50% said you belonged to a civic league and are active in it, with 25% members but inactive. 16% don't have a civic league in their neighborhood, while 8% haven't joined.
I was scratching for a new question, and a pretty obvious one struck me looking outside this morning: should Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) have a weather contingency plan (or plans)? Many transit systems do. (In a recent discussion, Jessica Clark gave web addresses for a few.) In the wake of the November, 2009 nor'easter, HRT began to work on improving how it got information to riders for such occurrences. However, a few weeks later the second round of light rail cost overruns went public, and that project got pushed to the back burner. Currently, HRT deals with such weather events on a case by case basis.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Upcoming City Council Retreat
The Virginia Beach City Council will hold it's annual Retreat January 21 and 22 (Friday & Saturday) in the conference room of the Department of Economic Development (DED), on the 10th floor of the Armada Hoffler Tower at Town Center. It's scheduled to run from 8:30 A.M. - 5 P.M. each day.
I've attended every Retreat since 2002. I plan to be there again this time, and certainly will blog it. At a previous Retreat, Rosemary Wilson was fretting about trying to get Council's priorities to the public. I said, "I can have them online in a few hours" and did. I've referred to the Retreat as "the Super Bowl of local politics" in that the vast majority of initiatives for 2011 will come up over the weekend and be ranked. It's from those Council discussions and voting that Staff budgets time and money for what the electeds feel is important.
INPUT
The Retreat agenda is set through telephone interviews facilitator Lyle Sumek holds with Councilmen the week prior. If a single Councilman wants an item discussed, it happens.
Therefore, e-mail any thoughts to City Council no later than January 7. You'll want them to read your comments and have time to digest them before the telephone interviews. That's the main reason I write this post: the vested interests and usual suspects all know to contact Council prior, so why aren't you doing it? (I plead guilty: I've gotten in the custom of e-mailing in my own document beforehand.)
ATTENDING
They are long, dry sessions that Jim Wood once compared to watching paint dry. However, for a local political junkie, it's a smorgasbord of prime nuggets. Consume plenty of caffeine beforehand, and even more during the meetings.
There is no opportunity for the public to comment while in session, but you may speak with Council and Staff during the breaks. There will be periodic 5-15 minute breaks, plus the lunch break.
The most important thing to bring with you: something for carrying a load of documents home in. During the full two days, you'll receive a huge pile of paper. Also, something for you to take notes of your own with.
There will be a continental breakfast available in the morning, and lunch is served at midday. Beverages and snacks are normally there throughout the day. Budget cuts in the past couple years have also hit the Retreat spreads, which aren't as fanciful as in the recent past.
FORMAT
While there have been some variations at times, most Retreats follow a simple template.
On Friday morning Council will look at their past goals, and successes of the previous year. Following that, each of those issue items from the telephone interviews will be covered, with some preliminary voting on ranking them.
On Saturday Council's priorities for 2011 will be voted on. The final area of the Retreat will be governance, where internal and housekeeping matters will be discussed.
WHO GOES TO RETREATS?
The Virginian-Pravda will have a reporter there, plus there will be a few political junkies (including myself).
In the recent past interests have had representatives there, but they've dwindled as the City's Budget has tightened. The past couple there's been maybe 5-6 people plus myself, and I've known all but 1-2 of the others.
VENUE
At the turn of the century, Retreats were held at the Pavilion. That building was booked in 2002, then razed. The 2002 Retreat was at the Virginia Aquarium, an awful location. Noise from the visitors outside the room made it difficult to hear in the meeting. After that, Council went to DED's conference room. The best table and chairs of any of the three, but the space is cramped and the restrooms are a nice hike away. The past couple have been at the convention center.
I'm perplexed by the decision to go back to DED. There's not only more space at the convention center, but the caterer to handle food and beverage. One of the most bizarre sights at Retreats is watching DED employees with postgraduate degrees being utilized as menial labor for the session.
OUTLOOK
It will probably be a shorter session, adjourning early on Saturday. With all 11 incumbents coming back and money tight, new initiatives should be limited. However, I still expect to see a new major initiative or two floated.
Yes, light rail will come up, and someone (cough...Bill DeSteph...cough) will probably be crazy enough to try to get Council to commit to a referendum. However, until the AA/SDEIS is back and a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) chosen, it shouldn't even be on the table.
The most intriguing may be fiscal policy. After having drawn down the cash reserves in the last two Budgets, and with the election behind them, will there be any tax or fee increases proposed for FY 2012? (Unless the economy improves, probably.)
