About Us

We are an affiliate of the Libertarian Party of Virginia.

For over 23 years, the JAL has been standing up for individual freedom, personal responsibility, and limited government.

Property Rights

Property rights are under assault in Jefferson’s Albemarle. Instead of working with private landowners who know best how to preserve and beautify our area, several members of the Albemarle Board of Supervisors have chosen an antagonistic approach, using the heavy hammer of government to lay down senseless, draconian restrictions that really hurt hard working people and will have the opposite effect of their intentions.  This is the United States of America, where property rights are the cornerstone of our liberty and our republic. Those who came before us did not fight and give their lives so that Albemarle County could control our property to the minutest detail. They sacrificed so that we could be FREE.

JAL played a key role in the movement to dismantle the “Mountain Overlay District Ordinance” and “Phasing and Clustering”, two absolutely idiotic, disastrous plans. We also came to the defense of Tom Slonaker, the owner of Arby’s, who was fined thousands of dollars for flying an Arby’s flag…at Arby’s. The struggle continues: certain members of the Board have been pushing to revoke Land Use Taxation, a move which could accurately be titled “The Farm Elimination Act”.

Another property rights travesty occurred in the Supreme Court decision “Kelo vs New London”.  Government may take private property only for "public use" (e.g., roads), and it must pay just compensation, but the Court essentially ruled that local government can TAKE YOUR HOME OR LAND, pay you a pittance, and give your property to others (e.g., developers), for the purpose of increasing tax revenue.  JAL members Arin Sime and Jim Lark circulated a petition for an amendment to the state constitution prohibiting such eminent domain abuse. They gathered over 1,000 signatures and delivered them to the state legislature in Richmond.

Small Government

The true purpose of government is to protect our rights, nothing more. When it strays from this central principle, it causes far more problems than it solves.

Albemarle property taxes have risen as much as 10% per year!  This is obviously unsustainable, yet the Board of Supervisors continues their unrelenting lust for more of the fruits of our labor.  Property values also continue to rise, so the combination of the values and the rates result in the taking of massive amounts of money from us and giving it to the government.    The county is disorganized and does not have adequate spending controls. Of course once they take it and spend it, any talk about simply putting it back where it was is called a "cut".  The JAL held a press conference and exposed this out-of-control taxing and spending, and showed that because of increased property assessments, much lower rates would actually yield the same tax dollars  to the county.

Every April 15, the JAL promotes a Tax Rally. The Income Tax is the main fuel for the massive explosion of federal spending. The bulk of this spending is in areas where the federal government should play no role. IRS regulations are almost 10,000 pages in length, and the amount of money and time we taxpayers spend complying with these regulations is staggering. 

Bill of Rights Day

Every December 15, the JAL holds an event to commemorate the ratification of the Bill of Rights. We read the Bill of Rights aloud, and speak of events injurious to its purpose. “Let the eye of vigilance never be closed.” – Thomas Jefferson

Outreach

The JAL is active in spreading the word of liberty through letters to the editor, news releases, radio commentary, e-mail, parades and fairs, JAL website, flyers, Operation Politically Homeless, the World’s Smallest Political Quiz, direct mail, radio and newspaper ads, and other outlets.

Happy Hour / 4th Thursday Dinner and Salon

Our Happy Hour is good, clean fun with friends. It is held on the second Thursday of each month.  We hope to see you there!  The 4thThursday Dinner and Salon is an invitation only event held at the home of JAL members and is a forum for discussing libertarian ideas in a more quiet setting. A different topic is discussed every month. The food is outstanding and the conversation is… enlightening!