A lawsuit has been filed in Federal Court to overturn Norfolk's elected mayor, according to this article in The Virginian Pilot. The argument? At-large election of the mayor is discriminatory. [Roy] Perry-Bey said he is basing his claim on a 1990 Supreme Court case that ordered Norfolk to abandon at-large elections for council in favor … Continue reading A day late and a couple of votes short
Category: Norfolk
Want to go to Denver? Important dates
The process of determining who the delegates from Virginia will be to the Democratic National Convention is underway. Locally, the 2nd district convention will be held May 17. The 3rd district convention will be May 10 in Newport News. The DPVA has released this guide (doc) to explain the delegate selection process and help guide … Continue reading Want to go to Denver? Important dates
Media bias
Sunday's Virginian Pilot had an article by relatively new public editor Joyce Hoffman regarding the news coverage by the Pilot of Barack Obama. In it, she says that the paper has been biased in favor of the junior Senator from Illinois. ...on the national scene the press in general has made Obama a media darling. … Continue reading Media bias
Calling it like it is
Friday's editorial in The Virginian Pilot focused on the recent call for a strong mayor form of government in Norfolk as well as the results of a recent survey. At the center of both is Councilman Randy Wright. No "survey" can undo any of that progress, especially one done by a single-issue advocacy group, Norfolk … Continue reading Calling it like it is
Survey says: only one Norfolk council member gets passing grade
The Norfolk Tea Party 2 provided the results of its recent survey at Saturday morning's meeting, according to this article by the Virginian Pilot. The group sent out 10,000 surveys (the survey form is here (doc)) and approximately 1,000 of them were returned. Seems the only person the respondents felt was doing a good job … Continue reading Survey says: only one Norfolk council member gets passing grade
Bill highlight: SJ23 – celebrating the life of Herbert M. Collins Sr.
WHEREAS, Herbert M. Collins, Sr., of Norfolk, revered citizen, former city council member, and noted voting rights activist who helped bring about the ward system in Norfolk, died on June 17, 2007; and WHEREAS, a lifelong resident of Norfolk, Herbert Collins grew up in the city, attended Norfolk Public Schools, and was a graduate of … Continue reading Bill highlight: SJ23 – celebrating the life of Herbert M. Collins Sr.
Norfolk strong mayor? Um, no
Saturday's Virginian Pilot had an article floating the idea of a strong mayor form of government for the city. Currently, Norfolk utilizes the city manager form of government. According to Wikipedia, this type of government "is used in the majority of American cities with populations over 12,000." In the council-manager form of government, an elected … Continue reading Norfolk strong mayor? Um, no
NTP2 meeting Saturday, 9am
The Norfolk Tea Party 2 is having a meeting Saturday morning (2/16) at 9am at The Banque at 1849 E. Little Creek Road. The results of the recent survey will be presented along with an update on the homestead exemption by Del. Paula Miller and Sen. Ralph Northam. Doors open at 8:30.
Thursday update (02/07): Real estate tax relief
Weekly update of my legislative agenda issue. Much of the work on this issue was done prior to last week's posting, with the House having passed the 20% homestead exemption for the second time as well as the bill to put it on the ballot. The only constitutional amendment bill on the Senate side, SB9, … Continue reading Thursday update (02/07): Real estate tax relief
The Women of the Virginia Senate
The Virginian Pilot today has an article about the women of the Virginia Senate. Senior among them is Norfolk's own Yvonne Miller, who has served the in Senate since 1988 and is the third ranking senator in the legislature in terms of seniority. There are eight women in the Senate and all seven Democratic women … Continue reading The Women of the Virginia Senate
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 