City, county solving issues

With a nod to recent visitor Bob Dylan: The times, they are a'changing.

Charlottesville and Albemarle County are engaged in a new era of cooperation.

Time was, the city and county could hardly agree on anything. An adversarial attitude underlay bi-jurisdictional interactions, leading to delays on improvements that would have benefited both areas and to inefficient use of tax money.

Today, city and county are cooperating - or at least talking about cooperating - on a number of projects, including:

- A regional transit authority. A better sharing of funds and decision-making could result in an improved bus system for both localities.

- Extension of routes and changes to schedules by the city bus system that better accommodate county residents, even without the formal structure of a regional or city-county transit authority.

- A quarter of a million dollars apiece from city and county for the Eastern Connector study. The road is in the county, but its construction would ease traffic that now cuts through the city.

- Parkland that the county is buying for McIntire Park in the city. The 27-acre project is part of the negotiations between the two jurisdictions over the Meadowcreek Parkway. 

- Some $25 million in federal funding for the parkway. City-county cooperation was key in landing the money. 

- Some $1.5 million for the city for road improvements, plus transit money from the developers' proffer, as part of the Biscuit Run project. The property to be developed sits near the city's border.

- Ongoing negotiation of cost-sharing related to the Rivanna Solid Waste Authority and the old Ivy Landfill cleanup.

Both Albemarle and Charlottesville deserve praise for this new spirit of collaboration.

Not all differences are on their way to being resolved, but the two are more likely to confer and cooperate than at almost any other time in recent memory.

That makes for a more pleasant environment for everyone. And it makes for a long list of opportunities for improving services and saving tax money.

All in perspective

It was a frightening moment on the Scott Stadium field on Sept. 21 when Georgia Tech player Correy Earls went down - and didn't get up.

Mr. Earls was strapped to a backboard and taken to the University of Virginia Medical Center for extensive evaluation.

Naturally, his teammates and coaches were on hand and concerned. His father was in town for the game and stayed with him at the hospital. He was surrounded by doctors and nurses.

Among those who came to visit him was UVa football Coach Al Groh.

"He was telling me that things were going to be OK," Mr. Earls was quoted on the Yellow Jackets Web page.  "If I needed anything, to let him know. … And even though they were the opponent, he was very sympathetic and comforting."

He was also right: Everything was OK. Mr. Earls walked the following day.

The Cavs lost their contest with Georgia Tech that Saturday. But sharing comfort in crisis can be a far more lasting victory than any football win or loss.

Mr. Groh showed that humanity last week. He is to be commended.