Archive for February, 2008

Let Your Voice Be Heard on School Priorities

Thursday, February 28th, 2008

Hear ye, Hear ye: All those who have something to say about Richmond’s public school system. Speak out now or forever hold yer griping and/or praise.

Tonight, there is a public meeting on tap to discuss the future of our schools. And the issues addressed (or mis-addressed, according to your point of view) affect us all. Friends, don’t pass up this rare opportunity to be heard before big decisions are made on behalf of your tax dollars and Richmond’s schoolchildren.

Even if you can’t attend the meeting, be informed and let your voice be heard. School board member Carol Wolf, the sponsor of tonight’s gathering, explains the importance in a letter sent out today:

Dear Friends & Neighbors,

Your help is needed. Our school system is at risk for losing some of its best principals because central administration refuses to pay them what they are worth and the surrounding county school systems are attempting to hire away our best and brightest. I have tried to get the people on the 17th-floor of City Hall to understand that Richmond Public Schools cannot afford to lose talented principals who understand how to run a school, keep quality teachers and engage the community.

One would think that with a proposed budget of more than a QUARTER BILLION dollars ($269,217,496.00 to be exact), that the highly-paid central administrators downtown could manage to find a way to reward the principals who are making positive differences in the lives of our children, teachers and neighborhoods.

One would also think that last year’s closings of Third District Schools — Norrell, Norrell Annex, 13 Acres and REAL School — there would have been sufficient cost savings that could be used to establish an International Baccalaureate (I.B.) program north of the River at Henderson Middle School.

Why Henderson? Under the excellent leadership of Dr. Dionne Ward, Henderson is THE ONLY middle school in the city that has been accredited for five years in a row. And, last year Dr. Ward and her excellent staff helped Henderson’s students achieve the highest all around scores. Henderson students have also won the City-Wide Spelling Bees for the last three years in a row.

Instead of moving forward with finding new uses for the schools that were closed, the four buildings currently sit empty and useless. Several community groups have asked to be able to “re-cycle” these buildings for worthwhile uses and we have been waiting for an answer for more than a year.

Please join me at a Town Meeting on Thursday [tonight] from 6:30-8:30 pm at Holton Elementary School to discuss the Superintendent’s proposed budget and what priorities you think are most important for the success of our schools and our city. I apologize for the late notice. This town meeting was announced February 19th and confirmed on February 20th. Unfortunately, some communication snafu prevented central administration from getting flyers delivered to the schools until today.

I do hope that despite the late notice that you will find the time to attend. If you cannot, please e-mail any questions or concerns you have to the School Board [click here to find your representative]. The School Board will vote on the Budget this coming Monday, March 3, 2008.

Respectfully,

Carol A.O. Wolf
Third District Member
Richmond School Board

BTW: I can’t speak for Ms. Wolf, but these official “communication snafus” and “typing errors” related to public notification and input are really starting to concern me. How about you? Honestly, I can only take about fifty more years of this kind of stuff before I’m going to start thinking something weird is going on.

Click here to see a copy of the Superintendent’s Proposed Budget 2008-2009 in PDF form.

Posted in Richmond in the news, moments of civic brilliance, the free press | No Comments »

The Missing Pages

Monday, February 25th, 2008

Richmond City Council is due to vote tonight on the Richmond Public Schools Facility Master Plan update — which details the closing of old schools and the building of new ones. Millions and millions of dollars are at stake, and so is a coherent vision for the future of our public schools.

Only problem is: The plan that has been made available for citizen perusal on the city council website — attached to the ordinance — is missing half of its pages (we get the odd ones, not the even ones).

This is particularly strange because a complete pdf version of the plan has been available on the RPS website for some time now. You can read it here. Nope, I don’t think we can blame the schools administration for this one. Or the Mayor’s office. This would appear to be all Richmond City Council’s doing.

Of course, this won’t be the first time that Council has not provided the full information to taxpayers on what they are voting on. But normally, this only happens when the ordinance involves huge amounts of public money being funneled to secretive private-partnerships. Of course, any other community would update this ordinance immediately with the full plan, and then wait two weeks so that parents and taxpayers are fully informed about what is happening and can reasonably give necessary input. But as we’ve learned from previous experience, Richmond is not just any other community.

I can’t say it any better than school board member Carol Wolf, who sent a letter to council members asking them to postpone the vote: “Even if the paper were to be amended, a vote tonight would deny to the majority of Richmond citizens the opportunity the right to know what City Council is about to do.  Further, it denies to non-RPS parents and taxpayers an opportunity to address the issues in this paper.  The citizens of Richmond deserve to be able to read more than every other page of this document before City Council votes.”  

And isn’t it strange that when these kind of things occur, you can usually find the name “Bill Pantele” attached somewhere? Hmmmm….?

Update: At Monday’s meeting, Richmond City Council agreed that it might be a good idea that citizens actually get the chance to see what our legislators will be voting on BEFORE they vote. I realize that the idea of being fully informed about important decisions involving the future of our schools may seem like a wacky idea to some of the more “certifiable” representatives of the local blogosphere (no link necessary). But it looks like the council — including, it must be said, Bill Pantele — have decided that it is important, and have put the vote off for two weeks. Seems like a no-brainer to me too. Good show.

Posted in Richmond in the news, moments of civic brilliance, sheer terror, something smells funny in here, the inexplicably employed | No Comments »

Around the Horn

Sunday, February 24th, 2008

So little time, so much to blog about:

The city’s war on nightlife? What war on nightlife?
Oh, you mean THIS war on nightlife? You’d really have to be a “certifiable” apologist for the status quo in order to defend the city’s totally-illogical targeting of the Cotton Club and Club 534, as detailed in this week’s Style Weekly. Still, I’ve heard no staunch defenders of property rights out in the blogosphere or anywhere else standing up to denounce Richmond’s blatant harassment and targeting of nightclubs they don’t approve of β€” but can’t legally close down. This story shows that arguments made on behalf of public safety in the city’s continuing crackdown on nightclubs are, at best, overstated. [Great question: "Why should government officials lift restrictions on a more dangerous club in order to eliminate a less-dangerous one?"] But those of you who have been following the fierce opposition to the proposed Downtown Master Plan should read this piece immediately, if only to note (with eyebrows raised) how VCU’s current master plan reflects the taking over of the area around one property owner’s nightclub. Ah, but VCU claims that this particular part of its master plan doesn’t mean anything. OK, so maybe someone can explain again why Richmond’s own proposed downtown plan (which VCU and their surrogates strenuously object to because it doesn’t reflect “realities on the ground”) can’t say whatever the heck it wants too. After all, these things don’t really mean anything. Right? File this one under: “Disgraceful” and then file a duplicate copy under: “Repressive backwater.”

Speaking of “realities on the ground”…
If you ever wanted to know what the Richmond Times-Dispatch op ed page really thinks of the rest of us β€” as opposed to the region’s monied business community, which it seems to exist only to carry water for β€” just take note of the way these “jerks” use quote marks in this lame and intellectually-dishonest piece of tripe that masquerades as an editorial; you can read the reasons why this piece sucks lemons over at Urban Richmond. [Perhaps recognizing their blatant elitism was showing, the RTD editorialists attempt a kinder, gentler version of the same spiel today β€” it's all the same hooey.] A reminder of a political chairman’s considerable and acknowledged ties to institutions that he does daily business with is not a “personal attack,” by the way. Meanwhile, the recent hit job this same bunch put on ousted W&M prez Gene Nichol β€” whose only real crime was to be an unapologetic liberal in a position of authority in the Commonwealth of Virginia β€” is more proof that this bunch receive their “opinions” from higher authorities. Quote to remember: “Just four months ago, we were calling for Nichol’s renewal.” Uh-huh.

Do as Bill says, not as Bill does
To have Bill Pantele lecture anyone on fiscal responsibility β€” even Doug Wilder β€” after he pushed the insiders-only, taxpayer-funded CenterStage deal through without an economic study… and with all the lies he threw around about fictitious “sub-contractor” issues… and with CenterStage’s president throwing him a campaign fundraiser a few weeks after the council vote… all while making sure that the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation was exempted from basic Freedom of Information laws… Well, it’s a bit like having Columbo lecture you on how to dress. In any case, considering his own track record, you can put this quote from Mr. Bosnia in the all-time Howler time capsule: “Our budget should reflect reality, not a fantasy.” This is more of that “reality on the ground,” I presume.

Goldman is Gold
Is it possible to buy advance tickets now for any forthcoming mayoral race debates between recently-announced candidate Paul Goldman and his former boss, Mr. Wilder? Hot ziggity!! I dare say the city could sell tickets to these events and raise a couple grand for the school system’s ADA compliance right there. As for those sage pol watchers who continue to suggest that somehow Wilder and Goldman are working in consort, they should put their fanciful knack for conspiracy theories to better and more productive use β€” like finding out who shot JFK from the grassy knoll, or locating all these supposed people that Rudy McCollum claims want him to run for mayor again.

Do as Doug says, Not as Doug does
And why would a debate between Goldman and his former boss be so entertaining and instructive? Wouldn’t you just love for the mayor to answer some of the tough questions that Goldman has brought to the fore on his radio show, on his now-discontinued blog and in his mass email missives to the press? [Again, I ask: Can you work in consort with someone and be their most devastating and damaging critic at the same time?] For example, Goldman brought up a great point recently: How can Mayor Wilder compare Richmond’s school spending to Norfolk’s in order to point out the inefficiency and waste of the Richmond schools administration, while at the same time downplay the same numbers that show the inefficiency and waste in his own administration. “This very analysis says the Wilder Administration wastes at least $20,000,000 a year on it’s own government spending,” Goldman says pointedly. Proving that there are but two rules in Richmond politics these days: One is that Doug Wilder doesn’t have to make sense. The other rule is that there is no other rule.

Reality check
But does any of that mean that Doug Wilder’s chosen targets are somehow exonerated? Afraid not. Everytime I start to think that things might be getting better at Richmond Public Schools (and I was, just the other day), something shocks me back to my senses. Honestly, could there be there be anything more basic than protecting the health of our young people during a nationally-advertised tainted food recall (only the biggest in history)? If the people in charge of RPS (or Chesterfield schools) can’t do something like this right, how can we expect them to competently handle anything else? You don’t have to answer that.

A longtime Save Richmonder writes in to ask:
What in the world do Henrico and Hanover elected officials have to do with the election of Richmond’s mayor anyway?

Posted in Richmond in the news, moments of civic brilliance, number-crunching, politricks, sheer terror, shell game, something smells funny in here | No Comments »

Big Bad Jon

Friday, February 15th, 2008

When Jon Baliles (AKA Snoopy) told me last week that he was thinking about accepting an offer from Doug Wilder to be a public information manager on the Mayor’s staff, I could tell he was on the fence about it. I remember feeling a little dizzy as I listened to him wrestle with the pros and the cons of the decision - and what a decision. Not only would taking a job like that neutralize the great, varied and often defiantly independent work that Jon does at the River City Rapids blog, it seemed to be the kind of position (and caliber of boss) that would hardly be a perfect fit for someone who has his own mind and his own slant on what is best for the city.

To quote Norm at Bacon’s Rebellion: “The only person on Doug Wilder’s team is Doug Wilder.” You got that right. Just ask Bill Farrar.

As we now know, Jon said yes. And the hire speaks volumes. Whatever reason Wilder might’ve had for asking Snoopy to take the job, there’s no doubt that this is a potent affirmation of the importance — and the growing influence — of Richmond’s blogging community.

But let’s also face facts, fellow bloggers: Agree or disagree with Jon’s views, there haven’t been many blogs like RCR around here (I can count them on one hand and have two fingers left over, actually), and this exit to the Big House will leave a serious vacuum on our regional series of tubes. The main reason I had for not wanting Jon to take the job was entirely selfish: I will miss reading, reacting, sometimes disagreeing but always being engaged and challenged by his singular takes on this city, its checkered past and its uncertain future.

Not to say that there aren’t some tough questions and concerns that this announcement brings to the fore. Not long after the news of Baliles’ new position hit the streets, political gadfly Paul Goldman sent out a screed that asked some tough questions about the mayor’s latest hiring move. Read Goldman’s take on the situation in its entirety here. Some key excerpts:

So let me get this straight: no money to cut taxes, no money for kids, no money for the elderly poor, but plenty of money for an “event planner” at City Hall during an election year apparently doing election year type things.

AND NOT A SINGLE MAYORAL HOPEFUL who says they can be trusted to be Mayor and change the way things operate at City Hall has the stones to say anything?

…the people of Richmond want someone who isn’t afraid to do what is right. Jon Baliles is a good guy, and his family has been good for Richmond. But adding an “event planner” to the city’s PR staff, as he was partially described in today’s RTD, is not what the people need right now, indeed it is more of the same, not change.

I can agree with most of that, but I would say it a different way. Rather than being asked to buttress an already-bloated PR department, Jon should have been asked to replace Linwood Norman, who is easily the most ineffective (to the point of being almost useless) political press secretary I’ve ever had the misfortune of (not) getting basic information from.

Some have suggested that Jon has been an “apologist” for Wilder on his blog. I can point to at least five different meaningful subjects where he has sharply and forcefully differed from the Mayor’s office — arts center, anyone? — but even if you could paint him as a defacto mouthpiece, he has been far more effective, and far more convincing, than anyone currently toiling for the Mayor in explaining what has been happening and not happening at City Hall; much more compelling and persuasive than Linwood Norman, who Snoopy will now work under. Seriously, who has done more to effectively lay out the case against Richmond’s dysfunctional, wasteful schools administration and its lax approach to accountability, and to communicate the tough and painful political realities of “change” in River City?

So, to my mind, the question shouldn’t be why was Jon Baliles hired to help “explain” the Mayor? — it should be: What took Wilder so long to bring him in? And why isn’t he being asked to run the whole department?

Have I agreed with everything Jon has written concerning the Mayor and some of the stupid, maddening, narcissistic and completely contradictory decisions and tactics of his administration? Absolutely not. Has his writing made me think twice, look again, see the other side with a bit more clarity and comprehension? Only every damn day.

So wear those new ties with pride, Snoopy. And if (or, more likely, when) Hizzoner disappoints you the way he’s disappointed so many others around here, I hope you know we’ve got a full bag of pure trimethylxanthine waiting for you when you return.

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Richmond’s HYSTERICAL War on Nightlife (Cont.)

Wednesday, February 13th, 2008

Richmond’s HYSTERICAL war on nightlife? What HYSTERICAL war on nightlife?

The HYSTERICAL lead from today’s HYSTERICAL Times-Dispatch:

The owner of a seminude club in Shockoe Bottom is planning to open a nightclub across from two museums frequented by children and their families.

Sam Moore, owner of Club Velvet, has contracted with a construction company for work on the former Julian’s Restaurant at 2617 W. Broad St., across from the Science Museum of Virginia and the Children’s Museum of Richmond.

Ken Martin, a concerned neighbor, said he had spoken to someone affiliated with the project at the work site.

“He said it’s going to be like a Hooters, except the servers will be wearing bikinis,” Martin said yesterday, adding the man was accompanied by two scantily clad women. “I’m saying, ‘Holy cow.’”

Insert your own joke here. Here’s mine:

“Well, we know where daddy will be while little junior hits the IMAX.”

You know you are waiting for him to appear β€” that all-purpose mayoral candidate with the nimble fundraising touch, that all-around self-appointed morals czar who has taken the fate of the former Julian’s Restaurant as his personal crusade , the man who never saw a party he couldn’t patrol… here he is. Take it away, Mr. Bosnia:

City Council President William J. Pantele, who represents the district, said the site is too close to a church to permit a seminude club. The question, he said, is the appropriateness of scantily clad women in a restaurant in that area.

This is the best part, frustrated Downtown Master Plan watchers β€” the part that touches upon Guv’ment and citizens groups not telling business owners what they can legally do with their property. Apparently, this rule only applies to certain property owners in certain sections of town:

Martin and Krista Mathis Samuel, president of the Fan District Association, said a nightclub is apparently allowed under current zoning.

“Certainly we’re concerned. But our hands are tied,” Samuel said.

Pantele said that while a restaurant would be permitted there under the current “urban business” zoning, he’s not so sure about a nightclub. He said the current zoning intends low-intensity uses such as retail or restaurants near single-family homes.

“Is a nightclub a permitted use?” he said. “I contend that it is not.”

Pantele said he would be concerned about potential parking, public safety and noise issues.

He said there’s not much to do now but wait and see what type of establishment opens there. But he cautioned that the city might see fit to fight the project in court.

“He may run headlong into a pretty significant battle,” Pantele said.

One wonders if Mr. Pantele will fight an equally “significant battle” to implement the proposed Downtown Master Plan?

Gosh, and don’t you just wonder why Richmond has a reputation as a repressed, ultra-conservative, censorious, hypocritical backwater?

Posted in Richmond in the news, holy cannoli, moments of civic brilliance, politricks, sheer terror, the inexplicably employed | No Comments »

Tell Your Mama…

Sunday, February 10th, 2008

Tuesday is the “Chesapeake Primary,” with presidential nominating contests here in Virginia as well as in Maryland and D.C. While I used to be a dyed-in-the-wool Republican, lately I’ve been splitting my votes between the two parties depending on the particular candidates and contests. This Tuesday I’ll be voting for Barack Obama. I hope to do the same in November.

On the issues, he and Hillary seem to me to be pretty close. One of my reasons for going with Obama is that I think he has the best chance of bringing independents and even some republicans into the fold for the general. Their support will be vital if we actually want to get no brainers like health care reform passed. I’m also keen on seeing someone other than a Bush or Clinton inhabit the White House. It’s only been 20 years for god sakes.

But, mainly I am excited to vote for a candidate who, it seems, won’t say and do things he doesn’t believe in just to get elected - my major fault with Hillary. I also firmly believe in the old adage that you learn more about folks when they lose than when they win. So I paid close attention to Obama after his loss in New Hampshire and Clinton after hers in South Carolina. The contrast could not have been sharper.

After New Hampshire, Obama was gracious in congratulating Clinton. He then went on to deliver one of the most stirring political moments since RFK. The, now famous, “Yes We Can” concession speech has been made into a song by will.i.am of the blackeyedpeas. The song gets downloaded more than a million times a day on youtube.

When Hillary realized she would lose by a landslide in South Carolina, she had Bill try to marginalize Obama with a slimy, bigoted comparison to Jesse Jackson. She then flew to Florida for a fake victory party (all the candidates had agreed there would be no contest in Florida after the DNC stripped the state’s delegates for moving its primary date). Both major low-budget moves in my book.

So, that is my decision in a nutshell. No matter who you like, make sure you get to the polls on Tuesday. And if you like Obama, as the old saying goes, be sure to vote early and often.

Va Beach
1/4 mile line waiting to see Obama in Va Beach 2/10/2008


Inside Va Beach Convention Center 2/10/2008

Alexandria
Obama at Remember the Titans TC Williams High in Alexandria 2/10/2008

Posted in Richmond in the news, armchair philosophizin', come the revolution..., politricks | No Comments »