May 12, 2008
Blessed with candidates
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There are about 4,000 registered voters in Williamsburg. If everyone votes May 6, the result will be a true representation of the city on council. If only a few vote, there is a chance the result will be skewed toward single-agenda candidates.
One concern is that the William & Mary student government is on a campaign to elect council members to change the three-person rental rule and modify the city's noise ordinance. This is so even after many residents, the city manager, the mayor, council members and college administrators have diligently worked to help students address these and other issues.
We have made a number of efforts to provide fair analysis and have set up three action groups. Students have been told that the city is notagainst students renting off-campus. The problem is the evolution of multi-student rentals in houses located in residential areas and operated by absentee landlords who do not follow the rules or do not take care of their properties.
The other concern is that the student government and the editorial staff of the college newspaper are demonizing the city so students will be motivated to vote. They have accused the city of oppressing the students and taking every step possible to prevent them from living off campus. The editorials have been vicious. One writer equated living here to Rwanda or the Sudan where one group oppresses the helpless minority. Other writings were worse.
Not all 6,000 students support such a strategy. I believe that most students are anxious to keep our relations close, strong and growing as it was before the current student government started its movement.
Thus, I feel the situation will change for the better. There are already signs that next year’s student governing body is looking forward to getting our relations back on track. In the meantime everyone must vote in this year's election.
Jim Joseph, Chairman
Neighborhood Council of Williamsburg
Richmond Hill Court
Williamsburg
Copyright © 2008, The Virginia Gazette
