retain people and have people, you know, build their careers here and have longevity,” Duncan said.

Supervisor Ann Mallek is in her fifth term representing the White Hall District and said Smith has helped oversee and manage many of the parks that have come on line in the past two decades and will now work to bring many more that are planned into reality.

“So many things on your plate with the blueways and Buck Island and the Brook Hill ramp and such a long, long list because there’s so many places that you already manage,” Mallek said.

The blueways are a series of amenities allowing people to use area rivers and streams for recreational purposes. As part of this effort, the county opened Brook Hill River Park on Rio Mills Road in the summer of 2019 and there are plans to develop a park at Buck Island 17 miles down the Rivanna River.

Smith helped lead a parks and recreation needs assessment for Albemarle in 2018 and creation of a parks strategic plan. Much of that is now within the Parks and Recreation Chapter of AC44, the name the county called their Comprehensive Plan. This link will take you right there.

There’s also the recreation side of the department which provides many ways for people to interact with each other. Richardson said the intent is to overcome obstacles as they pop up.

“When our middle school volleyball league registrations opened across Albemarle County, there was a rush of families signing up their students for this program,” Richardson said. “Henley was, was completely full within three minutes. Lakeside was full within 30 minutes.”

Richardson said there were many calls from people who were disappointed they missed out but the department showed flexibility in the name of customer service.

“So what the Parks and Rec department did was step back, reformatted the league and they expanded capacity, ultimately registering 400 participants across all the schools,” Richardson said. “And that eliminated the wait list.”

For more on how to provide feedback on the new Hillsdale pocket park as well as Humprhis Park, visit engagealbemarle.org.

Articles by other journalists you are encouraged to read next:

* When Virginia GOP senator’s solar farm stalled, the Youngkin admin got involved, Ben Paviour, Virginia Mercury, January 13, 2026

* ICE detains 5-year-old Minnesota boy; school leader says agents used him as ‘bait’, Elizabeth Shockman, MPR News, January 21, 2026

* Va. lawmakers want voters to take a 180-degree turn on redistricting; some reform advocates are wary, David Poole, Virginia Mercury, January 22, 2026

* Winter road salting is a growing source of pollution [and] Virginia officials want alternatives, Katherine Hafner, WHRO, January 22, 2026

#989 is an echo from the past

A thing I keep to myself is a long history of relaxing through challenging myself to recording improvisational music. At one point I wanted to be in a band, but I’ve always been way too guarded to do such things. Or at least, not willing to put in the time.

Yet I’ve recorded many hours of my attempts at songs over the years and I find the experience of expressing myself through musical creation helps me fill out a lot of the rough spots in my life. I made a decision a long time ago to keep all of that to myself, but I’m also aware of my mortality more than usual.

So I had this idea to begin to put some of my sound recordings on Patreon as part of that system. After all, my hope is to soon have a mechanism people can use to make tax-deductible contributions for the reporting.

This is still just an idea crafted at a time where I’m paying a lot of attention to where I was at this time in 2011. I was not quite four years into my time at Charlottesville Tomorrow and I was very uncertain about what I wanted to do. I am interested in what I was singing at that time for reasons I’ll explore over on Patreon if I decide to go ahead with this side project.

Oh yeah, also somehow this edition is a podcast, too. Not sure how that happened.

And now, probably the weirdest video I’ve posted yet which is still germane somehow.

Today’s edition is sponsored by the Ragged Mountain Running and Walking Shop

There are very few editions of Charlottesville Community Engagement that are sent out on a Saturday but there’s enough new information to tell you so here we are. Today is the first day of the administration of Governor Abigail Spanberger and there have already been some big changes. I’m Sean Tubbs and it’s January 17, 2026.

