I spoke to one of my friends in the African-American community leadership on Friday morning. They are actively recruiting additional bloggers for Avenging Archangel.
Stay tuned, as 2.0 is pending.
Showing posts with label African-American community. Show all posts
Showing posts with label African-American community. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Suspension Or 2.0
As some of you may know (but most probably don't), I've been hired by Hampton Roads Transit (HRT). Given the conflicts of interest that would present as a blogger, I'm either going to take the blog to suspension or unveil Avenging Archangel 2.0. My conflicts as a HRT employee:
1. Obvious on mass transit writing.
2. Legally, HRT is a corporation held one-seventh by each member city. To blog on local politics would be talking about my employer.
3. HRT has a seat on the TPO.
My duties will begin with light rail launch in the morning, which is why I set this to autopost Thursday evening.
2.0 would be for me to fade into the background, chipping in a post where I can, while giving the front seat to my best friends in the African-American community leadership. I e-mailed them over the weekend, seeking at least two additional posters. (A single poster would always be compared and contrasted with me.) This established platform would continue to advocate for an inclusive Virginia Beach, having a given readership base to build on. I'm not holding my breath on it, as I made similar recruitment pitches in the wake of each of Andrew Jackson's campaigns for the Virginia Beach City Council.
I've been hired to be a Data Collector at HRT, doing manual passenger counts on The Tide. Under Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations, manual counts are mandated during the first year of revenue service. (In addition, there are automated systems just inside the train doors.) Everyone at HRT is cognisant of the fact that there has been much speculation about how many will ride The Tide. Having completed my training, let me make it clear to everyone: given the methodology and redundancies in the system, it would be virtually impossible to fudge The Tide ridership numbers. The FTA will be watching, and - given the history of the project - will certainly check it anything appears off.
There have been talks between HRT executives and I over the past few months about me possibly joining the team. They began recruiting me once they learned that my previous place of employment was probably going to close. As HRT needed to add dependable additional staff for light rail launch, it was fairly obvious where to put me. In the interim, I put one project for this blog on ice: a political satire series. On the 13th of each month, I was going to chronicle the Really Evil Taxpayers Against Rational Decisions (RETARD). In fact, in my desk I have a scratch sheet with topics for nine installments of the RETARDs.
It's been a fun run. I had been considering blogging for months, but was finally pushed when no one covered a citizens meeting held at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. My one failure was never attracting additional posters, as I never intended to do this all alone indefinitely. While the number of hits on this site has been relatively low, the point is who reads this blog. I've had a virtual who's who cite it back to me. It's been a niche blog, providing information and insights you can't find anywhere else on the Internet.
For we grassroots inclusionists, both status quoers and the extremist VBTA present serious problems. Those of the status quo are usually more subtle. However, I hope others continue to speak out loudly about what the VBTA's sinister agenda really means for Virginia Beach.
Finally, I'd be remiss not to invite you to come ride light rail on launch weekend - and to become repeat customers. Given that the lion's share of my initial duties will be onboard the trains themselves, part of my training had me out riding The Tide. It has the Wow Factor. The bulk of my fellow Data Collectors aren't mass transit advocates, but simply people looking for good work. However, when we rode as part of our training, they were pulling out their smartphones to take video and photos of the run. They were moved.
It may not be over for me, with either a limited role under 2.0 or coming back full bore here later. (Remember that my initial position with HRT sunsets after one year.) In the meantime, I hope I get interest from others to launch 2.0. Regardless, I plan to keep this blog up, allowing it to serve as an archive of past events. Nakemiin.
1. Obvious on mass transit writing.
2. Legally, HRT is a corporation held one-seventh by each member city. To blog on local politics would be talking about my employer.
3. HRT has a seat on the TPO.
My duties will begin with light rail launch in the morning, which is why I set this to autopost Thursday evening.
2.0 would be for me to fade into the background, chipping in a post where I can, while giving the front seat to my best friends in the African-American community leadership. I e-mailed them over the weekend, seeking at least two additional posters. (A single poster would always be compared and contrasted with me.) This established platform would continue to advocate for an inclusive Virginia Beach, having a given readership base to build on. I'm not holding my breath on it, as I made similar recruitment pitches in the wake of each of Andrew Jackson's campaigns for the Virginia Beach City Council.
I've been hired to be a Data Collector at HRT, doing manual passenger counts on The Tide. Under Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations, manual counts are mandated during the first year of revenue service. (In addition, there are automated systems just inside the train doors.) Everyone at HRT is cognisant of the fact that there has been much speculation about how many will ride The Tide. Having completed my training, let me make it clear to everyone: given the methodology and redundancies in the system, it would be virtually impossible to fudge The Tide ridership numbers. The FTA will be watching, and - given the history of the project - will certainly check it anything appears off.
There have been talks between HRT executives and I over the past few months about me possibly joining the team. They began recruiting me once they learned that my previous place of employment was probably going to close. As HRT needed to add dependable additional staff for light rail launch, it was fairly obvious where to put me. In the interim, I put one project for this blog on ice: a political satire series. On the 13th of each month, I was going to chronicle the Really Evil Taxpayers Against Rational Decisions (RETARD). In fact, in my desk I have a scratch sheet with topics for nine installments of the RETARDs.
It's been a fun run. I had been considering blogging for months, but was finally pushed when no one covered a citizens meeting held at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. My one failure was never attracting additional posters, as I never intended to do this all alone indefinitely. While the number of hits on this site has been relatively low, the point is who reads this blog. I've had a virtual who's who cite it back to me. It's been a niche blog, providing information and insights you can't find anywhere else on the Internet.
For we grassroots inclusionists, both status quoers and the extremist VBTA present serious problems. Those of the status quo are usually more subtle. However, I hope others continue to speak out loudly about what the VBTA's sinister agenda really means for Virginia Beach.
Finally, I'd be remiss not to invite you to come ride light rail on launch weekend - and to become repeat customers. Given that the lion's share of my initial duties will be onboard the trains themselves, part of my training had me out riding The Tide. It has the Wow Factor. The bulk of my fellow Data Collectors aren't mass transit advocates, but simply people looking for good work. However, when we rode as part of our training, they were pulling out their smartphones to take video and photos of the run. They were moved.
It may not be over for me, with either a limited role under 2.0 or coming back full bore here later. (Remember that my initial position with HRT sunsets after one year.) In the meantime, I hope I get interest from others to launch 2.0. Regardless, I plan to keep this blog up, allowing it to serve as an archive of past events. Nakemiin.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
2011 Redistricting So Far
The Virginia Beach City Council is scheduled to approve a new seven district map for City Council and School Board on August 23. Given what happened at this past Tuesday night's Public Hearing before Council, it's likely to be a map we haven't even seen yet. At this time, I'd like to take a look at issues and events from the process so far.
The first of the meetings was at Green Run High School in June. At that time the City Attorney's Office strongly discouraged any plans other than seven district plans. While other proposals would be accepted, the City wanted to avoid anything that would require a City Charter change. So far we've seen nothing but seven district plans, which might be choking outside of the box thinking.
Another point is the failure to look at alternative voting systems. The debate has pivoted on two questions: how to draw the seven districts, and whether the seven district members should be elected solely within their districts. At the third meeting, I raised the possibility of cumulative voting. It would aid minority representation, while not triggering any of the publicly-stated arguments against a ward system.
Prior to the Chris Felton Plan being submitted on Monday, the source of every plan had been either the Council Liaisons or the NAACP. NAACP1 was the civil rights group's original submission, with NAACP2 drawn to meet objections raised by a quartet of Councilpersons. Those same Councilpersons then drafted another plan, which was sent to the NAACP in search of an endorsement. The "compromise of a compromise" was so watered down from the original intent that no blessing was forthcoming. It has never been officially filed, so it doesn't appear on the Redistricting website.
There is the issue of which should be the minority-majority district, Centerville or Rose Hall? While the Council Liaison plans have been based on Centerville, the NAACP plans are based on Rose Hall. The problem with Centerville is the unstable Asian-American concentrations in the southwest. The stunning difference I saw in first looking at the 2010 Census numbers was the change in the Asian-American concentration map from the 2000 Census. While you could draw Centerville as a minority-majority district today, it is highly questionable as to whether that status could be maintained in subsequent redistrictings. In sharp contrast, the minority numbers in Green Run are sustainable, so Rose Hall should become the minority-majority district in a seven district plan.
The root of many comments during the public meetings so far has been The Northwest Crescent, the Beach's densest minority concentration. It runs roughly from the northwest corner of the Virginia Beach Boulevard/Witchduck Road intersection to the Campus East and Burton Station areas. Along the way it takes in Lake Edward, with decent numbers in the periphery at Cypress Point. From a standpoint of minority representation, that concentration needs to be kept intact on one side of the Bayside - Kempsville line or the other. That forces a curved district line that inevitably will put a neighborhood into a district that a layman would think doesn't make sense. When you also consider the policy implications, it makes more sense to put the concentration in Kempsville District. That gives Vice Mayor Louis Jones the Central Business District. Therefore, you loop the line northward in the west, then dip it southward in the east. That puts parts of historic Kempsville into Bayside District, which has led to some civic league complaints. However, failure to get that line correct would be an obvious red flag when an approved plan is sent to the Justice Department for preclearance.
