The City of Charlottesville underwent massive preparations to accommodate President Barack Obama’s campaign stop in the City Wednesday. In the run up to the president’s appearance roads are closing, schools are ending early and University students are getting ready to make their way to the nTelos Wireless Pavilion downtown.
City spokesperson Miriam Dickler said the Obama campaign has handled all of the event’s planning, but Charlottesville still has to work with the president’s security to ensure his safety.
“We will work with security details but we did not invite the president here,” she said. “We are simply hosting him.”
The Albemarle County Police Department has announced it will close a number of roads for Obama’s visit, particularly along Seminole Trail, which may lead to possible delays, according to a police press release.
Charlottesville City Schools, citing student transportation issues arising from these road closures, will close early today as well.
In addition, University students and campaign volunteers have been very involved in helping to plan Obama’s visit, holding a rally Tuesday afternoon and painting Beta Bridge.
“This is a great opportunity for Obama to reach out to students and reinforce their value in this election,” said third-year Architecture student Sydney Shivers, who volunteers for the president’s re-election campaign. “He’s come to college campuses in swing states and we are on that list and
Virginia is a crucial player in the election as is Charlottesville and the U.Va. community.”
Obama’s last Charlottesville appearance was in 2010 when he unsuccessfully campaigned for former Rep. Tom Perriello, D-Albemarle. During that visit, the city incurred an estimated $15,000 to $20,000 in overtime payments to employees, a cost the Perriello campaign agreed to cover.
Dickler said no figures would be available on the cost of hosting Obama until after his appearance.
Obama’s visit is part of a two-day college campaign tour focusing on student issues. He spoke at the University of Iowa and the University of Colorado Tuesday.
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