From time to time I have to step outside of the Roanoke-area mindset, and look on a larger scale. Worldwide.
We occasionally need to be reminded that Amphitheaters, Stadiums, and parking issues are only a small trivial annoyance in life.
After 9/11, the London Bombings, Madrid, and any number of smaller terrorist attacks and "near-misses," I found this article over at The Daily Mail out of London. It's one mans story of being your worst nightmare. A radical terrorist who believed in what he was doing.
It begins: "When I was still a member of what is probably best termed the British Jihadi Network - a series of British Muslim terrorist groups linked by a single ideology - I remember how we used to laugh in celebration whenever people on TV proclaimed that the sole cause for Islamic acts of terror like 9/11, the Madrid bombings and 7/7 was Western foreign policy.
By blaming the Government for our actions, those who pushed this "Blair's bombs" line did our propaganda work for us."
You can read the rest here.
Eventually, and I'm sure if I was as widely read as some bloggers I'd get a ton of hate mail about this, you folks out there who try to blame Bush and try to infuse politics into the conversation might just realize that it's not politics. Not even close to being about politics.
It's about religion, theology and theocracy, and fear. And that's fear on both sides, thank you.
Anyway - it's a fascinating article - and much more important than a $2 parking fee, Darlene's latest hair cut, or playing "Where's Nelson?"
And lest you think we are sheltered from the rest of the world here in lil' ol' Noke..
A "Terrorism Expert" yesterday on Your World with Neil Cavuto was talking about how you expect attacks on the larger cities, the larger airports. But it's when you are not looking (and he said this specifically) that the smaller places like Roanoke, Virginia get hit - then we all have a problem.
Now why would he single us out like that? Makes you think.
7/3/07
6/28/07
Pseudo-Gangs VS. The Real Deal, how many years?
The Northwest graffiti incident has brought forth the talk of "gangs" in Roanoke. Even though most who were affected, including the police, have said there is no way this was gang related; people still talk about gangs being here.
I myself have said on many an occasion that what we have here is bored youth, bent on imitating what they think is cool, and creating nothing but damage and irritation where ever they go.
It is not uncommon to hear stories of girls who started smoking weed at 11, guys who started at 9. They are your "gang members" here. But what separates them from real gangs?
This.
A series of gang assaults in a one-block area of the Kingsbridge Heights section of the Bronx claimed one life, and police are trying to determine if they are part of a pattern.
The beatings apparently intensified over the weekend, when police say four young men were attacked by a large group of suspects on Friday and Saturday nights.
Police say on Friday night, two young men in their 20s were surrounded and assaulted by a group of males, as many as 10, in separate but similar incidents.
The first victim was attacked at the intersection of East Kingsbridge Road and Morris Avenue at around 10:15 p.m. Friday night, according to reports. The next victim was reportedly attacked nearby, just a few minutes later.
Both men were treated at a hospital for their injuries and released.
Then on Saturday, within a block of those attacks, two more men were surrounded by a group of 10 men and beaten, investigators say. One of the victims sustained cuts on his hand and head from an unknown object. The other remains hospitalized with a serious eye injury.
Most recently on Sunday, detectives learned that a victim of a previous attack had died.
(WABC7-NY)
And where did these youths start? Smoking weed at 11? Some. Tagging graffiti at 13? A few.
But much like up there, most of the real gang members started at birth. The home life was no life, and they found their way on the streets.
And if you think that 11 year old girl smoking weed is not going to spawn a 9 year old boy smoking weed - your kidding yourself.
While we might not have real gangs now, in another generation or two - we will. Because of the home life.
The little things don't matter - church, school, work. It's all about the home. And if there's little to no control at home - then there will be none in the next generations home.
Sometimes the problem can be controlled outside the home. Neighbors showing kids the proper way to be adults, but in all reality - if they are not getting it inside the home - then they will most likely not get it at all.
I know this post is out of the blue - but when you hear talk of gangs around here, and people cannot seem to figure out why - well, sometimes you have to write the answer on a shovel and smack them with it before they understand.
I myself have said on many an occasion that what we have here is bored youth, bent on imitating what they think is cool, and creating nothing but damage and irritation where ever they go.
It is not uncommon to hear stories of girls who started smoking weed at 11, guys who started at 9. They are your "gang members" here. But what separates them from real gangs?
This.
A series of gang assaults in a one-block area of the Kingsbridge Heights section of the Bronx claimed one life, and police are trying to determine if they are part of a pattern.
The beatings apparently intensified over the weekend, when police say four young men were attacked by a large group of suspects on Friday and Saturday nights.
Police say on Friday night, two young men in their 20s were surrounded and assaulted by a group of males, as many as 10, in separate but similar incidents.
The first victim was attacked at the intersection of East Kingsbridge Road and Morris Avenue at around 10:15 p.m. Friday night, according to reports. The next victim was reportedly attacked nearby, just a few minutes later.
Both men were treated at a hospital for their injuries and released.
Then on Saturday, within a block of those attacks, two more men were surrounded by a group of 10 men and beaten, investigators say. One of the victims sustained cuts on his hand and head from an unknown object. The other remains hospitalized with a serious eye injury.
Most recently on Sunday, detectives learned that a victim of a previous attack had died.
(WABC7-NY)
And where did these youths start? Smoking weed at 11? Some. Tagging graffiti at 13? A few.
But much like up there, most of the real gang members started at birth. The home life was no life, and they found their way on the streets.
And if you think that 11 year old girl smoking weed is not going to spawn a 9 year old boy smoking weed - your kidding yourself.
While we might not have real gangs now, in another generation or two - we will. Because of the home life.
The little things don't matter - church, school, work. It's all about the home. And if there's little to no control at home - then there will be none in the next generations home.
Sometimes the problem can be controlled outside the home. Neighbors showing kids the proper way to be adults, but in all reality - if they are not getting it inside the home - then they will most likely not get it at all.
