YMCA, Softball, and Shirking

Most have probably seen the Save McIntire signs throughout town, but what are they proposing to save? I've taken two courses where we have talked extensively about a project to build a YMCA on the Western edge of McIntire Park. The majority of Charlottesville residents are in favor or indifferent to the YMCA. Advocates site it as a cheap option for low-income residents who can't afford the high rates of private gyms and don't have access to other wellness programs. It will also be close to Charlottesville High School and a safe and productive afterschool option. This Daily Progress article about the project touches on two different ideas we have gone over in class. First, as Olsen would predict, the original major opponent to the YMCA was a small group of individuals - the city's softball league. These (approximately 400) members were the source of an uproar against the project that was supposedly going to destroy a couple of softball fields. They were a small group, but they were certainly organized behind their leader, a 7-year softball fanatic and 30-year resident of Charlottesville, Bob Fenwick. He started the Save McIntire campaign, which has now expanded to include efforts of other preservationists. This project has been in the works for years and it's quite impressive that these small pockets of opposition have been so effective, yet not surprising according to Olsen. Shirking is the second idea we have discussed in class that comes up in this article. Fenwick accuses city council of not being responsive to citizen demands. “It’s been my experience that politicians soon forget that they represent the people,” Fenwick said. “And that’s when they get into trouble.”Fenwick addressed this supposed principal-agent problem by starting a independent campaign to run for City Council. Despite Fenwick's accusations of shirking by the Council, I'd argue that they are actually representing the people of Charlottesville, the majority anyway. A representative can't accurately represent every person in his or her district, but they can; however, represent the majority, since that's all the support they'll need to be reelected in the next session anyway.