Avenging Archangel

McLean Found NGRI

2011-11-16T08:04:00.003-05:00

Since I know a number of Tyler's family and friends are reading, I have this sad - but not unexpected - story to forward.

Yesterday Michael Jemar McLean was found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity in the May 27 murder of Tyler Lynn-Gainous. McLean entered the plea, Judge William O'Brien accepted it, and Michael was committed to the Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services.

The Virginian-Pravda says the evaluations were done by a psychologist and a social worker. Someone was found NGRI without a doctor's evaluation?!? Second, do we want case law stating that a paranoid schizophrenic off his medications can commit murder?

2.0 Pending

2011-09-06T09:07:00.001-04:00

I spoke to one of my friends in the African-American community leadership on Friday morning. They are actively recruiting additional bloggers for Avenging Archangel.

Stay tuned, as 2.0 is pending.

Opening Of The Tide

2011-09-06T08:03:00.005-04:00

I've made 43 roundtrips on The Tide as a Data Collector (11 on Opening Day), and some additional trips off-duty. (I'm back on-duty this evening.) I've seen plenty of it, and would like to record my observations.

NOTABLES

Among those I've seen onboard are Chesapeake City Councilman & TDCHR Commissioner Cliff Hayes, City of Virginia Beach chief lobbyist Bob Matthias (I explained the passenger counting system to him), City of Virginia Beach Transportation Planning Coordinator Mark Schnaufer, Future of Hampton Roads President Ray Taylor, and The Virginian-Pravda's Debbie Messina. When Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim boarded at Harbor Park on August 20, the passengers gave him a round of applause. Yesterday I ran into HRT President Phillip Shucet as we both alighted at MacArthur Sqaure. (As we'd been sitting in different halves of the train, we didn't spot each other onboard.)

However, special mention goes to the passenger on my train opening night: Reid Greenmun, Chairman of the extremist Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA). Yes, Reid Greenmun rides The Tide! In his habitual arrogance, yesterday on Pilotonline he declared himself an authority on The Tide based on that single trip. (NEWS FLASH: there are some Data Collectors who have been working 6-7 days per week on the trains.)

OPENING MORNING

On August 19, I took the first Cutback Inbound 20 of the morning to Newtown Road Station, arriving at 5:55 A.M. As the bus pulled towards the Station, we could see the place was packed.

Despite the attempt of Virginia News Source to later inflate the figure, there were no more than 20 protesters when I arrived.

My first train was the 6:30 A.M. run that morning. As I waited on the platform for it, a pair of senior ladies spoke to me. One recognized me from St. Gregory's. The other grasped that the objective of the protesters was to keep "a certain element" out of Virginia Beach.

UTILIZATION

By Sunday, August 21, passengers had begun calculating how they could utilize The Tide. They could save money by taking the train into downtown for shopping, entertainment, and Tides games.

Norfolk State University and Old Dominion University students were taking The Tide to MacArthur Center. The former were going NSU Station - MacArthur Square Station. On Saturday a pair of ODU coeds were on the Inbound Route 16 with me, taking it to Fort Norfolk to catch the train.

Last week there was a party in Ingleside. A group of 8 was on my train going there, and they would have certainly driven prior to August 19.

Saturday a family from Portsmouth was sitting behind me. They had drove over to a park and ride, and spoke of enjoying parking on High Street and taking the ferry over. I pointed out to them that the same $3.50 Day Pass would work on both the ferry and train. (Guess what they'll do next time?)

Yesterday I went downtown for an early dinner. I obviously would never do the 75 minute bus ride for dinner alone, but The Tide comes to within two blocks of the restaurant.

ARGUMENTS AGAINST

Let me answer some of the arguments against they have come up.

First, an opponent on opening morning was claiming extending The Tide into Virginia Beach would take money away from public schools. Not only false, but the contrary is true. Under the schools funding formula, all mass transit expenses come out of the City side of the Budget. The redevelopment induced by The Tide would increase the money to schools in outlying years.

Second, people will stop riding once the newness fades away. Reread the Utilization section and you'll see where the repeat customers will come from.

Third, the train's speed. However, the TPO would let you know that at rush hour our interstates roll at 25 mph or under, urban door to door travel is 15 mph, and our bridges and tunnels are under 10 mph. That will only get worse.

Let me point out the Virginia Beach extension, having no street running, would have a much higher average speed than Norfolk.

TICKET VENDING MACHINES (TVMs)

Once fares began being charged, two issues popped up. First, people didn't know how to use the TVMs. Second, they didn't know which farecard to buy.

A smaller version of the Tide Guide program has been launched to help deal with those issues.

HUMOR

With the deluge of people opening weekend, the running joke was repeating the opponents "No one will ride it" mantra.

On a Saturday night train, the ACS system was still stuck on Military Highway Station as we approached the Fort Norfolk Station. I quipped to the off-duty Bus Operator standing next to me "You can transfer to the 23 at either one."

As our Outbound Train turned for Harbor Park with a Tides game that evening, a pair of women launched into a terrible rendition of Take Me Out To The Ballgame. A group of teenage girls responded with (to the same tune) Throw Them Off Of The Tide Train.

One evening we could see westbound 264 backed up as we passed. Passengers began yelling "You should have taken The Tide!"

OPPOSITION

The group that told us "No one will ride it" was left with zero credibility by opening weekend. While no one ever pretended numbers that high were sustainable, it showed that a huge slice of the public is interested in light rail.

In the past week since fares began being charged, ridership has been 1.75 - 3 times the benchmark.

Randy Wright was right. He said if we built a starter line, when people saw it and rode it, they'd embrace it. The regional light rail to be built question was settled on August 19, 2011.

Suspension Or 2.0

2011-08-18T19:12:00.003-04:00

As some of you may know (but most probably don't), I've been hired by Hampton Roads Transit (HRT). Given the conflicts of interest that would present as a blogger, I'm either going to take the blog to suspension or unveil Avenging Archangel 2.0. My conflicts as a HRT employee:

1. Obvious on mass transit writing.

2. Legally, HRT is a corporation held one-seventh by each member city. To blog on local politics would be talking about my employer.

3. HRT has a seat on the TPO.

My duties will begin with light rail launch in the morning, which is why I set this to autopost Thursday evening.

2.0 would be for me to fade into the background, chipping in a post where I can, while giving the front seat to my best friends in the African-American community leadership. I e-mailed them over the weekend, seeking at least two additional posters. (A single poster would always be compared and contrasted with me.) This established platform would continue to advocate for an inclusive Virginia Beach, having a given readership base to build on. I'm not holding my breath on it, as I made similar recruitment pitches in the wake of each of Andrew Jackson's campaigns for the Virginia Beach City Council.

I've been hired to be a Data Collector at HRT, doing manual passenger counts on The Tide. Under Federal Transit Administration (FTA) regulations, manual counts are mandated during the first year of revenue service. (In addition, there are automated systems just inside the train doors.) Everyone at HRT is cognisant of the fact that there has been much speculation about how many will ride The Tide. Having completed my training, let me make it clear to everyone: given the methodology and redundancies in the system, it would be virtually impossible to fudge The Tide ridership numbers. The FTA will be watching, and - given the history of the project - will certainly check it anything appears off.

There have been talks between HRT executives and I over the past few months about me possibly joining the team. They began recruiting me once they learned that my previous place of employment was probably going to close. As HRT needed to add dependable additional staff for light rail launch, it was fairly obvious where to put me. In the interim, I put one project for this blog on ice: a political satire series. On the 13th of each month, I was going to chronicle the Really Evil Taxpayers Against Rational Decisions (RETARD). In fact, in my desk I have a scratch sheet with topics for nine installments of the RETARDs.

