Author
Don’t be fooled by small steps. We must do more to combat climate change.
By Chris Wiegard As we enter a new decade, Virginians are witnessing public concern about climate change rising along with the temperatures, sea levels and extreme weather events. But, while the Virginia General Assembly will take some steps toward climate solutions in 2020, the United States government will not. General Assembly efforts will help build […]
It’s time to pass a real paid sick day standard
By Kim Bobo People get sick. At this time of year, many of us get colds or the flu. We slip on ice. We need to take a sick day off of work to visit a doctor or care for a sick relative. But 41 percent of private sector workers in Virginia (1.2 million workers) […]
My students will not be silenced on climate change — or anything else
By Christine Hirsh-Putnam Young people usually don’t have a say in the laws we all must obey. They are deemed too young and/or naïve to make sound political choices. Yet they are passionate about major political issues because they will be affected by these issues throughout their entire lives. Recently, young people have answered the call […]
Stand up without fear for gun safety
By Lori Haas In January of 1957, 12 sticks of dynamite were found at the Rev. Martin Luther King’s home in Montgomery, Alabama. The fuses had been lit, but were smoldered out. At the time, he was a 28-year-old Baptist minister and lead organizer of the Montgomery bus boycotts. Authorities later speculated that the segregationists […]
The Virginia Clean Economy Act is a giant leap forward for Virginia energy policy
By Karla Loeb Last month, a broad coalition of clean energy companies including energy efficiency providers, rooftop solar installers and utility scale renewable energy developers joined with leading environmental groups and Democratic lawmakers to unveil the key pillars that will make up the Virginia Clean Economy Act, a bill that thoughtfully and simply puts Virginia […]
Numbers don’t lie: Virginians need oral health care
By Sarah Bedard Holland As the 2020 legislative session begins, a recent study from Virginia’s Department of Medical Assistance Services on emergency department use for dental issues among Medicaid recipients shows an unavoidable truth: Virginians are in desperate need of oral health care. Under Virginia’s current Medicaid program, adults in Virginia do not have a […]
Why some public universities get to keep their donors secret
By Alexa Capeloto In April 2018, the public learned that George Mason University had let the Charles Koch Foundation have a say in the hiring and review of faculty. The revelation confirmed long-held suspicions that Virginia’s largest public university was susceptible to pressure from wealthy people who make big donations to a foundation that solely […]
It’s time for Virginia to get a raise
By Joyce Barnes When my grandson was 15, he got a job as a janitor. He was so excited to have a few dollars in his pocket. When I asked him how much he was making, I found out he was making $10.50 an hour. That’s $2.25 more than I make. It’s hard to be […]
The time for comprehensive redistricting reform is now
By Kathay Feng Voters should choose their representatives. This is the simple notion that forms the foundation of our democratic system. The philosophy is embedded in the United States’ Constitution’s opening three words, “We the People.” It inspired the 17th Amendment that declared that Americans should elect their senators directly. It inspired women as they […]
The time has come: Congress must fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund
By Rebecca Rubin Our country’s lands and waters are more than stunning natural features. They are the very foundation of our health, security, way of life and all life itself. This is why Congress established the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) in 1964, which uses revenues from the depletion of one natural resource — […]
Climate change threat doesn’t get the Y2K urgency
By Jay Bookman Take a moment to think back to simpler times, to a long-gone era exactly 20 years ago this week, when we celebrated the dawn of a new millennium under the shadow cast by Y2K. Remember all that? Y2K was a universal computer glitch that threatened to shut down power grids, paralyze banking […]
Confederate Christmas ornaments are smaller than statues – but they send the same racist message
By Nicole Maurantonio, University of Richmond As Christmas approaches, many families undertake a familiar ritual: an annual sojourn to the attic, basement or closet to pull out a box of treasured ornaments bought, created and collected over years, even generations. Hanging these ornaments on the tree is an opportunity to reconnect with memories of personal […]