Category: Local

Norfolk Commissioner’s and Treasurer’s offices

Guest post by Douglas E. Knack Beat up on the Commissioner of the Revenue’s and the Treasurer’s offices in Norfolk season must have begun again. A recent newspaper had fraternal twin stories about them. What I took away from these stories is threefold. >" /> First, both offices are dysfunctional. Why is it that the … Continue reading Norfolk Commissioner’s and Treasurer’s offices →

A deficit hawk in a hurricane

This cartoon accompanied my latest op-ed, title above, which appeared in The Virginian-Pilot Wednesday. Since it was published, we've learned that Majority Leader Eric Cantor "voted against an amendment to an emergency supplemental bill for disaster aid that would have 'fully offset' the cost of that supplemental with 'a proportional reduction of FY05 discretionary funding' … Continue reading A deficit hawk in a hurricane →

Opinion, please: should she resign?

Virginia Beach school board member Sandra Smith-Jones is taking a position in Saudi Arabia. As the result, she announced a few weeks ago that she would be stepping down from the school board. The elected board would have 45 days from her resignation to name a replacement. She has apparently changed her mind. In an … Continue reading Opinion, please: should she resign? →

Why I no longer read the Whipple Clips

I don't know when I first became aware of the Whipple Clips. Before I was a subscriber, I had a friend who would forward his to me each day. Finding it so useful, I finally asked for my own subscription. Compiled each morning by Tom Whipple, husband of retiring state Senator Mary Margaret Whipple, I … Continue reading Why I no longer read the Whipple Clips →

You’re invited: Scott Labor Day picnic

Don't miss the biggest party of the year, Congressman Bobby Scott's Labor Day picnic. This is always the premiere political event in Hampton Roads, with attendees coming from all over. Here's my report on last year's event. For more info, or to RSVP, check out this Facebook page.

Cut spending, but not defense or entitlements

I'm not really surprised that a poll by ODU and The Virginia Pilot found that a lot of people want spending cuts but not in areas that affect them, are you? There's really a simple answer to the deficit, one that Congressman Bobby Scott has been saying for a while now: let the Bush-era tax … Continue reading Cut spending, but not defense or entitlements →

Goodbye, Irene

The comparisons to Isabel were made by many during the days preceding the arrival of Hurricane Isabel. In that storm, I lost eight trees on my roughly one acre lot. The ground was so saturated from the rain that they literally came up by the roots. This year, I only lost one, down at the … Continue reading Goodbye, Irene →

Fire, earth, wind: Hampton Roads prepares

No, it's not the name of a new soul group, just what Hampton Roads has been experiencing and is about to experience. First, we've been dealing with the effects of the Great Dismal Swamp National Wildlife Refuge fire, which is currently just 35% contained.. Then there was the earthquake. Now we're facing Hurricane Irene, currently … Continue reading Fire, earth, wind: Hampton Roads prepares →

Surplus? What surplus?

My latest op-ed appeared in The Virginian-Pilot Thursday. For those who just read it online, you missed how the article was presented: side-by-side with this Cal Thomas piece touting it with a picture of our governor, Bob McDonnell, in the middle. Some thought I was taking on Thomas, but in truth, I hadn't seen his … Continue reading Surplus? What surplus? →