Upcoming Historic Events

• Wed Mar. 12, 2003.   6:30 pm March of Law School Students and others to UVa Rotunda.   8 pm Candle Light Vigil and speeches at Rotunda north steps. (School of Law Committee for Progress on Race)
• Drought Summit in June.

Articles

• Proposed Rezoning Ordinance 2-27-2003.
• "Drought Perspective" Sep. 18, 2002.
• "The Last Drought" Sep. 3, 2002.
• "Explicate, then renovate" in C-ville Weekly Aug 13, 2002
• "Housing Authority is controversial because of urban renewal's history" in Daily Progress Aug 20.
• "Sin City Older Than That" in The Hook Sep. 5 as "Magical History Tour".
• Urban Renewal South: The Best-known Secret in Charlottesville's History
• Marguerita Ville

Fri Mar. 7, 2003

A crowd of around 150 people, blacks outnumbering whites slightly, turned out to learn and share about Vinegar Hill.   Authors of Urban Renewal and the End of Black Culture in Charlottesville, VA gave a talk entitled "Remembering Vinegar Hill and Its Troubling Legacy."   Renae Shackelford and James Saunders spoke beginning at 7 pm followed by questions and comments from the audience.   Refreshments were served when the forum ended at 9 pm.   The event was sponsored by The Project on Lived Theology at UVa and the Quality Community Council, and hosted at the Trinity Episcopal Church on Preston Avenue next to Booker T. Washington Park.

In the surprise of the evening, a lady alleged that urban renewal was in progress at 10th and Page Streets.   She said that people were being forced from their homes.   She also said more attention should be paid to the other neighborhoods that fell victim to urban renewal.

To my knowledge, her statement is the first public allegation of modern urban renewal locally.   Long-time residents have warned of the imminent renewal of Fifeville for years now.   The clearance near the West Main Street Train Station has brought a new awareness of urban renewal.

The last person to be displaced from Vinegar Hill spoke out at the forum.   The man said he moved in 1963, a year after the Housing Authority purchased his home.   Because of construction delays, his new house wasn't ready until a month after the one-year deadline.   The Authority charged him rent for that month.

I spoke with him briefly and gave him a flyer to save Jefferson School.   But in the chaos of the moment, I did not get his name.   Sir, if you're reading this, please consider filing a lawsuit against the city on grounds that urban renewal is prohibited by the Fifth Amendment.   Because it was legal then does not mean it's legal now.   "Separate but equal" was legal in the 1890s but struck down in the 1950s.   If no one had brought a lawsuit, we would still have segregation today.

A lady brought up Jefferson School.   The authors were not familiar with recent developments.   But they did note the post-integration practice of closing black schools because they are no longer needed.   Integration is blacks going to white schools, not whites going to black schools.

Another group has made the connection between racial violence and urban renewal.   A couple of activists passed around a contact list (name, phone,e-mail) for future events.   I signed this website and handed out 21 flyers to save Jefferson School (photo of 1926 building and timeline of city school segregation.)

Author Renae Shackelford was the first to speak.   She touched the major points of urban renewal.

• It is not over.
• It is a national problem.
• Public housing is the flip side of the coin of urban renewal.
• The Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority was the agent of renewal.
• Public housing broke apart extended families.   Fathers left for the benefit of the family.   Subsidized apartments were built for the elderly.
• Public housing requires that you stay poor.   If you get a better job, your rent goes up.
• The intent of urban renewal, as expressed by Mayor Thomas Michie in 1960 and recorded in The Daily Progress, was to transfer prime real estate to private developers.   The city promised to give back some of Vinegar Hill to blacks but never did.

James Saunders was the second speaker.   He came to Charlottesville in 1971 as one of the first black men to attend UVa.   The first black to attend the University was in 1953.   Saunders arrived in town at the Trailways Bus Station above Vinegar Hill, which was a vacant lot at the time.   He did not mention Garrett renewal, which happened while he was here.

Notable appearances:   City councilors Meredith Richards (D) and Rob Schilling (R).   City manager Gary O'Connell.   City planner Satyendra Huja.   Mr. Huja said he will work part-time for another year, then retire.   Because of recent retirements, city planner since the 1970s and native of India, also the architect of post-renewal Charlottesville, Satyendra Huja is now the oldest agent of urban renewal still on the city payroll.

Renae Shackelford pointed out that a stigma has been ascribed to victims of urban renewal and residents of public housing.   This website points out that the stigma cuts both ways.

Blair Hawkins, posted 3-8-2003.

Mon Feb. 24, 2003

Shortly after 5 o'clock, more than 150 people gathered on the north steps of the Rotunda [at a rally] to support President George W. Bush, the war on terrorism, and the war against the dictator of Iraq.   The rally was sponsored by the UVa College Republicans.

