New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner has died of a heart attack. Love him or hate him, you couldn't ignore him.
I was no Steinbrenner fan, but was saddened by his passing. Over the past 35 years, no Major League Baseball owner has had a greater impact on the sport, bar none. His fingerprints are all over what baseball is today, for better or for worse. Watching a Yankees game on television wasn't complete without seeing the shots of Steinbrenner in his box.
This afternoon, a customer came into where I work wearing a Yankees hat. When I broke the news to him, he was in disbelief.
Rest In Peace, George.
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Remedial Math Needed
On Wednesday the Executive Committee of the Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads (TDCHR) voted to postpone the fare increase process at Hampton Roads Transit (HRT). While this probably kills a fare increase in 2010, the decision still needs to be ratified by the full Commission at it's July 22 meeting. The rationale given for the decision was that HRT wanted to explore making greater efficiencies first.
The fundamental problem is that the decision assumes enough can be found in efficiencies to meet both current budgetary needs and more Operator compensation in a new contract with the union. Staff has already documented HRT's structural financial problems, and it appeared the Commission was leaning towards raising fares to $2.
The issue I haven't heard addressed in the context of the fare review is the Operators' union contract, which expired July 1. Last time it went to arbitration, and the Operators were awarded a 3% raise each year for three years.
Does anyone seriously believe enough in efficiencies can be found to cover both the structural budgetary problems and larger Operator compensation? If not, why does the fare increase process keep getting pushed back? First the increase was to be on July 1, then November 1. The Executive Committee action would push any increase into 2011. This thing is running later than the Route 15 at rush hour!
Theoretically, the Commission could reject the Executive Committee recommendation and proceed with the fare increase process on schedule. However, in all the TDCHR meetings I've been to, I've never seen a committee request voted down. (Occasionally amended or sent back to committee.)
While Wednesday's vote may have been politically expedient, it makes little fiscal sense. The more prudent course would be to continue the fare increase process on schedule while pursuing greater efficiencies on a parallel track.
The fundamental problem is that the decision assumes enough can be found in efficiencies to meet both current budgetary needs and more Operator compensation in a new contract with the union. Staff has already documented HRT's structural financial problems, and it appeared the Commission was leaning towards raising fares to $2.
The issue I haven't heard addressed in the context of the fare review is the Operators' union contract, which expired July 1. Last time it went to arbitration, and the Operators were awarded a 3% raise each year for three years.
Does anyone seriously believe enough in efficiencies can be found to cover both the structural budgetary problems and larger Operator compensation? If not, why does the fare increase process keep getting pushed back? First the increase was to be on July 1, then November 1. The Executive Committee action would push any increase into 2011. This thing is running later than the Route 15 at rush hour!
Theoretically, the Commission could reject the Executive Committee recommendation and proceed with the fare increase process on schedule. However, in all the TDCHR meetings I've been to, I've never seen a committee request voted down. (Occasionally amended or sent back to committee.)
While Wednesday's vote may have been politically expedient, it makes little fiscal sense. The more prudent course would be to continue the fare increase process on schedule while pursuing greater efficiencies on a parallel track.
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Future Shock
This morning I attended the meeting of the TPO's Transportation Technical Advisory Committee (TTAC). TTAC is so absurdly dry that I don't blog on the meetings as such. (Ever listen to two hours plus of a roomful of engineers talking about transportation projects?) However, this morning there was a Presentation on the TPO's ongoing Congestion Management Process (CMP) that was a cold bucket of water in the face. A couple things from it that should sound alarm bells:
1. By 2030 virtually all of Hampton Roads' interstate network will be Severely Congested, at Grades E or F. The kicker: even that forecast is based on all of the road projects in the current 2030 Plan being completed by then. (Uh...I don't think so.)
For those who think no one will ride light rail, they will within a generation. We need to have the trunk lines of a regional light rail system on the ground by then.
2. For all of the talk about the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT), better pay more attention to the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel (MMBT). The MMBT's rush hour volumes are within 10%-12% of the HRBT, as it simply manages it better given that there are fewer ramps near the facility. Also, MMBT traffic overall is growing 4%-5% annually.
You can no longer speak of The Third Crossing as a "want". It's definitely a need. Expanding the HRBT alone would face having it constrained by the same interchanges that give it more problems than the MMBT today.
1. By 2030 virtually all of Hampton Roads' interstate network will be Severely Congested, at Grades E or F. The kicker: even that forecast is based on all of the road projects in the current 2030 Plan being completed by then. (Uh...I don't think so.)