It's been a fun run. I had been considering blogging for months, but was finally pushed when no one covered a citizens meeting held at the Virginia Beach Convention Center. My one failure was never attracting additional posters, as I never intended to do this all alone indefinitely. While the number of hits on this site has been relatively low, the point is who reads this blog. I've had a virtual who's who cite it back to me. It's been a niche blog, providing information and insights you can't find anywhere else on the Internet.

For we grassroots inclusionists, both status quoers and the extremist VBTA present serious problems. Those of the status quo are usually more subtle. However, I hope others continue to speak out loudly about what the VBTA's sinister agenda really means for Virginia Beach.

Finally, I'd be remiss not to invite you to come ride light rail on launch weekend - and to become repeat customers. Given that the lion's share of my initial duties will be onboard the trains themselves, part of my training had me out riding The Tide. It has the Wow Factor. The bulk of my fellow Data Collectors aren't mass transit advocates, but simply people looking for good work. However, when we rode as part of our training, they were pulling out their smartphones to take video and photos of the run. They were moved.

It may not be over for me, with either a limited role under 2.0 or coming back full bore here later. (Remember that my initial position with HRT sunsets after one year.) In the meantime, I hope I get interest from others to launch 2.0. Regardless, I plan to keep this blog up, allowing it to serve as an archive of past events. Nakemiin.

Deadlock

2011-08-12T17:55:00.002-04:00

In the previous poll question, I asked you all to estimate Tide ridership on Saturday, August 20. That would be the second day of light rail revenue service here. 27% each voted for 4,900 or more, 4,100 - 4,899, and 3,300 - 4,099. 18% chose 2,500 - 3,299, while no one expected less than that.

With a deal to build a headquarters hotel for the Virginia Beach Convention Center reportedly imminent, I'll ask about public support for the City of Virginia Beach entering a public-private venture (PPV) to complete such a project.

McLain Case Hits The Courtroom

2011-08-12T17:24:00.004-04:00

This morning the case of Michael McLain was taken up in Virginia Beach District Court, Criminal Courtroom 2, but only briefly. Lawyers from both sides appeared, the Commonwealth filed a motion, and a next date for the case was set. It will be back in District Court on October 7. McLain is charged in the May 27 murder of Tyler Lynn-Gainous. McLain himself never entered the courtroom today.

I made the trip down to the Courthouse this morning. When Michael's mother saw me, she made a few over-the-top comments about my being present. (Last time I checked, trials of adults in this country were public.) However, I shouldn't personalize it, as she's obviously distraught over her son's predicament.

For Tyler's out-of-area family and friends, District Court proceedings in Virginia are conducted with the lawyers, defendant, witnesses, et al standing at the judge's bench. Therefore, it's difficult to hear elsewhere in the courtroom. I think I heard what was being said, but don't want to run with it as a story without being sure. I called the Clerk's office this afternoon, they provided the next court date, but didn't have a scanned copy of the motion. As I know a number of you are depending on me for information, I'll try to verify it early next week.

There's A Stench In The Pasture

2011-08-11T14:53:00.001-04:00

John Moss did a television interview with WAVY on the pending deal to to build a convention center headquarters hotel in Virginia Beach. On the Republican Party of Virginia Beach's (RPVB) Facebook page, Moss claims his opposition to such an agreement is based on it being in violation of the Republican Creed.

Of course, Moss served for years as Chairman of the extremist Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA). The tiny breakfast cult is dominated by members of The Laughingstock Party-er, Tidewater Libertarian Party (TLP).

That begs the obvious question for Council candidate Moss: if he is so concerned about Republican principles, why didn't he spend the last decade working within the RPVB rather than being figurehead for a clique of faux Libertarians?

2011 Redistricting So Far

2011-08-11T13:44:00.004-04:00

The Virginia Beach City Council is scheduled to approve a new seven district map for City Council and School Board on August 23. Given what happened at this past Tuesday night's Public Hearing before Council, it's likely to be a map we haven't even seen yet. At this time, I'd like to take a look at issues and events from the process so far.

The first of the meetings was at Green Run High School in June. At that time the City Attorney's Office strongly discouraged any plans other than seven district plans. While other proposals would be accepted, the City wanted to avoid anything that would require a City Charter change. So far we've seen nothing but seven district plans, which might be choking outside of the box thinking.

Another point is the failure to look at alternative voting systems. The debate has pivoted on two questions: how to draw the seven districts, and whether the seven district members should be elected solely within their districts. At the third meeting, I raised the possibility of cumulative voting. It would aid minority representation, while not triggering any of the publicly-stated arguments against a ward system.

Prior to the Chris Felton Plan being submitted on Monday, the source of every plan had been either the Council Liaisons or the NAACP. NAACP1 was the civil rights group's original submission, with NAACP2 drawn to meet objections raised by a quartet of Councilpersons. Those same Councilpersons then drafted another plan, which was sent to the NAACP in search of an endorsement. The "compromise of a compromise" was so watered down from the original intent that no blessing was forthcoming. It has never been officially filed, so it doesn't appear on the Redistricting website.

There is the issue of which should be the minority-majority district, Centerville or Rose Hall? While the Council Liaison plans have been based on Centerville, the NAACP plans are based on Rose Hall. The problem with Centerville is the unstable Asian-American concentrations in the southwest. The stunning difference I saw in first looking at the 2010 Census numbers was the change in the Asian-American concentration map from the 2000 Census. While you could draw Centerville as a minority-majority district today, it is highly questionable as to whether that status could be maintained in subsequent redistrictings. In sharp contrast, the minority numbers in Green Run are sustainable, so Rose Hall should become the minority-majority district in a seven district plan.

The root of many comments during the public meetings so far has been The Northwest Crescent, the Beach's densest minority concentration. It runs roughly from the northwest corner of the Virginia Beach Boulevard/Witchduck Road intersection to the Campus East and Burton Station areas. Along the way it takes in Lake Edward, with decent numbers in the periphery at Cypress Point. From a standpoint of minority representation, that concentration needs to be kept intact on one side of the Bayside - Kempsville line or the other. That forces a curved district line that inevitably will put a neighborhood into a district that a layman would think doesn't make sense. When you also consider the policy implications, it makes more sense to put the concentration in Kempsville District. That gives Vice Mayor Louis Jones the Central Business District. Therefore, you loop the line northward in the west, then dip it southward in the east. That puts parts of historic Kempsville into Bayside District, which has led to some civic league complaints. However, failure to get that line correct would be an obvious red flag when an approved plan is sent to the Justice Department for preclearance.

While I drew 2 of the 7 plans in 2001, I haven't taken a shot this time. The efforts of my good friends in the African-American community leadership were so far ahead that I didn't want to do anything that might undercut them. I've done backseat support for their efforts.

You knew I couldn't resist a chance to attack the extremist Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA), didn't you? While the VBTA has always given lip service towards a ward system, the only VBTAer at any of the five public meetings has been previous Chairman John Moss. At the third meeting he endorsed the NAACP's position as an individual. Then, it's probably better for the cause that the village idiots don't invade the Council Chambers.

A largely status quo plan will almost certainly be adopted on August 23. The two baseline needs are keeping The Northwest Crescent intact and drawing Rose Hall District as a minority-majority district.

