Well, that makes sense.

Take a look at what the new CEO of Advance Auto Parts had to say about why he is relocating and re-organizing so many jobs to the Twin Cities (although he does promise not to be abandoning the Roanoke area):

"Still, workers there -- as well as local politicians and newspapers -- aren't blind to the Minnesota expansion. Jackson said one main reason he wants to grow here is to tap into the area's 18 Fortune 500 companies. Advance, which employs about 1,600 people in Roanoke, is that area's only company to crack the Fortune 500.

Having a major airport here is also a plus, as Roanoke's airport recently was named one of the country's 100 most endangered.

"If you add up all the revenues of Target, Best Buy, Supervalu, General Mills and so on, it's about $200 billion," Jackson said. "In Roanoke, it's $2 billion.

"So it's 100-to-1 in terms of our opportunity to look across the Twin Cities to see if there's talent that will help us go even faster and more effectively." (via The Strib)

It doesn't feel right, and it hurts to admit - but the guy is right. Who would want to locate a major national business in a place where there are no other major nationals?

The Roanoke Region continuously attempts to frame itself as a great place for business. But what happens when you cannot get the employees you need?

I can tell you the story of a local employer, who in the 3 years since they opened here - have run through all the decent, hard working employees they could. Now they are left with whatever walks in off the street. Of course, this is due in large part to management issues (poor employee retention policies), but the key is - there are no more skilled workers to do the jobs this employer needs.

And we are not talking about Brain Surgery here folks.

New hires are not willing to do the work required of them without complaint, are instantly jealous of what other employees might have (regardless of how long they have been there), and have a severe distrust and dislike of anyone with any sort of management power. And they lack both the basic common sense which guides a person to do a good job, and the education to meet anything but the minimum requirements of the job. (Speeling optshunul)

This is probably why the new CEO of Advance wants to stay put.

I don't blame the City Schools, or the County ones; I blame the culture that allows people to walk about, shuffling feet and slack-jawed and ignorant of how to spell Saturday.

That's why we cannot and will not compete for any major operation to relocate.

Hard truth, but it has to break eventually.

The growing pains.

You know usually when I sit down to write one of these I have 18 tabs open in FireFox will all my supporting information, articles, and data.

Not this time. This time I am speaking to you off the cuff, and from the soul.

The Times, The Chamber of Commerce, and several other groups have endorsed Harris, Lea, Price, and Rosen.

The question is, why would they want the ticket that could keep Roanoke stagnant for another 2-4 years?

Harris is done, and has been for a while now. He reached the end of his usefulness with a trip to Mexico bought and paid for by a developer who then came with his hand out asking for city monies. Harris has his own troubled personal life which he needs time off to perhaps "prayerfully" go and think about what HE values. He is a man with a overinflated ego, who is supposed to be a man of God. Think about him in those terms, and you'll see where the trouble lies. Plus, it's hard enough to trust any politician - now your talking one who is also a minister? Oy Gevelt!

Lea is not a bad man, but has fallen in with a bad crowd. The ForTheHarris crew elected last time around has sunk a large hook into Lea - and they are buddy-buddy now. Lea never strikes me as a visionary, or someone who is capable of great thought. Not that he is not a smart man, but he is not a forward-looking one. So far, everyone keeps touting his founding of a sporting event. Ok.. so? Anyone for a game of Sandlot baseball? $5 bucks a head and we can donate the money to the hospital's children's services. Ok - so how hard was that? By the way - Sherman, watch what you say to the media - that's really what got your buddy Dowe evicted. When he accidentally came out with the City's negotiating to land a 2nd hotel Downtown, thats when the fuse was lit.

Anita Price, who are you and what do you want from us? She's a counselor for the City Schools - so combine her with Trinkle, and you have psychological help nearly from cradle to grave available on the City Council. Other than that? Can't really find anything - although I have to say, I will have a hard time supporting a candidate who allows her yard signs to be placed in medians and on public property. That's tacky.

