Guest Post
Another view: silly rules
Guest post by Carole Garrison Sometimes, rules that are put in effect for the good have unconsidered negative results.This came to mind when I heard swordfish boat captain Linda Greenlaw speak at the Mariners Museum. A question came up about the quota boat captains are allowed to bring into the fisheries. Captain Greenlaw said that … Continue reading
A decade in the wilderness: Senate redistricting outcomes
By Claire Guthrie Gastañaga Incumbent-centered, partisan redistricting has all but guaranteed that Virginia progressives will be lost in the legislative wilderness for the next decade or more even as the majority of the Virginia voting public becomes more centrist, or even left of center. The reality is that, as the Virginia Senate moved to a … Continue reading
Norfolk redistricting: “Supporting a vibrant, dynamic city”
By Rodney A. Jordan Today, June 14, 2011, marks twenty years since the passing of my uncle, Joseph A. Jordan, Jr. More than a beloved family member, he was and continues to be a mentor to me. He lived as a child through the Great Depression in the Jim Crow south. Paralyzed by age twenty-one … Continue reading
Tailgating in Virginia Beach: why the disparity in ordinances?
Guest post by Maria L. LoPresto Parrotheads, the common name fans who follow singer/songwriter/best selling author Jimmy Buffett are an eclectic, fun, group of folks who are all ages (children are called “parakeets” and I have seen individuals at Buffett shows in their mid 80s, dancing to famous hits such as “Fins”, “Cheeseburger in Paradise,” … Continue reading
The Tide status update
Dear Citizen, I know how frustrating it is to wait for the start of The Tide. After all the work and expense of building this system, it’s understandable to wonder why Hampton Roads Transit still has not set an opening date. I want to tell you where our work stands. Explaining in detail the specifics … Continue reading
Mills: Don’t Let Virginia’s Middle Class Disappear
By David Mills, Executive Director of the Democratic Party of Virginia The nonpartisan Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis recently released a report stating that the gap between the rich and the poor in Virginia is now the third widest in the nation and the widest in 30 years. As more Virginians struggle to make ends meet, … Continue reading
Democracy does not end at the ballot box
Guest post by Maria LoPresto Many of us concerned about Norfolk’s government ask for transparency, yet not all of us take the time to make our concerns known during the budget process. WHY is the budget process important to the average citizen? What is important about this process and why should be we care? The … Continue reading
GA update from Sen. Ralph Northam
By Sen. Ralph Northam With only one full week remaining in the 2011 General Assembly session, the House and Senate are working hard to complete action on the budget and other legislation. Several of my bills have passed both chambers and now await the Governor’s signature, including measures to ease access for our veterans to … Continue reading
Remarks to City Council on Tivest Project
Sometimes, right and left take a back seat to right and wrong. With that, here’s what I said to City Council today about the Midtown Office Building project: By Coby Dillard That a majority of City Council has spoken in support of this project, in a time where our schools continue to fall apart and … Continue reading
Enough
Guest post by Louis Eisenberg On Saturday, February 12th, 2011, the seeds that were planted in the 2010 Norfolk City Council elections began to bloom. The citizens noticed the results of what sunlight in the form of Tommy Smigiel, Angelia Williams and Andy Protogyrou can bring to our city. Three new Council members held the … Continue reading
Time for Fraim and friends to go
Guest post by Chuck Taylor I began this note after reading about the decision to keep the majority of Council discussion behind closed doors and away from public scrutiny two weeks ago. However, it languished in a target rich environment, where so many interconnected issues of Council malfeasance and ineptitude made it hard to constrain … Continue reading
Caring for all of Norfolk means advocating for all neighborhoods
Guest post by Councilman Tommy Smigiel, whose edited letter appeared in the Virginian-Pilot today. Here is the unedited version. I’d like to set the record straight and step out on a positive note after reading Kevin Murphy’s letter to the editor “Downtown is No. 1 in growth” (Virginian-Pilot, July 9). In his remarks Kevin Murphy … Continue reading
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