Senator Max Baucus (D-Montana) rambles on while drunk on the Senate floor on Obamacare. Note how he keeps making the same statements over...and over...and over....
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Predictions for 2010
I go out on the limb and make some predictions for 2010. (Okay, some of them were no-brainers.)
1. Bob O'Connor will oppose each and every Virginia Beach City Council initiative.
2. City Council enters a public-private partnership for an entertainment complex at the Dome site. Redevelopment of the Dome site had been the top Resort Area priority since 2005.
3. Governor Bob McDonnell's transportation plan is killed in the state Senate.
4. Robert Dean is recognized as a master ventriloquist after Bill DeSteph manages to make it through his (losing) City Council reelection campaign without anyone seeing Dean's lips moving.
5. Governor McDonnell pressures SPSA to finally sell it's operation and privatize, ending Hampton Roads' best political soap opera.
6. In The Shock Heard 'Round The World, the USA beats England in the World Cup Finals opener for both teams.
7. The Virginia Beach Transit Extension Alternatives Analysis (AA) comes out. However, people are so preoccupied with Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) management issues that it isn't half the event that people expected.
8. In the November Federal elections, Republicans take control of the House of Representatives and pickup seats in the Senate.
9. Wally Erb's light rail referendum drive finishes short of the necessary number of legal signatures to put a question on the ballot in November.
10. I Can Do Bad All By Myself wins the Oscar for Best Picture of 2009.
11. After no VBTA City Council challenger gets over 12% of the vote, John Moss resigns as VBTA Chairman. Vice Chairman Reid Greenmun moves up to Chair. In turn, Reid names his friend Harvey the new Vice Chair.
12. Al Wallace runs for the Bayside District City Council seat, making for the biggest electoral farce since...uh...well, Al ran for Mayor in 2004.
13. As City Council neither can de jure order a stop nor defund it, the Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study continues despite frosty relations between the Municipal Center and Victoria Boulevard.
14. In another cost-cutting move by The Virginian-Pravda, Kerry Dougherty is given the pink slip. Kerry then becomes a blogger for Virginia News Source.
15. The VBTA churns out another investigative report/White Paper/whatever they want to call it this time claiming a City economic development initiative is a net drain for taxpayers. Rational residents roll their eyes at the piece of garbage.
1. Bob O'Connor will oppose each and every Virginia Beach City Council initiative.
2. City Council enters a public-private partnership for an entertainment complex at the Dome site. Redevelopment of the Dome site had been the top Resort Area priority since 2005.
3. Governor Bob McDonnell's transportation plan is killed in the state Senate.
4. Robert Dean is recognized as a master ventriloquist after Bill DeSteph manages to make it through his (losing) City Council reelection campaign without anyone seeing Dean's lips moving.
5. Governor McDonnell pressures SPSA to finally sell it's operation and privatize, ending Hampton Roads' best political soap opera.
6. In The Shock Heard 'Round The World, the USA beats England in the World Cup Finals opener for both teams.
7. The Virginia Beach Transit Extension Alternatives Analysis (AA) comes out. However, people are so preoccupied with Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) management issues that it isn't half the event that people expected.
8. In the November Federal elections, Republicans take control of the House of Representatives and pickup seats in the Senate.
9. Wally Erb's light rail referendum drive finishes short of the necessary number of legal signatures to put a question on the ballot in November.
10. I Can Do Bad All By Myself wins the Oscar for Best Picture of 2009.
11. After no VBTA City Council challenger gets over 12% of the vote, John Moss resigns as VBTA Chairman. Vice Chairman Reid Greenmun moves up to Chair. In turn, Reid names his friend Harvey the new Vice Chair.
12. Al Wallace runs for the Bayside District City Council seat, making for the biggest electoral farce since...uh...well, Al ran for Mayor in 2004.
13. As City Council neither can de jure order a stop nor defund it, the Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study continues despite frosty relations between the Municipal Center and Victoria Boulevard.