While I drew 2 of the 7 plans in 2001, I haven't taken a shot this time. The efforts of my good friends in the African-American community leadership were so far ahead that I didn't want to do anything that might undercut them. I've done backseat support for their efforts.
You knew I couldn't resist a chance to attack the extremist Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA), didn't you? While the VBTA has always given lip service towards a ward system, the only VBTAer at any of the five public meetings has been previous Chairman John Moss. At the third meeting he endorsed the NAACP's position as an individual. Then, it's probably better for the cause that the village idiots don't invade the Council Chambers.
A largely status quo plan will almost certainly be adopted on August 23. The two baseline needs are keeping The Northwest Crescent intact and drawing Rose Hall District as a minority-majority district.
The first of the meetings was at Green Run High School in June. At that time the City Attorney's Office strongly discouraged any plans other than seven district plans. While other proposals would be accepted, the City wanted to avoid anything that would require a City Charter change. So far we've seen nothing but seven district plans, which might be choking outside of the box thinking.
Another point is the failure to look at alternative voting systems. The debate has pivoted on two questions: how to draw the seven districts, and whether the seven district members should be elected solely within their districts. At the third meeting, I raised the possibility of cumulative voting. It would aid minority representation, while not triggering any of the publicly-stated arguments against a ward system.
Prior to the Chris Felton Plan being submitted on Monday, the source of every plan had been either the Council Liaisons or the NAACP. NAACP1 was the civil rights group's original submission, with NAACP2 drawn to meet objections raised by a quartet of Councilpersons. Those same Councilpersons then drafted another plan, which was sent to the NAACP in search of an endorsement. The "compromise of a compromise" was so watered down from the original intent that no blessing was forthcoming. It has never been officially filed, so it doesn't appear on the Redistricting website.
There is the issue of which should be the minority-majority district, Centerville or Rose Hall? While the Council Liaison plans have been based on Centerville, the NAACP plans are based on Rose Hall. The problem with Centerville is the unstable Asian-American concentrations in the southwest. The stunning difference I saw in first looking at the 2010 Census numbers was the change in the Asian-American concentration map from the 2000 Census. While you could draw Centerville as a minority-majority district today, it is highly questionable as to whether that status could be maintained in subsequent redistrictings. In sharp contrast, the minority numbers in Green Run are sustainable, so Rose Hall should become the minority-majority district in a seven district plan.
The root of many comments during the public meetings so far has been The Northwest Crescent, the Beach's densest minority concentration. It runs roughly from the northwest corner of the Virginia Beach Boulevard/Witchduck Road intersection to the Campus East and Burton Station areas. Along the way it takes in Lake Edward, with decent numbers in the periphery at Cypress Point. From a standpoint of minority representation, that concentration needs to be kept intact on one side of the Bayside - Kempsville line or the other. That forces a curved district line that inevitably will put a neighborhood into a district that a layman would think doesn't make sense. When you also consider the policy implications, it makes more sense to put the concentration in Kempsville District. That gives Vice Mayor Louis Jones the Central Business District. Therefore, you loop the line northward in the west, then dip it southward in the east. That puts parts of historic Kempsville into Bayside District, which has led to some civic league complaints. However, failure to get that line correct would be an obvious red flag when an approved plan is sent to the Justice Department for preclearance.
While I drew 2 of the 7 plans in 2001, I haven't taken a shot this time. The efforts of my good friends in the African-American community leadership were so far ahead that I didn't want to do anything that might undercut them. I've done backseat support for their efforts.
You knew I couldn't resist a chance to attack the extremist Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA), didn't you? While the VBTA has always given lip service towards a ward system, the only VBTAer at any of the five public meetings has been previous Chairman John Moss. At the third meeting he endorsed the NAACP's position as an individual. Then, it's probably better for the cause that the village idiots don't invade the Council Chambers.
A largely status quo plan will almost certainly be adopted on August 23. The two baseline needs are keeping The Northwest Crescent intact and drawing Rose Hall District as a minority-majority district.
Friday, August 5, 2011
City Council Goal Setting Workshop
Today the Virginia Beach City Council held a one day Goal Setting Workshop. The 6 1/2 hour meeting was in the Department of Economic Development (DED) Board Room at Town Center.
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION
Each Councilperson had a prior telephone interview with Facilitator Lyle Sumek. The following issues were brought up in those interviews by at least two Councilpersons:
1. SPSA and Landfill
2. Schools and Funding
3. Process Improvement
4. Pleasure House Point
5. Revenues: Direction for FY 2013
6. Use of Sponsorships
7. State Revenues to the City: Direction
8. Outsourcing: Recreation Centers, Others
9. Dredging/Spoils
10. SGA: Direction
11. Form-Based Code
12. TMDL
13. Williams Center
14. Convention Center Headquarters Hotel
15. Dome site
16. Sand/Beach Replenishment
17. Gambling/Video Gaming
18. City Redistricting
19. Legislative Agenda: Topics
20. Work Session: Discussion Time
21. Confidentiality of Closed Sessions
22. Burton Station
23. Bike/Trail Plan
24. TOD: Direction
STRATEGIC GROWTH AREAS (SGAs)
Things restarted after the lunch break with SGA Office Manager Barry Frankenfield giving a status report on our SGAs. He covered the planned identity for each SGA, the proposed infrastructure projects in them, schedules for upcoming plans, etc.
The Rosemont SGA plan is due to be approved by Council September 13. The final three are scheduled for 2012: Lynnhaven (March), Hilltop (June), and Centerville (December).
For those screaming that this is an attempt to totally redo the city, City Manager Jim Spore pointed out that the SGAs comprise less than 2% of Virginia Beach's land area. 98% would remain as is.
Implementation strategy was questioned. Policy has been to slowly work each SGA that has a plan, as we don't know where a potential private investor may want to redevelop. Louis Jones has long wanted to target 2-3 with our finite resources, and he was joined by Prescott Sherrod.
In addition, consensus now wants to designate Princess Anne Commons a SGA. That is to target resources to the area, hoping we can have quality spinoff development from the new Sentara Princess Anne Hospital.
FY 2013
Fiscal policy is always a discussion point, especially in this recession. It is projected that property assessments will be down 5% in 2012. That would mean a loss of $20 million in Property Tax revenue for the City, on top of the already-expected Budget shortfall for FY 2013 of $50 million. (Big, but we've had worse in recent memory.)
Vice Mayor Louis Jones cautioned against slash and burn, warning we could induce our own local economic problems, and he was echoed by Councilman Glenn Davis. Bob Dyer took the middle ground, stating we'd have to tweak and reprioritize. It was pointed out that bond houses base our rating not only on debt load, but what we're doing on economic development in order that we have future debt service capacity. Jim Spore noted Property Tax revenue has been down about $190 million over the past few years, but we've weathered the storm - in part - due to revenue from investments made in the recent past.
Foreclosures have accounted for 27% of home sales in Virginia Beach during the past year.
THE MR. BILL SHOW
Give Councilman Bill DeSteph enough time to talk and he'll say something stupid. Today was no exception.
First, under discussion of our City debt situation, he started citing statistics from our Federal debt standing. As if Council was responsible for Federal debt. (Hey, he thinks we do New York City land use....)
Second, he not only wants to revoke the May increase of our City's self-imposed debt ceiling, but wants to lower it below the previous figure.
Third, Mayor Will Sessoms spoke of how road construction can be good for the local economy. We not only get new roads out of it, but it creates jobs for locals. DeSteph retorted there was no latter benefit if the international students who come to work here build the roads. Councilman John Uhrin pointed out he'd never heard of the students building roads here.
Fourth, DeSteph wants to cut economic development initiatives based on the recession. I was incredulous: DeSteph's position boils down to the notion that we're so bad off economically that we should stop trying to create new jobs!
Fifth, he brought up City debt again under Governance, which was out of order. He said he was going to keep talking about it even if no one on Council backed him on it. (Yeah, the other ten all know he's out there.)
CITY REDISTRICTING
The Council Liaisons on the issue (Glenn Davis & Louis Jones) claimed that they had a plan (presumably 2C) that would make everyone who has spoken happy.
When I got home, I had to e-mail my good NAACP friends ASAP to let them know what a bunch of happy campers we're suppose to be. First, 2C makes Centerville District minority-majority, while NAACP1 makes Rose Hall District minority-majority. Second, anyone who knows both the Census numbers and civil rights law grasps that Council offering 2C as a reasonable alternative to NAACP1 is disingenuous at best. Third, NAACP1 has two additional districts that are influence districts.
It's disgusting, but the Virginia Beach City Council rejecting inclusion was virtually a foregone conclusion. I plan a post sometime August 10-18 to cover the process more in depth. (That's why I refrained from covering Redistricting in Random Thoughts August 4, 2011, as I already had the post in the pipes.)
VBTA
Things wouldn't be fun unless I threw out a couple nuggets for my favorite whipping boys, the extremist VBTA, to choke on.
First, the percentage of income that the average citizen pays to local government in taxes and fees today is at the same level as 1958.