For those who think no one will ride light rail, they will within a generation. We need to have the trunk lines of a regional light rail system on the ground by then.
2. For all of the talk about the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT), better pay more attention to the Monitor-Merrimac Bridge-Tunnel (MMBT). The MMBT's rush hour volumes are within 10%-12% of the HRBT, as it simply manages it better given that there are fewer ramps near the facility. Also, MMBT traffic overall is growing 4%-5% annually.
You can no longer speak of The Third Crossing as a "want". It's definitely a need. Expanding the HRBT alone would face having it constrained by the same interchanges that give it more problems than the MMBT today.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Ballot Petition Fiasco Aftermath
Events continue to unfold in the aftermath of the failed attempt to petition a light rail referendum question onto the November ballot.
"We obviously didn't get our message out. Virginia Beach can and should continue to live by 1950s transportation and land planning models forever and ever," said Robert Dean, Maximum Leader of the Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA). "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some shopping to do. It's going to take plenty of Kool-Aid to keep the sycophants in line after this debacle."
Wally Erb was asked about the impact on his City Council candidacy. He stated, "It's not like any fewer people are going to vote for me than already were."
"We've spent so much time telling the taxpayers to say 'No' to everything that they even said 'No' to our petition drive," claimed VBTA Chairman John Moss. When questioned about whether the nutcases who comprise the bulk of the VBTA membership were a liability for his City Council campaign, Moss stated, "They may be kooks, but I need the title of VBTA Chairman to feel important."
Reid Greenmun went into hiding at an Ocean View cracktel, registering under the name "I.M. Barbaramessner". A prostitute who works the area was asked about him and replied, "Not only is he impotent, but all he does is keep blathering on about how his friend Harvey couldn't possible have been wrong about light rail."
In order to try to create a diversion from the massive embarrassment, Dean ordered hatchet sycophant Beth Allen to write a report "proving" that sunlight is a net fiscal drain on Virginia Beach taxpayers. When it was pointed out that 24 hours of darkness each day would be catastrophic to our Tourism and Agriculture industries, Beth stated, "The VBTA is on record wanting to devastate every local industry. Besides, everyone knows the VBTA prefers to stay in the dark."
Kerry Dougherty pledged to continue to push for a light rail referendum in both her columns and on her blog. She said, "I can write anything as ridiculous as I want, as no one at the newspaper has enough common sense to fire me."
Virginia Beach's Comprehensive Mental Health Services (CMHS) began preparing for defections of disillusioned VBTAers by setting up a temporary deprogramming center. Victims will be identifiable by the Kool-Aid stains plus being in a state of shock.
"We obviously didn't get our message out. Virginia Beach can and should continue to live by 1950s transportation and land planning models forever and ever," said Robert Dean, Maximum Leader of the Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA). "Now if you'll excuse me, I have some shopping to do. It's going to take plenty of Kool-Aid to keep the sycophants in line after this debacle."
Wally Erb was asked about the impact on his City Council candidacy. He stated, "It's not like any fewer people are going to vote for me than already were."
"We've spent so much time telling the taxpayers to say 'No' to everything that they even said 'No' to our petition drive," claimed VBTA Chairman John Moss. When questioned about whether the nutcases who comprise the bulk of the VBTA membership were a liability for his City Council campaign, Moss stated, "They may be kooks, but I need the title of VBTA Chairman to feel important."
Reid Greenmun went into hiding at an Ocean View cracktel, registering under the name "I.M. Barbaramessner". A prostitute who works the area was asked about him and replied, "Not only is he impotent, but all he does is keep blathering on about how his friend Harvey couldn't possible have been wrong about light rail."
In order to try to create a diversion from the massive embarrassment, Dean ordered hatchet sycophant Beth Allen to write a report "proving" that sunlight is a net fiscal drain on Virginia Beach taxpayers. When it was pointed out that 24 hours of darkness each day would be catastrophic to our Tourism and Agriculture industries, Beth stated, "The VBTA is on record wanting to devastate every local industry. Besides, everyone knows the VBTA prefers to stay in the dark."
Kerry Dougherty pledged to continue to push for a light rail referendum in both her columns and on her blog. She said, "I can write anything as ridiculous as I want, as no one at the newspaper has enough common sense to fire me."
Virginia Beach's Comprehensive Mental Health Services (CMHS) began preparing for defections of disillusioned VBTAers by setting up a temporary deprogramming center. Victims will be identifiable by the Kool-Aid stains plus being in a state of shock.