14. In another cost-cutting move by The Virginian-Pravda, Kerry Dougherty is given the pink slip. Kerry then becomes a blogger for Virginia News Source.
15. The VBTA churns out another investigative report/White Paper/whatever they want to call it this time claiming a City economic development initiative is a net drain for taxpayers. Rational residents roll their eyes at the piece of garbage.
I'm Here Another Year
Last week I signed the final papers to keep my apartment another year. I now have it through January 31, 2011. Thus, this blog continues as is.
I still hope to add another grassroots inclusionist or two as posters. Maybe I'll meet someone on the 2010 City Council campaign trail.
I still hope to add another grassroots inclusionist or two as posters. Maybe I'll meet someone on the 2010 City Council campaign trail.
Monday, December 21, 2009
Dead Heat
You split evenly on whether or not the war in Afghanistan is winnable.
In the first look at the 2010 City Council reelection contests, the one race people were commenting on was Bill DeSteph in the At-Large field. Okay, so let's poll it.
In the first look at the 2010 City Council reelection contests, the one race people were commenting on was Bill DeSteph in the At-Large field. Okay, so let's poll it.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Newtown SGA Meetings, Round 2
Today began Round 2 of the public meetings on developing a land use plan for the Newtown Strategic Growth Area (SGA).
12:30 P.M. Focus Group
I participated in the second of the four focus groups today. About half of us had been in the 10:30 A.M. focus group during Round 1, and the consulting firm's staff remembered us from there.
The majority of the time was taken reviewing the public input from Round 1. The Strengths, Weaknesses, and Opportunities had been correlated. Staff had developed a set of principles from the input.
The intriguing thing is the City of Norfolk's interest in participating and cooperating. First, Norfolk wants the area southwest of the Virginia Beach Boulevard/Newtown Road intersection incorporated into the study, focusing on the trailer park. Second, Norfolk is willing to work with Virginia Beach on improving Newtown Road itself, with the lion's share of the road falling in Norfolk.
There were two big areas of feedback:
1. We should be aware that in redeveloping, we might be simply moving a problem. If you put new housing on one side of the road but leave the problem neighborhood on the other side, residents from the latter are going to continue to drift through the former.
2. My contribution was to raise the issue of whether we were planning too much Retail for our SGAs. While you want Retail in walking distance of the transit stations in doing Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), start looking at how many square feet of Retail are already in the Resort Area and Pembroke SGA plans. Be careful not to glut.
6 P.M. Public Gallery
This evening's meeting was sparsely attended, though incoming Virginia Beach Vision President Mike Barrett plus Meyera & Roger Oberndorf were there. Staff was working on draft plans, and discussing the early work with us.
While what I saw was preliminary, this is what had been churned out so far:
1. A Town Center Lite development northeast of the Newtown Road light rail station currently under construction.
2. The single family detached neighborhood southeast of the station would be preserved.
3. Multifamily housing would go where the Arrowhead Shopping Center currently is and just west of it. A light rail station would go along the tracks on the northern edge of that land. The multifamily and adjacent ECPI would provide a natural base of walkup customers for the light rail.
4. Office, plus some existing industrial, on Greenwich Road.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17
Tomorrow night there will be a public meeting on the first draft plans. It will be at Kempsville Baptist from 6-8 P.M.
If you want a say before things go further, speak up tomorrow night!
12:30 P.M. Focus Group
I participated in the second of the four focus groups today. About half of us had been in the 10:30 A.M. focus group during Round 1, and the consulting firm's staff remembered us from there.
The majority of the time was taken reviewing the public input from Round 1. The Strengths, Weaknesses, and Opportunities had been correlated. Staff had developed a set of principles from the input.
The intriguing thing is the City of Norfolk's interest in participating and cooperating. First, Norfolk wants the area southwest of the Virginia Beach Boulevard/Newtown Road intersection incorporated into the study, focusing on the trailer park. Second, Norfolk is willing to work with Virginia Beach on improving Newtown Road itself, with the lion's share of the road falling in Norfolk.