I can hear the knuckle-draggers yelling, "Where did that come from?!?" MoveOn? Organizing for America? No, it's actually from a report by the conservative Heritage Foundation.
Second, City of Virginia Beach revenue in 2011 is at 2007 levels, with a dip (see: Assessments) expected in 2012. Next time they claim we're on a spending binge....
OTHER
1. Council decided not to include video poker authorization in the 2012 Community Legislative Package. It was noted that what gambling bills that passed the General Assembly in 2011 were all about raising the penalties for illegal gambling, so video poker legislation wouldn't have a snowball's chance in Richmond.
2. The new animal shelter is ahead of schedule. Due to open in January, it may be ready in December.
3. The number of applications for services from the Department of Human Services has doubled in the past five years.
4. The City will look at outsourcing our recreation centers, as it did with municipal golf courses and Sportsplex. However, a couple Councilmen had reservations about the idea.
5. The proposed bike trail in the periphery of the Norfolk Southern Right-Of-Way has been on hold pending completion of the Alternatives Analysis of the Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study. The issue is that LRT and BRT require different widths, so it can't be engineered as such until a transit mode is chosen.
Rather than the initial talk of acquiring additional land where the ROW is too narrow, the preferred option now is to look at diverting the bikes to parallel neighborhood streets in such areas.
6. Michael Jenkins' option on redeveloping the Dome site expires September 30. He either needs everything square by then, or to request another extension from the Virginia Beach Development Authority (VBDA).
7. The Virginia Aquarium Area Plan is scheduled to go to Council on November 8.
8. Two additional Councilmen expressed opposition to the proposed tent city for the homeless.
9. The best joke of the day was by Jim Wood. When Council discussed selling tasteful sponsorships for City facilities and events, Wood suggested "Kellam High School, brought to you by Towne Bank".
TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION
Each Councilperson had a prior telephone interview with Facilitator Lyle Sumek. The following issues were brought up in those interviews by at least two Councilpersons:
1. SPSA and Landfill
2. Schools and Funding
3. Process Improvement
4. Pleasure House Point
5. Revenues: Direction for FY 2013
6. Use of Sponsorships
7. State Revenues to the City: Direction
8. Outsourcing: Recreation Centers, Others
9. Dredging/Spoils
10. SGA: Direction
11. Form-Based Code
12. TMDL
13. Williams Center
14. Convention Center Headquarters Hotel
15. Dome site
16. Sand/Beach Replenishment
17. Gambling/Video Gaming
18. City Redistricting
19. Legislative Agenda: Topics
20. Work Session: Discussion Time
21. Confidentiality of Closed Sessions
22. Burton Station
23. Bike/Trail Plan
24. TOD: Direction
STRATEGIC GROWTH AREAS (SGAs)
Things restarted after the lunch break with SGA Office Manager Barry Frankenfield giving a status report on our SGAs. He covered the planned identity for each SGA, the proposed infrastructure projects in them, schedules for upcoming plans, etc.
The Rosemont SGA plan is due to be approved by Council September 13. The final three are scheduled for 2012: Lynnhaven (March), Hilltop (June), and Centerville (December).
For those screaming that this is an attempt to totally redo the city, City Manager Jim Spore pointed out that the SGAs comprise less than 2% of Virginia Beach's land area. 98% would remain as is.
Implementation strategy was questioned. Policy has been to slowly work each SGA that has a plan, as we don't know where a potential private investor may want to redevelop. Louis Jones has long wanted to target 2-3 with our finite resources, and he was joined by Prescott Sherrod.
In addition, consensus now wants to designate Princess Anne Commons a SGA. That is to target resources to the area, hoping we can have quality spinoff development from the new Sentara Princess Anne Hospital.
FY 2013
Fiscal policy is always a discussion point, especially in this recession. It is projected that property assessments will be down 5% in 2012. That would mean a loss of $20 million in Property Tax revenue for the City, on top of the already-expected Budget shortfall for FY 2013 of $50 million. (Big, but we've had worse in recent memory.)
Vice Mayor Louis Jones cautioned against slash and burn, warning we could induce our own local economic problems, and he was echoed by Councilman Glenn Davis. Bob Dyer took the middle ground, stating we'd have to tweak and reprioritize. It was pointed out that bond houses base our rating not only on debt load, but what we're doing on economic development in order that we have future debt service capacity. Jim Spore noted Property Tax revenue has been down about $190 million over the past few years, but we've weathered the storm - in part - due to revenue from investments made in the recent past.
Foreclosures have accounted for 27% of home sales in Virginia Beach during the past year.
THE MR. BILL SHOW
Give Councilman Bill DeSteph enough time to talk and he'll say something stupid. Today was no exception.
First, under discussion of our City debt situation, he started citing statistics from our Federal debt standing. As if Council was responsible for Federal debt. (Hey, he thinks we do New York City land use....)
Second, he not only wants to revoke the May increase of our City's self-imposed debt ceiling, but wants to lower it below the previous figure.
Third, Mayor Will Sessoms spoke of how road construction can be good for the local economy. We not only get new roads out of it, but it creates jobs for locals. DeSteph retorted there was no latter benefit if the international students who come to work here build the roads. Councilman John Uhrin pointed out he'd never heard of the students building roads here.
Fourth, DeSteph wants to cut economic development initiatives based on the recession. I was incredulous: DeSteph's position boils down to the notion that we're so bad off economically that we should stop trying to create new jobs!
Fifth, he brought up City debt again under Governance, which was out of order. He said he was going to keep talking about it even if no one on Council backed him on it. (Yeah, the other ten all know he's out there.)
CITY REDISTRICTING
The Council Liaisons on the issue (Glenn Davis & Louis Jones) claimed that they had a plan (presumably 2C) that would make everyone who has spoken happy.
When I got home, I had to e-mail my good NAACP friends ASAP to let them know what a bunch of happy campers we're suppose to be. First, 2C makes Centerville District minority-majority, while NAACP1 makes Rose Hall District minority-majority. Second, anyone who knows both the Census numbers and civil rights law grasps that Council offering 2C as a reasonable alternative to NAACP1 is disingenuous at best. Third, NAACP1 has two additional districts that are influence districts.
It's disgusting, but the Virginia Beach City Council rejecting inclusion was virtually a foregone conclusion. I plan a post sometime August 10-18 to cover the process more in depth. (That's why I refrained from covering Redistricting in Random Thoughts August 4, 2011, as I already had the post in the pipes.)
VBTA
Things wouldn't be fun unless I threw out a couple nuggets for my favorite whipping boys, the extremist VBTA, to choke on.
First, the percentage of income that the average citizen pays to local government in taxes and fees today is at the same level as 1958.
I can hear the knuckle-draggers yelling, "Where did that come from?!?" MoveOn? Organizing for America? No, it's actually from a report by the conservative Heritage Foundation.
Second, City of Virginia Beach revenue in 2011 is at 2007 levels, with a dip (see: Assessments) expected in 2012. Next time they claim we're on a spending binge....
OTHER
1. Council decided not to include video poker authorization in the 2012 Community Legislative Package. It was noted that what gambling bills that passed the General Assembly in 2011 were all about raising the penalties for illegal gambling, so video poker legislation wouldn't have a snowball's chance in Richmond.
2. The new animal shelter is ahead of schedule. Due to open in January, it may be ready in December.
3. The number of applications for services from the Department of Human Services has doubled in the past five years.
4. The City will look at outsourcing our recreation centers, as it did with municipal golf courses and Sportsplex. However, a couple Councilmen had reservations about the idea.
5. The proposed bike trail in the periphery of the Norfolk Southern Right-Of-Way has been on hold pending completion of the Alternatives Analysis of the Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study. The issue is that LRT and BRT require different widths, so it can't be engineered as such until a transit mode is chosen.
Rather than the initial talk of acquiring additional land where the ROW is too narrow, the preferred option now is to look at diverting the bikes to parallel neighborhood streets in such areas.
6. Michael Jenkins' option on redeveloping the Dome site expires September 30. He either needs everything square by then, or to request another extension from the Virginia Beach Development Authority (VBDA).
7. The Virginia Aquarium Area Plan is scheduled to go to Council on November 8.
8. Two additional Councilmen expressed opposition to the proposed tent city for the homeless.
9. The best joke of the day was by Jim Wood. When Council discussed selling tasteful sponsorships for City facilities and events, Wood suggested "Kellam High School, brought to you by Towne Bank".
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
The Residents' Consensus Plan
Tonight there was a second Public Hearing on City of Virginia Beach Redistricting in the Council Chambers. This meeting was the best attended of the four Redistricting meetings so far, with a number of civic league representatives in attendance.
The civic league representatives were there to address how their neighborhoods were treated in the various plans. The big contingent was from the Larkspur Civic League. Residents pointed out that Council Liaison Alternatives 1, 2A, and 3 all split Larkspur. A number of the civic league representatives praised NAACP1, though one representative had a problem with NAACP2.
Given the format, I took the opportunity to be the final speaker. I pointed that no citizens had objected to NAACP1 in either Public Hearing, and - in fact - some of the civic league representatives liked it. If there was a citizens consensus plan, it was NAACP1.