And finally, Court Rosen. A fellow who I have personally met, and spoke with, and felt the need to wash my hands after speaking with. A person who stands to gain huge from a source no one thought of yet. Mr. Rosen was weaned in the halls of Congress as a lobbyist. And not just any lobbyist - but one for the Pharmaceuticals industry - a Billion Dollar Lobbyist. It was there he learned to speak in his vagaries, and offer no compelling visions - just wispy ideas that come and go like wind. He speaks to everyone, but for no one. Offering no real positions to pin him down on, claiming everything needs more study. He is a young professional who made his money in DC, decided to get out of that game and become a Land Spec Developer down here, and now sees the dollar signs popping up from the Carilion med school. A Pharma Rep in Roanoke + a med school in Roanoke = $$$$$$$$

This run for City Council, and all the various other meetings he shows up to, are purely for the display of his face. Making sure people know what he looks like seems to be very important to him, although personally I would rather know what he is thinking. Or if. I have heard rumor that Mr. Rosen might be a touch on the ditzy side. You know who else is a Pharma rep? The wife of Valley Forward's leader, Mrs. Lugar. You know who else is a Land Spec Developer? One of the board member's of Valley Forward, Mr. Fralin. Maybe being these things are what makes one a "young professional." Don't know, I'm not one apparently.

Anyway - these are the options the Times and Chamber of Commerce have seen fit to thrust upon us all.

I ask one thing of you folks. You all know I am the earliest announced candidate for the 2010 election. Please, think about what you are giving me to work with. For the good of the City, and all it's citizens - think hard about who will be in power 2 years from now.

I'll have one more post, covering the rest of the candidates before election day, but start thinking now where you want this city to be in 2, 5, 10, or even 20 years - and who is actually going to get it there.

Studying up?

Nelson Harris - age 43 - tanning hero - George Hamilton

Anyone else find it funny that Harris, with his own checkered recent (and past) is reading a book about one of the most corrupt cities in American history?

And he says he sees many parallels between Chi-towns past and our own, and I am sure he does. I would be on the lookout for more in the future if this book is anywhere near in-depth as it should be.

Harris is a student of History, and I am sure he is learning a great many lessons on politics and how to run a city.

I wonder if he has yet to read the history of Tammany Hall?


On a better note - I have to say, my admiration for Mr. Robin Reed just went up a few notches. Anyone who can get the true meaning of Mr. Schultz and Peanuts is a friend in my book.

I've got some other stuff thats been rolling around my head - but that's for another time, you all seem to be enjoying the commentary of "Dissenting Viewpoint."

901 and counting.

It's been 901 posts since I first started this venture, which I would call a benchmark. At times I have wandered the past, and the path which stems from it. I took time out for personal matters (the BST chronicles), championed unpopular ideas (the fight against the Art Museum comes to mind) and reported on the loss of historic sites. I have taken up the gauntlet of 'selling Roanoke'. Or, to be honest - selling the HELL out of Roanoke.

But to be honest and forward about everything - I know I am off course. I have stepped away from the focus on the past, the historic aspect which used to rule the blog - and walked deep into the battle for the future of Roanoke. Understand this: I left New York City for all the right reasons, the same reasons we all move - a better life, a better home - boundless opportunity.

Yes, you heard me right. Boundless opportunity. From the first moment I laid eyes on Roanoke I knew this place offered things that even big ol' Noo Yawk Sitee could not. Sometimes it takes the eyes of an outsider to see things like that.

In all this time I have struggled with the lack of comments, the lack of engagement among the hundred or so readers I have daily. Oh, I hear word from plenty of you... some I hear about directly, and some as 2nd hand reports as to who knows about the blog and my positions on things. It's those that I find interesting. The ones who have the ability to actually direct change can't even post an anonymous comment to encourage discussion amongst the populous.

I do get the occasional comment anon - usually something benign and easy. Today, someone left me some flame bait. In reference to my post titled 'Whose Valley?', I received this lovely missive: "Chances are, if you need to take the damn bus to get up there, you won't be spending anything anyway. " (emphasis added)

I could debate that point endlessly - backed up with fact, statistics, and opinions. Suffice it to say that not everyone who rides the bus is poor, sometimes it's just a good method of saving a dime or two. But let's take that at face value: someone was so offended by the very concept of my championing the use of Mill Mountain by all citizens - they were moved to leave a comment. Granted, it's not a good comment - it's base and smacks of class warfare - but thats the purpose of flame bait. It's to goad the author into a pointless argument. But it's something.

If there is one thing I hope to do is spawn conversation. I recently had opportunity to give a guided photograph tour of old Roanoke to a 20 year resident who had not the slightest idea of the history of the very downtown they have worked in, up to and including the 20 years they lived here.