There were two big areas of feedback:
1. We should be aware that in redeveloping, we might be simply moving a problem. If you put new housing on one side of the road but leave the problem neighborhood on the other side, residents from the latter are going to continue to drift through the former.
2. My contribution was to raise the issue of whether we were planning too much Retail for our SGAs. While you want Retail in walking distance of the transit stations in doing Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), start looking at how many square feet of Retail are already in the Resort Area and Pembroke SGA plans. Be careful not to glut.
6 P.M. Public Gallery
This evening's meeting was sparsely attended, though incoming Virginia Beach Vision President Mike Barrett plus Meyera & Roger Oberndorf were there. Staff was working on draft plans, and discussing the early work with us.
While what I saw was preliminary, this is what had been churned out so far:
1. A Town Center Lite development northeast of the Newtown Road light rail station currently under construction.
2. The single family detached neighborhood southeast of the station would be preserved.
3. Multifamily housing would go where the Arrowhead Shopping Center currently is and just west of it. A light rail station would go along the tracks on the northern edge of that land. The multifamily and adjacent ECPI would provide a natural base of walkup customers for the light rail.
4. Office, plus some existing industrial, on Greenwich Road.
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 17
Tomorrow night there will be a public meeting on the first draft plans. It will be at Kempsville Baptist from 6-8 P.M.
If you want a say before things go further, speak up tomorrow night!
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
A First Look At The 2010 City Council Races
With yesterday's recount over and Ron Villanueva now officially a Delegate-elect (by a whopping 16 votes), I can do the promised first look at the 2010 Virginia Beach City Council races.
Bayside District
Incumbent: Louis Jones
There are a number of interests that have problems with Louis. The catch is finding a single candidate that they can all unite behind.
If Jones runs for reelection, he probably wins.
Beach District
Incumbent: John Uhrin
I've heard a couple names tossed around on the grapevine, one who probably now won't run. A quality, well-financed challenge could give Uhrin a run for his money. However, that probably won't happen.
Lynnhaven District
Incumbent: Jim Wood
If you can think of a plausible scenario under which Wood loses next November, post it under Comments. I certainly can't.
Next!
Princess Anne District
Incumbent: Barbara Henley
The weakest of the four district seat incumbents. I thought she could be beat in 2002 (I was right), and I think a strong challenge can beat her in 2010.
However, it's not Henley's direct ties here, but who in her inner circle can pull levers. She's stronger that you might think at first glance.
At-Large (2 seats)
Incumbent: Bill DeSteph
This could be where the real fun is.
Council will now have to make an appointment to serve the remainder of Villaneuva's term. Tradition has it that City Council asks the interim appointee not to seek a full term. However, they could appoint someone they want to give a leg up to for next November.
If you thought what happened to Andrea Kilmer in 2002 was ugly, you ain't seen nothing yet! A nuclear-level sliming awaits Bill DeSteph. (It's a given that we'll see that genie photo again.) I would expect to see a PAC formed that would run anti-DeSteph ads.
DeSteph? Parrots the Deaniac line, liked by some at the Republican Breakfasts, despised in top business circles, leading the charge against light rail, etc. Can you say "Don Weeks?" I thought you could.
While DeSteph gets nuked, newcomers will fight it out for the two Council seats. Pull up a chair.
The X Factor
The one looming item that could mean trouble for the incumbents is the FY 2011 Budget. What does Council do, and how do they sell it to the public?
Minority Communities
Something struck me after the fact: none of the incumbents up for reelection in 2010 were at this year's NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet. The red letter event in the African-American community, but no one at all showed up. Say what?
Then, it's not like the VBTA can take advantage of it. Not only are they wrong on too many issues, but only one VBTAer has been endorsed by a major minority organization in the 21st Century. That was John Moss by the African-American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) in 2004, and that endorsement was primarily anti-Rosemary Wilson, not pro-John Moss.