The Speakers:

1. Master of Ceremonies Ben Belliles
2. Rev. Peter Way.
3. Rev. Kort Greene.
4. Student Ali Amahd.
5. Student Matthew Reuben.
6. Exec. Student Director Ronnie Mayhem.
7. Albemarle Republican Committee chairman, Keith Drake read a brief statement from John Warner, U.S. Senator from Virginia.
8. Fifth Congressional District Republican chairman, Tucker Watkins spoke briefly for George Allen, the other U.S. Senator from Virginia.
9. [Delegate] Rob Bell asked veterans of different conflicts to raise their hands.   A quarter to a third of the crowd lifted their hands in the air.   He noted the preparation for war: "rush of activities" - weddings, photographers, and writing of wills.   He also pointed out that the American National Anthem is the only one that ends with a question - "Does that star-spangled banner yet wave...."
10. Congressman Virgil Goode was the final speaker with the longest speech of the evening, 5:27-5:39 pm.   The crowd's chatter at the start of the speech became silence as Goode's oratorio got underway.   He compared a world with Saddam Hussein like being "in a room with a rattle snake."   Snakes are fine as long as they stay outdoors.

Posters and Banners:

1. "We Support Bush" petition banner held by [three] supporters on Rotunda steps as backdrop to the event.   Attendees were invited to sign their names after the rally.   I wrote this website on the banner to bring attention to current diplomatic efforts to de-escalate local racial tensions and handed out six flyers to save Jefferson School.
2. "All Life is Sacred" table giving out free cups of soup, bread, and cookies.
3. "Bush-Cheney" sign recycled from last presidential election.
4. Several American flags.
5. "God Bless President Bush / God Bless Our Troops"
6. "Fight for Peace"
7. "Bush Supporters, Please Reconsider...God Bless All Humanity." 4 foot by 4 foot rambling banner held by two people.   Eric, who did not give his last name, said it took him an hour to make the banner.
8. "Make Zero Emissions Vehicles, Not War"
9. "Bush is not my President"
10. "No War.   I Support Peace"

This war rally comes three weeks to the day after City Council declared Charlottesville a "City For Peace," not a "City of Peace."   If I misspelled some names, or made some other mistake or oversight, please let me know so I can make corrections.   Email:   HealingCharlottesville@yahoo.com.

[Corrections 2-28-2003.  Inserted "at the rally" to clarify that 150 is total count estimate of crowd, not supporters.   Added MC to list of speakers to make complete list.  Demoted Rob Bell from Congressman.   Three people to hold up rally banner, not two.]

ATTENTION!   Citizen Reporter!   If you saw something completely different, I'll post your report or photos right here under "News from Anybody."   Tools used for this story: pen, paper, Alderman Library internet access.

For the first time, an "established" press acknowledges that urban renewal is larger than previously thought.   Still no mention of Garrett renewal.   The article traces Jefferson School back to 1926 instead of its inception in 1865.   "Jefferson School is finding its place in history," Feb. 12, 2003, The Observer.

Last year, Fourth Street SE, renamed Ware St., is renamed Second St. in front of the Ix building.   Historic Ware St. is reduced to one block.   HealingCharlottesville first covered this story last March.   1st 4th 6th makes as much sense as 1st 2nd 6th.   Who is overwriting our history and why?

2-12-2003

Mon Feb 3, 2003 in Charlottesville City Council Chambers

In a 4 to 1 vote, Council asserted by resolution that Charlottesville is a city of peace and justice in contradiction to its history.   Twenty-one citizens spoke on this matter as the meeting began at 7:30 pm and one person spoke out at the end at 11:45 pm.   Of the speakers, I counted 12 in favor of the resolution and 8 opposed.   Three opponents stated they were veterans.   One of those veterans was born and raised in Charlottesville.   No supporter of the resolution was a veteran and four supporters invoked the Center for Peace and Justice.   At the council meeting two weeks ago, the parade of speakers unanimously supported the proposed resolution.

Opinionist and local resident since 1966, Barbara Rich recalled a precedent for the resolution.   In 1988, Council resolved that the city was "nuclear-free."

City Republican Committee Chairman, Robert Hodous said the forum was inappropriate for the peace resolution and challenged Council's moral authority.   He pointed out that less than half of the 2800 signatures of the pro-peace petition presented two weeks ago were city residents.

A Center for Peace and Justice member presented another petition of 350 yet-to-be-validated signatures.

Then came the public hearing on renewal of Adelphia Cable's franchise.   More than a dozen people spoke and most had vested interests in the industry.   Adelphia's spokesman declined to comment substantively because the monopoly's contract is under negotiation.

Then came Council's discussion of the peace resolution.

Rob Schilling (R) made a motion to postpone the resolution during this period of mourning for the seven Columbia astronauts killed in the shuttle explosion over Texas on Sauturday.   No one seconded the motion so there was no discussion or vote on his proposal.

There were six more motions to amend brought forth by Meredith Richards (D) or Kevin Lynch (D).   Four of the motions went to an electronic vote.   Two amendments passed and two failed.   Rob Schilling abstained from these votes.

Each councilor made a statement before the final vote to pass the resolution.

