Local
Prince Edward County continues with “Road to Nowhere”
For years, citizens of Prince Edward County have had to watch as the Board Of Supervisors and the IDA (Industrial Development Authority) have unwisely spent their money (in the form of taxes and fees and obligations) on one scheme after another. Enter the failed project that the county has spent millions, and some amount in … Continue reading
Go, Ralph, go!
My Senator, Ralph Northam, spoke about the pre-abortion ultrasound bill, SB484, on the floor of the Senate.
A Paige in history
No, that’s not a typo. My latest op-ed appeared in The Virginian-Pilot Wednesday. With February being Black History Month, I wanted to write something for it. I had run across Senate Joint Resolution 13 when looking at bills earlier, reading just the synopsis of the bill. Thinking that there might be a local connection, I … Continue reading
Legislator gifts: kudos to Blevins, Purkey
Chesapeake Del. John Cosgrove led the list of Hampton Roads legislators in receiving gifts last year, according to this report. But I’m not going to gig him on that: the France trip, included in the gifts he reported, convinced him that uranium mining “is probably not in the best interest of Hampton Roads.” So there … Continue reading
Why I am no longer pink
At a meeting this weekend a person I respect quite a bit asked why did people get so involved in the Komen/Planned Parenthood clash this week. There were many petitions both ways. So why now? This is my answer to her on my personal reason why I am no longer supporting the Komen foundation. I … Continue reading
Weekend roundup 02/04/12
A quick look at some of the stories and other stuff from the past week. Scott Rigell disavows tax pledge 2nd Congressional district representative Scott Rigell has stepped away from his no-taxes pledge. Needless to say, there are some folks who are unhappy about that, including two letters printed in today’s paper (1, 2). There’s … Continue reading
RIP Uncle Pete
Peter G. Decker, Jr., Norfolk lawyer, judge and philanthropist, has died. My condolences to the family. I think everyone has a favorite Uncle Pete story. Mine is the recording provided to me by pianist Pat Curtis, who worked with Decker on it. Decker sang “My Funny Valentine,” and it was amazing.
Sign the petition, please
My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian-Pilot Wednesday. In it, I urge the voters in Norfolk to sign the petition to place on the ballot the question of whether Norfolk should have an elected school board. I don’t believe it can be said too many times: the issue right now is to get … Continue reading
Video: you go, Janet!
If you haven’t seen the video of the floor amendment offered by Sen. Janet Howell to the ultrasound bill, check it out below.
NPS meeting tonight on budget
The Norfolk Public Schools will hold a meeting this evening to “discuss the community’s educational priorities in the development of NPS’ Fiscal Year 2013 budget,” according to the website. The meeting will begin at 6:30pm at Norview High School, located at 6501 Chesapeake Blvd. I understand the format of tonight’s meeting was changed last night … Continue reading
Wimps
That would be the Norfolk City Council, save councilman Tommy Smiegel. I may have to go back to referring to them as the seven bumps on a log. In an article today, Smigiel, in his first term on council and a contributor to this blog, stands alone in wanting his colleagues to pursue some kind … Continue reading
The politics of personal destruction
Matthew Geary, former candidate for Commonwealth’s Attorney in Henrico, dead of apparent suicide: Geary’s campaign ran into trouble after a highly orchestrated attack on his character by Republican leaders, including U.S. Rep. Eric Cantor, R-7th. The leaders revealed that Geary had engaged in an affair with a married woman in recent years. I watched this … Continue reading
SM
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