A slightly different Friday Chart , as election season is heating up. 
One of the questions I get from buyers moving to the area is, “What are the politics like around here?” … As of yet, political leaning is not yet a protected class, so I start with this analogy – The City of Charlottesville and the County of Albemarle are sort of like estranged parents who keep it together just enough so that the kids (in this case, residents) survive. … Luckily, we can do that – Find out who is giving how much and to whom at VPAP . … (I wonder how much good could be done with $2.3 million ) Top political donors in Albemarle County .
Browsing Category Politics
Updating Charlottesville’s Bicycle Transportation Plan
Good stuff in the C-Ville this week about the City of Charlottesville’s bicycle plan. … Without a comprehensive plan that brings together the three players – Charlottesville, Albemarle and UVA, we’ll continue to have bike lanes that start, stop, start again … or don’t exist at all. A bike lane to NGIC and DIA would be nice. … Charlottesville did win a bronze designation as a “Bicycle Friendly Community” in 2008 .
Home Buyer Tax Credit Closing Extension Has Life – H.R. 5623
From GOP.gov (bolding mine): H.R. 5623 would extend the homebuyer tax credit of up to $8,000 for the purchase of a principal residence before October 1, 2010. … The bill would provide any homebuyer who entered into a contract on a home by April 30, 2010, but have been unable to go to closing within the required 60 days; the provision would extend the closing date for an additional 90 days. … Under current law, taxpayers who submit a bad check or money order to the IRS must pay a penalty of 2% of the amount of the check or money order. … ] This provision would extend the authority of the Department of Homeland Security to implement fees related to the recently-enacted Travel Promotion Act for one year, through fiscal year 2011.
So … Has the Tax Credit Closing Deadline Been Extended? Maybe.
I’m reading this morning that the amendment was approved: The Senate has amended a bill to give homebuyers who were under contract on a home purchase by April 30 an additional three months to close the deal and claim the federal homebuyer tax credit. … I read this on the OpenCongress site – Dems Lose Big on Unemployment Insurance/Tax Extenders Vote After two weeks of solid debate — and two weeks of people having their unemployment insurance cut off because of congressional inaction — the Senate this morning took their first test vote on passing H.R. 4213 , the “American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010.” … As you know, Senator Reid has been supporting an amendment to H.R. 4213 that would extend the deadline for closing for the homebuyer tax credit from June 30 to September 30. … But also yesterday, earlier in the day before Senator Reid’s amendment, the Senate voted against a motion that would move closer to ending debate on the bill and passing it.
Monday Reading – Strategic Defaults and Tax Credit Extenstions
Renewing the first-time home buyer’s credit will help Americans purchase a first home with their own money, instead of having to rely on government-funded or backed programs.
… As soon as the proposed amendment to the H.R. 4213 – the American Jobs and Closing Tax Loopholes Act of 2010 is posted on either GovTrack or OpenCongress , I’ll note it here.
…With the FairTax, mortgage interest rates fall by about 25 percent (about 1.75 points) as bank overhead falls; this is a huge savings for consumers. … Lower interest rates, the repeal of the income tax, the repeal of all payroll taxes, and the prebate mean that people have more money to spend and have an increased opportunity to become homeowners.
Places 29 – What’s the Future of Route 29 (North)?
Candidly, i suspect that this plan will continue to be yet another exercise is the County and county business leaders publicly demonstrating that their best interests are served by continuing the planning process while those citizens to actually drive 29 continue to lament the interminable planning and delays of the aforementioned “leaders.”
… • Monday, June 7, Open House at the Hollymead Fire Station from 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm • Wednesday, June 9, Open House at the County Office Building, McIntire Road prior to the Board’s public hearing – 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
…The Master Plan includes an implementation program that groups recommendations into those that will begin during the first ten years and those that will begin during the second ten years of the 20-year implementation timeframe. … CvillePedia : The Places29 Master Plan is designed to guide and direct future development in terms of land uses, transportation projects, and other infrastructure projects in the 14.5 square miles [1] four designated growth areas that surround the US 29 corridor through northern Albemarle County.
Village of Rivanna Master Plan Approved
While the plan calls for infrastructure to be built in advance of new development, many residential and commercial projects have already been approved, but not yet built. “We are not excited about the prospect of a lot of development on our doorstep,†said Joscelyne, “but we realize that we don’t have a lot of say over that.†… “The problem with Route 250 is that it is already near capacity, and many new homes have been approved already that will push it beyond capacity,†said Joscelyne. … Supervisor Dennis Rooker said the guidelines for concurrency of adequate infrastructure were important and a key to getting public support. “Without that language on future transportation and future rezonings, it wouldn’t have the support of the residents,†said Rooker.