In this edition:

* Abigail Spanberger is now Virginia’s 75th Governor

* There are several media reports that at least three members of the University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors has resigned at Spanberger’s request

* The Virginia General Assembly has set the stage for a Constitutional amendment this spring for a Congressional redistricting with debate in both the House of Delegates and the Virginia Senate

Charlottesville Community Engagement is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Corrections to start:

* In the January 16, 2026 edition, I misidentified Charlottesville’s delegation to the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission. They are Jen Fleisher and Michael Payne.

First-shout: Charlottesville Community Bikes seeing volunteers for the Charlottesville Ten Miler

The Charlottesville Ten Miler is fast-approaching so there’s plenty of time to get training. Or so I keep telling myself. Or perhaps you’d like to help out on March 28 and witness thousands of people moving through the streets of our community as they raise money for local groups?

Charlottesville Community Bikes is one of the beneficiaries of this year’s Ten Miler and their level of support depends on how many people they can get to volunteer for any number of duties. If you’d like to learn more, visit the Ten Miler website and sign up if you’d like to get involved. Volunteers are encouraged to select “Anywhere You Need Me” for the greatest impact.

Spanberger takes office as Virginia’s 75th governor

The first woman to serve as the Governor of Virginia took the oath of office at the State Capitol this afternoon after winning the election last November.

Democrat Abigail Spanberger defeated Republican Winsome Earle-Sears with over 57 percent of the vote.

“Neighbors, friends, and our fellow Virginians. It is my honor to be with all of you today,” said Governor Spanberger. “An inauguration ceremony like this one, with all its tradition and pageantry, represents something profound and in its origin, something uniquely American, the peaceful transfer of power.”

Spanberger said the tradition began when George Washington, a Virginian, opted to step down after two terms as President. She thanked former Governor Glenn Youngkin for his service, as well as the time that former Lieutenant Governor Winsome Earle-Sears and former Attorney General Jason Miyares put in while in office.

Spanberger also thanked generations that came before her that worked to ensure that women have the right not only to vote but also to hold office.

“But who could only dream of a day like today?” Spanberger asked. “I stand before those who made it possible for a woman to also participate in that peaceful transfer of power and take that oath.”

Spanberger noted that this is the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, drawing attention to Thomas Jefferson’s role as Virginia’s second governor. The first was Patrick Henry, who was sworn in in 1776.

“Governor Henry is best known for his call against tyranny at St. John’s Church, just up the road, words that helped launch the American Revolution,” Spanberger said. “But in his final public speech delivered in Virginia Years later in 1799, he made an appeal to his fellow citizens, warning against the divisions that were threatening our young country. His appeal remains timeless. He said, united we stand, divided we fall, Let us not split into factions which must destroy that union upon which our existence hangs.”

Spanberger noted that the steps of the Virginia capitol were used by suffragists to lobby for the right for women to vote, a request denied for many years until 1920 when the U.S. Constitution was amended. She also noted that Virginia did not ratify the 19th Amendment until 1952.

The new governor also noted that Virginia decided to call itself a Commonwealth upon independence and not just a state.

“What’s the difference?,” Spanberger said. “We, kids, pay attention. Someone may ask you this eventually. There’s no difference. There is no difference in how we operate or function as a state. The difference lies in the intentions of our forefathers and the choice to indicate that here our government should serve the common good. That the voices of everyday Virginians, not kings, not aristocrats, not oligarchs, should. That the voices of everyday Virginian should drive us forward and that our prosperity depends on that union.”

Turning to policy and the future, Spanberger said she would help guide Virginia during a time when the federal government is seeking to end support for rural hospitals, support for health care, and other outcomes sought by the current administration.

“I know that some who are here today or watching from home may disagree with the litany in of challenges and the hardships that I laid out,” Spanberger said. “Your perspective may differ from mine, but that does not preclude us from working together where we may find common cause.”

Spanberger said she looks forward to working with the General Assembly over the next four years and thanked her Cabinet for being willing to serve.