I know this post is out of the blue - but when you hear talk of gangs around here, and people cannot seem to figure out why - well, sometimes you have to write the answer on a shovel and smack them with it before they understand.
6/25/07
If you Trinkle
My dear Aunt had a sign that hung in her bathroom. It read "If you sprinkle when you tinkle be a sweetie and wipe the seatie."
I'm thinking about getting a new version made.
"If you Trinkle..."
Today's Times Commentary Page features 2 side-by-side columns about the amphitheater drama.
One is by Our Own Vice-Mayor, the other by Tom McKeon, chairman elect of DRI's Board of Directors and Exec. Director of the Higher Ed Center.
Tom's argument that the amphitheater should be located downtown is clear, concise, and gives examples. It's not a great argument by any means - but a valid one, and understandable.
Trinkle however goes on the offensive from line 1: "Well here we go again: Council makes a decision; council members on the losing side endorse malfeasance, wrong process, no input, scandals; council reverses its decision; nothing gets done. Right? Wrong!"
He goes after the Times, the citizens, the downtown organizations and anyone with a thought in their head.
But remember, you are all stupid and wrong.
Well, maybe not so much stupid as uninformed on the issues. But that's ok - if you have a problem with it - he already knows it and has spoken with you. Right?
"I personally have met with every group and individual that I knew was opposed to the river site to better understand their viewpoints. I have never hidden my thoughts on this subject, and only with one e-mail two weeks ago did I encourage the rest of council to likewise weigh in on their thoughts. After all of this input over a long period of time, one differential came to my mind: Where should it be today or where should it be in the future?"
How about where should HE be today, or in the future? Another victim of the Peter Principle?
Then there's this gem: "Win or lose on votes, as I have, I will always lean more toward optimism and avoid the showmanship, negativity and misleading accusations that really have no place at this level of the political game. "
Followed a few paragraphs down by this curious line: "The bottom line was four council members who took the time to be fully informed voted for the river, and we are moving forward despite clear negativism aimed at derailing the project."
Is that to imply that 2 of them were not informed? We know Mr. Wishneff was not present, but Lea and Fitzpatrick were. I hesitate to think that either one of those two men would not be "fully informed", given that one of them was the Vice Mayor just prior to your little coup Mr. Trinkle.
But who am I kidding - the guy has it all, a job that gives him everything he wants - both with the city and with Carilion, a restaurant across the alley way with his picture painted on the backside across from his medical offices, a series of young, hip, Forward kind of people shining his shoes to get the next slot in the city council.
But he's right - I have to wonder how "fully informed" he was considering the city has previously cleared the area off Orange Ave. for an amphitheater.
Oh, wait. They did not have the money or support to build it then.. think they have the money now to start work on Reserve Ave.?
Want to bet?
I'm thinking about getting a new version made.
"If you Trinkle..."
Today's Times Commentary Page features 2 side-by-side columns about the amphitheater drama.
One is by Our Own Vice-Mayor, the other by Tom McKeon, chairman elect of DRI's Board of Directors and Exec. Director of the Higher Ed Center.
Tom's argument that the amphitheater should be located downtown is clear, concise, and gives examples. It's not a great argument by any means - but a valid one, and understandable.
Trinkle however goes on the offensive from line 1: "Well here we go again: Council makes a decision; council members on the losing side endorse malfeasance, wrong process, no input, scandals; council reverses its decision; nothing gets done. Right? Wrong!"
He goes after the Times, the citizens, the downtown organizations and anyone with a thought in their head.
But remember, you are all stupid and wrong.
Well, maybe not so much stupid as uninformed on the issues. But that's ok - if you have a problem with it - he already knows it and has spoken with you. Right?
"I personally have met with every group and individual that I knew was opposed to the river site to better understand their viewpoints. I have never hidden my thoughts on this subject, and only with one e-mail two weeks ago did I encourage the rest of council to likewise weigh in on their thoughts. After all of this input over a long period of time, one differential came to my mind: Where should it be today or where should it be in the future?"
How about where should HE be today, or in the future? Another victim of the Peter Principle?
Then there's this gem: "Win or lose on votes, as I have, I will always lean more toward optimism and avoid the showmanship, negativity and misleading accusations that really have no place at this level of the political game. "
Followed a few paragraphs down by this curious line: "The bottom line was four council members who took the time to be fully informed voted for the river, and we are moving forward despite clear negativism aimed at derailing the project."
Is that to imply that 2 of them were not informed? We know Mr. Wishneff was not present, but Lea and Fitzpatrick were. I hesitate to think that either one of those two men would not be "fully informed", given that one of them was the Vice Mayor just prior to your little coup Mr. Trinkle.
But who am I kidding - the guy has it all, a job that gives him everything he wants - both with the city and with Carilion, a restaurant across the alley way with his picture painted on the backside across from his medical offices, a series of young, hip, Forward kind of people shining his shoes to get the next slot in the city council.
But he's right - I have to wonder how "fully informed" he was considering the city has previously cleared the area off Orange Ave. for an amphitheater.
Oh, wait. They did not have the money or support to build it then.. think they have the money now to start work on Reserve Ave.?
Want to bet?
6/21/07
While I'm thinking of it
This whole amphitheater issue, the speed and abandon with which the city council has rushed into it - it makes me wonder if they ever had any plan beyond soccer fields at "River's Edge?"
What better way to eliminate the appearance of "lack of foresight" than to make a decision, regardless of how feasible it may be?
Neither location considered by the firm hired to do the study has ample parking nearby, ease of access from the highway, or a real way to keep the surrounding area from being blasted by the noise of whatever is on stage.
So I guess what they have done here is a blatant attempt to keep the wool firmly over our eyes.
Make your own call, but I'm calling shenanigans.
