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Obituaries
| Death Notices & Funerals
REUBEN BRANNAN
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BRANNAN, Reuben Anderson, 88, of Studley, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, September 21, 2021. He was preceded in death by his wife, Dot. He is survived by his son, Timothy (Lisa); grandson, Joshua; and many nieces and nephews. Reuben devoted his life to his family, farming and Salem Presbyterian Church. A graveside service was held at 4 p.m. on Saturday, September 25, at Salem Presbyterian Church Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in his honor to your favorite charity. Online condolences may be registered at www.bennettfuneralhomes.com.
NUCKOLS, Wade A., of Mechanicsville, age 94, passed away peacefully at his home on September 18, 2021. He was a longtime employee of The Howard P. Foley Co., and had been a member of Fairfield Presbyterian Church for many years. He had enjoyed waterskiing and taught many of us how to as kids. Murrell is survived by his wife, Joyce; and son, Wade. Per his wishes, no services will be held.
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Continued from pg. 8 structure that supports walking and biking. Finally, we need to better fund the greatest public transportation system we have in the 55th District: our school buses! The state needs to support modernizing to an electric school bus fleet, which would be less polluting and healthier for our students, and to support compensating our school bus drivers fairly and competitively. Federal infrastructure monies could and should be allocated towards such initiatives.
With a massive influx of federal money directed at towns and localities, some are saying this is the perfect time to address long-term issues like transportation, improved broadband, stormwater management. What are your priorities for the state and local funds headed our way from Washington?
Levy: Yes, I agree that federal funds coming our way should be used to provide access to high-speed internet to all residents and to bolster current transportation needs to expand public transportation options. As to stormwater management, as with transportation and in some cases education, there are well-intentioned state-issued mandates and requirements, but with inadequate funding to meet them. Unfortunately, SLAF (Stormwater Local Assistance Funds) are not sufficient to meet stormwater management goals and more funding is needed. I think that filling the gaps in stormwater management funding would be a great use of federal infrastructure funding. Funding stormwater management may be expensive, but as we’ve seen in the past few years, preventing flooding disasters is cheaper than recovering from them.
Is there an affordable housing issue in the 55th District? How would you address the lack of affordable housing and why do we hear so little about this subject?
Levy: Yes, there is an affordable housing issue in the 55th. It’s an issue throughout the Commonwealth. Too many people in the 55th are spending more than the recommended 30% of their income for housing. It’s a crisis. A few solutions I’m considering: 1. Tax code reform. Because of the way our tax code and financing for services such as public schools is structured, we are too reliant on property taxes and values. There’s disincentive on localities to have affordable housing. We need to fix that. 2. Expanded rent and mortgage assistance for those in need. We’re in the midst of an eviction crisis. But simply having a moratorium is not the answer; we need to provide direct assistance to those in need due to no fault of their own so that rent and mortgages are actually paid and not simply delayed. 3. More competitive compensation for working and middle class workers. It’s a chicken or the egg thing. Let me explain: Habitat for Humanity housing is now being offered to public school teachers. I’m a public school teacher. I have a master’s degree (I have a doctorate, in fact)—I should not be eligible for Habitat housing! I should be compensated competitively in the first place so that I can afford housing at market rates. 4. Expand and diversify housing options by providing more housing options in already developed areas including repurposing un-occupied malls and strip malls.
As to your second question, I hear a TON about this subject and have since I can remember. But I am a public school teacher in the district, a local advocate for the past ten years who goes to community meetings, and a candidate (and volunteer for previous campaigns) who has knocked on hundreds of doors and made hundreds of phone calls. If people feel like they haven’t heard about this issue, I would suggest they consider who they are listening to because this issue affects many citizens in the 55th district.
List three pressing issues facing 55th District residents and localities and how you would address those issues.
Levy: 1. Broadband access! We must treat high-speed internet like a public utility, just like we do running water and electricity. 2. Over-development and encroachment on rural communities and mitigation from the impact of climate change. I plan to focus on protecting historic and vulnerable rural communities such as Brown Grove in the 55th District. I support facilitating more housing options in already developed areas including repurposing unoccupied malls and strip malls. I will explore different possibilities for establishing protective trusts for rural land. I also support expanding public transportation options such as rail, buses, and vans, and expanding infrastructure that supports walking and biking. And I will find ways to connect rural land owners with innovative ways of living off of their land such as production of biofriendly products. 3. In majority rural communities, public democratic institutions like our public schools are popular and shared spaces. Everyone’s got a stake in them. Across the board in the 55th, I see the need for more state funding and resources for public services: public schools, public safety, the courts and legal services, social services, healthcare services, transportation, and parks and recreation. These are services that touch ALL of us, that we all use and share. When these institutions are stronger and better resourced with public servants who are
see LEVY, pg. 16
