Column: City should spend on housing and schools

March 11, 2022

The city of Charlottesville is at the very bottom of a proverbial hole it has been digging itself and only now realizing what changes will be necessary to get itself out of it. For decades, the city declined to tax itself appropriately nor make the investments in housing and public school systems necessary to provide a level playing field for its residents—especially those in the lower-income brackets.

A community that invests in its children through the public school system and housing builds a strong, functional, and thriving community. Regardless of where a child lives or their family or their family’s income, every child has the right to a high-quality education in a 21st-century learning environment and housing. Charlottesville will not be able to address its historic inequities unless equitable financial investments are made in these areas. Long-term disparities in health, wealth, housing, and well-being must be addressed with a solid education and affordable housing program. City Council must ensure that all students, regardless of socioeconomic status, have a positive learning experience and outcomes by investing not only in infrastructure but also in resources and wrap-around services to help families thrive.

Shymora Cooper is a parent to Buford Middle and Charlottesville High School students and co-founder of Charlottesville United for Public Education and peer engager for the city school’s reconfiguration community design process.

Joy Johnson is a parent of graduates of Charlottesville city schools and a grandmother to students in both the Charlottesville and Albemarle County schools, a housing Advocate, and chair of Public Housing Association of Residents.