The City Responds

2011-08-10T06:39:00.003-04:00

In my home neighborhood, we've had problems with overflow parking from Knuckleheads Roadhouse (410 N. Witchduck Road). Nice establishment, but on very busy nights, their customers will park on Weaver Drive. Weaver has had no on-street parking since I moved to the neighborhood in 2003. The problem is that the minimal signage probably isn't clear to most bar patrons. Weaver is a narrow, curvy street that is the only access road for two apartment complexes.

After some e-mail traffic, I'm happy to report that the crown jewel to solving our problem is in the pipes. About lunchtime yesterday I received an e-mail from the Mayor's Office informing me that improved "No Parking" signage for Weaver Drive will be installed "in 3-4 weeks". There will be a large "No Parking" sign on each side of Weaver near the entrance, making it clear that there's no on-street parking. (If bar patrons still try to, it would make it much easier for 3rd Precinct to enforce.)

A long term component is probably to punch a second entrance in, either through the backdoor to Northridge, or out to Witchduck (adjacent to Ebbets Plaza.) However, with roads funds scarce, I'm not about to hold my breath on that one.

To look at the big picture here, the lesson to be learned is that you can get things done working the system. You simply need to address your issue in a detailed manner to the right people, being clear and concise in explaining the problem and your position.

Update (August 17): I noticed this afternoon that the new signage is up, early at that.

City Council Goal Setting Workshop

2011-08-05T18:33:00.004-04:00

Today the Virginia Beach City Council held a one day Goal Setting Workshop. The 6 1/2 hour meeting was in the Department of Economic Development (DED) Board Room at Town Center.

TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION

Each Councilperson had a prior telephone interview with Facilitator Lyle Sumek. The following issues were brought up in those interviews by at least two Councilpersons:

1. SPSA and Landfill

2. Schools and Funding

3. Process Improvement

4. Pleasure House Point

5. Revenues: Direction for FY 2013

6. Use of Sponsorships

7. State Revenues to the City: Direction

8. Outsourcing: Recreation Centers, Others

9. Dredging/Spoils

10. SGA: Direction

11. Form-Based Code

12. TMDL

13. Williams Center

14. Convention Center Headquarters Hotel

15. Dome site

16. Sand/Beach Replenishment

17. Gambling/Video Gaming

18. City Redistricting

19. Legislative Agenda: Topics

20. Work Session: Discussion Time

21. Confidentiality of Closed Sessions

22. Burton Station

23. Bike/Trail Plan

24. TOD: Direction

STRATEGIC GROWTH AREAS (SGAs)

Things restarted after the lunch break with SGA Office Manager Barry Frankenfield giving a status report on our SGAs. He covered the planned identity for each SGA, the proposed infrastructure projects in them, schedules for upcoming plans, etc.

The Rosemont SGA plan is due to be approved by Council September 13. The final three are scheduled for 2012: Lynnhaven (March), Hilltop (June), and Centerville (December).

For those screaming that this is an attempt to totally redo the city, City Manager Jim Spore pointed out that the SGAs comprise less than 2% of Virginia Beach's land area. 98% would remain as is.

Implementation strategy was questioned. Policy has been to slowly work each SGA that has a plan, as we don't know where a potential private investor may want to redevelop. Louis Jones has long wanted to target 2-3 with our finite resources, and he was joined by Prescott Sherrod.

In addition, consensus now wants to designate Princess Anne Commons a SGA. That is to target resources to the area, hoping we can have quality spinoff development from the new Sentara Princess Anne Hospital.

FY 2013

Fiscal policy is always a discussion point, especially in this recession. It is projected that property assessments will be down 5% in 2012. That would mean a loss of $20 million in Property Tax revenue for the City, on top of the already-expected Budget shortfall for FY 2013 of $50 million. (Big, but we've had worse in recent memory.)

Vice Mayor Louis Jones cautioned against slash and burn, warning we could induce our own local economic problems, and he was echoed by Councilman Glenn Davis. Bob Dyer took the middle ground, stating we'd have to tweak and reprioritize. It was pointed out that bond houses base our rating not only on debt load, but what we're doing on economic development in order that we have future debt service capacity. Jim Spore noted Property Tax revenue has been down about $190 million over the past few years, but we've weathered the storm - in part - due to revenue from investments made in the recent past.

Foreclosures have accounted for 27% of home sales in Virginia Beach during the past year.

THE MR. BILL SHOW

Give Councilman Bill DeSteph enough time to talk and he'll say something stupid. Today was no exception.

First, under discussion of our City debt situation, he started citing statistics from our Federal debt standing. As if Council was responsible for Federal debt. (Hey, he thinks we do New York City land use....)

Second, he not only wants to revoke the May increase of our City's self-imposed debt ceiling, but wants to lower it below the previous figure.

Third, Mayor Will Sessoms spoke of how road construction can be good for the local economy. We not only get new roads out of it, but it creates jobs for locals. DeSteph retorted there was no latter benefit if the international students who come to work here build the roads. Councilman John Uhrin pointed out he'd never heard of the students building roads here.

Fourth, DeSteph wants to cut economic development initiatives based on the recession. I was incredulous: DeSteph's position boils down to the notion that we're so bad off economically that we should stop trying to create new jobs!

Fifth, he brought up City debt again under Governance, which was out of order. He said he was going to keep talking about it even if no one on Council backed him on it. (Yeah, the other ten all know he's out there.)

CITY REDISTRICTING

The Council Liaisons on the issue (Glenn Davis & Louis Jones) claimed that they had a plan (presumably 2C) that would make everyone who has spoken happy.

When I got home, I had to e-mail my good NAACP friends ASAP to let them know what a bunch of happy campers we're suppose to be. First, 2C makes Centerville District minority-majority, while NAACP1 makes Rose Hall District minority-majority. Second, anyone who knows both the Census numbers and civil rights law grasps that Council offering 2C as a reasonable alternative to NAACP1 is disingenuous at best. Third, NAACP1 has two additional districts that are influence districts.

It's disgusting, but the Virginia Beach City Council rejecting inclusion was virtually a foregone conclusion. I plan a post sometime August 10-18 to cover the process more in depth. (That's why I refrained from covering Redistricting in Random Thoughts August 4, 2011, as I already had the post in the pipes.)

VBTA

Things wouldn't be fun unless I threw out a couple nuggets for my favorite whipping boys, the extremist VBTA, to choke on.

First, the percentage of income that the average citizen pays to local government in taxes and fees today is at the same level as 1958.

I can hear the knuckle-draggers yelling, "Where did that come from?!?" MoveOn? Organizing for America? No, it's actually from a report by the conservative Heritage Foundation.

Second, City of Virginia Beach revenue in 2011 is at 2007 levels, with a dip (see: Assessments) expected in 2012. Next time they claim we're on a spending binge....

OTHER

1. Council decided not to include video poker authorization in the 2012 Community Legislative Package. It was noted that what gambling bills that passed the General Assembly in 2011 were all about raising the penalties for illegal gambling, so video poker legislation wouldn't have a snowball's chance in Richmond.

2. The new animal shelter is ahead of schedule. Due to open in January, it may be ready in December.

3. The number of applications for services from the Department of Human Services has doubled in the past five years.

4. The City will look at outsourcing our recreation centers, as it did with municipal golf courses and Sportsplex. However, a couple Councilmen had reservations about the idea.

5. The proposed bike trail in the periphery of the Norfolk Southern Right-Of-Way has been on hold pending completion of the Alternatives Analysis of the Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study. The issue is that LRT and BRT require different widths, so it can't be engineered as such until a transit mode is chosen.

Rather than the initial talk of acquiring additional land where the ROW is too narrow, the preferred option now is to look at diverting the bikes to parallel neighborhood streets in such areas.

