COMMENTARY: City’s ‘Town & Gown’ Report Lacks Input from Residents & Students

Meanwhile, local leadership paints rosy picture of City/College relationship

(Photo: By Pbritti - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0)

Earlier today, the Williamsburg City Council applauded a “Town & Gown” report written by several interns overseen by both the office of the President of William & Mary and the City Manager’s office. As would be expected, the analysis contained plenty of platitudes regarding the symbiotic relationship.

Though, the report does hint at the surface of issues facing residents and students, stating that “the existence of the relatively large student population can be a point of tension for residents. However, the university and City are focused on coming up with solutions rather than problematizing the causes. The relationship between the university and the City looks at every aspect including housing, student life, and overlapping needs. Williamsburg and the City Manager aim to bridge the gap between residents and students because both groups make up Williamsburg.”