I've attended every Retreat since 2002. I plan to be there again this time, and certainly will blog it. At a previous Retreat, Rosemary Wilson was fretting about trying to get Council's priorities to the public. I said, "I can have them online in a few hours" and did. I've referred to the Retreat as "the Super Bowl of local politics" in that the vast majority of initiatives for 2011 will come up over the weekend and be ranked. It's from those Council discussions and voting that Staff budgets time and money for what the electeds feel is important.
INPUT
The Retreat agenda is set through telephone interviews facilitator Lyle Sumek holds with Councilmen the week prior. If a single Councilman wants an item discussed, it happens.
Therefore, e-mail any thoughts to City Council no later than January 7. You'll want them to read your comments and have time to digest them before the telephone interviews. That's the main reason I write this post: the vested interests and usual suspects all know to contact Council prior, so why aren't you doing it? (I plead guilty: I've gotten in the custom of e-mailing in my own document beforehand.)
ATTENDING
They are long, dry sessions that Jim Wood once compared to watching paint dry. However, for a local political junkie, it's a smorgasbord of prime nuggets. Consume plenty of caffeine beforehand, and even more during the meetings.
There is no opportunity for the public to comment while in session, but you may speak with Council and Staff during the breaks. There will be periodic 5-15 minute breaks, plus the lunch break.
The most important thing to bring with you: something for carrying a load of documents home in. During the full two days, you'll receive a huge pile of paper. Also, something for you to take notes of your own with.
There will be a continental breakfast available in the morning, and lunch is served at midday. Beverages and snacks are normally there throughout the day. Budget cuts in the past couple years have also hit the Retreat spreads, which aren't as fanciful as in the recent past.
FORMAT
While there have been some variations at times, most Retreats follow a simple template.
On Friday morning Council will look at their past goals, and successes of the previous year. Following that, each of those issue items from the telephone interviews will be covered, with some preliminary voting on ranking them.
On Saturday Council's priorities for 2011 will be voted on. The final area of the Retreat will be governance, where internal and housekeeping matters will be discussed.
WHO GOES TO RETREATS?
The Virginian-Pravda will have a reporter there, plus there will be a few political junkies (including myself).
In the recent past interests have had representatives there, but they've dwindled as the City's Budget has tightened. The past couple there's been maybe 5-6 people plus myself, and I've known all but 1-2 of the others.
VENUE
At the turn of the century, Retreats were held at the Pavilion. That building was booked in 2002, then razed. The 2002 Retreat was at the Virginia Aquarium, an awful location. Noise from the visitors outside the room made it difficult to hear in the meeting. After that, Council went to DED's conference room. The best table and chairs of any of the three, but the space is cramped and the restrooms are a nice hike away. The past couple have been at the convention center.
I'm perplexed by the decision to go back to DED. There's not only more space at the convention center, but the caterer to handle food and beverage. One of the most bizarre sights at Retreats is watching DED employees with postgraduate degrees being utilized as menial labor for the session.
OUTLOOK
It will probably be a shorter session, adjourning early on Saturday. With all 11 incumbents coming back and money tight, new initiatives should be limited. However, I still expect to see a new major initiative or two floated.
Yes, light rail will come up, and someone (cough...Bill DeSteph...cough) will probably be crazy enough to try to get Council to commit to a referendum. However, until the AA/SDEIS is back and a Locally Preferred Alternative (LPA) chosen, it shouldn't even be on the table.
The most intriguing may be fiscal policy. After having drawn down the cash reserves in the last two Budgets, and with the election behind them, will there be any tax or fee increases proposed for FY 2012? (Unless the economy improves, probably.)
Sunday, December 19, 2010
No Fifth Meeting!
On Tuesday night the Envision Transportation Working Group held what was suppose to be it's final meeting. Only four were scheduled for the Working Group.
Now there is a move to hold a fifth meeting, with the request coming from (ahem) John Moss, Chairman of the extremist Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA). The VBTA wants to present a proposal for a follow-on transportation effort. Yeah, that's the same VBTA that has opposed each and every proposal to build new roads, while calling for the dismantling of mass transit. Given their track record, to reconvene for the primary purpose of hearing from them would be tantamount to entertaining an offer from a pedophile to provide security services for an elementary school.
The Envision Transportation initiative is partly funded by the City of Virginia Beach, to the tune of $63,000. The Working Group meets at the Municipal Center, in Building 19. Considering the source, any proposal originating from the VBTA would be DOA across the street at City Hall.
If the VBTA had something to bring to the table, they could have come to the fourth meeting. While Moss himself was in sick bay that night, certainly others from the VBTA could have brought the proposal in for discussion. Zero VBTAers were at the fourth meeting. In typical VBTA arrogance, they demand center stage for themselves at a fifth meeting, rather than being one among many at the fourth meeting.
