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am a Virginian by birth who has a strong affection and love for our commonwealth and its people, and I possess a vision of a judiciary in which all Virginians — black, white, poor, affluent — all Virginians are treated fairly with dignity, equality and respect.”
Hassell graduated from the University of Virginia in 1977. In 1980, he earned a law degree from Harvard, where he was a classmate of Governor Mark Warner.
• Park funding slashed. In the most recent incarnation of the Virginia state budget, funding would be slashed for False Cape, Sky Meadows, Southwest Virginia Museum and Caledon State Park.
The combined budget reductions for these facilities currently stands at $1.8 million for the 2002-03 fiscal year, and $2.4 million dollars for the following year.
Amendments have been made in both the House and Senate to restore some of the funding.
Del. James H. Dillard (RFairfax) presented am amendment to reduce the cuts by 50 percent. This level of funding would allow the parks to continue to operate on their normal schedules, and would restore 15 positions that would otherwise be eliminated.
A competing Senate amendment would restore partial funding for only two of the state parks — False Cape and Sky Meadows.
The Virginia Conservation Network is outraged at the cuts. “We are now at funding levels not seen since 1984,” the group said in a statement. It said,
“Virginia is now ranked 50th out of 50 states in per capita spending for natural resources.”
Negotiators from the House and Senate are working on a compromise budget that will be presented to both chambers for approval before the General Assembly adjourns Saturday.
• Messy residents and businesses may face civil fines. Residents and businesses soon might face civil fines for failing to cut their grass or pick up their trash.
Both houses of the General Assembly have passed Senate Bill 1066, creating a civil penalty for homeowners and businesses that do not take care of their property, specifically dealing with the disposal of trash and maintenance of lawn and weed overgrowth.
“This bill will prevent people who have no respect for their neighborhoods from destroying its appearance for others,” said Chris Bridge, a director of intergovernmental and community relations for the City of Newport News.
In the past, the state has had a criminal penalty for not taking care of one’s property. However, Virginia judges have been reluctant to charge individuals with the crime because people then would have a criminal record.
— From Capital News Service reports
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