Category: Local

Raise revenue without raising taxes?

The last time I heard anyone say something about increasing revenue without raising taxes, I looked at them as if they had grown horns. (I can't recall the legislator, but it was during LG Bill Bolling's blogger's day a couple of years ago. And yes, he got legislation passed that fills the coffers of Virginia … Continue reading Raise revenue without raising taxes? →

Finagling the lines

My latest op-ed appeared in Wednesday's Virginian-Pilot with the above title. As I'm sure you can guess, the topic was that of redistricting, one which is pretty important to me. There have been a number of editorials written recently about redistricting - and I'm sure there will be many more in the coming months. We … Continue reading Finagling the lines →

Watch 9500 Liberty in Va. Beach Saturday

A local screening of the film, "9500 Liberty," is coming up this Saturday, September 4, at the Virginia Beach Central Library (4100 Virginia Beach Boulevard) at 10am. This documentary received 3 1/2 stars from film critic Roger Ebert when he screened in it Chicago.  I caught it earlier in Norfolk and it is an amazing … Continue reading Watch 9500 Liberty in Va. Beach Saturday →

Norfolk Commissioner: “She broke the public trust”

So says Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim of Commissioner of the Revenue Sharon McDonald. “Sharon felt once she had a travel budget, it was an entitlement,” he said. “There is no logical justification for the ... hundreds of hotel room stays, hundreds and hundreds of meals, gifts, et cetera. The council no longer has faith in … Continue reading Norfolk Commissioner: “She broke the public trust” →

Portsmouth civic league playing favorites?

There is a special election in Portsmouth in November for mayor. Eight people have filed, and are making the rounds to introduce themselves to the voters. I get a lot of emails and phone calls from candidates and campaigns in the region. One email I received recently disturbed me. Apparently, one of the mayoral candidates … Continue reading Portsmouth civic league playing favorites? →

Rules, but no laws, broken Commish credit card use

According to The Virginian-Pilot, Norfolk Commissioner of the Revenue Sharon McDonald "did not break any laws" in her use of a city credit card but she did not follow the rules regarding the use of credit cards. The audit looked at credit card transactions beginning in July 2005. Of the more than $80,000 in purchases, … Continue reading Rules, but no laws, broken Commish credit card use →

Cuccinelli UVA subpoena quashed

First reported in the Daily Progress,  Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's subpoena of records from UVA regarding climate change researcher Michael Mann's records has been quashed. Other reports from the Virginian-Pilot, Roanoke Times and the Washington Post offer different points on the effect of the ruling, which can be viewed below.

Transportation op-eds from Deeds, Light

The Virginian-Pilot this morning printed two op-eds about transportation. The first, from Senator Creigh Deeds, takes Governor Bob McDonnell to task for not fulfilling his campaign promise to tackle transportation. Deeds writes: The one-term feature of the governorship means a governor’s political capital is greatest the first year. McDonnell understands that, and it is why … Continue reading Transportation op-eds from Deeds, Light →

2nd CD race to the bottom

I'm convinced that the Republican and Democratic candidates in the 2nd Congressional District are competing to see which of them can alienate the most people. First we have Democratic incumbent Glenn Nye releasing a campaign ad in which he purports to be an "independent voice," brags that he has voted against health care reform and … Continue reading 2nd CD race to the bottom →