cvillenews.com

Baldi Accused of Tax Theft

Waldo Jaquith — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:29:34 +0000

Jim Baldi is accused of stealing federal tax withholdings from his clients’ employees.

Woman Who Appeared with Obama a Convicted Criminal

Waldo Jaquith — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 23:24:24 +0000

Charlottesville’s Leslie Macko, who stood at President Obama’s side as an example of people who need unemployment benefits, actually lost her job ~~because of~~ after a conviction for prescription drug fraud. Jessica Jaglois at CBS-19 dug up this gem, which certainly has the potential to become national news. Macko said that she’d been laid off from ACAC, and needed unemployment benefits extended since there were no other jobs to be had. In fact, ACAC fired her after she was convicted. Which leaves me wondering how she’s getting unemployment. Don’t you have to be laid off to be eligible?

07/29 Update: ACAC has added an update to the story to clarify something that definitely wasn’t clear the first time around, which is that her firing had nothing to do with her drug conviction. She was convicted of prescription drug fraud (and, in another incident, grand larceny), and she was fired, but that the two aren’t related.

Bottling Plant Closing

Waldo Jaquith — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 02:50:10 +0000

The Coca-Cola bottling plant on Preston is closing down. Like the USPS, they’re relocating services to Sandston.

Why the Pushy Beggars Downtown?

Waldo Jaquith — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 02:16:46 +0000

The cover story of the current C-Ville Weekly asks what’s behind the rash of beggars on the Downtown Mall? There’s the obvious point that we’re in the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, which would explain the (apparent) increase in numbers, but what’s up with the new faces, displaying signs and soliciting cash? It’s not clear that there are more beggars, but there are some new faces, employing new tactics, eschewing the passivity common among the chronically homeless who beg downtown. As of 2007, the local homeless population was more likely to be local than the population at large, which busted the “Charlottesville is a homeless mecca myth. This January’s survey showed an 18% increase (with 274 homeless Charlottesvillians in total). Now we’ve got The Haven, the day shelter on Market Street, just a block off the Downtown Mall, and it’s certainly possible that facility has something to do with this. The folks who run it argue that they’re in the habit of upbraiding people for panhandling and, more important, helping people get employed (and employable) so that they’re not homeless.

I visited Reno a couple of years ago, and they had a clever solution to the problem of the hordes of pushy panhandlers wandering around downtown. Near the busiest intersections, in front of the garish casinos, large, eye-catching collection boxes were set up, with signs saying that the best way to help the homeless is to donate to the organizations to assist them, not to give money to individuals. That had the effect of pushing panhandlers away from that block. That may be overkill for Charlottesville, but it could help.

Local Man Buys Ice Park, Intact

Waldo Jaquith — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:49:02 +0000

In this week’s Hook, Courteney Stuart explains how 29-year-old businessman Mark Brown came to acquire the Ice Park. He bought it last week for $3M, and intends to keep it closed it for the summer while he has some modifications made to the facility. Brown is taking the financial leap that the prior owners could never justify: installing a removable rink floor, so that it can be closed and rented out each summer as a general-use large venue. (The rink alone is three times larger than The Omni’s ballroom.) It’s slated to re-open on September 15.

C-Ville Thinks Feds Want Bel Rio Owner

Waldo Jaquith — Sun, 25 Jul 2010 14:39:57 +0000

Is the FBI looking for Jim Baldi?

WINA Uses Communist City Seal

Waldo Jaquith — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 03:34:52 +0000

Really, WINA? (Screenshot, for posterity.)

Local Boy Makes Good

Waldo Jaquith — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 15:14:27 +0000

Charlottesville blogger Jamelle Bouie is getting famous.

The Progress Goes to Michigan

Waldo Jaquith — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 15:39:01 +0000

The Progress has sent Brian McNeill to Michigan to cover Oliver Kuttner’s X Prize attempt. I can’t remember the last time the DP sent a reporter more than a few hours from C’ville. Good for them.

Local Woman Appears with President Obama

Waldo Jaquith — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 21:51:34 +0000

Leslie Macko, of Charlottesville, stood with the president in the Rose Garden yesterday as an example of somebody who needs unemployment benefits extended.