Phone interview with Vance D. High

(1) According to Councilor Blake Caravati, the City of Charlottesville offers short term Employee Assistance Program counseling services to employees and anyone in their households. Beyond that, the City is barred by the State (under the so-called "Dillon Rule") from offering domestic partner benefits.

Do you support domestic partner benefits for City employees?

Yes. I want to support people who support their community, and not worry about what they do behind closed doors.

(2) According to the Virginia Organizing Project, "Over the years the Charlottesville City Council has made several commitments to pay a living wage to all city employees, and to require contracts paid with city money (over $15,000) to include a provision that all workers be paid a living wage. In 2004, a "living wage" that is tied to the federal poverty level would mean that the city should be paying $9.00 an hour. They are not."

Do you support increasing the City "living wage" minimum to $9 per hour?

I support it, although I can't see going beyond $9 - I've worked as a sub at the city pools, lifeguard and swimming instructor - there are people-workers, management--and I know they don't make a lot of money but most of them are married or in a domestic arrangement-you know, with two incomes, and they live very well.

And the City has a number of good programs, and I wouldn't want to see money taken away from them. I do think that Police, Fire-public safety workers-should probably be getting raises more than commensurate with cost of living increases, because of the importance of what they do.

Dave Sagarin, February 27, 2004