6. Michael Jenkins' option on redeveloping the Dome site expires September 30. He either needs everything square by then, or to request another extension from the Virginia Beach Development Authority (VBDA).

7. The Virginia Aquarium Area Plan is scheduled to go to Council on November 8.

8. Two additional Councilmen expressed opposition to the proposed tent city for the homeless.

9. The best joke of the day was by Jim Wood. When Council discussed selling tasteful sponsorships for City facilities and events, Wood suggested "Kellam High School, brought to you by Towne Bank".

Communists Endorse Obama Reelection

2011-08-04T19:31:00.002-04:00

In last week's edition of People's Weekly World, Communist Party USA (CPUSA) endorsed the reelection of Barack Obama as President in 2012. While Chairman Sam Webb noted that the CPUSA would like to see an united third party on the left, and has differences with Obama on both foreign and domestic policy, they also note that there are differences between Republicans and Democrats.

H/T Conservative Byte

68% Look Favorably On Interracial Marraige

2011-08-04T18:21:00.003-04:00

68% of you, more than two-thirds of voters, look favorably on interracial marriages. For the 31% unfavorable, wake up and smell the 21st Century! Such arcane beliefs belong in the landfill of history.

As a Catholic bachelor in this area, I long thought I'd end up married to a pinay. Between having lived in an 85% African-American neighborhood for over eight years, and utilizing a mass transit system where ridership is about 75% African-American, it's African-American women who now dominate my personal life.

The new poll question: estimate ridership of The Tide on August 20. Launch day is August 19, which is a Friday. Being a weekday, that should dampen crowds. The following day is a Saturday, service will be fare-free, and people will want to see it for the first time. What's your guess on ridership? (2,900 is the average weekday benchmark.)

Random Thoughts August 4, 2011

2011-08-04T17:15:00.002-04:00

1. The City of Norfolk has a Department of Parks & Urban Forestry. Isn't "Urban Forestry" an oxymoron?

2. When will the agreement on an entertainment complex for the Dome site be completed? We've been on the cusp of closing the deal for months.

3. Who files at the 11th hour for this November's Virginia Beach City Council special election should be interesting. When perennial candidate John Moss first announced, I couldn't have imagined he'd be in a position to still be taken seriously at this point.

4. Meyera Oberndorf is being recruited by the Demonrats to run for the 7th Senate District seat this November. Anyone who has worked a General Assembly race before (and I've done a few) knows standing up a credible campaign just 90 days out from Election Day is virtually impossible.

Therefore, the only rational reason I can see for her running is to boost voter turnout on the west side of Virginia Beach (7th District), which would help a status quo Council candidate but hurt John Moss.

5. My best wishes to the new Republic of South Sudan. Now if they would change the country name to disassociate themselves from the thugs who rule in Khartoum. Maybe a beautiful name in one of the indigenous languages.

6. With zero units constructed through Virginia Beach's Workforce Housing Program, how long until the City takes more forceful measures to get the units built?

7. With Southwest Airlines buying AirTran, and closing their Newport News station next Spring, what - if any - of the Newport News AirTran flights become Norfolk Southwest flights? Conventional wisdom is that Atlanta service is a given, but do we also get Boston and New York - LaGuardia?

8. In his latest blog post, even Bob O'Connor had to admit that Virginia Beach light rail is inevitable. How long before other Kool-Aid chuggers catch on, and end their futile resistance?

9. How much longer can the European Union keep putting out national financial crisis after national financial crisis in the euro zone?

10. Hampton Roads Center for Civic Engagement (HRCCE) Executive Director (and former City of Virginia Beach staffer) Betsy McBride has moved back to her native Idaho. That led a mid-level City staffer to joke about potato farming. Glad to know I'm not the only one who has quipped about that.

11. What has the Hampton Roads Partnership been doing since the Declaration of Interdependence?

12. Sweating our way through this Summer, only a Flat Earther could continue to deny climate change.

13. The teahadists burned any credibility they had in opposing the raising of the Federal debt ceiling. If they had taken time to notice, everyone in the mainstream knew it was necessary, with the arguments being over what conditions to attach to it. The tea baggers would have triggered a second Great Depression with a Federal debt default.

14. Speaking of such, in a comment on the blog Bearing Drift, Reid Greenmun called raising the Federal debt ceiling "insane". If the Chairman of the extremist VBTA wants to see what is actually insane, all he has to do is look in the mirror.

15. Suffolk has yet to decide on a final proposed option on how to replace Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) bus service come January 1. Stay tuned, as this one could get entertaining before it's over. (Entertaining, unless you're a Suffolk bus rider.)

16. The jockeying is on over the vacant Chief Communications Officer's position at HRT, with its $100k+ annual salary. Two applicants have already spoke to me about the job.

17. In picking up sports from the British, why did cricket have to eclipse soccer in India? With the country having as large a population (read: talent base) as it does, it could have had a great men's national soccer team. (In Asia, even friggin' North Korea has a much better team.)

18. So far, picking a candidate to support in the Republican Presidential field is a case of choosing the lesser of evils. (Yes, I still wish Mike Huckabee was running.)

19. Since the Chilean miners rescue, it seems like the only big story out of South America has been the health of Venezuelan President Huge Chavez. Damn quiet. Then, is quiet preferable?

Calling The Fringe Right's Big Lie

2011-08-01T14:02:00.001-04:00

You get the usual garbage from the fringe right: mass transit is a waste of money, we should do roads only, etc.

Let me put the issue in perspective: if you took every non-light rail cent of government money in HRT's FY 2011 Budget and plowed it into roads instead, it wouldn't be enough to build two lane miles of interstate. Fact.

On the other hand, Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) moves over 50,000 people every weekday with that money. So you decide: which is the more cost-effective option? It's pretty simple.

Obama Message To His Supporters On The Debt Deal

2011-08-01T11:25:00.002-04:00

This is the video message from President Obama to his supporters on the Federal debt deal.

Note that he never mentions what happens if the committee doesn't agree on a second round of cuts.

TDCHR July 28, 2011

2011-07-28T18:43:00.003-04:00

This afternoon there was a fairly uneventful meeting of the Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads (TDCHR), the governing board of Hampton Roads Transit (HRT).

Obviously the August 19 launch of light rail service was talked about. The final figure for the actual cost of construction will be given at the August TDCHR meeting. However, this month's report has it on a track to come in significantly below the $338 million cost to complete figure.

HRT ended FY 2011 more than $1.8 million under Budget.

Ridership in May, 2011 was up over May, 2010.

Hits on HRT's website have hit an all-time high. A record for a month was set in May, 2011, only to have June come in about 50,000 hits above that figure.

Finally, Henry Ryto was awarded HRT's President's Coin for his 38 months of service as Chairman of what's now the Transit Riders Advisory Committee (TRAC). Ryto becomes the first person ever to win the agency's top honor based on duty performed as a non-employee. (Every other winner has been an employee.) Robert Dean and Reid Greenmun won't sleep for a few days.

AltDaily.com Shucet Interview

2011-07-28T05:06:00.005-04:00

AltDaily.com did an interview last week with Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) President Phillip Shucet, which they posted to their website yesterday. Enjoy!

The Residents' Consensus Plan

2011-07-27T20:55:00.002-04:00

Tonight there was a second Public Hearing on City of Virginia Beach Redistricting in the Council Chambers. This meeting was the best attended of the four Redistricting meetings so far, with a number of civic league representatives in attendance.

The civic league representatives were there to address how their neighborhoods were treated in the various plans. The big contingent was from the Larkspur Civic League. Residents pointed out that Council Liaison Alternatives 1, 2A, and 3 all split Larkspur. A number of the civic league representatives praised NAACP1, though one representative had a problem with NAACP2.

