My latest op-ed appeared in Wednesday's Virginian-Pilot. Like so many things these days, no one seems to be taking the long-term view of what needs to be done to solve the problems in the school system. I was flabbergasted to read that the chair of the board is seeking short-term fixes when anyone who has … Continue reading On Norfolk’s superintendent mess
One of the things I love the most about this area are the various museums and foundations that have special events and speakers. Often they sponsor well know authors in for lectures and book signings. There are numerous variations in our area giving us the opportunity to learn about military, science, history , animals and … Continue reading A Thanksgiving Thought : Thankful for Museums
Two Norfolk universities - Old Dominion and Norfolk State - will face off Saturday in a first-round game of the Football Championship Subdivision playoffs. The game will kickoff at 1:30pm at Foreman Field, on the campus of ODU. I wish I could say that the two teams were cross-city rivals but they aren't. This will … Continue reading ODU vs NSU in football playoffs
Richard Bentley couldn't perform miracles in less than 16 months on the job so the board "accepted" his resignation. Really? Yeah, I'm not buying that, either. Word on the street is that certain people were upset that Bentley, obviously a white guy, was hired in the first place to run the majority black school system. … Continue reading Norfolk Public Schools superintendent out
I am hosting a town hall meeting November 3 (click on image to enlarge) on the issues of neighborhoods and schools. Joining me will be City Manager Marcus Jones and Norfolk Public Schools superintendent Dr. Richard Bentley. I hope you will find time in your busy schedules to join us at 6:30pm next Thursday, November … Continue reading Town Hall meeting Nov 3
There are many definitions of false equivalence floating around but the one I believe captures my understanding the best is this, from here: [W]hen when someone falsely equates an act or idea of one as being equally egregious to that of another without also considering the underlying differences which may make the comparison invalid or … Continue reading False equivalency
Sen. Ralph Northam has released his first campaign ad of the season. The ad is below. Also - head over and cast your vote in a this poll on PilotOnline.
It's that time again, when I try to pick who The Virginian-Pilot will endorse in the upcoming elections. As a guide, I refer you to this editorial from last year by editorial page editor Donald Luzzatto: If you read the editorial page regularly - and I hope you do - you probably have a good … Continue reading Predictions on Pilot endorsements
In case you missed it, Sunday's Virginian-Pilot had an on-point editorial about the latest happenings in Norfolk, as I pointed out in this post. The ending, though, was quite thought-provoking: But City Hall's propensity to hide problems rather than acknowledging them begs one unavoidable question: What other troubles lurk in the city's shadows? What, indeed.
My latest op-ed, title above, appeared in Wednesday's Virginian-Pilot. As if on cue, also included in Wednesday's paper was a report on the state's investigation of the death of a trash truck driver. For me, the issue wasn't that the report found 19 serious violations, although that certainly is cause for concern. The issue was … Continue reading Leadership in Norfolk: absent again
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 