What better way to eliminate the appearance of "lack of foresight" than to make a decision, regardless of how feasible it may be?
Neither location considered by the firm hired to do the study has ample parking nearby, ease of access from the highway, or a real way to keep the surrounding area from being blasted by the noise of whatever is on stage.
So I guess what they have done here is a blatant attempt to keep the wool firmly over our eyes.
Make your own call, but I'm calling shenanigans.
6/20/07
Rumble
Amazement. Plain and simple. It's hard for me to believe the Roanoke Times finally said something I agree with in regards to the City Council.
"A council gang of four -- Mayor Nelson Harris, Vice Mayor David Trinkle, Alfred Dowe and Gwen Mason..." - editorial from the Roanoke Times
Now lest I be accused of clipping it to fit my bias, the rest of the line goes on to say that the Council failed basic civics by cutting residents out of the process in deciding the location of the new Amphitheater.
It's correct on both counts. Yes, Roanoke does have a gang - a Gang of Four. Those wacky independents, who answer to no one and were voted in by smoke and mirrors. Well, 3 of the 4 anyway. The Mayor outright suckered people. But one thing the Gang has probably thought of, and has plans for - is the upcoming elections. I'm sure in "virtual back-room" dealings the candidates have been pre-selected, and pre-screened for compliance.
This, coming from someone who was actually FOR the amphitheater being built on the Victory Stadium site. I still hold true to the belief that having it there, regardless of weather or not we can fill 7k seats (and I think we could do better, bigger), is a direct call to businesses which might very well see the benefit in having such a facility right near by.
But back to our story. The Gang of Four, these Four Horsepeople of the Ridiculous if you will, have set in stone their will for the future of the City Council. A big part of that is Darlene herself. She keeps the City workers, and some residents, in fear. As long as Darlene is there - the city will be kept in stasis. No problems from the pesky citizens, as it were.
Take, for example, the City Market debacle. Anyone have a clue as to why these "mediation" sessions are not being shown on TV? All we get are soundbytes - and sure, every citizen who has a stake in the Market (and I think that counts as all of us) is welcome to attend - but you know the hard truth is - some of us have other things to do than sit for hours in a meeting. Like work. Hours outside of the 9-5 grind. The hours that normal people work.
Like the current call for Valley Metro to extend operational hours, theres a good reason for that. People in the 21st century work 24 hours a day. Unlike the 1/10th of the population that is truly represented by the current City Council, who have nice day jobs.
So I like my coffee with non-dairy creamer, in vast quantities, and readily available when I like. Does this mean I expect every place I go to have this exact combination ready for me? Negative. I realize that I am not all, and all are not I. This is something the City Council fails to realize - they are acting as if they are all, and there must be something wrong with you if you are not as wise as they are.
So lets think about this for a minute.
How do we go about fixing the problem of a City Council gone awry? Simple - we rumble.
The City has long been divided into quadrants - as we are reminded by the news each time graffiti pops up pitting SE vs. SW (sprayed by the same hand it seems). So let's rumble - once and for all and for the good of the city.
Each area gathers up it's best and brightest - and puts them forth to serve the public interests OF THAT AREA.
If this sounds strange - allow me to remind you of this - there are 3 seats coming open in the next election - and the Mayor's chair.
1 seat per section of the city. And the 3 dwarfs left. The citizens of the City need to come together in their neighborhoods and commit to taking back the City.
Sure, it means there will be debate and disagreement, but that's life. And eventually, there will be compromise, and we can start back on the path of rebuilding the city.
I hate to keep harping on this, but it stands as the perfect example of the cities outright confusion and dereliction of duty.
Roanoke's 125th celebration has been forgotten. The fireworks on the Fourth of July will go off just as they always do, nothing terribly spectacular or different about it. An Art Festival has been announced for the first weekend in October. Anyone hear about it? Anyone care?
Nothing that celebrates the history of Roanoke, the where we have been and the where we are going, absolutely nothing.
Even with the wreck of the Hesperus going in downtown, even that smacks of beige. Whatever opportunity to truly set ourselves apart has been lost now - destined to be another city with an ultra-modern museum.
I have met, talked with, debated with, and conversed with many residents from many different parts of the city - and I can tell you this much. Roanoke is not bland, beige, or any of the above. It is a city whose residents care, have personality and life, and yet have been washed right out of the system.
Well - like I said, let's find our best and brightest, support them and may the battle rage on long and hard, and the victors be the citizens of Roanoke.
Southeast is in.. Northwest? Southwest? Northeast? Don't you think it's time we had a say?
Or are you content to let your city steamroll you?
"A council gang of four -- Mayor Nelson Harris, Vice Mayor David Trinkle, Alfred Dowe and Gwen Mason..." - editorial from the Roanoke Times
Now lest I be accused of clipping it to fit my bias, the rest of the line goes on to say that the Council failed basic civics by cutting residents out of the process in deciding the location of the new Amphitheater.
It's correct on both counts. Yes, Roanoke does have a gang - a Gang of Four. Those wacky independents, who answer to no one and were voted in by smoke and mirrors. Well, 3 of the 4 anyway. The Mayor outright suckered people. But one thing the Gang has probably thought of, and has plans for - is the upcoming elections. I'm sure in "virtual back-room" dealings the candidates have been pre-selected, and pre-screened for compliance.
This, coming from someone who was actually FOR the amphitheater being built on the Victory Stadium site. I still hold true to the belief that having it there, regardless of weather or not we can fill 7k seats (and I think we could do better, bigger), is a direct call to businesses which might very well see the benefit in having such a facility right near by.
But back to our story. The Gang of Four, these Four Horsepeople of the Ridiculous if you will, have set in stone their will for the future of the City Council. A big part of that is Darlene herself. She keeps the City workers, and some residents, in fear. As long as Darlene is there - the city will be kept in stasis. No problems from the pesky citizens, as it were.