“As we mark 250 years since the dawn of American freedom, what will our children, our grandchildren and their descendants write about this time in our Commonwealth’s history? This chapter, 50, 100, 250 years from now, will they say that we let divisions fester or challenges overwhelm us? Or will they say that we stood up for what is right, fixed what is broken, and served the common good?”

You can watch the entire inauguration ceremony on VPM or read the remarks on the website of the 75th Governor.

Thanks for reading Charlottesville Community Engagement ! This post is public so feel free to share it.

Several members of the Board of Visitors have resigned at Spanberger’s request

The Cavalier Daily is reporting that four members of the University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors have resigned following a request from Governor Abigail Spanberger before she was sworn in.

Shortly after Spanberger was elected, she asked the Board of Visitors to suspend a search for a new president following the resignation of Jim Ryan in June 2025. Former Governor Glenn Youngkin told her to stop interfering and the Board hired Scott Beardsley on December 19. Beardsley resigned as Dean of the Darden School of Business to take the job.

The Board was already down to 12 appointees, all named by Youngkin, following the failure of five new nominees to get confirmed by the General Assembly.

Rector Rachel Sheridan, Vice Rector Porter Wilkinson, and member Paul Manning all resigned on Friday. The New York Times reports that Doug Wetmore resigned today and their earlier reporting Spanberger has also asked Stephen Long to resign.

The Cavalier Daily obtained a copy of Sheridan’s resignation letter to Youngkin that blamed “political warfare” for the Board’s inability to stabilize a University community where several groups expressed concern that Beardsley was appointed without their input. On Thursday, the Faculty Senate adopted a resolution calling for Spanberger to act.

“The Faculty Senate calls upon Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger to exercise her statutory authority, review the actions of current Board members,remove those whose conduct has fallen short of the responsibilities of Visitors, and appoint qualified individuals to fill all vacancies on the Board,” reads one part of the resolution.

The resolution also asks the new Board of Visitors to review the search process to determine if there need to be changes.

As of publication, the Board of Visitors website has not yet been updated to reflect any resignations. However, Deputy Spokeswoman Bethanie Glover confirmed the four resignations.

“President Beardsley and University leaders thank them for their service to UVA,” reads a brief statement sent in response to a query.

The University of Virginia’s Board of Visitors is next scheduled to meet on March 5. This is a developing story.

Soon after being sworn in, Spanberger signed ten executive orders. One of them seeks reform of the way that members of governing bodies of state institutions of higher learning are appointed. For more details, visit the Virginia Political Newsletter.

Second shout-out: Alliance Française de Charlottesville

The Alliance Française de Charlottesville promotes the French language and francophone culture through educational and cultural programs. Visit the Alliance Française website to learn more about group classes, private lessons, cultural events, and social activities for both kids and adults.

Special election on redistricting highly likely this spring on new Congressional maps in Virginia

The Virginia General Assembly has set the stage for a special election this spring in which voters will be asked whether they would allow the state legislature to redraw the Commonwealth’s Congressional districts in order to elect more Democrats.

The move is a response to efforts by President Donald Trump to urge Republican-led legislatures across the nation to redraw boundaries for the House of Representatives to guarantee members of his party win.

So far, both Texas and California have moved ahead with new maps.

This week both the Virginia Senate and the House of Delegates kicked the 2026 legislative session off by passing a second reference of a Constitutional amendment to set up that ballot question. Under Virginia’s Constitution, the legislature must agree to the amendment twice with a House of Delegates election in between before it goes to voters.

Democrats took advantage of a special session from 2024 that had never ended to convene last October to hold the first reference in the House of Delegates and the Senate. Democrats then picked up an additional 13 seats in the House of Delegates.

The House of Delegates passed the second reference on January 14 after about 20 minutes of debate. Delegate Rodney Willett (D-58) is the chief patron of House Joint Resolution 4 which will allow for a one-time redistricting outside of the decennial reapportionment process.