Next up is a Public Hearing before City Council on August 9.
The civic league representatives were there to address how their neighborhoods were treated in the various plans. The big contingent was from the Larkspur Civic League. Residents pointed out that Council Liaison Alternatives 1, 2A, and 3 all split Larkspur. A number of the civic league representatives praised NAACP1, though one representative had a problem with NAACP2.
Given the format, I took the opportunity to be the final speaker. I pointed that no citizens had objected to NAACP1 in either Public Hearing, and - in fact - some of the civic league representatives liked it. If there was a citizens consensus plan, it was NAACP1.
Next up is a Public Hearing before City Council on August 9.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
The Map Endorsement By Moss
As I previously reported, John Moss endorsed the NAACP's positions on both a ward system as well as their original proposed map for redrawing Virginia Beach's City Council districts. Moss' argument centered on economic lines, that the map did the best job (of the then-four) of putting similar neighborhoods together.
Moss' rationale hits at a fundamental point: Virginia Beach is no longer the homogeneous suburb that some on the fringe right (including insane Reid Greenmun) pretend it is. The only way you could start to get to the fringe right's "great suburban utopia" is to go wild with a Redevelopment Authority and level thousands of multifamily dwelling units, replacing them with single family detached homes. Not only does the fringe right staunchly oppose a Redevelopment Authority, but Virginia's current eminent domain law leaves such a strategy virtually impossible. The fringe right's only electoral hope then is to district off Virginia Beach's distinctly suburban areas, conceding the others. Moss apparently has figured that out.
Status quoers have a similar problem, but not quite as big. There are sectors of voters they shouldn't be able to win. They cling to the arcane at-large voting system, believing they can win a majority of the whole if they throw enough money at it. That won't necessarily work, as last year's Council At-Large field results show. (Bill DeSteph came in 2nd, with John Moss 3rd.)
The only way to accurately reflect the growing variety in voting patterns is to change our electoral system. What alternative you go to will also have significant policy implications in outlying years.
Moss' rationale hits at a fundamental point: Virginia Beach is no longer the homogeneous suburb that some on the fringe right (including insane Reid Greenmun) pretend it is. The only way you could start to get to the fringe right's "great suburban utopia" is to go wild with a Redevelopment Authority and level thousands of multifamily dwelling units, replacing them with single family detached homes. Not only does the fringe right staunchly oppose a Redevelopment Authority, but Virginia's current eminent domain law leaves such a strategy virtually impossible. The fringe right's only electoral hope then is to district off Virginia Beach's distinctly suburban areas, conceding the others. Moss apparently has figured that out.
Status quoers have a similar problem, but not quite as big. There are sectors of voters they shouldn't be able to win. They cling to the arcane at-large voting system, believing they can win a majority of the whole if they throw enough money at it. That won't necessarily work, as last year's Council At-Large field results show. (Bill DeSteph came in 2nd, with John Moss 3rd.)
The only way to accurately reflect the growing variety in voting patterns is to change our electoral system. What alternative you go to will also have significant policy implications in outlying years.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
The Sherrod Appointment
As most of you now know, on Tuesday Prescott Sherrod was appointed to Rita Sweet Bellitto's vacant seat on the Virginia Beach City Council. The appointment has created a political firestorm and spawned conspiracy theories. I'll offer my look at it, while you can chime in under Comments.
I know Prescott Sherrod. I've served with him on Light Rail Now's Transportation Technical Advisory Committee, which he's been Chairman of. He strikes me as a nice, well-meaning guy. However, conventional wisdom is that he can't win the remaining three years on Bellitto's term in the November special election.
While Carl Wright's comment afterwards may have been coarse, it struck at a fundamental truth: the Virginia Beach City Council can't cite the Sherrod appointment as evidence that they've suddenly embraced inclusion. That would be as transparent a hoax as "Gorbachev is ill in the Crimea". Prescott Sherrod is a business community figure, not an African-American community leadership figure.
One of the theories floating in the African-American community is that Council made the appointment knowing Sherrod can't win in November, as the expected low voter turnout favors Republicans. Council pretends to be inclusive, knowing Sherrod will be replaced by a White Republican come New Year's. Conversely, Tanya Bullock wasn't appointed since, as a Republican incumbent, she could have easily won in November.
Like the Germans carelessly wheeling too vulnerably before Paris in 1914, status quoers are leaving their flank exposed. The fringe right has seemingly noticed. On Tuesday, Bill DeSteph voted against the Sherrod appointment; on Thursday, John Moss endorsed the African-American community leadership's new Council districts map and their position on a ward system. With Barack Obama at the top of the ballot that will have the 2012 City Council election, and thus a high minority turnout anticipated, this could have huge ramifications for the 2012 regular Council election.
Virginia Beach was 21.2% minority at the 1990 Census, 30.5% minority at the 2000 Census, and 35.5% minority at the 2010 Census. There were fewer Whites living in Virginia Beach in 2010 than in 1990. A look at the 2010 Census numbers will show you that Virginia Beach will easily surpass 40% minority by the 2020 Census. The status quoers who think they can continue to reject inclusion are whistling in the graveyard. Fundamental structural change in how Virginia Beach is governed is coming, one way or another, whether you like it or not.
I know Prescott Sherrod. I've served with him on Light Rail Now's Transportation Technical Advisory Committee, which he's been Chairman of. He strikes me as a nice, well-meaning guy. However, conventional wisdom is that he can't win the remaining three years on Bellitto's term in the November special election.
While Carl Wright's comment afterwards may have been coarse, it struck at a fundamental truth: the Virginia Beach City Council can't cite the Sherrod appointment as evidence that they've suddenly embraced inclusion. That would be as transparent a hoax as "Gorbachev is ill in the Crimea". Prescott Sherrod is a business community figure, not an African-American community leadership figure.
One of the theories floating in the African-American community is that Council made the appointment knowing Sherrod can't win in November, as the expected low voter turnout favors Republicans. Council pretends to be inclusive, knowing Sherrod will be replaced by a White Republican come New Year's. Conversely, Tanya Bullock wasn't appointed since, as a Republican incumbent, she could have easily won in November.
Like the Germans carelessly wheeling too vulnerably before Paris in 1914, status quoers are leaving their flank exposed. The fringe right has seemingly noticed. On Tuesday, Bill DeSteph voted against the Sherrod appointment; on Thursday, John Moss endorsed the African-American community leadership's new Council districts map and their position on a ward system. With Barack Obama at the top of the ballot that will have the 2012 City Council election, and thus a high minority turnout anticipated, this could have huge ramifications for the 2012 regular Council election.
Virginia Beach was 21.2% minority at the 1990 Census, 30.5% minority at the 2000 Census, and 35.5% minority at the 2010 Census. There were fewer Whites living in Virginia Beach in 2010 than in 1990. A look at the 2010 Census numbers will show you that Virginia Beach will easily surpass 40% minority by the 2020 Census. The status quoers who think they can continue to reject inclusion are whistling in the graveyard. Fundamental structural change in how Virginia Beach is governed is coming, one way or another, whether you like it or not.
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Tonight's City Redistricting Public Meeting
This is a simple one to report: every adult who attended tonight spoke, and everyone endorsed the NAACP's position. The public wants the map they submitted adopted, plus a move to a true hybrid system. That would mean only the residents in a given district would vote for who represents them.
Both John Moss and I spoke endorsing the NAACP's position, but for varying reasons. Since I spoke following John, I pointed out it was something when the VBTA Chairman and I agree on a major issue. When John and I agree on an issue, it's obviously a no-brainer.
Both John Moss and I spoke endorsing the NAACP's position, but for varying reasons. Since I spoke following John, I pointed out it was something when the VBTA Chairman and I agree on a major issue. When John and I agree on an issue, it's obviously a no-brainer.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Redistricting Here, Redistricting There
VIRGINIA BEACH
The information was e-mailed out yesterday: the Thursday evening (June 16) Virginia Beach City Redistricting Meeting will be 6 P.M. at Meyera Oberndorf Central Library.
Some plans have already been submitted, and I saw a copy of one this past Thursday night.
NORFOLK
This past Tuesday night I was over in Norfolk to see if I could learn anything from their Redistricting process. What I got was a great seat for when Rodney Jordan dropped his bombshell.
For those who haven't heard, he offered a plan which would convert Norfolk's Ward 1 (now represented by Andy Protogyrou) to a minority-majority ward. Not African-American majority, but total minority. It does so by pushing Ward 1 south, and drawing Ward 5 (Tommy Smigiel) all the way west in Ocean View through Willoughby Spit.
Obviously it would shift power in Norfolk, but it would also have notable effects at the regional level, too. Virginia Beach inclusionists should support the efforts of Jordan & friends, as having an amiable government in Norfolk City Hall would obviously help the cause for inclusion here.
If the Norfolk City Council rejects Jordan's proposal, he can then file it with the U.S. Department of Justice for consideration during Norfolk's preclearance review. The Obama Administration could then reject the official Norfolk plan on the grounds that a fourth minority-majority ward is possible, and instruct Norfolk to proceed along those lines. (That may be where Virginia Beach's Redistricting ends up, too.)