VBTA
Speaking of our favorite bunch of racist kooks, I expect them to challenge for every seat they can throw a warm body at. However, what issues will they run on? My guess is taxes and light rail, but:
1. Taxes - with assessments set to go down for the second consecutive year, how do you get traction on it? If they couldn't win on it when assessments were increasing double digits annually, they won't now.
2. Light Rail - the SDEIS isn't scheduled to be completed until December, 2010 - after the election. The irony is that all the incumbents have to do is mouth the "wait and see" position the VBTA is pretending to take.
Bottom line: there's nothing there that the VBTA can even start to win Council seats on.
Bayside District
Incumbent: Louis Jones
There are a number of interests that have problems with Louis. The catch is finding a single candidate that they can all unite behind.
If Jones runs for reelection, he probably wins.
Beach District
Incumbent: John Uhrin
I've heard a couple names tossed around on the grapevine, one who probably now won't run. A quality, well-financed challenge could give Uhrin a run for his money. However, that probably won't happen.
Lynnhaven District
Incumbent: Jim Wood
If you can think of a plausible scenario under which Wood loses next November, post it under Comments. I certainly can't.
Next!
Princess Anne District
Incumbent: Barbara Henley
The weakest of the four district seat incumbents. I thought she could be beat in 2002 (I was right), and I think a strong challenge can beat her in 2010.
However, it's not Henley's direct ties here, but who in her inner circle can pull levers. She's stronger that you might think at first glance.
At-Large (2 seats)
Incumbent: Bill DeSteph
This could be where the real fun is.
Council will now have to make an appointment to serve the remainder of Villaneuva's term. Tradition has it that City Council asks the interim appointee not to seek a full term. However, they could appoint someone they want to give a leg up to for next November.
If you thought what happened to Andrea Kilmer in 2002 was ugly, you ain't seen nothing yet! A nuclear-level sliming awaits Bill DeSteph. (It's a given that we'll see that genie photo again.) I would expect to see a PAC formed that would run anti-DeSteph ads.
DeSteph? Parrots the Deaniac line, liked by some at the Republican Breakfasts, despised in top business circles, leading the charge against light rail, etc. Can you say "Don Weeks?" I thought you could.
While DeSteph gets nuked, newcomers will fight it out for the two Council seats. Pull up a chair.
The X Factor
The one looming item that could mean trouble for the incumbents is the FY 2011 Budget. What does Council do, and how do they sell it to the public?
Minority Communities
Something struck me after the fact: none of the incumbents up for reelection in 2010 were at this year's NAACP Freedom Fund Banquet. The red letter event in the African-American community, but no one at all showed up. Say what?
Then, it's not like the VBTA can take advantage of it. Not only are they wrong on too many issues, but only one VBTAer has been endorsed by a major minority organization in the 21st Century. That was John Moss by the African-American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) in 2004, and that endorsement was primarily anti-Rosemary Wilson, not pro-John Moss.
VBTA
Speaking of our favorite bunch of racist kooks, I expect them to challenge for every seat they can throw a warm body at. However, what issues will they run on? My guess is taxes and light rail, but:
1. Taxes - with assessments set to go down for the second consecutive year, how do you get traction on it? If they couldn't win on it when assessments were increasing double digits annually, they won't now.
2. Light Rail - the SDEIS isn't scheduled to be completed until December, 2010 - after the election. The irony is that all the incumbents have to do is mouth the "wait and see" position the VBTA is pretending to take.
Bottom line: there's nothing there that the VBTA can even start to win Council seats on.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
62% Favor The Pungo Village Plan
The previous poll was about development south of Virginia Beach's Green Line. 62% backed the Pungo Village Plan, 25% want to keep the status quo, while 11% want to push against the Green Line.
The new poll question is on foreign policy: Is the war in Afghanistan winnable? President Obama wants to commit more troops. However, are we in a quagmire there like the Soviets?
The new poll question is on foreign policy: Is the war in Afghanistan winnable? President Obama wants to commit more troops. However, are we in a quagmire there like the Soviets?
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