“This keeps Virginia’s options open,” Willett said. “This would enable us to preserve flexibility. If the people approve it and then we implement it, we could make redistricting decisions but there’s no mandate here to do so.”

Willett said the Virginia Redistricting Commission would do the work of redrawing Congressional lines in 2031 after the next Census.

Delegate Terry Kilgore (R-45) said the General Assembly should not overturn the will of voters who approved a Constitutional amendment in 2020 to give the power to draw Congressional districts to the bipartisan Virginia Redistricting Committee.

“We shouldn’t care about what other states are doing,” Kilgore said. “We should care about what Virginia is doing, what message we’re sending to our constituents.”

Kilgore urged his colleagues to follow the lead of Indiana where a redistricting push failed in December. In both the Indiana House and the Senate, some Republicans joined with Democrats to vote against an effort to redraw lines. (learn more on Wikipedia)

Delegate Wren Williams (R-47) rose to ask a question of Willett.

“In 2020, nearly two-thirds of Virginia told us they wanted politics out of our map making,” Williams said. “Why would we reverse course now even under what is alleged to be a carve out for extraordinary emergencies?”

Willett said this is a measure in response to a president who has demanded state institutions make changes for his benefit.

“Our hand was forced here by the extraordinary actions coming from Washington by a president who contacted not one, not two, but multiple states and directed them to redistrict and change the election picture and essentially disenfranchise Virginia voters and other states that would vote Democratic,” Willett said. “We couldn’t stand for that. When a bully punches you, sometimes you have to punch back.”

Delegate Tom Garrett (R-56) argued that it would be Virginia Republicans who would be disenfranchised if lines are drawn to give Democrats an advantage. He ran through a list of states that are pursuing redistricting.

“California, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Texas, Utah, South Carolina, Virginia, Washington, Florida, Maryland, Alabama, Louisiana, New York, North Dakota have all either done this or are looking at doing it,” Garrett said. “You know what makes Virginia different? We are the only state on the list that I named that had a constitutional amendment that passed in 99 out of 100 House of Delegates districts five short years ago.”

Delegate Mark Sickles (D-17) reminded his colleagues that the Virginia Redistricting Commission failed to complete their job in October 2021.

“That commission did not work like we hoped it would,” Sickles said. “And having a bipartisan thing, a group of Democrats and Republicans and citizens come up with these districts, it did not work. The court drew these seats. So I don’t know how much reverence we have for that. But this is an emergency. If this is not an emergency for American democracy, I don’t know what is.”

Delegate Mark Simon (D-13) noted that if Virginia voters don’t want to change the districts, they can vote accordingly.

“You know what happens after this resolution passes?” Simon asked. “There’s a referendum. We get to go back to the voters again and they’re the ones who get to decide what we do going forward.”

The vote was 62 in favor, 33 against, one abstention, and four not voting.

A look at what other states are up to:

Before we go over to the Senate, let’s go through some of what can be known about other states listed by Delegate Garrett.

* In November, voters in California approved Proposition 50 with 64.42 percent of the vote that redrew lines to target several Republican incumbents. (learn more on Wikipedia)

* In Missouri, the legislature approved a new map for Congressional boundaries last September intended to reduce Democratic representation but a citizens group called People not Politicians are trying to force a referendum. Take a look at this January 9, 2026 story in the Missouri Independent for more information.

* The North Carolina legislature approved a map in October 2025 designed to make it more difficult for one Democratic incumbent to get re-elected. Learn more in this Associated Press article from then. The situation in Utah is different as there were already legal clouds over redistricting related to an attempt to create an independent commission in 2018. According to an article by Katie McKeller in the Utah News Dispatch, a judge ordered a new map that would likely lead to one Democratic seat. Republicans are challenging.

* The Texas legislature adopted a map last August intended to give Republicans five additional seats and this was briefly thrown out by a federal court. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled voted 6-3 to allow the new map to proceed. (learn more on Wikipedia)

* The Ohio Redistricting Commission adopted a new map last October that gives Republicans an advantage. They did so before the legislature was set to do it themselves, reports Jeremy Pelzer for cleveland.com.