Take, for example, the City Market debacle. Anyone have a clue as to why these "mediation" sessions are not being shown on TV? All we get are soundbytes - and sure, every citizen who has a stake in the Market (and I think that counts as all of us) is welcome to attend - but you know the hard truth is - some of us have other things to do than sit for hours in a meeting. Like work. Hours outside of the 9-5 grind. The hours that normal people work.
Like the current call for Valley Metro to extend operational hours, theres a good reason for that. People in the 21st century work 24 hours a day. Unlike the 1/10th of the population that is truly represented by the current City Council, who have nice day jobs.
So I like my coffee with non-dairy creamer, in vast quantities, and readily available when I like. Does this mean I expect every place I go to have this exact combination ready for me? Negative. I realize that I am not all, and all are not I. This is something the City Council fails to realize - they are acting as if they are all, and there must be something wrong with you if you are not as wise as they are.
So lets think about this for a minute.
How do we go about fixing the problem of a City Council gone awry? Simple - we rumble.
The City has long been divided into quadrants - as we are reminded by the news each time graffiti pops up pitting SE vs. SW (sprayed by the same hand it seems). So let's rumble - once and for all and for the good of the city.
Each area gathers up it's best and brightest - and puts them forth to serve the public interests OF THAT AREA.
If this sounds strange - allow me to remind you of this - there are 3 seats coming open in the next election - and the Mayor's chair.
1 seat per section of the city. And the 3 dwarfs left. The citizens of the City need to come together in their neighborhoods and commit to taking back the City.
Sure, it means there will be debate and disagreement, but that's life. And eventually, there will be compromise, and we can start back on the path of rebuilding the city.
I hate to keep harping on this, but it stands as the perfect example of the cities outright confusion and dereliction of duty.
Roanoke's 125th celebration has been forgotten. The fireworks on the Fourth of July will go off just as they always do, nothing terribly spectacular or different about it. An Art Festival has been announced for the first weekend in October. Anyone hear about it? Anyone care?
Nothing that celebrates the history of Roanoke, the where we have been and the where we are going, absolutely nothing.
Even with the wreck of the Hesperus going in downtown, even that smacks of beige. Whatever opportunity to truly set ourselves apart has been lost now - destined to be another city with an ultra-modern museum.
I have met, talked with, debated with, and conversed with many residents from many different parts of the city - and I can tell you this much. Roanoke is not bland, beige, or any of the above. It is a city whose residents care, have personality and life, and yet have been washed right out of the system.
Well - like I said, let's find our best and brightest, support them and may the battle rage on long and hard, and the victors be the citizens of Roanoke.
Southeast is in.. Northwest? Southwest? Northeast? Don't you think it's time we had a say?
Or are you content to let your city steamroll you?
6/19/07
Later on
I need to finalize some details for a post I will be putting up later on today. But at least now you have something to look forward to.
I know the world is not listening with baited breath to hear my every word, but some folks are... especially considering the topics in the news lately.
Oh yes, we will have some fun late tonight.
I know the world is not listening with baited breath to hear my every word, but some folks are... especially considering the topics in the news lately.
Oh yes, we will have some fun late tonight.
6/15/07
6/11/07
The new deal
Of all the projects in the works, this one is the one I am most looking forward to.
First there was Forgotten-Roanoke, and along with that came Forgotten-Wife and Forgotten-Dogs, and to that list we can now add Forgotten-Baby.
I have 7 months to get the new site perfected, up and running smooth - along with all the other baby-related activities that will be going on.
Wish us luck, and remember - the Sentinel is always watching.
I'll be around as often as I can, but I cannot promise a full working site anytime soon - I will let you know when the rough copy is live though.
Once again, bear with me.. It just got even more interesting.
First there was Forgotten-Roanoke, and along with that came Forgotten-Wife and Forgotten-Dogs, and to that list we can now add Forgotten-Baby.
I have 7 months to get the new site perfected, up and running smooth - along with all the other baby-related activities that will be going on.
Wish us luck, and remember - the Sentinel is always watching.
I'll be around as often as I can, but I cannot promise a full working site anytime soon - I will let you know when the rough copy is live though.
Once again, bear with me.. It just got even more interesting.
6/6/07
Sword
Gold
Omaha
Juno
S. L. A. Marshall: "Already the sea runs red. Even among some of the lightly wounded who jumped into shallow water the hits prove fatal. Knocked down by a bullet in the arm or weakened by fear and shock, they are unable to rise again and are drowned by the onrushing tide. Other wounded men drag themselves ashore and, on finding the sands, lie quiet from total exhaustion, only to be overtaken and killed by the water. A few move safely through the bullet swarm to the beach, then find that they cannot hold there. They return to the water to use it for body cover. Faces turned upward, so that their nostrils are out of water, they creep toward the land at the same rate as the tide. That is how most of the survivors make it. The less rugged or less clever seek the cover of enemy obstacles moored along the upper half of the beach and are knocked off by machine-gun fire.
Within seven minutes after the ramps drop, Able Company is inert and leaderless. At Boat No. 2, Lieutenant Tidrick takes a bullet through the throat as he jumps from the ramp into the water. He staggers onto the sand and flops down ten feet from Private First Class Leo J. Nash. Nash sees the blood spurting and hears the strangled words gasped by Tidrick: “Advance with the wire cutters!” It’s futile; Nash has no cutters. To give the order, Tidrick has raised himself up on his hands and made himself a target for an instant. Nash, burrowing into the sand, sees machine gun bullets rip Tidrick from crown to pelvis. From the cliff above, the German gunners are shooting into the survivors as from a roof top.
Captain Taylor N. Fellers and Lieutenant Benjamin R. Kearfoot never make it. They had loaded with a section of thirty men in Boat No. 6 (Landing Craft, Assault, No. 1015). But exactly what happened to this boat and its human cargo was never to be known. No one saw the craft go down. How each man aboard it met death remains unreported. Half of the drowned bodies were later found along the beach. It is supposed that the others were claimed by the sea."
remember.