The information was e-mailed out yesterday: the Thursday evening (June 16) Virginia Beach City Redistricting Meeting will be 6 P.M. at Meyera Oberndorf Central Library.
Some plans have already been submitted, and I saw a copy of one this past Thursday night.
NORFOLK
This past Tuesday night I was over in Norfolk to see if I could learn anything from their Redistricting process. What I got was a great seat for when Rodney Jordan dropped his bombshell.
For those who haven't heard, he offered a plan which would convert Norfolk's Ward 1 (now represented by Andy Protogyrou) to a minority-majority ward. Not African-American majority, but total minority. It does so by pushing Ward 1 south, and drawing Ward 5 (Tommy Smigiel) all the way west in Ocean View through Willoughby Spit.
Obviously it would shift power in Norfolk, but it would also have notable effects at the regional level, too. Virginia Beach inclusionists should support the efforts of Jordan & friends, as having an amiable government in Norfolk City Hall would obviously help the cause for inclusion here.
If the Norfolk City Council rejects Jordan's proposal, he can then file it with the U.S. Department of Justice for consideration during Norfolk's preclearance review. The Obama Administration could then reject the official Norfolk plan on the grounds that a fourth minority-majority ward is possible, and instruct Norfolk to proceed along those lines. (That may be where Virginia Beach's Redistricting ends up, too.)
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Looking Towards Electoral System Change
It's redistricting year, so that also means redrawing the residency districts for the Virginia Beach City Council. A push will certainly be there to scrap Virginia Beach's obscene at-large voting system.
At-large voting seeks to marginalize the franchise, placing a much greater emphasis on campaign donors than residents. Lineup the checkbooks in the backroom and you can determine who can be a "serious" candidate for City Council. The City has stumbled into past mistakes due to a lack of diversity of opinions and backgrounds at the table. To support at-large voting, you have to believe Virginia Beach is stronger for marginalizing 98% of the population.
What would the new system look like? That would depend on how many district and (if any) at-large seats you go with on Council. In addition, you could turn to some alternate form of voting. Cumulative voting would still mean voting for everyone throughout the City, none of the common publicly spoken arguments against a ward system apply to it, while it would produce a neo-proportional system.
The 2010 Census gave us more of the same from the 2000 Census, but at a slower pace than some expected. However, two central facts remain. First, what population growth Virginia Beach is experiencing is entirely minority. Second, there were fewer Whites in Virginia Beach in 2010 than in 1990. "White flight" has been on here for a generation now.
There are three possible areas for drawing minority-majority Council districts or influence districts:
1. Densest minority concentration - the Baker Corridor, stretching in a crescent from Burton Station to the northwest corner of the Virginia Beach Boulevard/Witchduck Road intersection, via Lake Edward.
2. Largest minority concentration - stretching diagonally from Green Run to Seatack, through Oceana NAS.
3. Centerville District is already over 40% minority in the current system.
Status quoers try to run from even discussing an electoral system change. However, the longer they wait to do the inevitable, the less palatable the new electoral system would be for them. If the 2020 Census numbers look like the last two sets, there will be no need to beg next redistricting. In 2021, grassroots inclusionists will have the numbers to simply kick in the door of City Hall. Therefore, 2011 is the last chance for our status quoers to get a reform deal that is good for them.
The fringe right gives lip service towards wanting a ward system, but never lifts a finger towards advocating for one. If they actually want to defend the suburbia they claim to champion, here's their chance. In implementing a ward system, you could draw districts that take in those suburban subdivisions while trying to avoid the Norfolk Southern Corridor. As our Strategic Growth Areas move towards building out, we could eventually have separate Council districts for suburban dwellers and urban dwellers.
Electoral system change is a necessity that will make Virginia Beach stronger by allowing us to work more of our talent into building our city. We're eventually going to have to do it, so why not in 2011? The sooner we get it done, the sooner Virginia Beach can move forward at battle speed.
At-large voting seeks to marginalize the franchise, placing a much greater emphasis on campaign donors than residents. Lineup the checkbooks in the backroom and you can determine who can be a "serious" candidate for City Council. The City has stumbled into past mistakes due to a lack of diversity of opinions and backgrounds at the table. To support at-large voting, you have to believe Virginia Beach is stronger for marginalizing 98% of the population.
What would the new system look like? That would depend on how many district and (if any) at-large seats you go with on Council. In addition, you could turn to some alternate form of voting. Cumulative voting would still mean voting for everyone throughout the City, none of the common publicly spoken arguments against a ward system apply to it, while it would produce a neo-proportional system.
The 2010 Census gave us more of the same from the 2000 Census, but at a slower pace than some expected. However, two central facts remain. First, what population growth Virginia Beach is experiencing is entirely minority. Second, there were fewer Whites in Virginia Beach in 2010 than in 1990. "White flight" has been on here for a generation now.
There are three possible areas for drawing minority-majority Council districts or influence districts:
1. Densest minority concentration - the Baker Corridor, stretching in a crescent from Burton Station to the northwest corner of the Virginia Beach Boulevard/Witchduck Road intersection, via Lake Edward.
2. Largest minority concentration - stretching diagonally from Green Run to Seatack, through Oceana NAS.
3. Centerville District is already over 40% minority in the current system.
Status quoers try to run from even discussing an electoral system change. However, the longer they wait to do the inevitable, the less palatable the new electoral system would be for them. If the 2020 Census numbers look like the last two sets, there will be no need to beg next redistricting. In 2021, grassroots inclusionists will have the numbers to simply kick in the door of City Hall. Therefore, 2011 is the last chance for our status quoers to get a reform deal that is good for them.
The fringe right gives lip service towards wanting a ward system, but never lifts a finger towards advocating for one. If they actually want to defend the suburbia they claim to champion, here's their chance. In implementing a ward system, you could draw districts that take in those suburban subdivisions while trying to avoid the Norfolk Southern Corridor. As our Strategic Growth Areas move towards building out, we could eventually have separate Council districts for suburban dwellers and urban dwellers.
Electoral system change is a necessity that will make Virginia Beach stronger by allowing us to work more of our talent into building our city. We're eventually going to have to do it, so why not in 2011? The sooner we get it done, the sooner Virginia Beach can move forward at battle speed.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Virginia Beach City Hall: Bigotry And More Bigotry
It's a dark week for those of us striving to build an inclusive Virginia Beach.
The first Public Hearing on the FY 2012 Budget is scheduled for Holy Thursday evening. That's a night that any Catholic worth their salt is in church, not at a Budget Hearing. Yes, there are two other Public Hearings. However, the second one traditionally focuses on the Property Tax rate. The final one is the night of Budget adoption. Given that City Council is highly unlikely to amend the Budget on the floor that night, its only real use is to stake political ground towards the next Budget.
At Tuesday's Council Workshop, first item on the Agenda is City Redistricting. The City has rehired Kimball Brace as consultant, who had the same contract a decade ago. In 2001, he told City Council that it would take many more districts to draw a minority-majority Council district in Virginia Beach...then proceeded to help draw one for a draft eight district plan. His rehiring in itself is a rejection of inclusion, and shows the City Council Redistricting process will be another sham.
The first Public Hearing on the FY 2012 Budget is scheduled for Holy Thursday evening. That's a night that any Catholic worth their salt is in church, not at a Budget Hearing. Yes, there are two other Public Hearings. However, the second one traditionally focuses on the Property Tax rate. The final one is the night of Budget adoption. Given that City Council is highly unlikely to amend the Budget on the floor that night, its only real use is to stake political ground towards the next Budget.
At Tuesday's Council Workshop, first item on the Agenda is City Redistricting. The City has rehired Kimball Brace as consultant, who had the same contract a decade ago. In 2001, he told City Council that it would take many more districts to draw a minority-majority Council district in Virginia Beach...then proceeded to help draw one for a draft eight district plan. His rehiring in itself is a rejection of inclusion, and shows the City Council Redistricting process will be another sham.
Friday, February 11, 2011
2010 Census: We Told You So
The release of the initial numbers from the 2010 Census paints a picture some of us figured out a decade ago: Virginia Beach is becoming more racially diverse. In fact, fewer Whites lives in Virginia Beach in 2010 than in 1990. What population growth we've had for the past generation has been entirely minority.
In the past decade, we went from being 19.0% African-American to 19.6%, and from 5.0% Asian-American to 6.3%. The big boom: our Hispanic community jumped from 4.2% to 6.6%.
I stated a decade ago that it was a natural leveling effect. It never made sense that Virginia Beach was only 21% minority (1990 Census) next to cities with much larger percentiles.
Of course, the fun part will be how the Municipal Center tries to come to grips with the changing realities on the ground.
In the past decade, we went from being 19.0% African-American to 19.6%, and from 5.0% Asian-American to 6.3%. The big boom: our Hispanic community jumped from 4.2% to 6.6%.
I stated a decade ago that it was a natural leveling effect. It never made sense that Virginia Beach was only 21% minority (1990 Census) next to cities with much larger percentiles.
Of course, the fun part will be how the Municipal Center tries to come to grips with the changing realities on the ground.
Monday, January 31, 2011
My Card Has Arrived
In today's mail, I received something I've been waiting for: my NAACP membership card. I joined online early on New Year's morning. An automated system sent me an e-mail confirming my membership, with my formal card arriving today.