Given the format, I took the opportunity to be the final speaker. I pointed that no citizens had objected to NAACP1 in either Public Hearing, and - in fact - some of the civic league representatives liked it. If there was a citizens consensus plan, it was NAACP1.

Next up is a Public Hearing before City Council on August 9.

Tide Launch Preview Meeting

2011-07-27T20:31:00.003-04:00

This morning there was a Tide launch preview meeting held at the Courtyard by Marriott on Greenwich Road in Virginia Beach. The meeting was conducted jointly by the City of Norfolk and Hampton Roads Transit (HRT).

The primary purpose was to brief businesses along the eastern portion of the alignment about upcoming Tide service. (That's why it was held in the periphery of the Newtown Road Station.) However, there was a large contingent of advocates for the disabled present, and a few people from Light Rail Now (LRN).

While most of the material was old news for those of us who have been following The Tide, a couple points of note were covered:

1. Opponents have tried to attack the fare verification system. Not only will their be checkers onboard, but off-duty Norfolk Police Department (NPD) officers to provide security. Failure to pay can result in a fine of up to $250, while using a counterfeit or fraudulent farecard carries a minimum $500 fine.

2. There will be a number of events on opening weekend in the periphery of the stations. Not only the official events, but many businesses and groups plan to capitalize on the opportunity provided by the expected crowds. For example, the YMCA adjacent to the York Street Station will hold an open house all weekend.

Say What?

2011-07-26T16:51:00.002-04:00

I was looking at the internal stats feature Blogger has for my blog. Since Blogger added it in May, 2009, the country producing the 5th largest number of views of my blog is...the Islamic Republic of Iran?

Go figure.

Greenmun Named VBTA Chairman

2011-07-26T08:26:00.003-04:00

Reid Greenmun has been named Chairman of the extremist Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA). John Moss stepped down from the post, in part wanting to try to distance himself from the nutcases prior to his latest City Council run. (Too late for that, John.)

Two very serious problems with that. First, Reid is the biggest political extremist in Virginia Beach. He regularly takes personal positions that are even to the right of the VBTA. Therefore, expect the VBTA to become even more radical. Second, the guy has zero grasp of reality. He habitually floats proposals that are either blatantly illegal or politically DOA.

Reid's political roots in Virginia Beach are every bit as fringe as the VBTA. He worked on Mike Arsuaga's 2000 Mayoral campaign, and was Barbara Messner's sidekick in the 31st Street park movement. Greenmun drafted the By-Laws that Messner wanted for the original 31st Street group. When they were voted down, both Greenmun and Messner left the original group, unable to accept majority rule.

It reminds me of the Spanish Civil War. With the Republicans about to lose the war, the Stalinists staged a coup. If they were going to lose, at least they wanted to go down ideologically pure. The VBTA will go down the tubes in a similar manner.

The bottom line: Greenmun's promotion ensures the demise of the VBTA

You're Not Expecting Many

2011-07-26T08:13:00.002-04:00

In our latest poll, I asked how large you expected the voter turnout percentage to be in Virginia Beach for this November's election. 37% voted each for 15%-19% and 20%-24%, while 26% voted for 25%-29%. No one voted for 30%-34% and 35%-39%.

Why I think this number is so important: John Moss' only chances of winning a Council seat are turnout being under 20%, and no mainstream Republican with name recognition getting in the race.

The new poll question: what is your opinion of interracial marriages?

Obama - Carter 2012

2011-07-25T19:03:00.004-04:00

There is a new website up, www.obamacarter2012.com Brought to you by the Republican Party of Virginia, it compares The Obamessiah to Professor Inflation from Plains. It's main feature is the video I embed below, which looks at Presidents Obama and Carter together.

Want To Have Some Ballot Fun?

2011-07-24T21:56:00.002-04:00

The Virginia Beach Hotel/Motel Association (VBHMA) has endorsed video poker for the Resort Area. It would take an act of the General Assembly to allow legal gambling. Some in our delegation have even suggested putting the issue to referendum to gauge community support.

That inspired my diabolical idea: we hold a binding referendum on video poker on the November, 2013 ballot. That's the ballot that will have the statewide offices (Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Attorney General)), and all 100 House of Delegates seats. Legalizing gambling will have social conservatives flocking to the polls to kill it, ensuring Republican wins. Any Democratic House challenges would be doomed.

The Map Endorsement By Moss

2011-07-24T09:48:00.004-04:00

As I previously reported, John Moss endorsed the NAACP's positions on both a ward system as well as their original proposed map for redrawing Virginia Beach's City Council districts. Moss' argument centered on economic lines, that the map did the best job (of the then-four) of putting similar neighborhoods together.

Moss' rationale hits at a fundamental point: Virginia Beach is no longer the homogeneous suburb that some on the fringe right (including insane Reid Greenmun) pretend it is. The only way you could start to get to the fringe right's "great suburban utopia" is to go wild with a Redevelopment Authority and level thousands of multifamily dwelling units, replacing them with single family detached homes. Not only does the fringe right staunchly oppose a Redevelopment Authority, but Virginia's current eminent domain law leaves such a strategy virtually impossible. The fringe right's only electoral hope then is to district off Virginia Beach's distinctly suburban areas, conceding the others. Moss apparently has figured that out.

Status quoers have a similar problem, but not quite as big. There are sectors of voters they shouldn't be able to win. They cling to the arcane at-large voting system, believing they can win a majority of the whole if they throw enough money at it. That won't necessarily work, as last year's Council At-Large field results show. (Bill DeSteph came in 2nd, with John Moss 3rd.)

The only way to accurately reflect the growing variety in voting patterns is to change our electoral system. What alternative you go to will also have significant policy implications in outlying years.

I-264 Closures

2011-07-24T09:28:00.002-04:00

As part of work for the ongoing London Bridge Road ramps project (the new ramps off of I-264), Interstate 264 will need to be closed between the First Colonial Road intersection and the Lynnhaven Parkway intersection for two nights. It is scheduled for August 3 and August 9, both nights from 8 P.M. until 5 A.M. the following morning.

Traffic will be detoured via Virginia Beach Boulevard.

Envision Virginia Beach 2040 Public Meeting

2011-07-23T09:11:00.003-04:00

On Friday morning Envision Virginia Beach 2040 held a large public meeting at the Town Center Westin Hotel. Any member of the public could participate, provided you sent in your RSVP by the previous Friday.

The centerpiece was a Presentation by John Martin, President and CEO of the Southern Institute of Research. A demographer by profession, he covered occurring trends. That was followed by Questions & Answers, then breakouts at individual tables. Everyone then regrouped for a closing session.

Some bigger facts from Martin's Presentation:

1. The United States was 75% White in 1975, but will be only 25% White by 2090.

2. The Earth faces resource (particularly water and food) challenges, but is tackling them through our vastly improving technology.

3. 83% of Generation Y sleep with their cell phone on, and 75% of them use social media.

4. 800 million people worldwide engage in urban agriculture, producing 15%-20% of the food supply.

5. 80% of the world's population lives in urban areas.