1. Rob Schilling (R):   "Unwise to enact this resolution...Feelings not sound basis to make policy."
2. Meredith Richards (D):   Reasons to oppose are "legalistic reasons...the case has not been made."
3. Blake Caravati (D):   Opposition has "legalistic arguments." We have right and duty to speak on foreign policy.
4. Kevin Lynch (D):   The lesson from Vietnam- there was no secret information..."Evidence is that we have the receipts for this stuff"...Iraq got chemical/biological war arsenal with our help and support.
5. Mayor Maurice Cox (D):   I have "been moved" by this debate.

In the first voice vote since Schilling took office seven months ago, also in non-alphabetical order, all four Democrats voted to pass the resolution, the sole Republican voted no.   The dishonesty of Mayor Cox was on display when Schilling questioned the reasoning for the voice vote.   The mayor said he called for the voice vote because the Virginia state flag blocked his view of the electronic tally results.   If this were true, he would have called for a voice vote of all legislative items.

The first Environmental Manager in city history, Crystal Ritterful, hired on Sep. 30, presented an "Environmental Stewardship Policy".   She began with a propaganda film relating that Roanoke had been fined a million dollars by the EPA for a violation.   The film also talked abouth the recent soot deposition from UVa. Hospital smokestacks onto the Venable neighborhood.   The report consisted of PowerPoint slides and animated arrows.   Questions of the city's first Environmental Manager's ethics and competence emerged last fall and will be chronicled later.   She did not disclose her plan to clean up the city yard between Jefferson School and Westhaven.   Council resolved unanimously to support the policy.

Council approved yet another Route 29-Meadowcreek Parkway study.   Cox, Lynch, and Richards voted yes.   Caravati and Schilling abstained.

The Jefferson School Task Force reported to Council at 10:44 pm.   The committe chairwoman and facilitator said progress was ongoing.   But they were not ready to speak specifically on ideas or proposals.   The task force has held five meetings since September and issues quarterly reports.   Caravati expressed his desire that the names of speakers be included in the minutes of the report.   The representatives of the task force said that names are withheld because of community distrust of Council.   Mayor Cox acknowledged the distrust and said he saw no need for names.

I delivered another historic speech at the end of the meeting at 11:50 pm and left as Peter Kleeman began his public comment.   I barely made it to the Water St. parking garage to get my car before it closed.

My name is Blair Hawkins.   I live [in the Venable neighborhood].

The reason for not naming the Jefferson School Committee speakers is so the idea does not carry more or less weight depending on who has the idea.   The committee wants its ideas judged on the merits, not on the stature of the speaker.   The community does not trust Council because of Council's history.   You must earn trust.   I applaud Mr. Schilling for trying to earn that trust.

For the historical record, I would like to propose an old policy with a new twist.   Let's maintain an old tradition and keep Jefferson School at the bottom of the list.   But this time, it's the list of school closings.   The oldest school should close last.

Jefferson began at the end of the Civil War in 1865 as an all-black private school.   It became public at some point before the current school building was constructed in 1926.   For almost a century, Jefferson was the only school in town to welcome blacks.

The city's oldest public school opened in 1870 on Garrett Street.   It was for whites only and, later, moved into the Midway House constructed in 1828 at the top of Vinegar Hill and torn down during urban renewal.

There were six more all-white public schools.

• McGuffey in 1916
• Venable in 1925
• Clark in 1931
• Lane High in 1940
• Johnson and Burnley-Moran in 1955.

We should adopt a policy of seniority.   The deepest root should be severed last.   Jefferson should be the last school to close.   Thank you.

Comparison of Slavery, Segregation, and Renewal:

• Slavery ended 140 years ago.   Segregation ended a half century ago.   Renewal replaced segregation and remains the law of the land.
• Slavery denied all rights to blacks.   Segregation meant blacks could own property in areas zoned for blacks, but most other rights were restricted.   Renewal denies the right of individuals of any race to own property by taking it from the private sector and selling it to more desirable individuals.
• No court order was needed to enslave or segregate blacks.   No court order is needed to take property from anyone anywhere if the land grab is for the purpose of urban renewal.
• Slavery and segregation were typically enforced by violence of individuals with government sanction.   Urban renewal is a government program, usually a housing authority, backed by the same deadly force.
• No slave is alive today.   Segregation survivors are an aging and shrinking population.   The total number of renewal victims is growing.
• Slavery and segregation applied exclusively to blacks.   Renewal targets whoever owns the cheapest property when a grant is awarded to improve housing or economic development.
• Whites never feared they would be enslaved or segregated.   But today whites have no protection from renewal.
• Slavery and segregation violated the Bill of Rights but somehow were interpreted as legal at the time.   Renewal violates the same but has not yet been struck down.

Read the entire   Landmark Essay on Public Housing.

Blair Hawkins

Originial   Time Machine to Heal the Wounds of Urban Renewal.

INDEX   discussions, news stories, photos, essays, letters to local papers, and more.

HealingCharlottesville@yahoo.com