* Some Democrats in Washington want to redraw the maps, but Scott Greenstone of KUOW reports there are obstacles to getting that done in 2026.

* The situation in Louisiana is more complicated and I refer you to Ballotpedia.

* New York Governor Kathy Hochul is exploring the idea of redistricting, reports Kate Lisa for Spectrum News.

* North Dakota only has one Congressional District making redistricting irrelevant. Learn more on Ballotpedia.

Senate Debate

The Virginia Senate took about 40 minutes on January 16 to go through the debate with Senator Christopher Head (R-3) introducing several amendments to House Joint Resolution 4. He made many of the same arguments as his colleagues in the House, arguing that voters had agreed to place the power of redistricting to a commission after the General Assembly gave them that choice in 2020.

“Some of you weren’t here then, but if you voted for it then and you thought that was a good idea because it was your ethics and your beliefs and they were foundational and fundamental,” Head said. “But now, because you hate the man that’s in the White House, and that’s really the only thing that’s behind this, is that you hate the man that’s in the White House and you want to blunt his power, then we’re going to politically gerrymander and take away the rights of the people to have representation that represents them.”

Senator Scott Surovell (D-34) said that Head’s amendments should have been made on first reference. He said he did not support the creation of the Virginia Redistricting Commission but he could understand how those who did might change their mind now.

“They didn’t imagine that we’re going to have a hyper-partisan fascist ideologue telling state legislatures around the country to basically redesign their districts to maximize his own personal political power,” Surovell said. “And to the extent anybody even thought about that, I think most people thought that there were people of principle in the Republican party that would stand up to it because they cared about the rule of law or system of government preserving democracy.”

Head did not receive enough votes for his amendments.

Surovell said he wished he did not have to support this move but felt there was no other choice.

“When other states manipulate their maps to gain unfair advantage, we don’t just harm,” Surovell said. “They don’t just harm their own voters. They also harm Virginia’s ability to have its fair representation in Congress. We’re simply seeking to level the playing field in Congress which has already been. Which is being tilted against us and our state.

Senator Mark Peake (R-22) wanted to know what would happen if voters approve the redistricting.

“Do we come back into special session after the citizens have voted to draw the new congressional districts?” Peake asked.

Surovell said there are still remaining questions to be answered but the maps would be available for the public to review before the referendum.

Peake said if this passes, Democrats will do what they can to hold on to power.

“You’re going to do away with bipartisan redistricting,” Peake said. “You’re going to try and put us in a 10 to 1 Democrat to Republican congressional districts, and then you’re going to again resume gerrymandering the entire Commonwealth.”

Senator Ryan McDougle (R-26) urged Democrats in Virginia to follow what some of the Republicans did in the Indiana legislature when they stopped a gerrymander.

“Republicans in Indiana stood up to political pressure and said we’re not going to play these political games,” McDougle said.

In the Indiana House, 57 Republicans voted for the redistricting and 12 voted against, joining 29 Democrats. In the Senate, 21 Republicans joined 10 Democrats against the redistricting, and 19 Republicans voted for it.

Senator Bill Stanley (R-7) pointed out that President Trump is unpopular, citing Democrats picking up 13 seats in the Virginia House of Delegates this past November.

“It seems to me what this kerfuffle is all about is because the current president has encouraged some states to change their congressional makeups and the lines,” Stanley said. “The last time I checked, when he was elected in 2016. In 2018, Madam President, the Democrats picked up, I think 41 seats in Congress.”

That appears to be accurate per Wikipedia.

Senator Schuyler VanValkenburg (D-16) agreed that Trump is unpopular and said that is why is is seeking to redraw lines across the country.

