Link.
Not an election, though one of the results of an election; I do think it’s politics, though. Mods, move if you disagree. – there have been a batch of threads on aspects of this subject, but none of them recently unless I missed something; and instead of trying to figure out which of the old ones is most applicable I’ll start a new one.
The Virginia legislature’s been busy.
So far, things that have passed at least one house of the legislature include automatic voter registration and same-day registration, an Election Day holiday, no-excuse absentee voting, repeal of the GOP’s photo voter ID law, joining the national popular vote interstate compact, increasing the minimum wage to $10 this year and to $15 by 2025, repealing the gun show loophole, limiting magazines to 12 rounds, and a metric ton of other stuff.
Good thread here by a DC TV station reporter covering the VA legislative session.
WTG Virginia! If only they’d gone forward with the union protection stuff instead of bowing to the poorly named “right to work” advocates.
Thats disappointing. Rebuilding the labor movement is a big factor in reducing income inequality and build a democratic voter/donor base.
Heard this AM on NPR that Virginia reduced fines from $500 to $25 for possession of half ounce of pot. No jail time for repeat offenders.
And still, everybody has a source but me.
They can bypass the middlemen and simply legislate union-like benefits and protections for every worker in the state, without forcing the workers to jump through the hoops of organizing and negotiating with companies. Whether they do so remains to be seen, but based on what they’ve done so far, they’re on the right track.
I hope that cities and counties can also start removing the names of horrible racists who are for bizarre reasons celebrated in Virginia. Harry Byrd Highway? Jefferson Davis Highway? Lee Highway? Fuck 'em all.
I lived on Lee Hwy from about 2012-2019. We’ve since moved… and Lee Hwy is now all of 500 feet away.
Otherwise known as Route 11, it goes through my hometown. Radford, near VaTech
to the tune of Godzilla- Go, go, Virginia!
Great to see Dems in the Virginia legislature putting their majorities to such good and vigorous use. It’s like a mini-New Deal in Richmond these days.
Some more good news down there: https://www.pecva.org/our-region/regional-state-national/general-assembly/1498-general-assembly-session-2020-session
There are famous Lee’s besides R.E. Lee.
Richard Henry Lee for one.
But yeah, nothing should be named for the traitor Davis.
Harry Byrd was a great man, and so many back then were racists.
Harry Byrd was not a great man. Massive Resistance was a nation-wide criminal conspiracy.
Last year, Arlington County quietly renamed its portion of U.S. Route 1 from Jefferson Davis Highway to match the name in Fairfax County. It’s now Richmond Highway.
In between is the portion in Alexandria City, which is split between the parallel streets Patrick Street and Henry Street, which aren’t named after confederates.
Alexandria City has been trying to move it’s confederate memorial, which sits on top of a pillar in the middle of a major intersection. The council has wanted to move it to a nearby museum, but so far has been blocked Appomattox (statue) - Wikipedia .
They’re bowing to public opinion on this one.
Even most Dems favor RtW laws.
The signage may take a bit longer than usual to go, due to circumstance.
Really, I always wondered why *Virginia *should honor Jeff Davis. All he brought to the commonwealth was failure and misfortune. And besides he’s from Mississippi, let *them * awkwardly explain how it’s all about his service in the Mexican War and in the War Department.
Not good news.