Super Tuesday over and here in Hampton, we have council elections coming up. However, I have become very discouraged by the political environment of recent years, for two reasons: the partisan political fighting and also the promises candidates make that they can not keep. When I go to a "meet the candidate" event, I have … Continue reading What I hope for in a candidate
The reality of the tolls being used to fund transportation projects in Hampton Roads is starting to hit home: A two-part series in The Virginian Pilot (1, 2), protests in Portsmouth, letters to the editor (one of the best of which was in today's paper and is not yet available online). Hampton Roads, particularly the … Continue reading Hampton Roads: the cul de sac of Virginia
Over the last couple years the City of Hampton has been trying to improve citizen participation in the budget process. Citizens of Hampton were initially upset because they said the city did not listen to their opinion on the budget. So Hampton started going out to different neighborhoods and taking computer key pad generated inputs … Continue reading Hampton trying to improve budget input from citizens
Old Dominion University announced last week that it will become the third university in Virginia to offer dedicated housing to LBGT students and their supporters. From the article: Lowman said having special living quarters doesn't mean gay and lesbian students are seeking to close themselves off from the rest of campus. Rather, he said, it … Continue reading Opinion, please: segregated housing
The Wason Center for Public Policy has released, in two parts, the results of its latest survey of Virginia voters on the topics of Republican Presidential primary, presidential election, U.S. Senate election, and the General Assembly. Key horserace findings: Allen and Kaine are tied Obama trails Romney and Santorum, beats Gingrich, and ties Paul Hope … Continue reading New survey of Virginia voters
An occasional sharing of the email I receive. My column from two weeks ago prompted the following email, which I received yesterday: I am responding to your column on February 8,'12 in The Virginian-Pilot that I consider a very one sided view of a very dark period in Virginian history that the victorious North euphemistically … Continue reading From the mailbag 02/20/12
It is Black History Month.Unfortunately, some of that history may very well be lost as the result of actions by a grandson of slaves, former governor Doug Wilder. If you haven't kept up with what's been happening with the proposed slave museum, this Washington Post article, reprinted in today's Virginian-Pilot, gives a lot of the … Continue reading Wilder’s slavery museum: a mess
My Senator, Ralph Northam, spoke about the pre-abortion ultrasound bill, SB484, on the floor of the Senate. One of the points I'd make is the invasive nature of transvaginal ultrasounds, which would be necessary in many cases. I've had such a procedure - and without going into too many details, let me just say it … Continue reading Go, Ralph, go!
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 Legislator gifts: kudos to Blevins, Purkey
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 Why I am no longer pink
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 