Reminder: posts by email

Just a quick reminder to those of you who receive the blog posts via email through the Feedburner subscription service: your email doesn't reflect who is writing the post. Consider signing up for the newer service here, which shows that information. The newer option gives you more choices, too, including how often you receive the … Continue reading Reminder: posts by email →

Candidates’ list: Norfolk City Council

On May 1, voters in Norfolk will elect two members of the eight-member city council. Norfolk employs a ward system. This election covers the two superwards, which each represent half of the city. Norfolk, like other Virginia localities, adopted a redistricting plan last year. The plan, approved by the U.S. Justice Department, moves a single … Continue reading Candidates’ list: Norfolk City Council →

Friday fun: are you a wimp?

Two things in today's paper that made me choose this quiz. First there was this article on the southside mayors and their stances on the upcoming tolls. They gathered yesterday at Regent University as part of the  Executive Leadership Series. (Sometimes, the jokes just write themselves.) Then we had this letter to the editor, in which the … Continue reading Friday fun: are you a wimp? →

Have we as a nation lost our civility?

I am sure most people have seen the YouTube video of Governor Christie belittling a an Ex-Navy Seal and current law student then having him removed from a town hall. William Brown, the Ex-Navy Seal, was there to address Governor Christie on the merger of two of New Jerseys colleges. Governor Christie later said he … Continue reading Have we as a nation lost our civility? →

A well-deserved F

My latest op-ed appeared in The Virginian-Pilot Wednesday.* In it, I write about the report on the risk of corruption in our state. The accountants out there will recognize the language that I chose to use in describing what the risks entail: Virginia lacks the systems necessary to ensure that corruption doesn't happen, so much … Continue reading A well-deserved F →

Pitts on Trayvon Martin: the invisible man

Leonard Pitts of the Miami Herald captured in this article some of my thoughts on the shooting of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. For every African American, it comes as surely as hard times, setback and tears, that moment when you realize somebody is looking right at you and yet, not seeing you – as if you … Continue reading Pitts on Trayvon Martin: the invisible man →

Cumberland County hires Administrator/County Attorney

Last week, Cumberland County became just the second jurisdiction to have a dual-role administrator and county attorney in Virginia. After many meetings, most of them with a closed meeting beforehand, the vote was 3-2 to accept the counteroffer from Vivian Giles, to accept the positions of County Attorney and County Administrator. In the past, it … Continue reading Cumberland County hires Administrator/County Attorney →

Why we should be glad some people just don’t get over it

This past week Frank Ottofaro of Hampton passed away.  Many people in Hampton know that name because the fight he has had with the City of Hampton pertaining to eminent domain for the last decade. Mr. Ottofaro had a rental house that was taken by the city to build the power plant (Bass Pro, Lowes, … Continue reading Why we should be glad some people just don’t get over it →

Nix the tunnel toll deal

Virginia Beach leadership may not care about the tolls but their citizens do. Portsmouth is not alone in this fight. Del. Kenny Alexander, whose district is in Norfolk but who owns a business in Portsmouth, is considering a lawsuit and has teamed up with Patrick McSweeney. Del. Chris Jones, who represents Suffolk, wants the state … Continue reading Nix the tunnel toll deal →

Behold, the green and gold!

A hearty congratulations to Norfolk State University for their big win over Missouri Friday. Despite the results of Sunday's game, the team did the region proud. And taught national broadcasters how to pronounce "Norfolk." 🙂