I also gained some insight into the neighborhood she has lived in since moving here. It's a two-way street. The city is undertaking a massive project for it's 125th anniversary - recording the memories and stories of any resident who wishes to take part. They are encouraging the use of photographs and other 'props' in the storytelling.

There is still much to be gained by looking back at the past, and still a ton of hope for the future. But we all need to connect, become part of the 'problem' (he said with irony). The last election proved one thing to all of us - we need to become more organized - or the next city council will be 100% "For the(our) City". I am not asking you as a democrat, a republican, or an independent - I am asking you as a citizen of Roanoke.

Stop for a moment, and think about the city. Is this how you imagined it would be? And what do you think this will lead to in the future?

Look no further than the shell of the Art Museum, whose overhangs cover nearly half of Salem Avenue. And because they are sloped as they are, when the skin is added to the shell - I do not want to think about what Salem Avenue will be like after a snowfall, or worse. The simple act of decision-making has ramifications that some people would not like you to consider.

But this is the 21st century, and perhaps it's time to start working in OUR interests, not MY interests. If not, I fear South Roanoke will overrun the city, and the hardworking residents who keep the city going will be looking elsewhere for opportunity.

We are still strong, and on the razor's edge between a successful future and one which is troubled - and the decision lies in the hands of each and every person in Roanoke. Dangerous prospect, I know - but the truth.

As we press on with our mission here, I would like to invite all of you to take part. Through community effort the City Market was saved and revived, and through the same effort - the entire city can be the true Magic City once again.

Welcome to post 902

School of Hard Knocks

Some truths of high school life:



don't really care who they go to school with - they are too busy trying to get through the day just like their parents at work.



kids do not particularly care about school, or homework.



is no real way to motivate a kid to learn.



But - that being said, very few children whose parents graduate high school fail to do so. The students who excel usually are those whose parents did not have the chance to go further in education - like the children of immigrants. There needs to be a value placed on having an education, and for lack of a nicer way to put it, a good number of parents don't value education these days. They did not bother getting one themselves (or did not continue to educate themselves on a daily basis, read a book, or something similar) and guess what - the apple does not fall far from the tree.



What we are dealing with in Roanoke is a failure for the children, not of the children. Uninvolved parents, a school system confused as to how best serve the community/uphold state standards/keep the kids involved, and a shift in job skills.



Even the most physical jobs now require some sort of training, education, and ability to grasp concepts and learn from them. In order to work, one needs to understand work. Parents are all too familiar with the daily grind, and tell children often how miserable they are/how bad work sucks/how they don't pay enough... but never follow that up with the message that a little education can go a long way to allowing you to reach higher than they did.



It used to be that one generation always wanted better for the next, that has now shifted to one generation wanting the same for the next generation.



Not to mention the apathy of some parents, educators, and administrators when it comes to advancing students in the world. "Toe the line" is the call these days, maintain the status quo - and do not jeopardize the funding of the school.



The schools absolutely must raise standards, SOLs and "No Child Left Behind" warrant so - but the schools find themselves fighting apathy on the home front, a student body more interested in the "easy way" (as seen on TV, some conditions may apply.. Act now!), and a state and federal system that assumes the schools are failing the kids.



In reality, everyone is failing them.



I cannot tell you how many times in my average day I hear the words "I have a GED" or "I can get a GED and a job, why bother?" It's frustrating to say the least. But the question that I have, and no one else is asking - how many of the parents actually graduated high school themselves? I am willing to bet that of the 43% that drop out, half of those kids have parents with little in the way of education.



And excuses are easy to come by. Around the age of 15, a kid makes a choice that lasts nearly 10 years. I will/will not be like my parent(s). It's that simple. If a child sees that it's parents are making something of themselves thanks to the life-long process of learning, then that is imprinted upon them. And until the age of 25 or so, they will either embrace it - or they will renounce it (temporarily).



But then they learn, and regret what choices they have made. Without a solid background of education appreciation, the motivation to further oneself is nonexistent.



It's a generation doomed to fail, that is raised without valuing education and advancement of ones person. And it's already happening.



Look around Roanoke, where are the leaders - the young people who will take the mantle of achievement and lead into the next generation. They have abandoned the city. Left it to those who are the Status Quo.



And there in lies the problem in education - the educated move on, resolved in the knowledge that they will succeed in life - while the partially educated (no one's education is ever complete) resolve themselves to "do what they can with what they have" and miss the struggle to achieve.



Anyway - consider this part one in an occasional series - kinda like the Times is doing.



Comment away.