I've had a working relationship with the Virginia Beach Chapter since 2001, but never been a de jure member. I've thought about it, but always put it off. However, with the War For Inclusion in Virginia Beach escalating, it was a great time to come down formally on the right side.
No, I don't plan to become active in the Virginia Beach Chapter. (Hey, my calendar is loaded as is.) Nevertheless, it was the right thing to do.
I've had a working relationship with the Virginia Beach Chapter since 2001, but never been a de jure member. I've thought about it, but always put it off. However, with the War For Inclusion in Virginia Beach escalating, it was a great time to come down formally on the right side.
No, I don't plan to become active in the Virginia Beach Chapter. (Hey, my calendar is loaded as is.) Nevertheless, it was the right thing to do.
Sunday, December 19, 2010
10 Points Towards An Inclusive Virginia Beach
The war of attrition towards an inclusive Virginia Beach drags on. It faces a potential flashpoint next year with City redistricting. However, no one should have any illusions: the fight will take years more. I offer this list of 10 Points to serve as guidelines on the way there.
1. Reform of Virginia Beach's obscene at-large voting system is The Holy Grail, but it won't come easy.
One of the principal lessons I learned from the 2001 redistricting process is that Virginia Beach's elite craves power above all else. They're ready to see our city reduced to a trash heap as long as they can lord over it when we get there.
I hold little hope we can get City Council itself to back reform in 2011. However, we need to fire a shot across the bow to let them know we're not taking this bullshit sitting down. It will mark the incumbents (and their backers) as anti-inclusion in subsequent years.
2. Keeping a Redevelopment & Housing Authority out 0f the hands of the City of Virginia Beach is paramount.
Listen to what neighborhoods get mentioned when the subject of redevelopment comes up, and note they're inevitably minority neighborhoods. Give a R&HA to our status quoers tomorrow and they'd start bulldozing the minority concentrations.
When Virginia Beach history is written, it may record that the beginning of the end of the status quo was the narrow loss of the 1996 R&HA referendum question. Consider what could have happened if they had won....
That said, it may be prudent to trade the elite a R&HA whose redevelopment powers are limited to the Strategic Growth Areas (minus Seatack) in return for something substantial, like a hybrid voting system.
3. Housing stock is the potential chokepoint, so take on the issue.
Fewer Whites live in Virginia Beach than a generation ago. What population growth we've had has been entirely minority. The key to continuing the influx is to look to making sure there are enough affordable housing units for them to come.
4. Light rail is the second most important piece of the puzzle.
When people can come here from Norfolk (and - later - Portsmouth) via train in minutes at bus fare, it will be a dramatic game changer. That will largely erase the city lines on a practical basis.
5. Pursue board and commission seats.
What good does it do to get to an inclusive Virginia Beach only to not be able to govern it? (See: the Congo after the Belgian withdraw.) There needs to be a cadre of inclusionists with board and commission experience capable of running the government when that prayed-for day comes.
To take Council only to leave the boards and commissions in the hands of status quoers would mean getting status quo reports from them. I don't think so.
6. Advocate for Department of Economic Development (DED) funding.
We're going to have to provide quality jobs for those here and those who want to come.
In addition, we'll need a strong commerical base during the transition. (See: Quebec when the Parti Quebecois took power.)
7. Work through the Minority Business Council towards having a thriving number of minority businesses.
We need a base of businesses friendly towards funding our City Council candidates. (Hey, it's how the elitists do it.)
8. Support greater integration into the region.
Closer ties with minority-majority Portsmouth and tipping Norfolk strengthens our hand here.
9. Don't waste gunpowder fighting plausible City capital projects.
Our elitists have an edifice complex. If they want to build things we can later reap the benefits from, let them.
10. Smash the remnants of the extremist Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA).
The all-White breakfast cult pushes an agenda that would trigger a mass exodus of minority residents from Virginia Beach. Also, they have no intention of doing single or multiple issue partnerships with anyone.
The sooner the demise of the VBTA, the quicker that City Council elections go from being fought primarily over fiscal policy to being contests about inclusion. You want to hear status quo candidates try to rationalize exclusion?
The bottom line: victory is inevitably ours as long as we play our cards smart.
1. Reform of Virginia Beach's obscene at-large voting system is The Holy Grail, but it won't come easy.
One of the principal lessons I learned from the 2001 redistricting process is that Virginia Beach's elite craves power above all else. They're ready to see our city reduced to a trash heap as long as they can lord over it when we get there.
I hold little hope we can get City Council itself to back reform in 2011. However, we need to fire a shot across the bow to let them know we're not taking this bullshit sitting down. It will mark the incumbents (and their backers) as anti-inclusion in subsequent years.
2. Keeping a Redevelopment & Housing Authority out 0f the hands of the City of Virginia Beach is paramount.
Listen to what neighborhoods get mentioned when the subject of redevelopment comes up, and note they're inevitably minority neighborhoods. Give a R&HA to our status quoers tomorrow and they'd start bulldozing the minority concentrations.
When Virginia Beach history is written, it may record that the beginning of the end of the status quo was the narrow loss of the 1996 R&HA referendum question. Consider what could have happened if they had won....
That said, it may be prudent to trade the elite a R&HA whose redevelopment powers are limited to the Strategic Growth Areas (minus Seatack) in return for something substantial, like a hybrid voting system.
3. Housing stock is the potential chokepoint, so take on the issue.
Fewer Whites live in Virginia Beach than a generation ago. What population growth we've had has been entirely minority. The key to continuing the influx is to look to making sure there are enough affordable housing units for them to come.
4. Light rail is the second most important piece of the puzzle.
When people can come here from Norfolk (and - later - Portsmouth) via train in minutes at bus fare, it will be a dramatic game changer. That will largely erase the city lines on a practical basis.
5. Pursue board and commission seats.
What good does it do to get to an inclusive Virginia Beach only to not be able to govern it? (See: the Congo after the Belgian withdraw.) There needs to be a cadre of inclusionists with board and commission experience capable of running the government when that prayed-for day comes.
To take Council only to leave the boards and commissions in the hands of status quoers would mean getting status quo reports from them. I don't think so.
6. Advocate for Department of Economic Development (DED) funding.
We're going to have to provide quality jobs for those here and those who want to come.
In addition, we'll need a strong commerical base during the transition. (See: Quebec when the Parti Quebecois took power.)
7. Work through the Minority Business Council towards having a thriving number of minority businesses.
We need a base of businesses friendly towards funding our City Council candidates. (Hey, it's how the elitists do it.)
8. Support greater integration into the region.
Closer ties with minority-majority Portsmouth and tipping Norfolk strengthens our hand here.
9. Don't waste gunpowder fighting plausible City capital projects.
Our elitists have an edifice complex. If they want to build things we can later reap the benefits from, let them.
10. Smash the remnants of the extremist Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA).
The all-White breakfast cult pushes an agenda that would trigger a mass exodus of minority residents from Virginia Beach. Also, they have no intention of doing single or multiple issue partnerships with anyone.
The sooner the demise of the VBTA, the quicker that City Council elections go from being fought primarily over fiscal policy to being contests about inclusion. You want to hear status quo candidates try to rationalize exclusion?
The bottom line: victory is inevitably ours as long as we play our cards smart.
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
2010 Virginia Beach City Council Election: The Day After
Okay, you've probably been waiting for my two cents worth. May even want to chime in with your own thoughts under Comments. Here I go....
OVERALL
Who won yesterday? Obviously all 6 incumbents. However, what political grouping?
4 of the 5 candidates endorsed by Mayor Sessoms did. However, Bill DeSteph won reelection while chosen successor Dave Redmond finished 5th in the At-Large field.
Obviously not the extremist Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA), as all of their challengers went down hard. As 2010 was the last chance the VBTA had to even make a half-baked challenge for Council seats (more on that later), fittingly the VBTA as an electoral farce came to an end on All Souls Day. (November 2 is All Souls Day in the Catholic Church, when we remember the dead.)
The biggest story of the day may have been the poor showing of the Council candidates endorsed by the African-American Political Action Council (AAPAC). (More on that later, too.) However, time is on AAPAC's side. Yesterday was an early skirmish in a much broader and longer war.
The only clear winner yesterday was (drum roll, please) City Clerk Ruth Fraser. With all 6 incumbents returning, the old stationary can continue to be used.
VBTA
You knew I couldn't wait to beat up on my favorite whipping boys, didn't you? With Obama's reelection effort almost certain to drive a huge minority turnout in 2012, any VBTA Council challenges will be stillborn next time out. Most of the angry old men who comprise the VBTA's inner circle will have aged out by 2014. Therefore, 2010 was their last chance to make a Council splash and they largely blew it.
The poll workers pushing the slate of Bill DeSteph, John Moss, and Toni Hedrick yesterday were using sample ballots from the Hampton Roads TEA Party (HRTP). It's telling that they admit that the VBTA brand is ballot box poison for a candidate.
Their astonishing faux pas of the day was further down the sample ballot. They called for the defeat of all three proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution. That's right: they openly opposed tax waivers for veterans 100% disabled in the line of duty, in this Navy town! That had to be dead weight on their Council candidates!