Gold
Omaha
Juno
S. L. A. Marshall: "Already the sea runs red. Even among some of the lightly wounded who jumped into shallow water the hits prove fatal. Knocked down by a bullet in the arm or weakened by fear and shock, they are unable to rise again and are drowned by the onrushing tide. Other wounded men drag themselves ashore and, on finding the sands, lie quiet from total exhaustion, only to be overtaken and killed by the water. A few move safely through the bullet swarm to the beach, then find that they cannot hold there. They return to the water to use it for body cover. Faces turned upward, so that their nostrils are out of water, they creep toward the land at the same rate as the tide. That is how most of the survivors make it. The less rugged or less clever seek the cover of enemy obstacles moored along the upper half of the beach and are knocked off by machine-gun fire.Within seven minutes after the ramps drop, Able Company is inert and leaderless. At Boat No. 2, Lieutenant Tidrick takes a bullet through the throat as he jumps from the ramp into the water. He staggers onto the sand and flops down ten feet from Private First Class Leo J. Nash. Nash sees the blood spurting and hears the strangled words gasped by Tidrick: “Advance with the wire cutters!” It’s futile; Nash has no cutters. To give the order, Tidrick has raised himself up on his hands and made himself a target for an instant. Nash, burrowing into the sand, sees machine gun bullets rip Tidrick from crown to pelvis. From the cliff above, the German gunners are shooting into the survivors as from a roof top.
Captain Taylor N. Fellers and Lieutenant Benjamin R. Kearfoot never make it. They had loaded with a section of thirty men in Boat No. 6 (Landing Craft, Assault, No. 1015). But exactly what happened to this boat and its human cargo was never to be known. No one saw the craft go down. How each man aboard it met death remains unreported. Half of the drowned bodies were later found along the beach. It is supposed that the others were claimed by the sea."
remember.
For those of you in Southeast
Tonight, 7pm at the Police Substation @ 1015 Jamison Ave. will be the monthly meeting of the Southeast Action Forum. Please join us tonight as we honor some of our long-time members.
see Southeast Roanoke Rising for more information.
see Southeast Roanoke Rising for more information.
6/4/07
It must be tough (breaking up is hard to do)
I can't imagine it is easy being the mayor of a city. Any city, for that matter. But Roanoke, with it's diverse (somewhat) population and wide-spread socio-economic base must be particularly tough.
It must be tough, having to decide between making major choices and public appearances.
In any other city, that might be true - but in Roanoke, we have a weak mayor system. Which means the Council and City Manager make the heady decisions, which makes the Mayor just another member of the council, with a title.
So why is the Mayor not making many public appearances? Aside from the business-related ones, Mr. Mayor has not been seen at a good number of functions a dignitary official should be at. I can think of a recent dinner for a number of people who are active within the city neighborhoods. Darlene was there, as was her Assistant City Manager Brian Townsend. But the Mayor declined due to schedule conflicts.
Well I would think if it were important enough for Darlene "CEO" Burcham to attend, it would behoove the Mayor to put in an appearance. But no. And this was the 2nd time the Mayor had declined to appear before this group. This is not to say ANY member of the current council attended, or was scheduled to attend - but someone (even Alfred Dowe) should have made some effort to be there. But again, as Mayor of a city which holds the position of Mayor of low importance in the grand scheme of the city, what else could be going on?
There's 2 ways to think about this. #1 - Mr. Harris is much like that freight train downtown; if the train ain't movin' it's useless. Or #2 - Mr. Harris is playing limited engagements before select audiences, and anyone else gets the short sheet.
Harris has had a good run, since 2004 he has been the Mayor, the pastor at Virginia Heights Bapitst, worked on completing his doctorate, and writing books. He has overseen the overthrow of the average citizen in favor of the SoRo crowd (For the City), demolished Victory Stadium (a smokescreen issue), and kept the City Market stagnant. But in the same breath one cannot help but mention the greening of the greenways, the flood reduction project along the river, and the revamp of the Civic Center for trade shows. All worthwhile projects, certainly.
I see what you did there.
So what's next for Mr. Mayor? Short of giving him the same "sacrificial lamb" treatment that Bev Fitzpatrick has received, I think it's time to return this shepherd to his flock.
Mr. Harris,
We thank you for your 4 years in office, it's been fun - really. But I think it's time we both admitted what the problem is. We've grown apart. There was a time when your smile and words brought a twinkle to our eye. But not every relationship is meant to last, and though parting be painful - I think it's time we went our own directions. There are a lot of fish in the sea, Mr. Harris - and I have a feeling you will find your very own soon enough. But we are not that fish. Not anymore. It's not you, it's us - we've just grown past what we had. And yes, in a way you helped us reach this point, but we don't feel you can go all the way with us.
Let's be honest, you haven't always been there for us. And you haven't always had our best interests at heart. Maybe it was the lure of the title, or the status - but we don't feel it anymore. But we are ok with that, and we will come through this intact. We feel it's better that you do not attempt to contact us in the future, and we will pass along anything you might have left behind.
Sorry for this,
Citizens of Roanoke City
~~~~~~~~~~~
Like I said, must be tough - breaking up is always hard to do.
It must be tough, having to decide between making major choices and public appearances.
In any other city, that might be true - but in Roanoke, we have a weak mayor system. Which means the Council and City Manager make the heady decisions, which makes the Mayor just another member of the council, with a title.
So why is the Mayor not making many public appearances? Aside from the business-related ones, Mr. Mayor has not been seen at a good number of functions a dignitary official should be at. I can think of a recent dinner for a number of people who are active within the city neighborhoods. Darlene was there, as was her Assistant City Manager Brian Townsend. But the Mayor declined due to schedule conflicts.