Some trends that strike home at Virginia Beach:

1. Our population should reach 540,000 by 2040.

2. In the next twenty years, our White population will shrink by 9%, while our minority population will grow by 57%.

3. By 2040, Virginia Beach will be minority-majority.

4. Senior citizens will double as a percentage of our population, and 1 in 4 of them won't have a driver's license.

5. The growing number of households led by single people will require smaller and cheaper housing units.

Martin told the story of the Royal Calcutta Golf Club. When the British colonized India, they wanted to play golf, so they built the club (which still exists today). One problem: monkeys inhabited the course, and would come down and move golf balls, changing the lie. First they tried to trap the monkeys and move them, and then put nets along the fairways. Nothing worked. Therefore, a simple ground rule was implemented, "Play the ball where the monkey dropped it." The point: fighting the monkeys was futile, so the British would need to adapt. In the same vein, we need to adapt to our conditions today.

I didn't spot any members of the extremist Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA) in attendance. That's too bad, as they would have heard John Martin explain that building a regional light rail network is a no-brainer, including the Virginia Beach extension.

Envision Virginia Beach 2040 is a committee appointed by the Virginia Beach City Council, seeking to draft a 30 year road map for our City. Their report is scheduled to go to Council in the Spring of 2012.

The Presentation Martin made was taped, and it is planned to put it as streaming video on the City's website.

Utilize The New Route 25 To Empower Yourselves

2011-07-20T15:07:00.002-04:00

One of the bus service changes coming on August 8 will be expanded hours and an extended route on HRT's Route 25. The 25 will make an hourly run from Military Circle to Virginia Beach's Municipal Center via Newtown Road Station and TCC - Virginia Beach. It will leave both Military Circle and the Municipal Center about the top of the hour. Continuing to be a weekdays only bus, it will have evening service, with the last bus leaving the Municipal Center at 9:59 P.M. That's about three hours later than Route 33 presently.

Don't let this opportunity pass you by. The expanded Route 25 service gives you public transportation to meetings of the Virginia Beach City Council. Not just the regular Agenda items, but on the 2nd Tuesday night of the month there's a Public Comment session after the regular business items are finished. That's your opportunity to address Council on any issue you wish. Of course, there is mass transit. However, there are many other issues that impact HRT's mostly poor ridership, and those issues normally get little discussion time in the Council Chambers.

Make it clear that the bourgeois groups that dominate Virginia Beach politics do not speak for all of us.

Vendor Issue At Cedar Grove

2011-07-18T15:08:00.002-04:00

It's a familiar sight for the 5,000 people who travel through the Cedar Grove Transfer Center each weekday: the hot dog cart, from Dee's Hot Dogs. With Cedar Grove being land leased by the City of Norfolk, the vendor had to go through a City permitting and licensing process.

I went through Cedar Grove myself this morning and stumbled onto a story. (Well, it's a noteworthy story for we bus riders.) A non-profit had shown up selling snacks, and was claiming exemption from the normal process based on their non-profit status. A lady from Dee's Hot Dogs was there, and was speaking on the phone in an agitated manner with a City of Norfolk official.

IMO other vendors should be allowed to operate there, but there needs to be a standardized process for everyone. Whether profit or non-profit, there needs to be a level playing field. Allowing non-profits a lower standard would give them an unfair competitive advantage.

I'll argue that the hot dog cart is the second greatest improvement to Cedar Grove since Hampton Roads Transit's (HRT) transfer center for downtown Norfolk was moved there. (The greatest was quartering the bus arrivals area into four Stages.) Whenever I'm going through there and have the time and money, I buy from them to help sustain the business. They're good citizens, even stocking iced Gatorade today for passengers waiting for buses in this heat. FYI, my usual is a hot dog with mustard and chili plus a soda. Yeah, I bought this morning and had a chili dog and can of Mountain Dew for breakfast.

The Sherrod Appointment

2011-07-16T19:47:00.004-04:00

As most of you now know, on Tuesday Prescott Sherrod was appointed to Rita Sweet Bellitto's vacant seat on the Virginia Beach City Council. The appointment has created a political firestorm and spawned conspiracy theories. I'll offer my look at it, while you can chime in under Comments.

I know Prescott Sherrod. I've served with him on Light Rail Now's Transportation Technical Advisory Committee, which he's been Chairman of. He strikes me as a nice, well-meaning guy. However, conventional wisdom is that he can't win the remaining three years on Bellitto's term in the November special election.

While Carl Wright's comment afterwards may have been coarse, it struck at a fundamental truth: the Virginia Beach City Council can't cite the Sherrod appointment as evidence that they've suddenly embraced inclusion. That would be as transparent a hoax as "Gorbachev is ill in the Crimea". Prescott Sherrod is a business community figure, not an African-American community leadership figure.

One of the theories floating in the African-American community is that Council made the appointment knowing Sherrod can't win in November, as the expected low voter turnout favors Republicans. Council pretends to be inclusive, knowing Sherrod will be replaced by a White Republican come New Year's. Conversely, Tanya Bullock wasn't appointed since, as a Republican incumbent, she could have easily won in November.

Like the Germans carelessly wheeling too vulnerably before Paris in 1914, status quoers are leaving their flank exposed. The fringe right has seemingly noticed. On Tuesday, Bill DeSteph voted against the Sherrod appointment; on Thursday, John Moss endorsed the African-American community leadership's new Council districts map and their position on a ward system. With Barack Obama at the top of the ballot that will have the 2012 City Council election, and thus a high minority turnout anticipated, this could have huge ramifications for the 2012 regular Council election.

Virginia Beach was 21.2% minority at the 1990 Census, 30.5% minority at the 2000 Census, and 35.5% minority at the 2010 Census. There were fewer Whites living in Virginia Beach in 2010 than in 1990. A look at the 2010 Census numbers will show you that Virginia Beach will easily surpass 40% minority by the 2020 Census. The status quoers who think they can continue to reject inclusion are whistling in the graveyard. Fundamental structural change in how Virginia Beach is governed is coming, one way or another, whether you like it or not.

We Want Substance, Rosemary

2011-07-16T19:31:00.002-04:00

62% believe that Rosemary Wilson speaks with the least substance of any Virginia Beach City Councilman, with 37% giving Bill DeSteph that tag.

I agree. I've said half-jokingly before that Rosemary couldn't give you three substantive minutes on an issue if staff wrote it for her. In comparison, John Uhrin was pretty much two-note (Resort Area and Norfolk Southern Corridor) when he first came on Council, but within a couple years was articulate on most everything.

The new poll question: what do you estimate voter turnout will be this November in Virginia Beach? The only announced General Assembly challenge is Adrianne Bennett against Ron Villanueva in the 21st House of Delegates District, plus there's the City Council special election for the remaining three years on Rita Sweet Bellitto's term.

Tonight's City Redistricting Public Meeting

2011-07-14T20:18:00.002-04:00

This is a simple one to report: every adult who attended tonight spoke, and everyone endorsed the NAACP's position. The public wants the map they submitted adopted, plus a move to a true hybrid system. That would mean only the residents in a given district would vote for who represents them.

Both John Moss and I spoke endorsing the NAACP's position, but for varying reasons. Since I spoke following John, I pointed out it was something when the VBTA Chairman and I agree on a major issue. When John and I agree on an issue, it's obviously a no-brainer.

Route 310/NET Public Hearings

2011-07-14T08:06:00.004-04:00

On Tuesday Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) held two Public Hearings on proposed changes on downtown Norfolk shuttle service. With the advent of light rail service, Route 310 would be eliminated, the NET be slightly reconfigured, an $1.50 fare charged for the NET (it's always been a fare-free service), and limited NET service into Ghent launched.

Around 30 people attended the Noon Hearing, with about two dozen at the 6 P.M. Public Hearing. The Virginian-Pravda's Debbie Messina was at the Noon Hearing, but not the 6 P.M.

NOON

HRT's Marie Arnt read a legal statement to open the Public Hearing, followed by Chief Planning & Development Officer Ray Amoruso giving a Presentation on the proposal.