Your tax dollars are funding this initiative. Speak up and make it clear there should be no fifth Working Group meeting. It would be a waste of resources.
Now there is a move to hold a fifth meeting, with the request coming from (ahem) John Moss, Chairman of the extremist Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA). The VBTA wants to present a proposal for a follow-on transportation effort. Yeah, that's the same VBTA that has opposed each and every proposal to build new roads, while calling for the dismantling of mass transit. Given their track record, to reconvene for the primary purpose of hearing from them would be tantamount to entertaining an offer from a pedophile to provide security services for an elementary school.
The Envision Transportation initiative is partly funded by the City of Virginia Beach, to the tune of $63,000. The Working Group meets at the Municipal Center, in Building 19. Considering the source, any proposal originating from the VBTA would be DOA across the street at City Hall.
If the VBTA had something to bring to the table, they could have come to the fourth meeting. While Moss himself was in sick bay that night, certainly others from the VBTA could have brought the proposal in for discussion. Zero VBTAers were at the fourth meeting. In typical VBTA arrogance, they demand center stage for themselves at a fifth meeting, rather than being one among many at the fourth meeting.
Your tax dollars are funding this initiative. Speak up and make it clear there should be no fifth Working Group meeting. It would be a waste of resources.
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.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
TPO December 15, 2010
The Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) met on Wednesday. In a much-anticipated move, the TPO approved the transportation project prioritization report. Please note, flat Earthers: the Virginia Beach Fixed Guideway Project is ranked 4th overall among all projects throughout the region.
This is what happens when you miss a meeting: absent Paul Fraim was named to the High-Speed Rail and Intercity Passenger Rail Task Force.
Delegate Glenn Oder attacked the recent "Ring of Fire" graphic, claiming tolls wouldn't be set as high as depicted. Also, Phillip Shucet called it a "ridiculous waste of resources."
A briefing was given on value pricing of tolls. The practice, also known as congestion pricing, will probably be part of any transportation tolling.
A second presentation on the transportation focus groups, held in part by Christopher Newport University, was given. A series of recommendations was made, including a follow-on public series on transportation.
The TPO now has it's own Facebook page. (I was the 5th person to Like it.)
The TPO will next meet on Thursday, January 20. The TPO will have a Retreat in February.
This is what happens when you miss a meeting: absent Paul Fraim was named to the High-Speed Rail and Intercity Passenger Rail Task Force.
Delegate Glenn Oder attacked the recent "Ring of Fire" graphic, claiming tolls wouldn't be set as high as depicted. Also, Phillip Shucet called it a "ridiculous waste of resources."
A briefing was given on value pricing of tolls. The practice, also known as congestion pricing, will probably be part of any transportation tolling.
A second presentation on the transportation focus groups, held in part by Christopher Newport University, was given. A series of recommendations was made, including a follow-on public series on transportation.
The TPO now has it's own Facebook page. (I was the 5th person to Like it.)
The TPO will next meet on Thursday, January 20. The TPO will have a Retreat in February.
Monday, December 13, 2010
The Dems Will Go Big?
In our latest poll, you were asked how many challenges you expected the Democrats to make for General Assembly seats in Virginia Beach in 2011. 38% said 4 seats, 31% said 3 seats, 6% said 2 seats, with 12% each for 1 and 0 seats.
Just one problem: the Democrats haven't mounted four campaigns for General Assembly seats largely in Virginia Beach in a generation. Possible, but larger than what we've seen in the past.
The new question: are you a civic league member? Active in it? Does your neighborhood have one?
Just one problem: the Democrats haven't mounted four campaigns for General Assembly seats largely in Virginia Beach in a generation. Possible, but larger than what we've seen in the past.
The new question: are you a civic league member? Active in it? Does your neighborhood have one?
TDCHR December, 2010
On Thursday, the RAC and TDCHR meetings fell in the same afternoon due to holiday schedules. I was at the Oceanfront for RAC, while John Uhrin wasn't there. (I presume he was in Hampton for TDCHR.) I do a short write-up based on an electronic copy of the meeting packet I received.
In October, 2010, both ridership and on-time performance was up on Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) buses from October, 2009. However, raw customer complaints were up sharply from a year prior. (I use the term "raw" as the validity of the complaint can't be determined until investigated.)
HRT is $782k under Budget for the first four months of FY 2011.
The TDCHR will next meet January 27 in Norfolk at 1:30 P.M.
In October, 2010, both ridership and on-time performance was up on Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) buses from October, 2009. However, raw customer complaints were up sharply from a year prior. (I use the term "raw" as the validity of the complaint can't be determined until investigated.)
HRT is $782k under Budget for the first four months of FY 2011.
The TDCHR will next meet January 27 in Norfolk at 1:30 P.M.
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