Well I would think if it were important enough for Darlene "CEO" Burcham to attend, it would behoove the Mayor to put in an appearance. But no. And this was the 2nd time the Mayor had declined to appear before this group. This is not to say ANY member of the current council attended, or was scheduled to attend - but someone (even Alfred Dowe) should have made some effort to be there. But again, as Mayor of a city which holds the position of Mayor of low importance in the grand scheme of the city, what else could be going on?
There's 2 ways to think about this. #1 - Mr. Harris is much like that freight train downtown; if the train ain't movin' it's useless. Or #2 - Mr. Harris is playing limited engagements before select audiences, and anyone else gets the short sheet.
Harris has had a good run, since 2004 he has been the Mayor, the pastor at Virginia Heights Bapitst, worked on completing his doctorate, and writing books. He has overseen the overthrow of the average citizen in favor of the SoRo crowd (For the City), demolished Victory Stadium (a smokescreen issue), and kept the City Market stagnant. But in the same breath one cannot help but mention the greening of the greenways, the flood reduction project along the river, and the revamp of the Civic Center for trade shows. All worthwhile projects, certainly.
I see what you did there.
So what's next for Mr. Mayor? Short of giving him the same "sacrificial lamb" treatment that Bev Fitzpatrick has received, I think it's time to return this shepherd to his flock.
Mr. Harris,
We thank you for your 4 years in office, it's been fun - really. But I think it's time we both admitted what the problem is. We've grown apart. There was a time when your smile and words brought a twinkle to our eye. But not every relationship is meant to last, and though parting be painful - I think it's time we went our own directions. There are a lot of fish in the sea, Mr. Harris - and I have a feeling you will find your very own soon enough. But we are not that fish. Not anymore. It's not you, it's us - we've just grown past what we had. And yes, in a way you helped us reach this point, but we don't feel you can go all the way with us.
Let's be honest, you haven't always been there for us. And you haven't always had our best interests at heart. Maybe it was the lure of the title, or the status - but we don't feel it anymore. But we are ok with that, and we will come through this intact. We feel it's better that you do not attempt to contact us in the future, and we will pass along anything you might have left behind.
Sorry for this,
Citizens of Roanoke City
~~~~~~~~~~~
Like I said, must be tough - breaking up is always hard to do.
6/1/07
The City Council Agenda for Monday, June 4th 2007
Yes - I'm reading it again. Someone has to go into geek-mode to keep you all informed.
So what I'm seeing so far is this: An update on the Mayor's Monument (aka The Curse of Roanoke) in Elmwood Park, as it is slated for revitalization this year. An update on the Amphitheater Study, which is nearly a moot point as the Lake will have it's own comparable up and running long before we do.
Unless the city really hangs itself on the line, and pushes for something more than what we have heard about before - it will be just another amphitheater - similar to the one at the lake. Woo.
Then there will be a quick update on the Aviation Drive - Thirlane Rd. project.
All of this at the 9am meeting.
At the 2pm meeting - well, not much really. Which makes it a great time for anyone with the time and availability to go before the City Council, and respectfully request they remove their collective head from that dark, stinky nether-region it seems to have embedded itself in.
Otherwise, not much to report - which is nothing uncommon with the Council.
Remember folks - the elections are coming up soon enough. Or not soon enough - depending on how you view things.
Oh - I need to revise my numbers from the parking issue the other day - Collectively taken, all the city parking garages on weekends contain less than 1000 cars overall. Taken to the 1k level, at 2 bucks a car - thats $2,000 a weekend. $2,000 a weekend to pay for a 7.2 million dollar parking garage being built for those buying into the Condo/apartments being build at places like the Campbell Garage Lofts, The Peerless Candy Co., and similar ventures down that end of town.
And if you think I'm kidding about that - check this from our City CEO.. uh.. Manager: "Roanoke City Manager Darlene Burcham said she has warned council members for three years that the rate increase would be needed to pay for a parking garage between Campbell and Salem avenues. The garage is needed to serve new living spaces under construction downtown, she said.
That influx of full-time residents, Burcham said, "is key to the long-term success of downtown."
Oh I could say soooo much more, but I will hold my tongue for the moment.
The lawn is calling me.. I must mow.
So what I'm seeing so far is this: An update on the Mayor's Monument (aka The Curse of Roanoke) in Elmwood Park, as it is slated for revitalization this year. An update on the Amphitheater Study, which is nearly a moot point as the Lake will have it's own comparable up and running long before we do.
Unless the city really hangs itself on the line, and pushes for something more than what we have heard about before - it will be just another amphitheater - similar to the one at the lake. Woo.
Then there will be a quick update on the Aviation Drive - Thirlane Rd. project.
All of this at the 9am meeting.
At the 2pm meeting - well, not much really. Which makes it a great time for anyone with the time and availability to go before the City Council, and respectfully request they remove their collective head from that dark, stinky nether-region it seems to have embedded itself in.
Otherwise, not much to report - which is nothing uncommon with the Council.
Remember folks - the elections are coming up soon enough. Or not soon enough - depending on how you view things.
Oh - I need to revise my numbers from the parking issue the other day - Collectively taken, all the city parking garages on weekends contain less than 1000 cars overall. Taken to the 1k level, at 2 bucks a car - thats $2,000 a weekend. $2,000 a weekend to pay for a 7.2 million dollar parking garage being built for those buying into the Condo/apartments being build at places like the Campbell Garage Lofts, The Peerless Candy Co., and similar ventures down that end of town.
And if you think I'm kidding about that - check this from our City CEO.. uh.. Manager: "Roanoke City Manager Darlene Burcham said she has warned council members for three years that the rate increase would be needed to pay for a parking garage between Campbell and Salem avenues. The garage is needed to serve new living spaces under construction downtown, she said.
That influx of full-time residents, Burcham said, "is key to the long-term success of downtown."