If you want proof positive of what a joke the VBTA is, George Furman received more votes (31,338) in Bayside District than Hedrick (29,229) did in Lynnhaven. Furman didn't even actively campaign as such until a month out, and had no visible organization. Yet Furman got 2,109 more votes than Hedrick!
How will the VBTA react? We get a hint reading the online comments to The Virginian-Pravda story about the election results. First Reid Greenmun posted a disjointed blathering about the Mayor and Vice Mayor promising a light rail referendum. (Not a word about the candidate loses.) Then Ben Krause repeated his same campaign talking points about Jim Wood. (Yeah, that message played well.)
HOLLAND PRECINCT
Yesterday I did an all-day stint at Holland Precinct, at Holland Elementary School, primarily for Andrew Jackson. Jim Wood also asked me to distribute his lit, which I did with Andrew's permission.
I started the day with a Jackson palm card and the Wood piece. Running out of Jackson cards about 10 A.M., I then switched that off to the African-American Political Action Council (AAPAC) sample ballot for the remainder of the day.
Poll workers from the Republican Party of Virginia Beach (RPVB) and HRTP were there for the three busier periods of the day (morning, lunch, and evening). The Virginia Beach Democratic Committee (VBDC) and Kenny Golden campaign had people there morning and evening. Barbara Henley's Council campaign had someone there for lunch and the evening. The firefighters union had firemen there periodically during the day.
Such a day always has it's fun moments. The bizarre one was when the Democratic worker called for a Constitutional amendment prohibiting corporate campaign donations, labeling contributions by corporations "fascism". The most humorous one was using the restrooms at the elementary school. Designed for small children, the urinals are mounted low and the sink even lower. That led a retired sailor to exclaim, "Adjust your aim!" The warm moment was realizing five of us poll workers were Catholic. (We should have brought our rosary beads.)
CANDIDATE APPEARANCES
Todd Davidson came for about 90 minutes at midday, and his time made for some of the better conversation of the day.
He also got corrected a comical problem: the school had it's SOL accreditation flag up the flagpole upside down. (Our Navy veteran had tried to get it fixed earlier, but to no avail.) School Board member Davidson charged into the Office, and within a few minutes a custodian was out to get it right.
James Cabiness and his wife came to vote just before Noon. (Yes, he lives in Holland Precinct.)
George Furman spent about 25 minutes there after 5 P.M. I tried to explain to him that he was getting it wrong. (Hey, it was late enough in the day that the advice was useless.) A candidate is suppose to spend a few hours at a few targeted precincts during the day, but he was trying to hop around a number of them quickly. Anyway, my words went over his head.
AAPAC
I'm always happy to do work for my best friends. Their cause is just, right, and will empower the vast majority of residents. Not only did that take me to Holland Precinct yesterday, but I wrote some basic poll working pointers for the Jackson Campaign last week. As for Andrew, at most I hoped he could slip into the 2nd Place spot in the At-Large field. In the least I wanted to beat a Kool-Aid chugger or two.
Yesterday was a mess. Not only did Tanya Bullock lose, but Jackson (6th) and Cabiness (7th) finished in the last two slots of the At-Large field. Virginia Beach continues to be diversity-challenged.
My consolation is what happened in Holland Precinct. Andrew finished 2nd, just one vote behind Rita Sweet Bellitto. Also, Tanya won Holland. (Her name was at the top of the AAPAC sample ballot.)
We lost a battle, but the war continues. Quite the contrary of the VBTA, our numbers are growing daily. It's not a question of "if" we win, but "when" we win.
PARTISANSHIP
The long version of the Democratic sample ballot had a section "Friends of the Democratic Party", which encouraged people to vote for a given list of City Council and School Board candidates. Also, Virginia Beach Democratic Committee (VBDC) Chair Susan Mariner e-mailed out the list on Monday.
Republican poll workers had a list of Council and School Board candidates endorsed by Governor Bob McDonnell.
Having spearheaded the RPVB's 2001 look at endorsing Council candidates, I couldn't help but think "It's about time."
OVERALL
Who won yesterday? Obviously all 6 incumbents. However, what political grouping?
4 of the 5 candidates endorsed by Mayor Sessoms did. However, Bill DeSteph won reelection while chosen successor Dave Redmond finished 5th in the At-Large field.
Obviously not the extremist Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA), as all of their challengers went down hard. As 2010 was the last chance the VBTA had to even make a half-baked challenge for Council seats (more on that later), fittingly the VBTA as an electoral farce came to an end on All Souls Day. (November 2 is All Souls Day in the Catholic Church, when we remember the dead.)
The biggest story of the day may have been the poor showing of the Council candidates endorsed by the African-American Political Action Council (AAPAC). (More on that later, too.) However, time is on AAPAC's side. Yesterday was an early skirmish in a much broader and longer war.
The only clear winner yesterday was (drum roll, please) City Clerk Ruth Fraser. With all 6 incumbents returning, the old stationary can continue to be used.
VBTA
You knew I couldn't wait to beat up on my favorite whipping boys, didn't you? With Obama's reelection effort almost certain to drive a huge minority turnout in 2012, any VBTA Council challenges will be stillborn next time out. Most of the angry old men who comprise the VBTA's inner circle will have aged out by 2014. Therefore, 2010 was their last chance to make a Council splash and they largely blew it.
The poll workers pushing the slate of Bill DeSteph, John Moss, and Toni Hedrick yesterday were using sample ballots from the Hampton Roads TEA Party (HRTP). It's telling that they admit that the VBTA brand is ballot box poison for a candidate.
Their astonishing faux pas of the day was further down the sample ballot. They called for the defeat of all three proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution. That's right: they openly opposed tax waivers for veterans 100% disabled in the line of duty, in this Navy town! That had to be dead weight on their Council candidates!
If you want proof positive of what a joke the VBTA is, George Furman received more votes (31,338) in Bayside District than Hedrick (29,229) did in Lynnhaven. Furman didn't even actively campaign as such until a month out, and had no visible organization. Yet Furman got 2,109 more votes than Hedrick!
How will the VBTA react? We get a hint reading the online comments to The Virginian-Pravda story about the election results. First Reid Greenmun posted a disjointed blathering about the Mayor and Vice Mayor promising a light rail referendum. (Not a word about the candidate loses.) Then Ben Krause repeated his same campaign talking points about Jim Wood. (Yeah, that message played well.)
HOLLAND PRECINCT
Yesterday I did an all-day stint at Holland Precinct, at Holland Elementary School, primarily for Andrew Jackson. Jim Wood also asked me to distribute his lit, which I did with Andrew's permission.
I started the day with a Jackson palm card and the Wood piece. Running out of Jackson cards about 10 A.M., I then switched that off to the African-American Political Action Council (AAPAC) sample ballot for the remainder of the day.
Poll workers from the Republican Party of Virginia Beach (RPVB) and HRTP were there for the three busier periods of the day (morning, lunch, and evening). The Virginia Beach Democratic Committee (VBDC) and Kenny Golden campaign had people there morning and evening. Barbara Henley's Council campaign had someone there for lunch and the evening. The firefighters union had firemen there periodically during the day.
Such a day always has it's fun moments. The bizarre one was when the Democratic worker called for a Constitutional amendment prohibiting corporate campaign donations, labeling contributions by corporations "fascism". The most humorous one was using the restrooms at the elementary school. Designed for small children, the urinals are mounted low and the sink even lower. That led a retired sailor to exclaim, "Adjust your aim!" The warm moment was realizing five of us poll workers were Catholic. (We should have brought our rosary beads.)
CANDIDATE APPEARANCES
Todd Davidson came for about 90 minutes at midday, and his time made for some of the better conversation of the day.
He also got corrected a comical problem: the school had it's SOL accreditation flag up the flagpole upside down. (Our Navy veteran had tried to get it fixed earlier, but to no avail.) School Board member Davidson charged into the Office, and within a few minutes a custodian was out to get it right.
James Cabiness and his wife came to vote just before Noon. (Yes, he lives in Holland Precinct.)
George Furman spent about 25 minutes there after 5 P.M. I tried to explain to him that he was getting it wrong. (Hey, it was late enough in the day that the advice was useless.) A candidate is suppose to spend a few hours at a few targeted precincts during the day, but he was trying to hop around a number of them quickly. Anyway, my words went over his head.
AAPAC
I'm always happy to do work for my best friends. Their cause is just, right, and will empower the vast majority of residents. Not only did that take me to Holland Precinct yesterday, but I wrote some basic poll working pointers for the Jackson Campaign last week. As for Andrew, at most I hoped he could slip into the 2nd Place spot in the At-Large field. In the least I wanted to beat a Kool-Aid chugger or two.
Yesterday was a mess. Not only did Tanya Bullock lose, but Jackson (6th) and Cabiness (7th) finished in the last two slots of the At-Large field. Virginia Beach continues to be diversity-challenged.
My consolation is what happened in Holland Precinct. Andrew finished 2nd, just one vote behind Rita Sweet Bellitto. Also, Tanya won Holland. (Her name was at the top of the AAPAC sample ballot.)