Three speakers attacked putting a fare on Norfolk Electric Transit (NET). Another speaker wanted to maintain both the NET and 310. One man wanted the NET to go up Granby Street between Cedar Grove and 21st Street, rather than Monticello Avenue. Three City of Norfolk employees claimed to be speaking on behalf of their agencies in opposition, despite City of Norfolk planners having helped draft the proposal.

I myself spoke, addressing the issue of capacity. I stated the proposal won't work unless either a large number of current bus riders take the train downtown, or the bus transfer center is moved downtown in order for mainline buses to help distribute passengers. (There would be four hybrids an hour going between Cedar Grove and downtown, a total of 104 seats.)

6 P.M.

The Public Hearing opened the same way. This time it was dominated by students and faculty from Tidewater Community College's Norfolk campus, concerned about the impact on them. Amoruso later revealed that there are ongoing negotiations between HRT and TCC about providing an annual TCC bus pass, which would easily solve their problem.

Two temps complained about the effect on them trying to work downtown. Also, opposition was voiced over the route deviation in the Scope/Chrysler Hall area.

McLean Retains Public Defender

2011-07-14T08:03:00.001-04:00

Michael McLean has retained the public defender, who will be his attorney in his upcoming murder trial.

An investigator from the public defender's office was in the neighborhood on Tuesday, seeking residents who may have information.

The Iron Lady

2011-07-09T20:43:00.001-04:00

Coming in early 2012, The Iron Lady, a biopic on Margaret Thatcher. Meryl Streep plays the former British Prime Minister.

Which Way, Demonrats?

2011-07-09T20:37:00.002-04:00

Someone moves into the 6th Senate District to challenge the one-term incumbent state Senator. Which way do the Demonrats want it?

In 2003, it was fine and dandy with them when Andy Protogyrou did it.

In 2011, they're trying to make an issue out of Ben Loyola doing it.

They can't have it both ways.

For Those Who Doubted

2011-07-06T20:54:00.003-04:00

The knuckle-draggers scoffed when Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) announced that they were looking for 200 volunteers to become Tide Guides for light rail opening week. They thought it would never happen.

HRT has received 269 applications.

Update: I had my Tide Guide training session this morning. The application count was up to 304.

McLean Case Continued?

2011-07-06T11:23:00.002-04:00

I was just on the phone with the District Court Clerk's office criminal desk. "It appears" that Michael McLean's first court appearance has been continued until August 12.

It was originally scheduled for tomorrow (July 7).

91% Consider The TEA Party A Minus

2011-07-06T05:17:00.002-04:00

In our latest poll, 91% considered the TEA Party to be a minus for the Republican Party. Only 9% consider it a plus.

Personally, I believe the TEA Party is mangling the GOP. Republican candidates are lurching right to appease the tea baggers, and losing swing voters and donors in the process. In most cases, catering to the TEA Party costs more votes than it gains.

The new poll: which Virginia Beach City Councilperson speaks with less substance, Bill DeSteph or Rosemary Wilson?

Offer Again in 2011

2011-06-29T09:16:00.004-04:00

I'll repeat an offer I made in 2008: any candidates in this year's Virginia Beach City Council special election (to fill the seat being vacated by Rita Sweet Bellitto) who would like to go bus riding, I'll be your tour guide and take you out to see what actually goes on out on Hampton Roads Transit's (HRT) buses. I guarantee you that you won't see any of the extremist VBTA's fictitious "empty buses". (In fact, the one I came home on yesterday afternoon, I had to squeeze into a small seat in the rear.)

Scott Taylor took up my offer in 2008. Will anyone in 2011?

If interested, let me know. As I'm scheduled to be placed on layoff from my current job on July 4 (the business location is closing), I'll probably have plenty of free time mid-Summer.

Virginia Beach Redistricting Website

2011-06-29T09:11:00.002-04:00

The City of Virginia Beach's official City redistricting website is now under construction. The website is at www.vbredistricting.com If you look at it, you'll see the site plans to post all submitted plans, and will have the basic laws that apply.

TDCHR June 23, 2011

2011-06-23T19:24:00.004-04:00

Got air conditioning? This afternoon's meeting of the Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads (TDCHR) didn't, which probably helped hold the public portion of the meeting in Hampton to about 55 minutes.

You obviously want the light rail news. As you probably already know, service begins on August 19, with fares first charged on August 22. HRT President Phillip Shucet rode a test train himself last night, and noted that all safety systems were working correctly. He thanked the City of Norfolk traffic engineering, who had a big role in getting things done this quickly. The $10 million unallocated contingency fund will be unneeded. (Norfolk has wanted to put it towards their local share.)

You'll love this: there was an issue with a contractor's work. The contractor said correcting it would require an $80k study and $500k-$2 million in construction. HRT staff bought the materials and fixed it themselves for $30k.

Pat Woodberry of Newport News was elected TDCHR Chairperson for FY 2012, with Rick West of Chesapeake Vice Chairman. They assume office on July 1.

11 months through FY 2011, HRT is $1.48 million under Budget.

HRT will move into the new administration building in Norfolk in February, 2012. (Please, get us out of the old Cadillac dump!)

Three contracts were awarded today:

1. A new Patrick Henry Transfer Center will be built in Newport News on Roger Brown Drive, adjacent to the Mall. It will put the TC on City of Newport News (rather than Mall) property, and give bus riders improved restroom access.

2. A Federal grant will be utilized to put shelters at an additional 200 bus stops, doubling the number of stops with them. In addition, some cities are putting together their own shelter programs.

3. A new contract for external auditor. The second lowest bidder was chosen, as recommended by staff, the Operations & Oversight Committee, and the Budget & Audit Committee. The lowest bidder had no experience at such, their proposed team was too small and inexperienced, and their bid was based on far too few hours to get the job done right. Therefore, the judgement was that the low bidder didn't grasp the scope of the project. After a lengthy discussion, the contract was approved.

No, it's not utopia at HRT. During the final nine days of May, the number of customer complaints was 251 above that for the same period in 2010. That was primarily due to a service board change on May 22 (board changes normally produce complaint spikes), and the operational impact from the move from the Ford plant back to 18th Street.

The TDCHR then went into closed session to discuss a personnel matter.

TEA Party: Plus Or Minus?

2011-06-19T06:54:00.002-04:00

In our latest poll question, one-third regularly go to regional board meetings, while two-thirds have never been. That may tell me more about my readership that it does about the general public.

The new question: is the TEA Party a plus or minus for the Republican Party?

TPO June 16, 2011

2011-06-19T06:39:00.002-04:00

The Transportation Planning Organization (TPO), Hampton Roads' Federally-mandated transportation board, met on Thursday.

A representative from the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) briefed the TPO on the ongoing study to expand the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel (HRBT). Even under the "aggressive" schedule, the final Environmental Impact Study (EIS) won't be completed until Spring, 2014.

The HRBT issue triggered a discussion about tolls and the economic impact of imposing tolls. Tolls should be on the Midtown and Downtown Tunnels within a year, in the prelude to the PPTA that includes a second tube at the Midtown. What would be the impact on already-troubled Portsmouth? How will tolls change traffic patterns, as some motorists go by different routes to avoid the tolls?

The TPO passed both its FY 2012 Budget and the FY 2012-15 Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP).

There was a briefing by the Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT) on passenger rail. The good news is that the process is already underway for replacing CSX's Appomattox River Bridge, which would allow three daily Amtrak trains to Norfolk sooner.

