Charlottesville City Council candidate Kathy Galvin said Tuesday that the city’s efforts to spur economic growth have been “piecemeal” and “scattershot” as she called for a better approach to job creation and workforce development.
At a news conference in front of the Downtown Transit Center — her second in eight days — Galvin said she felt it was necessary to address the local effects of the “economic storm that’s brewing this summer across the nation.”
“Some parts of our community have been feeling sheltered somewhat from the recession because of the stabilizing effects of UVa,” Galvin said. “But there are still too many neighborhoods in our city that are completely left behind.”
Galvin, an architect who sits on the city School Board, said the city should “attack our chronic unemployment” and “ensure that local businesses prosper.” She specifically mentioned improving the re-entry program for inmates by directly linking them with jobs, diversifying the tax base and providing better incentives for entrepreneurs.
Galvin also tied the health of the local economy to continued debate over the water supply plan and Meadow Creek Parkway.
“I can’t help but wonder how many businesses and industries decided not to locate in Charlottesville in recent years, worried by a perception that we cannot seem to work together to set priorities and execute plans to meet even the most fundamental of our infrastructure needs such as water,” Galvin said.
Asked whether she believes there’s any merit to the oft-repeated accusation that Charlottesville is unfriendly to business, Galvin pointed to the still incomplete parkway.
“Most of the businesses on the Downtown Mall would really like to see the Meadow Creek Parkway completed because they view it as a way to get more trip traffic into the downtown area,” Galvin said. “… I think it’s just the debating issue, that sometimes we don’t finish our plans and we don’t execute them, that leads to unpredictability in the business world. And that is where the perception comes from.”
Galvin is one of seven candidates vying for three Democratic nominations this year. Rounding out the field are Dede Smith, Colette Blount, Brevy Cannon, Paul Beyer, James Halfaday and incumbent Satyendra Huja.
Five independents — Bob Fenwick, Scott Bandy, Brandon Collins, Andrew Williams and Paul Long — are also running.
The Democratic Party’s “firehouse primary” will be held from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 20 at Burley Middle School.
The general election is Nov. 8.
All 12 candidates are scheduled to participate in a forum today from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at the Senior Center on Pepsi Place. The Fry’s Spring Neighborhood Association will host another forum this evening from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Cherry Avenue Christian Church.
On Aug. 17, Random Row Books will host a “people’s forum” designed for direct audience interaction with the candidates. The event will run from 7 to 9 p.m. at the bookstore and event space at 315 W. Main St.
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