“As is so often true over the last 10 years of politics, every accusation is a confession,” VanValkenburg said. “The other side mistakes their inability to. To push back against the craziness of our current president for how we will act or are acting.”

The vote in the senate was 21 to 18 with one abstention.

What questions do you have?

(image) The current Congressional lines in Virginia. Image by Wikipedia user Twotwofourtsix.

Let’s say a few things about #986

I had not intended to do a second podcast today but I feel it is important for Virginians to hear the voices of people in our government. I also got caught up in the moment. I remember attending the inauguration of Governor Mark Warner as a reporter back when that happened.

At the time I really thought I would have a career in public radio, but my desire for longer and longer stories met up against their need for shorter and shorter ones. When it was clear I was not going to get a job in the field, I tried to create my own. After fits and starts, here we are.

I’m not going to any gala or celebration today. I’m going to keep working as that’s what I want to do more. I’ve got to get the Week Ahead out tomorrow, write two stories for C-Ville Weekly and finish up a cover story article that I am procrastinating on. Never underestimate the power of procrastination, dear reader!

But I need some music to get me through and the DJs from Buenos Aires strike again!

The month of January 2026 is halfway through and the pace of the previous year appears to have continued with no days off in a period of transition and tumult. I’m Sean Tubbs, and Charlottesville Community Engagement is a newsletter with stories about a part of the world I’ve been covering for a long time with a focus on growth, development, housing, and whatever else comes together.

In this edition:

* Albemarle Planning Commission recommends approval of a rezoning near junction of I-64 and U.S. 29 (read this story over at C-Ville Weekly)

* Sanders welcomes new staff to Charlottesville (read the story)

* Council names two to Charlottesville Planning Commission (read the story)

* Developer named for UVA student housing on Emmet / Ivy (read the story)

* Charlottesville City Council gives direction on affordable housing spending (need to produce)

* Alternatives coming for payment at Charlottesville’s municipal garages (read the story)

Charlottesville Community Engagement is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Today’s shout-out: Town Crier Productions

When I was a kid decades ago, I dreamed of creating my own newspaper or having my own radio show. I lived on a cul-de-sac in a neighborhood in a community that was not the most exciting, but my imagination put me on the pathway to now when I’ve somehow managed to cobble together a newsletter with over 4,600 subscribers.

This week I’m trying to clear out the backlog from 2025 which includes at least a couple of newsletters of regular content before there will be a series of editions that look back on the specifics of the year.

My upbringing as a first generation American fueled me with a passion to understand a country so different from where my parents had grown up. For an entire career now I’ve been powered by a desire to know what’s going on, and to share what I know with people who also are curious, thoughtful, and independent.

What I am not is a business person, and the growth of Town Crier Productions has been slow and steady because my focus is on putting forward as much information as possible while pointing people to the places where they can contribute should they want to do so. Here are some current options:

* Take out a paid subscription to Substack with the yearly option being the most beneficial

* Consider a Patreon contribution to support more than just this newsletter

* Send a check to Town Crier Productions, PO Box 1754, Charlottesville, VA 22902

* Consider becoming an experimental sponsor of both this newsletter and Information Charlottesville.

I’m still dreaming of what this could all be, knowing I’ve got a lot of growth to do in terms of being a business person. I believe there is value in what I do each and every day, and I am able to pay my bills because there are enough of you who agree.

If you’re not sure, please keep reading and listening to the content. Share with friends. Share links to social media. Leave a comment!

The goal of this work is intended to advance conversation about complex topics in a country experiencing a lot of soul-searching as the 21st century steam-rolls on.

Thoughts at the end of CCE-985A

A behind the scenes fact! I work alone and so I have a lot of inside jokes to amuse myself. I name each of the podcast. This one is CCE-984A-stunted-moats for some reason. I’m an odd person.

I also created a couple of new audio bumpers that separate the stories. These also amuse me. The ad-lib shout-outs also amuse me.

