The Virginian-Pilot confirms today what I’ve heard about tonight’s council meeting. There are apparently enough votes – five – to remove Paul Riddick from his largely ceremonial position as vice mayor. According to the Pilot, the replacement will be Ward 3 councilman Anthony Burfoot.
Why Burfoot, you ask? Well, that would be because there is an unwritten rule that the vice mayor be black. See, you just can’t get away from the racial undertones of everything in this city. Pretending that these things don’t exist doesn’t make it so.
As for why not former vice mayor Daun Hester? Well, the majority on council is still punishing her for something. Exactly what is not clear. At the time, things such as her support for the 4-2-1 mayoral plan and her support of a challenger to Riddick, among others, were offered as reasons. I’m still not buying that. Perhaps the mayoral plan situation tipped the scales but months before the vote, I had heard that she was going to be ousted.
If council removes Riddick, Daun Hester should be the vice mayor. Whatever personal beefs they have with her need to be set aside for the good of Norfolk. Hester served honorably and admirably as vice mayor and deserves to serve again. Councilman Burfoot – who was accused at one point of impersonating a Chesapeake councilman, who is running Ward 3 like the political bosses of old, and who, perhaps, doesn’t even live in Norfolk – simply does not measure up.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Let us know what happens.
the people that put him as vice-mayor shoud have the guts to stand with the choice they made good or bad, let mr. riddick finish his term.
This racist shouldn’t even BE on City Council – can you just imagine if the races involved were different in this case?
Imagine the screeeeaming to terminate a white city council member that dared to throw around such outlandish racist charges against a black police department – or accuse other sitting black city council members of racism and advocating segregation for school kids?
Where are those that support the General Assembly’s “apology” and “atonement” for slavery clamoring for Mr. Riddick to apologize and atone for his racist hate speech?
. . .chirp chirp … (can you here the silence and the crickets chirping?)
I have read many opinions on many blogs from many folks claiming to be “black” that repeat a common mantra about Riddick the Racist – they defend Riddick by saying; he’s just saying what a lot of blacks think! Leave him alone.
Odd, when a GA Delegate expresses what many of his constituents think about the bogus political apology for ‘slavery” , suddenly the argument that the “representative” is simply voicing the views of his constituency seems to simply vanish.
Race-baiting hypocrisy in action.
Vivian, you have supported Riddick in the past. Please pardon me if I’ve missed something, but do you still? I know you posted that he should choose his battles and I totally agree, some of his rhetoric has been right on the money, but I honestly think he has just gone way too far now. I believe that his latest comments are so inflammatory that they endanger many citizens, civilians and police alike. I just don’t know what to do with that; it’s very troubling. He has his good points, but what he’s said lately is just frightening to me.
I AM glad that a recall is off the table. That would have just made the situation very much worse. But he doesn’t need to be in an honorary position such as vice-mayor, IMHO.
I agree with you about Daun Hester. The underside of the goings-on on the city council is appalling. Thank you for your role in exposing it. I guess this is just the way of politics, but it’s clearly an exercise in head-beating-against-the-wall to fantasize that those charged with the good of society actually HAVE that at interest. Very discouraging.
Reid – you don’t live in Norfolk, don’t vote in Norfolk and should really pay a bit more attention to the goings on of VB that spew that racist BS. How about looking at the number of blacks on VB city council? Oh wait – there aren’t any!
Riddick was elected by the citizens of Ward 4. Don’t like it? Move to Ward 4 and run against him.
Pat – I support Riddick’s (and anybody’s) right to free speech. Take a look at this blog – that I tolerate the nature of the the postings that I do is evident. Further, Riddick says what a lot of people think – and either don’t have a voice to say or are unwilling to say it. Does that create problems for him? Yes. Should he be more tactful about how he says it? Yes.
But look overall at what’s going on. The bottom line is that this isn’t about Riddick – it’s about the appearance that things are OK in Norfolk if we just put another black in as VM. Well, things aren’t OK. If they were, we wouldn’t be having this discussion.
Okay VIvian, I understand what you are saying – and I think I was saying something similar, or meant to be, with my comment about wishing that those charged with furthering the good of society actually have that at heart instead of their own personal political goals.
Clearly the racial stuff bubbling under the surface is a huge issue, I agree. I wish I had a thought towards a solution. While Riddick has brought to the forefront very important issues that need to be addressed and it’s good that he is in a position to command attention for them, I can’t help but think his very latest statements take us backwards.
I want a dialogue on Institutional Racism in Norfolk to begin. Actually, if you really want to know what is going on in this town, you need to be thinking in economic terms. Racism in Norfolk is economic discrimination against both blacks and whites kept in place by promoting racial discrimination.
Vivian, ohhh – I see, if the elected representative isn’t mine then I shouldn’t comment and discuss whatever racist comments they make??? Nor should I express my opinion on your blog that I feel they are unfit to be a true representative because of their outspoken racist prejudice and failure to exercise good judgment and proper public decorum? Especially a Vice-Mayor of a major city in our Commonwealth?
Really?
Gee, how funny, I don’t believe that that Del. Frank D. Hargrove Sr. represents your district, does he Vivian? Or have you moved to Alexandria?
Yet, I don’t recall anyone rudely telling you that you shouldn’t discuss his racists remarks because he’s not from your city/district/ward did they?
Certainly I did not.
Did anyone tell YOU that if you don’t like what Del. Hargrove said then YOU should move to Alexandria and run against him?
I don’t recall reading such a rude comment directed toward you.
I just want to understand why you would fail to treat ME the same as others treated YOU when you commented on an elected representatives and his outlandish racist remarks – an elected representative that represents a city which YOU do not live in?
Vivian, I have far too much respect for you witness you resorting to such petty “debating” tactics with me. How about debating what I stated about the issue – instead of attacking me because of where I do not live?
First of all, comparing a councilman to a delegate is apples and oranges. What Riddick says can’t affect you – no way, shape or form – while the Del. Hargrove can affect all of us.
Second – the racist drivel that you and others spew here and across the internet is so far over the top that I’m flat out sick of it. You and the others like you have no respect, no compassion, no understanding for anything beyond the end of your own noses. On top of that, you demonstrate an appalling ignorance of the issues of race and are unwilling – or perhaps unable – to carry on a conversation without being far more than rude.
Perfectly said.
I love seeing Reid put in his (low) place.
Uhm, maybe I missed it.
What “racist drivel” did Reid “spew?”
Odd to see someone proclaim she is “flat out sick of it” and call someone else rude.
I stand by my assertion that it was planned. Punish Hester, put Riddick in as Vice Mayor, kick him out for something everyone knew he was bound to say, and put in Hester’s friend, Burfoot. Do it that way and any hard feelings between Hester and Burfoot are deflected.
Vivian, as for Riddick, no matter what prompted his statement regarding police harrassing black males, his statement was a matter of documented fact. HELLO NORFOLK! A black police officer was shot in the back SIX times by a white officer and NO ONE was held accountable??? The night an officer was shot in Park Place two years ago, police had any black male, despite the fact they did not meet the description, face down on the ground, be it a grassy knoll, sidewalk pavement or street asphalt. Alton Robinson was harrassed in front of his young children the very day he spoke at city council regarding Officer Darden’s autopsy report not being made public. COME ON! Racism is alive and well and thriving in Norfolk whether we want to see it or not.
Yeah, Brian, you missed it. By a mile.