Oh I could say soooo much more, but I will hold my tongue for the moment.
The lawn is calling me.. I must mow.
5/31/07
Hum Drum
With the rolling thunder in the distance, and an old favorite song playing in the background.. I want to write.
But not my usual output.. something more.
Exactly what, I'm not sure. But something will come of this. I have 48 hours of dead air to fill.
Maybe... a stroll to the edge of the world is in order. Maybe.
But not my usual output.. something more.
Exactly what, I'm not sure. But something will come of this. I have 48 hours of dead air to fill.
Maybe... a stroll to the edge of the world is in order. Maybe.
5/30/07
After much delay and consternation
Sorry for all the delays folks - but life does not stop here at F-R HQ, high on a hill overlooking the city (you know that ferris wheel at the civic center? I saw what you did there) and preparing for the launch of.. well, you'll find out.
Memorial Day has always been a day of remembrance for me, which despite the best efforts of those here in OhNoesaNoke, I was able to push aside all the silly news... until now.
So I open this with this warning: What follows is a weekends worth of held-back commentary, and it might get ugly.
Note to John Lugar, President of Valley Forward:
You have shown the world exactly how petty and childish you and your group really are. By your clear and delusional misunderstanding of the basic facts before you - your bitter statements regarding the people of the city (not that you actually hold them in any regard) and the MMAC show that you are not fit to lead. You, and your group, should be commended for the Gallop for the Greenways. But as for the rest of it, seriously - be still, and listen for a change. I know you folks are used to a certain level of treatment, but you are out in the world now - and things are different out here.
Your "broad public support" is easily dismissed, and you know that. A biased and misleading survey does not prove anything, except to you folks.
Learn from this, for your next public works project and stop assigning blame to everyone under the sun for your own bad idea.
Note to the Roanoke City Council:
There is not much more I can add to the public outcry on the $2 parking fee. It's a bad idea, and I have a feeling you folks know it - but decided to go the easy route and keep the idea.
If, and this is only an if, you get maybe 200 cars on a Saturday at the Market Garage, and another 100 (not seen that many, but what have you) on Sunday - thats $600 in fees collected.
I do understand the need for a new parking garage towards the west side of Downtown. If any area is ripe for growth, it's that area. What needs to be done, rather than raising the fee across the board, is raise it for those who are not city residents - and build into the decal fee a parking tax, and issue a small barcode sticker for city residents. They can then park free when they need it, while still generating revenue for the city to put towards the building of the new garage (and perhaps fixing up the old ones).
That's not the entire story, but it's enough of the story for now. There will be more later - thats for sure.
Memorial Day has always been a day of remembrance for me, which despite the best efforts of those here in OhNoesaNoke, I was able to push aside all the silly news... until now.
So I open this with this warning: What follows is a weekends worth of held-back commentary, and it might get ugly.
Note to John Lugar, President of Valley Forward:
You have shown the world exactly how petty and childish you and your group really are. By your clear and delusional misunderstanding of the basic facts before you - your bitter statements regarding the people of the city (not that you actually hold them in any regard) and the MMAC show that you are not fit to lead. You, and your group, should be commended for the Gallop for the Greenways. But as for the rest of it, seriously - be still, and listen for a change. I know you folks are used to a certain level of treatment, but you are out in the world now - and things are different out here.
Your "broad public support" is easily dismissed, and you know that. A biased and misleading survey does not prove anything, except to you folks.
Learn from this, for your next public works project and stop assigning blame to everyone under the sun for your own bad idea.
Note to the Roanoke City Council:
There is not much more I can add to the public outcry on the $2 parking fee. It's a bad idea, and I have a feeling you folks know it - but decided to go the easy route and keep the idea.
If, and this is only an if, you get maybe 200 cars on a Saturday at the Market Garage, and another 100 (not seen that many, but what have you) on Sunday - thats $600 in fees collected.
I do understand the need for a new parking garage towards the west side of Downtown. If any area is ripe for growth, it's that area. What needs to be done, rather than raising the fee across the board, is raise it for those who are not city residents - and build into the decal fee a parking tax, and issue a small barcode sticker for city residents. They can then park free when they need it, while still generating revenue for the city to put towards the building of the new garage (and perhaps fixing up the old ones).
That's not the entire story, but it's enough of the story for now. There will be more later - thats for sure.
5/27/07
Difficult, in a word.
It's hard not to respond to a certain article in today's newspaper. But I will refrain until Tuesday, when Memorial Day is officially over.
Please, if you have not done so yet - watch the video below. And remember...
Please, if you have not done so yet - watch the video below. And remember...
5/23/07
Remember...
D-Day
WWII
I single out the Soldiers who fought bravely for the freedom of the world from tyranny in World War 2.
What about the other soldiers? The Vietnam Vets, Korean War Vets, Gulfs 1&2?
I honor them as well, but we are losing the World War 2 vets at a frightening rate. 1200 a day by some estimates. And very few of us know their stories - that side they rarely talk about.
I realize I am putting this up early, but when you come across a video (via YouTube) of this high caliber.. how can you ignore it's message.
5/21/07
How much?
I guess technically, I've been out of service since Thursday afternoon - so I have missed a whole bunch of news.
Let's start back in yesteryear (at this point) - A reader asked for my thoughts on the reports of David Diaz leaving DRI, Inc. for a position in Raleigh, NC.
Do I blame him? Or envy him. I look at it this way. He is going to be charged with doing the same basic thing he was doing here, although I can bet you (considering Raleigh is already one of the premier cities of the south) he will not find the same difficulties there as he did here. Let's see - more money, a bigger budget, and a city actually willing to work with you?
Heck - I'd be there in short order myself. However, according to the Roanoke Times article: "His departure may coincide with a new marketing strategy for Roanoke's urban core."
New marketing strategy? What strategy? You mean the whole "Roanoke is one of the top places in the country to retire" thing? In case the city has not noticed - the new retirees, the Baby Boom gang - they are not exactly shuffling off into the sunset. They tend to be quite active, and look for active things to do. Not just a place to sleep, eat, and read the paper. They also like things that they liked where they are moving from... Population of Roanoke right now - Im going to guess, informally and based on what I've seen - 30-35% out of town born, mostly from the North.
And growing rapidly.
Anyway, moving on.. The historically accurate Patrick Henry Hotel hit the newspapers with a Fire Marshall's report that either they install sprinkler systems soon, or they close. And for a place that cannot rent a room anymore, and has probably rented one a month since 2000 (and from what I hear, it's the same room each time - and it's barely cleaned), is operating at a "loss" and really keeps the power on for a few functions a month.. well, this just goes to show what kind of a state the city is in.
Even the ownership of the building is beyond troubled - near-foreclosures, legal troubles (before the first nail has been paid for at that), money troubles... the list just builds. And all for one of the most important locations in all of Roanoke. The only TRUE downtown Hotel.
Sorry folks, you can try to call the Hotel Roanoke downtown, but it's on the other side of the tracks. With nothing else around it. Not even a damn CVS. Some economic benefit to the community over there huh?
In other, more level-headed cities - when they say Hotel Downtown, they mean it. Among and between all the other downtown amenities and attractions - there's the hotel. Not over an enclosed; but unheated or air conditioned bridge where you get the thrill of the russian-roulette escalators, a 2 story walk, or the elevators. That's not downtown by anyones definition of the word.
The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center is a great concept, but the promised returns have yet to be realized. The city passed on the partnership to get the Patrick Henry back up and running.
Well, you make your choices. And now, sources reveal something not discussed in the Times article. Affirmative Equities Co. has a history that has not been talked about. They have a track record for buying properties, and flipping them.
So what's the real story of the Patrick Henry? The premier hotel downtown, the grandest lady of them all - is a tumbling wreck. In any other city, EVEN Lynchburg - this hotel would be restored and marketed properly. Here, we are content to wait and see if it ever becomes a retirement property.
Oh I know I've only touched a tenth of the stories I missed, but there will be more.
There will be more.. oh yes.
Let's start back in yesteryear (at this point) - A reader asked for my thoughts on the reports of David Diaz leaving DRI, Inc. for a position in Raleigh, NC.
Do I blame him? Or envy him. I look at it this way. He is going to be charged with doing the same basic thing he was doing here, although I can bet you (considering Raleigh is already one of the premier cities of the south) he will not find the same difficulties there as he did here. Let's see - more money, a bigger budget, and a city actually willing to work with you?
Heck - I'd be there in short order myself. However, according to the Roanoke Times article: "His departure may coincide with a new marketing strategy for Roanoke's urban core."
New marketing strategy? What strategy? You mean the whole "Roanoke is one of the top places in the country to retire" thing? In case the city has not noticed - the new retirees, the Baby Boom gang - they are not exactly shuffling off into the sunset. They tend to be quite active, and look for active things to do. Not just a place to sleep, eat, and read the paper. They also like things that they liked where they are moving from... Population of Roanoke right now - Im going to guess, informally and based on what I've seen - 30-35% out of town born, mostly from the North.
And growing rapidly.
Anyway, moving on.. The historically accurate Patrick Henry Hotel hit the newspapers with a Fire Marshall's report that either they install sprinkler systems soon, or they close. And for a place that cannot rent a room anymore, and has probably rented one a month since 2000 (and from what I hear, it's the same room each time - and it's barely cleaned), is operating at a "loss" and really keeps the power on for a few functions a month.. well, this just goes to show what kind of a state the city is in.
Even the ownership of the building is beyond troubled - near-foreclosures, legal troubles (before the first nail has been paid for at that), money troubles... the list just builds. And all for one of the most important locations in all of Roanoke. The only TRUE downtown Hotel.
Sorry folks, you can try to call the Hotel Roanoke downtown, but it's on the other side of the tracks. With nothing else around it. Not even a damn CVS. Some economic benefit to the community over there huh?
In other, more level-headed cities - when they say Hotel Downtown, they mean it. Among and between all the other downtown amenities and attractions - there's the hotel. Not over an enclosed; but unheated or air conditioned bridge where you get the thrill of the russian-roulette escalators, a 2 story walk, or the elevators. That's not downtown by anyones definition of the word.
The Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center is a great concept, but the promised returns have yet to be realized. The city passed on the partnership to get the Patrick Henry back up and running.
Well, you make your choices. And now, sources reveal something not discussed in the Times article. Affirmative Equities Co. has a history that has not been talked about. They have a track record for buying properties, and flipping them.
So what's the real story of the Patrick Henry? The premier hotel downtown, the grandest lady of them all - is a tumbling wreck. In any other city, EVEN Lynchburg - this hotel would be restored and marketed properly. Here, we are content to wait and see if it ever becomes a retirement property.
Oh I know I've only touched a tenth of the stories I missed, but there will be more.
There will be more.. oh yes.
It lives!
Made it back.. are you people lucky?
Too much to do right now to put together a full post on all the news that fits the print, but it's coming up later today...
for now, enjoy a remix of the Disturbed cover of Land of Confusion. It's a bit more graphic in visuals, but that was the point of the song itself back when Genesis wrote it.
The guy who remixed it specifically chose certain images for the gut-punch reaction. See how many you remember personally witnessing on TV.
Too much to do right now to put together a full post on all the news that fits the print, but it's coming up later today...
for now, enjoy a remix of the Disturbed cover of Land of Confusion. It's a bit more graphic in visuals, but that was the point of the song itself back when Genesis wrote it.
The guy who remixed it specifically chose certain images for the gut-punch reaction. See how many you remember personally witnessing on TV.
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