In this edition:

* There’s a new vote-counting system in Charlottesville City Council but this past week, Council had to take a series of voice votes because it wasn’t quite ready.

* City Council briefed on Neighborhood Development Services work plan, forthcoming zoning changes (learn more)

* City Council gets briefing on Human Rights work in Charlottesville (learn more) (2.75)

* Charlottesville Police Chief Michael Kochis addresses recent shootings on the Downtown Mall as well as a decision to not use crime analysis software known as Peregrine (learn more)

* Council takes a series of votes on items that I’ve not yet written for print!

Shout-out to subscribers!

On the days when I stop and wonder if what I’m doing has any value, I sit down and write people who have decided to contribute to the business. I thanked over a dozen people yesterday to let them know that their support fuels me. There have been around a thousand people who have done so in the past five years, and I’ve managed to do all of that without any assistance from a marketing staff.

There are organizations out there that secure grant funds in order to hire people to secure more funding! I just want to cobble together enough of an income to be able to keep going. If I had not been here the past five years doing this work, there are many things that would not have gone reported.

* I wrote at least 100,000 words on the creation of the Development Code and continue to monitor new projects every single week

* I am covering Albemarle County’s enthusiastic push for economic development including the purchase of land for a future defense and intelligence sector

* I track what the University of Virginia is purchasing, what they plan to build, and how they intend to grow

I dislike selling myself. I’m a self-effacing journalist with leaky self-confidence. I’m fairly certain I am not employable in this community anymore. This is all I got, and I’m hopeful to keep going for a while.

And thanks to the hundreds of people who believe in my work enough to pay me. One day I am hopeful I can help train more people. I know I’m passionate about this work and hopeful for the future. If you want to learn more about how you can support the work, check out this section on the Information Charlottesville website.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe