Anger. Hostility. Bad Blood.

June 22, 2006
State reduces Mill Mountain Zoo funding

"Nina" is one of the zoo's newest attractions.

Mill Mountain Zoo did not receive quite as much
money as it hoped in the latest state budget. The zoo requested
$200,000 but found out this week it's being allotted $40,000 in the
two-year budget, less than it received in recent years.

Zoo
Director Sean Greene says, "Well it wasn't what we expected,
hoping for a little bit more, then again, when you get $40,000,
you can't be sad about that. It's better than nothing."

In past
years, the zoo has received more than $80,000 in the state budget.
Greene says the zoo is paying down debt from the winter when the zoo is
staffed, but visitors don't come out.

The zoo does have a new
cougar, Nina, new paint, and some other improvements. Greene says
that's helped bring more people out. (via. WDBJ7.com)

$20k a year to run a zoo. Thats the equivalent of giving $200 bucks per school kid per year to educate them. What kind of outcome are you expecting when you decide to be that pig-headed and ignorant. That's not funding, thats an outright insult.

All local communties, governments, and businesses must dig deep now and make this a record breaking year for donations to the Zoo. People need to go, and break all attendance records, show some love for the Zoo. Perhaps the Zoo could be named a "possible terrorist target" and get some federal funding, I mean - if New York is no longer a target - then something else must be.

This is a disgrace, at which we can only lay the blame on the ignorant jackasses in the State legislature.

Funny that...

Im off tomorrow, which means I can do quite a bit of catch up on the blog and site..

Save your strength.. I've been waiting for a day like tomorrow.. Clear your schedules, lock the doors and windows, and put the phone on silent...

Tomorrow seems the spark that starts the firestorm....

No great revelations, no scathing discoveries - just plain facts.


"When you kill a king, you don't stab him in the dark. You kill him where the entire court can watch him die.
"

Uh-Oh

Someones at it again..

Roanoke's Revolution

Whose Vision?

We all know the Vision 2020 plan the City has, the first part of which being the recently passed new zoning laws, but how far has the City actually come?

All we have is an old report to go by, as the City as not issued a new scorecard for those playing along at home.

Recently, the City sat down with 3 different groups: Realtors, Home owners, and City Officials and Organizations to find out what they thought about the fate of the City. Interesting list from the Realtors:

What threatens the future of the City?
• The loss of neighborhood schools as schools are consolidated
• A loss of jobs in traditional industries
• Periodic flooding
• The spectre of increased interest rates
• The Dillon Rule that limits what the City can do
• There is a growing “no growth” mentality
• Many residents want the City to stay the way that it is
• The City’s housing court is viewed as a threat by landlords
• The perception that the City is overrun with crime and violence
• City participation with non-profits is considered a drawback for private investment
• The population is aging and fewer people will be available for the work force.

And those are just the Realtors, the citizens were far less reserved.

What has the City done that has not enhanced its livability?

• Widening of major streets, such as Gainsboro Road, has had a negative effect on pedestrians
• Transportation engineering has tended to disregard neighborhoods in favor of moving vehicular
traffic
• Poor code enforcement
• Allowing boarded/condemned/vacant structures and lots to accumulate
• Insufficient penalties for owners of derelict properties
• Insufficient regard for alleys
• Inability to reduce crime
• Inadequate enforcement on building maintenance
• Limited success in encouraging home ownership
• Disposal of open space and parks to the detriment of certain neighborhoods
• Parks that do not encourage users
• An overall sense of apathy
• There is a need for increased design standards
• Commercial and industrial development has encroached on traditional residential neighborhoods
• A need for more village centers
• There is no policy establishing equity in housing
• Vacant land is poorly used

What are some of the needs that the City could address?

• More design district overlays
• Enhanced rental inspection program that would assure better maintenance
• Development of jobs to attract people
• Move back to alley collection of solid waste wherever possible
• Provide more streetscaping

What does the City need in order to attract those who are choosing to live in the suburbs?

• The city needs more entertainment opportunities
• There needs to be more housing choice
• The perception is that the City schools are not as good as the suburban schools
• Too many social services serving low-income persons are located in the City
• The City is perceived as being neither responsible nor responsive to issues
• The City needs to acquire and develop more open space, greenways and parks

Then, the City Officials (I'd like to know who, personally) and Housing Organizations gave input.. (mind you Im not cutting and pasting the entire text of each group report - just the common parts, so you can see the similarities)

What are the weaknesses of the City?

• The infrastructure is old and decaying
• The housing stock is older
• The City is landlocked and cannot annex additional property without concurrence from the Counties
• Short commuting times encourage people to live in the suburbs
• Regional attitudes cause fragmentation of services
• There is a high demand for social services
• There is a general perception that the schools are bad
• Resident above the LMI are left out of the redevelopment efforts
• Redevelopment costs are high
• The housing stock is obsolete
• The region has a relatively high real property tax structure
• The airport is not a hub
• There is a lack of imagination and vision
• There is a high percentage of rental units
• Peoples lifestyles have changed in ways that it is difficult for the City to effect, i.e. a desire for one-story living
• There is a resistance to change in the community
• The population is aging
• Diversity is undervalued

What opportunities exist for the City?

• The tax abatement program is good and could be used more
• The City should look at the New Jersey Rehabilitation Code
• The City has been proactive in housing development but could increase its efforts
• The City should market itself more
• There are opportunities for regional conversations on housing issues
• There exists a need for more elderly housing
• The City needs to continue to market its lively downtown
• Public housing is geared toward self-sufficiency
• The City needs to continue to prioritize the use of its federal funds
• There are many areas where street improvements would enhance the neighborhood
• There is a need for partnerships with housing lender
• Commercial centers could be developed in many neighborhoods
• The zoning ordinance revisions could incorporate changes to improve housing development

What are the perceived threats to the City?

• There is a perception that Roanoke is a place for poor people
• There is a difference between the cost of improvements and the cost that is realized at time of
sale
• There are reduced funding resources from both the state and federal government
• VDOT supports sprawl with its road policies
• The population is aging

________________________________________________________________________

Now if you read through all 3 of those lists, and think about it - we are at a stalemate of inane proportions and assumptions. It goes back to what I always say about asking more of your elected officials. They figure you dont care - you figure they dont care, and guess what - no one cares!

Amazing how that works, ain't it?

For every civic minded person in the city, there are at least 20 who can't be bothered with anything more than complaining. At least.

But these lists were conducted as part of the Housing Strategic Plan, which is part and parcel of the Vision 2020 plan. Again, something which the average citizen has no way of marking the progress on.

I think maybe its time the City Council left its hallowed halls, and went out into the streets - public Town Hall-style forums, in each and every neighborhood. Maybe a few big ones at the Civic Center.. Time to really embrace each and every citizen and engage them in the business that is Roanoke.

Might just be my idea though...

A Lil Somethin Somethin

A freebie for you all, just click and enjoy

EXTRY EXTRY HEAR ALL ABOUT IT

Da Forgotten-Roanoke podcast is here!

Or here.. actually.

The Podcast emergent.

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The Pod will be available later this evening, as the engineers work out some technical glitches in the transmission.

Allow for some obfuscation

Hey! Look over there! He's making a point, and has pictures to show it!
(as usual, link good every day - todays message only lasts till 12:30am)

Good - that should buy me enough time to finish todays page for Forgotten-Roanoke.com, the 2nd part in the continuing "Remember, Roanoke" series.

A Mea Culpa of sorts...

I know you folks haven't heard much from me lately, but I assure you it is with good reason.

We over here at Forgotten-Roanoke.com HQ and Global Domination Warehouse Emporium are finalizing plans for our new, larger and more centralized location for our HQ.

From this new location, we will be able to monitor the activities of the city 24/7 - to peer down into the heart of the city and observe.

And yes, it is located within city bounds. So you too city leaders have something to worry about.

High upon a hill, with an eternal view of the Star - Forgotten-Roanoke.com will be coming to you live.

More letters from the wave-front

Such 'planning' endangers the city's heritage

Is it true that those brilliant Roanoke planners, who tell us it is
not economically feasible to renovate Victory Stadium, are the same
bunch that allowed a $6 million overrun on the construction of a local
high school and, in doing so, forgot to budget for a phone system?

We sure are lucky to have this level of expertise making financial
decisions on matters that go to the heart of our city's heritage.

Byron Dickson

Roanoke

City lacks sound economic plans

Rarely do I agree with editorials in The Roanoke Times, but I have
to give you kudos on the editorial advocating the city council move
"slowly" on use of the Victory Stadium land after demolition (June 7,
"Don't rush into fields at Victory Stadium site").

Most citizens don't realize the money, often described as being "in
the budget," for school stadiums came from a bond issue that was to be
used for an amphitheater or renovation of Victory Stadium.

To build an amphitheater on the Victory Stadium site and/or playing
fields isn't going to be free. The city will have to float another bond
issue to pay for them.

That means more debt and probably a lower bond rating, with no
assurance that council won't go off half-cocked (again) and spend the
money on some other ill-conceived project.

Fiscal responsibility is a joke to city council, and rational action based on cost-benefit analysis seems to be unknown.

A real economic planner, as opposed to a self-described one, would
know such things. Just think of the $3 million fiasco on Orange Avenue.

Robert Craig

_________________________________________________________

Can you hear the roar of the ocean? Tide rolling in?

Or perhaps.. Tsunami?

2 very interesting Letters to the Editor

Once again, Roanoke caters to affluent families

Wow, soccer fields. The soccer fields are only for the privileged youth, and the city "improvements" are aimed at the affluent families.

There is a large population of citizens that doesn't care about soccer fields and "family activities."

The kids who do not have affluent parents have nowhere to go. The single adults have no community activities aimed at them that don't revolve around alcohol.

The questions keep being asked over and over as to why Roanoke can't attract businesses and why we have "gangs."

The answers are simple. The U.S. is built on a multitude of lifestyles, backgrounds, social classes and colors.

Too bad Roanoke has listened only to the affluent parents of the "I need a soccer field or stadium for my kids" or our prejudiced Baptist mayor who can't keep the religion and state apart.

Put your ear to the ground, citizens. The nonaffluent youth are asking for help; the single adult would like his or her tax dollars spent on something to improve his or her life in Roanoke; and the minorities of the Roanoke Valley don't want to be singled out, but included.

Todd Nash

ROANOKE

____and_____

Lopsided representation of Roanoke's citizens

Over the past decade, Roanoke has become more Southwest leaning in its elections. Most of Roanoke City Council and the mayor live in this well-to-do section of the city.

This leads to more being done for the richer section and less for the poorer sections.

The solution for this is to go to the ward system. Roanoke County has districts. It works for them.

Why can't Roanoke go to a ward system? Maybe a little more will be done for all parts of the city and not just Raleigh Court, Grandin Road and richer areas near Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

The way it is now is not working. So, maybe a change would help. It could not hurt.

Wayne Harrison

Roanoke

________________________________________

You have been notified that the revolution is coming, these are merely the first waves lapping at the rocky shores. It's a metaphor.. think about it.

I started out today with vim, vigor, and venom..

All prepared to make the case (once again) for Roanoke. To point out the mistakes made in the past, and offer solutions for the future.

Then I got derailed.

I have, in my posession, a 10-pack of Reese's Peanutbutter Cups.

So after popping one open, and stuffing it into my mouth, something dawns on me. Usually, I cannot stuff one in my mouth that easily.

Well, it seems that the fine folks at Reese's have mysteriously, quietly downsized the peanutbutter cup.

Which now makes for 4 sizes of peanutbutter cup. The Big Cup (which is over a full ounce I believe), the standard 2-pack, the new smaller 10-pack size (.55 oz. and noticeably smaller), and the Mini or Fun Pack size.

Whatever happened to the old 10 packs, which were exactly like the 2-packs? Or the old familiar hard-peanutbutter flavor of the old school peanutbutter cups. Im talking 15 years ago now, and the flavor was totally different.

Why do they have to mess with a good thing?

It's going to take some time to recover from this.. hopefully I'll have a decent post up later.

Perhaps someone could explain this to me

I'm finding a good number of homes with central air, and oil heat.

If your home allready uses electricity in the summer to cool it, why would you pay to heat it with oil? Especially considering you are allready using electric power to run the fuel pump to the boiler.

Just a question, as the Forgotten-Roanoke.com street team makes ready to invade downtown Roanoke. Be down there by 1pm.. see you around.

New! For Summer 2006!

The summer series of Forgotten-Roanoke.com will be brought to you courtesy of Studebaker. Yes, Studebaker - makers of fine cars and trucks. Over 75 million miles of happy customers can't be wrong. See for yourself, test drive a Studebaker today.

And here's the podcast for today (wow - 2 in one week!)

What Duck?

What in the name of Bob?

Shocked! Shocked I tell you..

All this time, hiding in plain sight for those who would seek it. The Hollywood Video located on the upper level at Towers Mall contains, well, the Holy Grail of Life, the Universe... and Everything.

