Newsletter — June 2024

Friends and Neighbors,

Summer is in full swing, and our vibrant city is buzzing with activities and events. As your City Councilor, I am thrilled to share some of the exciting happenings around Williamsburg this past June. Let’s beat the heat of June and dive into what makes our community so special!

• Bus Stop Improvement Plan — The City Council has adopted an initiative to improve the experience of public bus transit users. We’re inventorying and identifying needed improvements to bus stops, aiming to provide shelters and trash cans at each stop. I also want to thank W&M graduate Seth Novak for his work on this issue. Our goal is to elevate 70% of stops to this new standard, enhancing the quality of life for transit users.
• Meeting with Mandela Fellows — Each year, we are honored to host a precinct group of the Mandela Washington Fellows. This program empowers young African leaders through academic coursework, leadership training, and professional opportunities. When you see them around town, join me in welcoming these future leaders who are dedicated to spurring economic growth and strengthening democratic governance. I’m pictured above with Prince Tough Mupindu of Zimbabwe, right after our lunch at (where else?) Chick-Fil-A!
• Williamsburg Downtown Opening — I was excited to attend the ribbon cutting for Williamsburg Downtown on June 25th at 9am. Visit them at their new location at 218 North Boundary Street, where they are excited to bring new energy and opportunities to our community. This will be Santa’s new home in the holiday season!
• Juneteenth 2024 — I had the chance to join William & Mary for their Juneteenth celebration in the Sadler Center last week, the link above goes to my remarks which were focused on why Williamsburg is a special place to celebrate Juneteenth. Additionally, the Village Initiative’s Fourth Annual Juneteenth Freedom Celebration was the next day, officially on the 19th. Thanks to the Village Initiative, we got to enjoy live music, entertainment, free food, a Freedom Marketplace, and even a visit from Miss Juneteenth USA, Sunshine Huggins.
• Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area (DORA) — Soon enough, you’ll be able to enjoy a drink outside in our downtown area! The proposal linked above, which Council approved at our June meeting, will enhance our community’s vibrancy while ensuring safety and compliance.

Thank you for being a part of what makes Williamsburg such a wonderful place to live. I hope you have enjoyed these recent events and the warm summer days. As always, please reach out if I can ever be of help.

Yours in service,

Caleb

**this Newsletter is mine alone and does not represent the input of the entire City Council