🌱 How the new AI parking system tracks you in Charlottesville garages

Hello Charlottesville! Stay connected with the latest updates from around town. Let's dive in! ☀️

In today's newsletter:

• How the new AI parking system tracks you in Charlottesville garages
• When will your Charlottesville neighborhood’s leaves finally get picked up?
• Why did Charlottesville pull the plug on AI license plate cameras?

Also on today's calendar: Reiki at Well Room — Well Room and 5 more events.

Today's riddle: My brother swallowed a box of firecrackers. - Is he all right now? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

• Thursday: Rain and drizzle in the p.m., with a high of 48 and low of 40 degrees.
• Friday: Windy with periods of sun, temps: high: 56, low: 27.
• Saturday: Partly sunny, with a high of 47 and low of 41 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. City using AI-powered license plate readers to charge for garage parking (c-ville.com) — If you park in Charlottesville’s Market Street or Water Street garages, you’ll now use an AI-powered, license-plate-based system that requires scanning a QR code and sharing personal data with operator Metropolis. Rates and the first free hour stay the same, but there’s no alternative system for those unwilling to share information, and the company keeps extensive data indefinitely.
   

2. City leaf collection resumed through Feb. 13 (cvillerightnow.com) — Charlottesville has restarted curbside leaf collection after recent snow delays, with Round 1 running Dec. 17–26 and additional zone pickups scheduled through Feb. 13. Residents should rake loose leaves to the curb—no bags or containers—while Public Works uses vacuum trucks and fields questions at 434-970-3830 or pwinfo@charlottesville.gov.
   

3. Charlottesville police end use of AI-powered license plate readers (cvilletomorrow.org) — Charlottesville has ended its one-year pilot of Flock’s AI-powered license plate reader cameras and is removing the devices, citing concerns about how other agencies might use the collected data. City Manager Sam Sanders says the contract will not be renewed, even though local police reported success solving crimes, and councilors plan a broader work session on law-enforcement technology in Charlottesville.
   

4. University of Virginia presidential search not slowing down despite vocal pushback (dailypress.com) — UVA’s search for its next president is barreling ahead despite protests, faculty resolutions, and calls from Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger to pause the process until the Board of Visitors is fully seated. With tense demonstrations at Boar’s Head just west of Charlottesville and key meetings scheduled into early January, the outcome could quickly reshape leadership and labor relations at the region’s largest employer.
   

5. Ruby Lopez Harper in the HotSeat (c-ville.com) — Charlottesville’s arts community is being asked to weigh in on a new, more equitable and accessible arts organization through a needs assessment survey open until December 26. Consultant Ruby Lopez Harper, who’s leading the process, shares her background, creative tastes, and impressions of local spots like McGuffey Art Center and First Fridays to help residents get to know who’s guiding this effort.
   

📸 Around Charlottesville

Show off your photography skills and the sights around Charlottesville! Click here to submit your Photo of the Day Patch AM!

🗓 Upcoming Events in Charlottesville

Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!

★ Featured events ★

Thursday December 18

• Matthew O'Donnell
  The Whiskey Jar, 227 W Main St, Charlottesville
  7:30 pm

Want to see your event featured? Click here!

Other local events

Thursday December 18

• Albemarle/Charlottesville Chapter Meeting
  Virginia Organizing Friends Quaker Meeting, 1104 Forest St., Charlottesville, VA, 22903, United States
  6:30 pm
• Wise County Chapter Meeting
  Virginia Organizing Mountain Movement Hub, 113 E 4th St S, Big Stone Gap, VA, 24219, United States
  6:30 pm
• CHS Chorus - Winter Concert
  MLK Performing Arts Center , 1400 Melbourne Rd , Charlottesville
  7:00 pm
• CASE Plays at The Colonnades
  The Colonnades , 2600 Barracks Rd , Charlottesville
  7:00 pm

Friday December 19

• Ribbon Cutting: Mountain Lake Childcare
  Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce Hampton Inn & Suites 900 W Main Street Charlottesville, Virginia, 22911
  6:00 pm

Saturday December 20

• Holiday Market
  Charlottesville, VA Calendar , 100 E. Water Street , Charlottesville
  9:00 am
• Reiki at Well Room — Well Room
  Well Room , 134 10th St NW , Charlottesville
  10:00 am

📣 Charlottesville Shout Outs!

Want to say something great about someone in town? Click here to submit your Shout Out to Patch AM!

🗓 Events Nearby

Thursday December 18

• Baby Beats - Thursday 12pm
  Musicology , 2220 Ivy Rd Suite 404 , Charlottesville
  12:00 pm
• BWRT Holiday Luncheon
  Amy Yang Photography , 609 E Market St #110 , Charlottesville
  12:30 pm
• Wise County Chapter Meeting
  Mountain Movement Hub , 113 E 4th St S , Big Stone Gap
  6:30 pm
• Albemarle/Charlottesville Chapter Meeting
  Friends Quaker Meeting , 1104 Forest St. , Charlottesville
  6:30 pm

Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.

Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Charlottesville PatchAM possible:

• The Hoos Of Hooville — 540 764 0023
  Approaching The End Of My Rope Here

Click here to show your appreciation! 💚

Want to see your business here? Click here to connect with local customers.

💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

• My cat has been missing for months, I just spotted him on a s Hollymead drive in the water drainage area under the road.
  If anyone has fed him or has any info please reach out. He looks like a small Mane Coon his name is Charcoal he’s very skiddish. If anyone has a… (Nextdoor Hollymead)
• If anyone in the Deerwood neighborhood took in a black cat with a small white patch on his chest thinking he was a stray or got out from someone’s house.
  Please let him go so that he can come home. He’s our indoor outdoor cat named Chaz. He will come home. He’s fine. He’s not hungry. He’s well loved… (Nextdoor Deerwood)

• Perrigo Company posted a job opening for Associate Director, Marketing - Nutrition in Charlottesville. Apply here.
• Giant Food posted a job opening for PT Night Crew Clerk - Grocery - 0251 in Charlottesville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Charlottesville here.

Ok Charlottesville! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I don’t know. I haven’t heard the last report.
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!

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We use a combination of real people and machines to tell you what’s happening around town. Learn more about Patch AM.

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