By Tommy Smigiel
Norfolk government managed to stay out of the headlines this past week for controversial matters. It was nice to read a positive story this weekend. I was happy to hear that the Jacoby Development Group finalized plans for the old Ford Motor Company plant and announced that a Belgian logistics company will bring over 225 jobs back to Norfolk. This was a needed boost for Norfolk’s economy and I hope to hear more announcements this year for that location including some green energy jobs.
A friend recently sent me a link to an article titled How to Save Dying Cities. The article introduces a new book by Harvard economist Edward Glaeser called Triumph of the City. The subheadline of the article caught my attention: They don’t need light rail, downtown stadiums, or flashy new museums. They need smart people. The book discusses how successful cities have invested in human capital. Read the article and let me know what you think. I might even purchase the book and try to find some time to read it.
Last week the city council meeting was cancelled, so this week brings a packed agenda with 16 regular items. I didn’t see anything on the agenda that needed additional attention. Click the informal meeting agenda link below to see what will be coming up on next week’s formal agenda. Remember, the City Manager’s office now gives council presentations on the big items one week before we vote on them formally.
I am expecting that council will be discussing redistricting for Wards and Superwards at an upcoming meeting. My preliminary numbers using census track data from the Virginian-Pilot and vpap.org shows that Ward 5 (the Ward I represent), will be short approximately 5,000 people of the 48,500 people per ward divide. This is the largest gap for any of the Wards. Ward 1, represented by Councilman Andy Protogyrou, gained significant numbers because of military population growth. Ward 2, represented by Councilwoman Theresa Whibley, gained population because of growth downtown. Looks like Ward 5 will be expanding west. I’ll keep you updated as more accurate numbers are released.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Great article Tommy!
There may not have been headlines in the paper, but there was much conversation on the street about Norfolk.
Lots about the CSB and its handling of many matters. Many people think the whole board should be replaced. I think most should. Too soon for me to tell regarding Conde, Walsh and Hovland. But Conde seems like a keeper, for sure.
You guys need to start exercising some leadership over the job done by the boards you select. If they ain’t doing the job, move them out. Don’t they serve “at the pleasure” of council?
Thanks for the update as always. I’m glad to hear redistricting is on the table, perhaps it will lead to them tackling the issues you brought up about school attendance zones.
Here’s a little fun fact about the school board;
Of the 7 members, they live in only 3 wards.
Maybe redistricting can solve some of that, because it’s not exactly something the city should be proud of. If you are going to appoint people, at least get a cross-section of the city. 2 live within a block of one another…
Max, which ward is unrepresented?
As you can see on the map linked below, the members live in wards 2,4, and 5. That leaves wards 1 and 3 unrepresented. Given that Board Chair Dr. Kirk Houston has his residence online listed as his church, it is possible that he does not live in the ward shown on the map.
Looks like Williams and Burfoot messed up. Thanks for the info
Please let us not pursue a racially gerrymandered school board akin to the racially gerrymandered council ward system. Where board members live always mattered more to me re: the Planning Commission or NRHA Board, than it did the school board. Although, there is history and sometimes ongoing action that appears to favor one side of town over another. Norfolk is too small to keep looking for ways to divide us into more fractions (yes I meant fractions not factions).
State law says that an elected school board would use the same boundaries as the city council wards.
I definitely agree that they shouldn’t be gerrymandered.
Here’s the C Student Approach to reviving a city like Ocean View:
http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/shore-bet/6qvzss2?wa=wsignin1.0
Tommy, great servant leadership! Keep keeping those you serve informed. I will pick up the book for reading over here when I can. I try to stay abreast of what’s happening in our fair city. We do need to focus on the bigger picture of making Norfolk better for All. I like the “Save Norfolk Schools” website but you and I both know that it is more than an elected board, which I am open to, that will make the changes we need in NPS. BTW, my research into great cities shows that cities that absolutely support their schools are cities that are on the rise! Keep doing what you are doing!
Billy C
Did you mean “Save Norfolk Schools” or “Fix Norfolk Schools?”
I agree it’s not just an elected school board, but during elections people put forward ideas to solve problems. It’s the process of going from an elected to appointed school board and the conversation that happens because of it that will move us toward a better school system.
Some of the reforms needed may never happen unless they are brought up in an election and given a mandate from the people to implement.
Petitioning for an elected school board isn’t new. And I am not opposed to an elected school board. However, we have local elections all the time with abysmal turnout and the conversation that happens during the election cycle doesn’t necessarily put forward innovative ideas or mandates from the people.
The biggest challenges faced by Norfolk Public Schools aren’t necessarily rooted in an appointed versus elected school board. They are rooted in our divide-and-conquer approach to public policy (west side/north side/east side/south side — protect my children at the expense of the whole) and too many children not coming to school ready to learn supported by engaged parents and then concentrated in high poverty, racially isolated schools brought on by the aforementioned challenge.
Billy – glad to hear from you. Thanks for your support from overseas. Thank you for serving our country!
I am glad to see Mr. Cook is keeping in touch and current. Thanks. I wish you were still on the school board. Though you and I whether or not it should be elected.
Rodney, your point is well taken. The quality of the board member should be paramount compared to where he lives. The choice should be based on skill sets needed, for all the board. As well as making sure all those needed skill sets exist on the board as a whole.
I’d be happy with fewer factions, too.
should have been “you and I differ on whether…”