Category Archives: Charlottesville

A few months after we moved from NYC to Virginia, a New York friend asked me what was the biggest difference between the states. Virginia is more polite, I said, but New York is more sincere. When a New Yorker … Continue reading →

Today, I watched online with horror as police in tactical gear swarmed the Engineering School at UCLA, my alma mater. Shots had been reported, and so mindful of incidents at other schools, the police rightly responded with a show of … Continue reading →

I love my dog. At home, he brings us a measure of comfort and makes us feel safe. But I understand that people may be a little frightened of him. In public, he can be loud, messy, and scary. For … Continue reading →

On May 10, the Washington Post reported that prosecutors in Ohio are weighing whether to pursue capital murder charges again the man accused of kidnapping and raping three women in Cleveland. I am deeply uncomfortable with the idea of charging … Continue reading →

It’s easy to make fun of Clint Eastwood yelling at an empty chair, but this may have been the most honest moment in the Republican convention. Throughout this entire campaign season, Republicans have been railing against a President who they … Continue reading →

Michael Sturges was my best friend in Charlottesville. He passed away this week. Michael might have been mildly amused to hear that I thought of him as my best friend. We knew one another through work and our families only … Continue reading →

I cannot in good conscience support all of the Democratic City Council candidates. I have looked at the Independent candidates running for council, and I think that Brandon Collins in particular speaks very well to many critical issues facing our community, particularly poverty, social justice, and environmental responsibility. Also, he’s a Socialist, so this will absolutely drive the teabaggers mad! Continue reading →

In early 2001, I began Semi Truths as a pseudonymous venue for my political satire. Tuesday nights were my night for writing, so I would spend much of the day in my pointless job thinking about what I would craft … Continue reading →

In 1987, while driving from L.A. to my new life in New York, my dasboard power light started flashing shortly outside of Texas. I stopped at a garage in Alabama and they diagnosed that my alernator was failing. They also … Continue reading →

In October of 1987, at the age of 26, I loaded a small U-Haul trailor with my boxes of books and comics, hitched it to the back of my ten-year-old VW Rabbit, and left Los Angeles for my new home … Continue reading →

I tested it all at home, before I left: using the iPhone Geotweet app, I could simultaneously post my location to Twitter, Facebook, and here on CitizenMcCord.com. You can see the successful tests below, but now that I have embarked … Continue reading →

In a few weeks, I plan to drive my little Prius across the country (starting in North Carolina’s Outer Banks) to visit friends and family in California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. In some ways, this will be a recreation … Continue reading →

I just received an email from Pam Deeds, wife of Creigh Deeds, which begins: Creigh and I went this morning to vote in Bath County. Right after, he filmed a short video asking you to do the same. I watched … Continue reading →

Today is election day in Virginia, when we will pick our party candidates to run for office in November. Just this morning, a friend of mine here in Charlottesville wrote to ask which gubernatorial candidate he should vote for to … Continue reading →

Policies that affect our parks and recreational services, such as leasing public land to the YMCA and establishing tiered pricing for seasonal pool passes, are not decided solely between city staff and City Council. Charlottesville has a Parks and Recreation … Continue reading →

Local conservative radio personality Rob Schilling asserts that summer pool passes, recently introduced by the Charlottesville Department of Parks and Recreation, will be discounted only for students who attend city schools, or who are home schooled. He writes: Hey, doesn’t … Continue reading →

Last nights Democratic Candidates Forum was well-attended, with 40 to 50 people in the Walker School Library to hear the three Democratic Sheriff candidates, and the three candidates seeking the Democratic nomination for Charlottesville City Council. Rachana Dixit covered the … Continue reading →

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On May 6, the Charlottesville Democratic Party will host a Candidate’s Forum for all three City Sheriff candidates, and all three Democratic City Council candidates. I am scheduled to moderate. The forum will start at 7:00 in the Walker School … Continue reading →