You're Ready For Some Football
57% said they'd buy Norfolk UFL single game tickets. In the previous poll, 8% said they'd buy season tickets, with 35% not attending at all.
The new question: do you approve of the 31st Street parking space swap?
The new question: do you approve of the 31st Street parking space swap?
Thursday, July 1, 2010
The VBTA Is Clinically Dead
I didn't think I'd be writing those words until after the November election. However, the colossal scale of their failure in trying to petition light rail onto the November ballot nearly defies description. They needed the valid signatures of 25,227 Virginia Beach voters. They received the signatures of only 1,083 of our 282,307 registered voters. That's only .38% signing their ballot petitions.
Even as outspoken critic of the VBTA as I am, I figured they could collect into the 6k-8k signature range. I feel like a German senior officer at the Battle of Tannenberg, stunned with a victory the size of which could never have been imagined.
I told you so. To complete such a herculean task as collecting 25,227 valid voter signatures, you need an army of volunteers. You have to have people at every public event that registered voters will show up at. When I rarely saw anyone collecting signatures, I knew the effort was doomed.
Most of all, it speaks volumes that they couldn't take advantage of the events at Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) this past Winter. They should have been able to go out and get signatures for the asking. That they failed to do so stands as proof positive that they have zero credibility.
What the "leadership" of the Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA) doesn't get is that Virginia Beach in 2010 is a starkly different place than the Virginia Beach of 1992, when John Moss and Robert Dean last won City Council seats. One of the most fundamental laws of nature is "Adapt or die". The VBTA arrogantly believed that the voters needed to adapt to them, and now they're going to politically die.
The VBTA is clinically dead. Wally Erb notes volunteers couldn't be mustered for the effort. Now what rational human being would write a check for them or their City Council candidates? I can hear it now, "I'm suppose to stroke a check...so you can get your 1,083 votes?!?" The VBTA may continue to linger on like CACI, which existed long after it was off everyone's radar screens and with most people thinking it had already folded. However, the VBTA is now a non-factor.
Hopefully, this now means that punting light rail to referendum is killed. Candidates might want to pander with populist rhetoric, but why promise a light rail referendum when 99.62% of voters have rejected one? Should the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) come back with the Virginia Beach extension being viable, the fundamental problem with putting it to referendum is that such a campaign would put conspiracy theories and prejudices ("No") on equal footing with real facts and actual needs ("Yes"). That's no way to write public policy!
Last Winter on Wally Erb's blog, I challenged light rail opponents to come up with a constructive and realistic plan to tackle the issues that light rail is designed to. The silence is deafening. Until there is such, light rail clearly falls under Margaret Thatcher's TINA (There Is No Alternative) Axiom.
Also, Wally Erb should withdraw from the Virginia Beach City Council At-Large race. After this debacle, he'd be a laughingstock on the campaign trail.
Opponents have accused supporters of trying to impose light rail on the residents of Virginia Beach. We now know the truth: it's the fringe right that wants to impose a light rail referendum on Virginia Beach voters whether they want it or not - and 99.62% of them don't.
Even as outspoken critic of the VBTA as I am, I figured they could collect into the 6k-8k signature range. I feel like a German senior officer at the Battle of Tannenberg, stunned with a victory the size of which could never have been imagined.
I told you so. To complete such a herculean task as collecting 25,227 valid voter signatures, you need an army of volunteers. You have to have people at every public event that registered voters will show up at. When I rarely saw anyone collecting signatures, I knew the effort was doomed.
Most of all, it speaks volumes that they couldn't take advantage of the events at Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) this past Winter. They should have been able to go out and get signatures for the asking. That they failed to do so stands as proof positive that they have zero credibility.
What the "leadership" of the Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA) doesn't get is that Virginia Beach in 2010 is a starkly different place than the Virginia Beach of 1992, when John Moss and Robert Dean last won City Council seats. One of the most fundamental laws of nature is "Adapt or die". The VBTA arrogantly believed that the voters needed to adapt to them, and now they're going to politically die.
The VBTA is clinically dead. Wally Erb notes volunteers couldn't be mustered for the effort. Now what rational human being would write a check for them or their City Council candidates? I can hear it now, "I'm suppose to stroke a check...so you can get your 1,083 votes?!?" The VBTA may continue to linger on like CACI, which existed long after it was off everyone's radar screens and with most people thinking it had already folded. However, the VBTA is now a non-factor.