We lost a battle, but the war continues. Quite the contrary of the VBTA, our numbers are growing daily. It's not a question of "if" we win, but "when" we win.
PARTISANSHIP
The long version of the Democratic sample ballot had a section "Friends of the Democratic Party", which encouraged people to vote for a given list of City Council and School Board candidates. Also, Virginia Beach Democratic Committee (VBDC) Chair Susan Mariner e-mailed out the list on Monday.
Republican poll workers had a list of Council and School Board candidates endorsed by Governor Bob McDonnell.
Having spearheaded the RPVB's 2001 look at endorsing Council candidates, I couldn't help but think "It's about time."
Saturday, October 30, 2010
2010 Freedom Fund Banquet
Last night was the annual Freedom Fund Banquet of the Virginia Beach Chapter of the NAACP, held at the Town Center Westin. It appeared to be a sellout. (I received a Facebook message a week out that there were only 4 tickets left.)
There were some area officials present (Federal, state, and local). Who wasn't there was the Virginia Beach City Council. Mayor Will Sessoms popped in for the Reception, but left before the Banquet. Bob Dyer read the Mayor's Proclamation, but then left. When time came to recognize Virginia Beach elected officials, the only City Councilperson present was Barbara Henley. NAACP President Georgia Allen was miffed at Council dissing the African-American community's most important event of the year.
The Unsung Hero Award went to Tosha Sanders. Community Services Awards were given to Manolita "Manny" Holadia and Edna Hendrix. The Trailblazer Award was won by Gary McCollum, and the President Award by Rev. Ray Cox.
Of course, the big draw was the Keynote Speaker, Al Sharpton. His connection to our region is that he has a daughter attending Hampton University. His remarks were superb:
1. With Election Day on Tuesday, he focused on getting out the vote. He said, "The NAACP fought to get you the vote. Now we have to fight to get you to vote." He noted the sacrifices made by the civil rights pioneers, and the planted axiom in their work that subsequent generations would build upon it. What are you doing to meet that challenge?
2. Secondarily he spoke on culture. The young need to set high goals for themselves or they won't achieve enough. African-Americans need to end self-defeating trends in their own community.
The pleasant surprise was how humorous he was. From the talking head spots I'd seen of him on television, he was never as funny as he was Friday night.
The Unsung Hero Award went to Tosha Sanders. Community Services Awards were given to Manolita "Manny" Holadia and Edna Hendrix. The Trailblazer Award was won by Gary McCollum, and the President Award by Rev. Ray Cox.
Of course, the big draw was the Keynote Speaker, Al Sharpton. His connection to our region is that he has a daughter attending Hampton University. His remarks were superb:
1. With Election Day on Tuesday, he focused on getting out the vote. He said, "The NAACP fought to get you the vote. Now we have to fight to get you to vote." He noted the sacrifices made by the civil rights pioneers, and the planted axiom in their work that subsequent generations would build upon it. What are you doing to meet that challenge?
2. Secondarily he spoke on culture. The young need to set high goals for themselves or they won't achieve enough. African-Americans need to end self-defeating trends in their own community.
The pleasant surprise was how humorous he was. From the talking head spots I'd seen of him on television, he was never as funny as he was Friday night.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Some Thoughts One Week Out
Some things on my mind one week prior to the November 2 City Council election:
Will Toni Hedrick manage to get the 38% that Bob O'Connor did against Jim Wood in May, 2006?
How much blowback does Dave Redmond face from the voters over the genie ad and website? Does it gain him more votes than it costs?
Does The Virginian-Pravda endorsement of Barbara Henley have a noteworthy impact in the Princess Anne District contest, which has been looking fairly close?
On one level, I'd love to attend the Victoryless Party of the extremist Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA) on election night. The sadist in me would love to watch the Kool-Aid chuggers' reaction to the incoming election results.
Should Bill DeSteph lose (as expected and hoped), how does that change the City Council Retreat in January? That would both eliminate his junk agenda items (which other Councilmen don't care about) and his comments on the other items.
If the Sessoms/Virginian-Pravda slate wins on November 2, does that put a Redevelopment & Housing Authority back on the burner? It was in the applicant questionnaire for filling the Villanueva vacancy. We'll know by the time the Council Retreat is over.
Should Tanya Bullock and Andrew Jackson both lose, how does that change the context of next year's City Redistricting process? Does it strengthen the legal argument against Virginia Beach's at-large voting system?
Should Wally Erb tank badly (as expected), does that kill the "issue" of a light rail referendum?
I anxiously await George Furman's vote total, as that will tell us how many people will vote for any warm body over a City Council incumbent. It will be fun comparing Hedrick's numbers to Furman's.
What conspiracy theory will Reid Greenmun push about the annihilation of his VBTA Council candidates?
As political consultant/fellow blogger Brian Kirwin has said, will Wally Erb grasp that "No Means No" applies to the voters rejecting his repeated candidacies? Erb has lost for state Senate (1995), City Council (2000), Clerk of the Circuit Court (2003), and is now running for Council again. The same applies for John Moss: Council At-Large (2004), Mayor (2008), and now Council At-Large again.
What will Robert Dean do to try to rally the remnants of the VBTA afterwards? In 2008 he had two pieces on Virginia News Source (VNS) in one week, but is no longer with VNS. Then, will the VBTA even be salvageable?
On one level, I'd love to attend the Victoryless Party of the extremist Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA) on election night. The sadist in me would love to watch the Kool-Aid chuggers' reaction to the incoming election results.
Should Bill DeSteph lose (as expected and hoped), how does that change the City Council Retreat in January? That would both eliminate his junk agenda items (which other Councilmen don't care about) and his comments on the other items.
If the Sessoms/Virginian-Pravda slate wins on November 2, does that put a Redevelopment & Housing Authority back on the burner? It was in the applicant questionnaire for filling the Villanueva vacancy. We'll know by the time the Council Retreat is over.
Should Tanya Bullock and Andrew Jackson both lose, how does that change the context of next year's City Redistricting process? Does it strengthen the legal argument against Virginia Beach's at-large voting system?
Should Wally Erb tank badly (as expected), does that kill the "issue" of a light rail referendum?
I anxiously await George Furman's vote total, as that will tell us how many people will vote for any warm body over a City Council incumbent. It will be fun comparing Hedrick's numbers to Furman's.
What conspiracy theory will Reid Greenmun push about the annihilation of his VBTA Council candidates?
As political consultant/fellow blogger Brian Kirwin has said, will Wally Erb grasp that "No Means No" applies to the voters rejecting his repeated candidacies? Erb has lost for state Senate (1995), City Council (2000), Clerk of the Circuit Court (2003), and is now running for Council again. The same applies for John Moss: Council At-Large (2004), Mayor (2008), and now Council At-Large again.
What will Robert Dean do to try to rally the remnants of the VBTA afterwards? In 2008 he had two pieces on Virginia News Source (VNS) in one week, but is no longer with VNS. Then, will the VBTA even be salvageable?
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
The TEA Party's Racist Ties
For those good little Egyptians who have been living in the land of denial about TEA Party racism, there's now a report out documenting the ties between the TEA Party and White supremacist and racist groups. It's a collaborative effort between the national NAACP and a think tank.
The report can be downloaded at www.teapartynationalism.com I've already downloaded it.
The report can be downloaded at www.teapartynationalism.com I've already downloaded it.
2010 AAPAC Endorsements
The African-American Political Action Committee (AAPAC) has released it's endorsement list for the November 2 election here in Virginia Beach.
For City Council, AAPAC endorses Andrew Jackson in the At-Large contest and Tanya Bullock in Princess Anne District. For School Board, Carray Banks in Bayside District and Gertrude "Bunny" Waugh in the At-Large field.
No, they didn't endorse in most contests. That's similiar to 2006, when Glenn Davis (At-Large) was the only Council candidate AAPAC endorsed.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Will Sessoms Steps In It
While I didn't vote for Will Sessoms for Mayor, I've had high hopes for what might happen with him in the Mayor's Office. After all, we're finally moving forward again after four years of stagnation. However, the Mayor has made a major blunder with his list of endorsees for the November 2 election.
One huge problem: it's an all-White slate, even with a couple quality minority candidates (Andrew Jackson and Tanya Bullock) on the ballot. Next year is a City Redistricting year, where the minority communities - and others (including myself) - will probably push for reform of Virginia Beach's obscene at-large election system for City Council races. So if Sessoms blows off minority Council candidates in 2010, then eschews reform of the electoral system in 2011, what minority support would he expect to have for reelection in 2012? Will has painted himself into a corner.
Add to that Republican ire over Sessoms' endorsement of Jody Wagner for Lieutenant Governor in 2009, which is only inflamed by Sessoms choosing Barbara Henley for reelection against Tanya Bullock.
I've opined before (The V-P's Sessoms Puff Piece, 7/8/09) that Mayor Sessoms could have easily won reelection in 2012 by assembling a coalition of the business community, the Republican establishment, and the minority communities. Instead, he's now in self-destruct mode. If Sessoms believes business community money alone can win elections, ask Page Lea (2002), The Yes Campaign (2002), and Margaret Eure (2004).
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