Norfolk
Norfolk public hearing tonight
Another public hearing is scheduled for tonight (6pm, Granby HS) for Norfolk residents. This hearing will cover the additional two-cent increase in the real estate tax rate. Combined, Norfolk’s rate will rise by four cents, to $1.15 per $100 of assessed value. I plan to attend, if for no other reason than to hear what … Continue reading
Norfolk heading for a 4-cent increase in real estate tax rate
According to The Virginian-Pilot’s Jill Nolan, Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim has the five votes necessary for an 4-cent increase in the real estate tax rate. I guess we can’t complain – Hampton is looking at as much as a 23-cent increase. I’m not completely sold on the need for the additional two cents, although I … Continue reading
But it’s for the children!
Norfolk held a hearing tonight on the proposed 2-cent increase in the real estate tax rate for school construction. Hearing from the parents of children in our schools, most notably Larchmont and Ocean View Elementary Schools, was just heart-wrenching. How our schools ended up in such disrepair is beyond me. None of the speakers were … Continue reading
ICYMI: Leaders in reverse
My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian-Pilot last Friday. Of all 43 speakers at last Wednesday’s public hearing on the budget, it was the comments of longtime civic activist, Alton Robinson, that resonated the most. Either council is unaware – or doesn’t care – that the optics of putting $89 million into the … Continue reading
Reminder: Norfolk budget hearing tonight
The public hearing on the Norfolk budget will be at 6pm tonight at Granby High School. Be there!
ICYMI: Norfolk’s 630-page rush
My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian-Pilot last Thursday. Norfolk released its budget last Tuesday and the single public hearing on it is coming up this Wednesday evening at 6pm at Granby High School. A separate public hearing will be held on May 1 – same time, same location – to discuss the … Continue reading
Norfolk: it’s budget time
City manager Marcus Jones presented his FY 2012 budget to council Tuesday afternoon. The presentation is below. A better copy of the slides used in the presentation can be found here. And the budget itself is here. Council will hold a public hearing on the budget on April 24. Separately, council will hold a public … Continue reading
ICYMI: Where was the civic engagement?
My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian-Pilot Thursday. The topic was the public hearing held Tuesday evening as a part of the Norfolk City Council meeting. I wasn’t able to physically be there – because of my teaching schedule this semester – but I rushed home to watch the live stream.(Entire video below.) … Continue reading
Slow down, Norfolk
I’m not sure what the rush is to sign an agreement to build a hotel-conference center in Norfolk. I mean – it’s not as if we haven’t already waited ten years for other things to happen, most notably for the market to improve. Tomorrow, Council will hold a public hearing, followed by a vote on … Continue reading
ICYMI: Big plans in need of big explanations
My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian-Pilot Thursday. In it, I address the effects on Norfolk’s bonding capacity as they take on a new hotel-convention center while simultaneously trying to raise taxes for schools, the cost of which is in excess of $100 million. The last time Norfolk was worried about its bonding … Continue reading
Sunshine Week: March 10 – 16
“Open government is good government.” Seems some of our elected representatives tend to forget that. This legislative recap from the Virginia Coalition for Open Government gives you an idea of why I say that, at least as it applies to Virginia. An editorial in Sunday’s Virginian-Pilot raises the issue that the Norfolk Council needs to … Continue reading
ICYMI: Fending off discriminatory voting practices
My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in The Virginian Pilot Thursday. In it, I discuss the Voting Rights Act of 1965, a part of history that temporarily remains as an effort to keep discriminatory voting practices from occurring. Section 5 of the VRA is being challenged in the Supreme Court, in the case Shelby County … Continue reading
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