Hopefully, this now means that punting light rail to referendum is killed. Candidates might want to pander with populist rhetoric, but why promise a light rail referendum when 99.62% of voters have rejected one? Should the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) come back with the Virginia Beach extension being viable, the fundamental problem with putting it to referendum is that such a campaign would put conspiracy theories and prejudices ("No") on equal footing with real facts and actual needs ("Yes"). That's no way to write public policy!
Last Winter on Wally Erb's blog, I challenged light rail opponents to come up with a constructive and realistic plan to tackle the issues that light rail is designed to. The silence is deafening. Until there is such, light rail clearly falls under Margaret Thatcher's TINA (There Is No Alternative) Axiom.
Also, Wally Erb should withdraw from the Virginia Beach City Council At-Large race. After this debacle, he'd be a laughingstock on the campaign trail.
Opponents have accused supporters of trying to impose light rail on the residents of Virginia Beach. We now know the truth: it's the fringe right that wants to impose a light rail referendum on Virginia Beach voters whether they want it or not - and 99.62% of them don't.
RAC July 1, 2010
This afternoon Virginia Beach's Resort Advisory Commission (RAC) held it's July meeting.
The first topic was the the Lighthouse Center, the services center for the homeless. The City is looking to build a new, larger building for it in the Resort Area. The current structure was designed for the single homeless, while over 40% of our current homeless population is families with children. The new building would be more than triple the size of the current facility and would seek to be an one-stop service center for the homeless, with different government agency representatives under the same roof.
Tailing off of that, the Oceanfront Enhancement Committee (OEC) is looking to see if labor services can work through the new facility to help the homeless get work. The pilot program of parking meters to collect money for homeless services is tentatively looking at putting meters in the periphery of the Boardwalk, starting at 16th Street and moving northward.
The Plan/Design Review Committee (PDRC) is looking at the issue of advertising on the canopies of sidewalk cafes. Some businesses in the Resort Area appear to have advertising that is in violation of sign ordinances.
During July and August we're going to be auditing garbage collected on the beach. Yes, auditing garbage. The idea is to find out how much of our trash is recyclable. Recycling is not only more environmentally-friendly, but cheaper than sending it to a landfill.
Representatives from the adjacent neighborhood and the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) were present to discuss safety on the Norfolk Avenue bike path. The good news is that the incidents appear to be largely isolated to a single location (in the periphery of the Atlantis Apartments) and a particular time of day (between 10 P.M. and Midnight). The even better news is that, since the culprits seemingly are using brush on City property (i.e. the former Norfolk Southern Right-Of-Way) to ambush people, the City can legally clear cut the brush. There will be an attempt to organize a follow-up meeting among stakeholders.
Finally, residents wishing to go to the Resort Area for Fourth of July fireworks may park in the convention center parking lots for free. However, there will be no shuttle, so you will need to walk up 19th Street.
The first topic was the the Lighthouse Center, the services center for the homeless. The City is looking to build a new, larger building for it in the Resort Area. The current structure was designed for the single homeless, while over 40% of our current homeless population is families with children. The new building would be more than triple the size of the current facility and would seek to be an one-stop service center for the homeless, with different government agency representatives under the same roof.
Tailing off of that, the Oceanfront Enhancement Committee (OEC) is looking to see if labor services can work through the new facility to help the homeless get work. The pilot program of parking meters to collect money for homeless services is tentatively looking at putting meters in the periphery of the Boardwalk, starting at 16th Street and moving northward.
The Plan/Design Review Committee (PDRC) is looking at the issue of advertising on the canopies of sidewalk cafes. Some businesses in the Resort Area appear to have advertising that is in violation of sign ordinances.
During July and August we're going to be auditing garbage collected on the beach. Yes, auditing garbage. The idea is to find out how much of our trash is recyclable. Recycling is not only more environmentally-friendly, but cheaper than sending it to a landfill.
Representatives from the adjacent neighborhood and the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) were present to discuss safety on the Norfolk Avenue bike path. The good news is that the incidents appear to be largely isolated to a single location (in the periphery of the Atlantis Apartments) and a particular time of day (between 10 P.M. and Midnight). The even better news is that, since the culprits seemingly are using brush on City property (i.e. the former Norfolk Southern Right-Of-Way) to ambush people, the City can legally clear cut the brush. There will be an attempt to organize a follow-up meeting among stakeholders.
Finally, residents wishing to go to the Resort Area for Fourth of July fireworks may park in the convention center parking lots for free. However, there will be no shuttle, so you will need to walk up 19th Street.
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