Are these still worth doing? I think so. As I said in one of the pieces of continuity, the podcast marks the end of one week and the transition to another.

This particular edition begins with a story that is actually a C-Ville Weekly story that I did not produce a CCE version and now will not. I produced that story for them about a month ago but it got lost somewhere along the way.

I’m only putting in this section today because I need to put an image at the top.

Now, on to CCE-986 which will not have a name because it is not audio. There are rules to this madness, after all.

What will the podcast edition be like in 2026? This particular edition features a set of stories of things that happened between December 15 and January 7, stories that have already gone out in Charlottesville Community Engagement but not yet in sonic form! This edition has already aired on WTJU at 6 a.m. on January 10. The idea was to send this out yesterday, but there are eddies in the space-time continuum.

In this edition:

* Charlottesville City Council says goodbye to Councilor Pinkston (read the story)

* Council elects Wade as Mayor through 2027; Oschrin to be Vice Mayor (read the story)

* Ned Gallaway to serve as Chair of Albemarle Board of Supervisors in 2026 (read the story)

* Albemarle Supervisors appoint Puckett as new fire chief

* Regional tourism body endorses creation of new tourism region (read the story)

* Louisa endorses support for new Virginia Piedmont tourism district (read the story)

* Louisa Supervisors want General Assembly to pay for redistricting special election if held (read the story)

* BAR denies approval required for current plans for Fifeville apartment complex (read the story)

Sponsored message: Learn to Pitch with Denise Stewart Coaching on January 17

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December 29 is upon us and this is perhaps the final sonic edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement for the year. This certainly is the antepenultimate day of 2025, a year in which there is still much to say in the coming week or so before 2026 begins to find its identity. In any case, today there are four editions of stories that have already gone out in newsletter form but are now assembled with soundbites, actualities, and the occasional double-breath.

I’m Sean Tubbs, and I’m glad for those who take a listen.

In this edition:

* Charlottesville City Council briefed on potential new areas of spending on housing (read the story)

* Charlottesville City Council agrees to sell cul-de-sac to Jefferson Scholars Foundation (read the story)

* Albemarle Supervisors get a briefed on the Annual Comprehensive Financial Report, also known as the annual audit (read the story)

* Charlottesville’s Annual Comprehensive Financial Report to be published by December 31 (read the story)

Charlottesville Community Engagement is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Today’s shout-out: Town Crier Productions

When I was a kid decades ago, I dreamed of creating my own newspaper or having my own radio show. I lived on a cul-de-sac in a neighborhood in a community that was not the most exciting, but my imagination put me on the pathway to now when I’ve somehow managed to cobble together a newsletter with over 4,600 subscribers.

This week I’m trying to clear out the backlog from 2025 which includes at least a couple of newsletters of regular content before there will be a series of editions that look back on the specifics of the year.

My upbringing as a first generation American fueled me with a passion to understand a country so different from where my parents had grown up. For an entire career now I’ve been powered by a desire to know what’s going on, and to share what I know with people who also are curious, thoughtful, and independent.

What I am not is a business person, and the growth of Town Crier Productions has been slow and steady because my focus is on putting forward as much information as possible while pointing people to the places where they can contribute should they want to do so. Here are some current options:

* Take out a paid subscription to Substack with the yearly option being the most beneficial

* Consider a Patreon contribution to support more than just this newsletter

* Send a check to Town Crier Productions, PO Box 1754, Charlottesville, VA 22902

* Consider becoming an experimental sponsor of both this newsletter and Information Charlottesville.

I’m still dreaming of what this could all be, knowing I’ve got a lot of growth to do in terms of being a business person. I believe there is value in what I do each and every day, and I am able to pay my bills because there are enough of you who agree.

If you’re not sure, please keep reading and listening to the content. Share with friends. Share links to social media. Leave a comment!

The goal of this work is intended to advance conversation about complex topics in a country experiencing a lot of soul-searching as the 21st century steam-rolls on.