The original BBC-produced "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" on DVD.

All episodes, 2 discs. And no, you cannot have it. I am watching it right now.

The only thing more froovy than this would be the original radio show, also BBC produced.

Ahh the memories this brings back..

And those it scurrilously hides away, as it pushes out useful information (ie: the rare Jelly donut Munchkin at Dunkin Donuts is best enjoyed all at once, and possibly in pairs.) for such trivial things such as the word froovy.

(6x7)

I know you havent heard from me in a while

And theres good reason, I assure you. But way before I get back to normal mode, I want to share something with you I never knew about..

I was digging through the Mill Mountain Theatre's website (millmountain.org), just poking around - looking at the schedule and such.

A link attracted my eye - Free CenterPieces.. and I was thinking "Well, maybe they give away unused props, or even floral arrangements from time to time." Being the cheap kinda guy I am, I had to click.

"Every month, on a Wednesday, Mill Mountain Theatre presents a 45 minute one-act play on the Trinkle Main Stage.
CenterPieces are always FREE,
and they begin at 12:15, so you have time to bring your lunch, bring a
friend, and we will have you back at the office by one o'clock. "

Well now how damn cool is that?

Plus, its a nice break from the "long block" programming they run. I mean, sure - I'm no Beauty and the Beast hater, but its not high on my list of things to see. So to run it for nearly a month straight.. well.

Maybe 2 different plays a month. Or even one main one, and one only done on weekends for one showing. I don't know - Im not the guy with all the theatre answers.. I'd just like a little more variety..

What am I thinking?

Some of you wonder why I bother taking photos of a granite ediface downtown, which clearly has no historic value - or railing against the building of yet another "downtown condo loft" thing..

Well, for once - Im going to let someone else do the explaining.

"Burly men with anchor tattoos worked here once,
moving things from one place to another. They ate their lunch from
buckets, hit the bars on Washington Avenue for a beer and a shot after
work, then took the clattering trolley cars home. Soon soft-handed
number wizards will sleep among the pillars.

The
views of downtown will be nice, but given the number of empty lots
around, it’s likely someone will build structures around it." Read more, at Lileks.com (today only, tomorrow this link will go to a different story)

Early morning head-scratching...

"I can and I will have you shot."- R. Gravely to the Roanoke City Council.

    Wow, seems now the City Council is finally attracting more nuts than just it's members. *rimshot*


On the future re-purposing of the Victory Stadium site:
"The council will use the study to help develop a long-term master plan
for the land the city owns on the south side of Reserve Avenue between
Jefferson Street and Franklin Road, he said. In coming years, the city
plans to demolish an existing parks and recreation building and a
school operations office, along with the National Guard Armory, once
the guard relocates its offices."
    Well thank goodness, I cannot tell you what an eyesore that Armory is, and certainly I have never heard of anyone using a former Armory for anything. Well, actually there is that one in New York which is used for antiques shows, trade shows, and other things. And the one in Providence, RI which was turned into upscale apartments.. but no, no uses at all for a massive building with tons of storage space.

On the City Market plan, in which it was considered to move the vendors into the street:
"I think we have a pretty unanimous decision that we want to improve
the area that the vendors are in," said Vice Mayor Bev Fitzpatrick,
"making it a little wider and also considering whether or not there's a
permanent structure that both would give it a signature look but also
would protect the interests of the farmers and vendors while enhancing
the looks of the buildings."
    There is one simple, easy solution to this problem: shut down Market Street to motor traffic between Church and Campbell. Make it only accessable by vendors, city services and utilities, and important deliveries.  Oh, and move the Wertz outdoor dining area to Kirk, the Trio area to Church (they own those storefronts too, let them use those and stop taking space from the vendors). And as for a permanent structure, well - thats a tough one. How do you make awnings and beams look better? Perhaps asking the business owners if they would allow for installation of permanent roll-away awnings on the buildings, ones that would roll out to cover both the sidewalk and the vendors - I could see that being a big plus.

Maybe it's just too early and Im not thinking clearly. Must be, if I can figure this stuff out for less than it takes the city to do surveys and studies...

And here it is, as promised.. (finally!)

The Pod #12

a nice re-introduction, or introduction for all you first-timers out there, into the weekly (when possible) podcast.

Have fun

A precursor to the podcast

Originally I intended to include this in the podcast, but time ran out - so here it is.

Think this is why the bear was loose in Old SW last week? Listen now