My Pool Idea

2011-06-15T20:57:00.002-04:00

We're being hit with the story about the City of Virginia Beach looking to giveaway $3.1 million in land to the YMCA to build a complex, including a 50 meter competition pool, at Dam Neck and Landstown Roads. I had a brainstorm this morning while getting ready for work, and wanted to throw it out as food for thought.

Some facts here. One, supporters claim a need for a 50 meter competition pool in order to put Virginia Beach on the map for swim events. Two, opponents have serious problems with a land giveaway to a private club. Three, the only Council district in Virginia Beach lacking a city recreation center is Centerville District. Four, in 2004 Bob Dyer raised the issue of the lack of a Centerville recreation center during his winning campaign.

See where I'm going here? Why not build such a pool, but as part of a public City of Virginia Beach recreation center in Centerville District? Supporters get their pool, opponents don't have our public assets being given away to a private club, and Centerville gets it's rec center.

While I'm at it, I'd like to suggest a location along Indian River Road west of Interstate 64. That would put it on a major thoroughfare, and it would be served by public transportation (HRT Route 12). With the amount of tacky commercial along that stretch of road, we can take the land by eminent domain and build something that looks much better.

Draft Rosemont SGA Plan Rollout

2011-06-15T20:47:00.002-04:00

On Tuesday evening there was a meeting at Windsor Woods Elementary School to unveil the draft Rosemont Strategic Growth Area (SGA) plan to the public. The meeting was fairly-well attended.

Paul Ostergard of Urban Design Associates gave a nearly hour long presentation on the plan. Rosemont is envisioned as an urban residential village, with the plan envisioning 1,776 multi-family units, 756 single family units, and 549 units in mixed-use structures. There were a pair of extensions added to the study: south on Rosemont Road to South Plaza Trail, and westward on Bonney Road. When a traffic model was run on the SGA at buildout, it flowed better than it does there today.

After the presentation, residents broke out to three tables for comments and questions: streets, parks & open space, and land use.

The plan is on the City's website.

Rita Sweet Bellitto Vacancy Candidate Questionaire

2011-06-12T18:41:00.005-04:00

If you haven't seen it yet, posted below is the candidate questionnaire for the seat on the Virginia Beach City Council being vacated by Rita Sweet Bellitto.

What struck me are two glaring omissions. First, no specific question on transportation, despite that being a regular Top Priority coming out of Council Retreats. Second, nothing on the ongoing City Redistricting process, which will be one the hot button issues the interim appointee has to deal with.

Two questions caught my attention. On Question #10, does the City government think they have simply a public relations problem? While the City is handling that matter much better than 10-12 years ago, there are other measures they could take but aren't. In addition, I want to see John Moss' answer to Question #14. How does he reconcile trying to grow the economy with the draconian steps his extremist Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA) wants the City to take, which would inevitably send investment elsewhere?

Two In The Pipe

2011-06-11T09:45:00.003-04:00

The last two editions of The Virginian-Pravda have brought us news of looming proposals by the City of Virginia Beach.

HOMELESSNESS

Yesterday's edition told us it is being considered to allow an encampment for the homeless. The City should approve such.

The City of Virginia Beach owns plenty of parcels of land. Find one near a bus route, preferably buffered by commercial. (Adjacent residential neighborhoods would object.) Install a water source, if cost-effective.

Our city always has a shortage of bunks for the homeless. (I Wish I Didn't Have This Post To Make, 10/26/09). Giving them a safe space for tents could be a huge help. In addition, it would put those homeless at a single identifiable point for any services to be delivered to them.

YMCA

Only in Virginia Beach: our City is considering giving away $3.1 million in land so the YMCA can build a private pool for their members. What sick puppy thought of this one?

As the line goes, YMCA stands for Young Men Can't Afford. You want to give away our land for a pool that many of our residents will never be able to use?!? Shame on any Councilman who actually votes for such.

Redistricting Here, Redistricting There

2011-06-11T09:20:00.003-04:00

VIRGINIA BEACH

The information was e-mailed out yesterday: the Thursday evening (June 16) Virginia Beach City Redistricting Meeting will be 6 P.M. at Meyera Oberndorf Central Library.

Some plans have already been submitted, and I saw a copy of one this past Thursday night.

NORFOLK

This past Tuesday night I was over in Norfolk to see if I could learn anything from their Redistricting process. What I got was a great seat for when Rodney Jordan dropped his bombshell.

For those who haven't heard, he offered a plan which would convert Norfolk's Ward 1 (now represented by Andy Protogyrou) to a minority-majority ward. Not African-American majority, but total minority. It does so by pushing Ward 1 south, and drawing Ward 5 (Tommy Smigiel) all the way west in Ocean View through Willoughby Spit.

Obviously it would shift power in Norfolk, but it would also have notable effects at the regional level, too. Virginia Beach inclusionists should support the efforts of Jordan & friends, as having an amiable government in Norfolk City Hall would obviously help the cause for inclusion here.

If the Norfolk City Council rejects Jordan's proposal, he can then file it with the U.S. Department of Justice for consideration during Norfolk's preclearance review. The Obama Administration could then reject the official Norfolk plan on the grounds that a fourth minority-majority ward is possible, and instruct Norfolk to proceed along those lines. (That may be where Virginia Beach's Redistricting ends up, too.)

Have You Ever Been To A Regional Agency Board Meeting?

2011-06-04T06:19:00.002-04:00

In our latest poll question, I asked if you believed the Virginia Beach city government cares about the average resident. The replies on this one were all over the place: 31% felt Very Much, 6% Somewhat, 38% Not Much, and 25% Not At All.

The new question: have you ever been to a regional board meeting? Those agencies impact our lives, but how large of a portion of residents go to their meetings? At most TDCHR meetings I recognize 80% or more of the people in the room. (Granted, we wouldn't want a much larger attendance in Norfolk until there's a new board room with more seating.)

The CCO Goes Multimodal

2011-06-02T07:44:00.006-04:00

Last night the Council of Civic Organizations (CCO), Virginia Beach's civic league federation, had a program on High Speed Rail and light rail. There were two presenters. First, Thelma Drake, Director of Virginia's Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT). Second, Marie Arnt of Hampton Roads Transit (HRT). Marie is public outreach person for the Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study.

DRAKE

Conventional rail Amtrak service to Norfolk will begin in 2013 with one train each day. That should be boosted to three trains per day once the Appomattox River Bridge is upgraded. On the CSX line outside Petersburg, it is a single track railroad bridge. Virginia may assist in upgrading to two tracks. 90% of the funds for the Norfolk service are in the bank, with the track upgrades on the Norfolk Southern line to Petersburg already begun.

Two new mass transit agencies have begun service in Virginia in 2011, with two other localities studying implementing transit. When businesses look at an area for a potential relocation, one of the first things they'll ask is "How would employees get to work?" That spawns transit service.

The Federal government may cutoff our region's Federal highway dollars, based on air quality, if we do not adequately do mass transit to try to mitigate the impact. Given that air quality here is in the yellow zone of Federal requirements, that's a serious issue.

The #1 issue employers in Hampton Roads raise with Drake: parking. That's not a problem if your employees take mass transit to work.

There are two major new initiatives by DRPT in 2011:

1. A motor coach service being launched from Roanoke to Lynchburg to feed into Amtrak trains there. Some want trains extended to Roanoke, with this being a precursor to see if the market's there. Lynchburg's Amtrak service is carrying three times the projected passengers.

2. A partnership with the Army for moving soldiers. Each week 1,000 go from Fort A.P. Hill to Fort Lee on Monday, and return on Thursday. The Army had been using motor coaches, making for a horde of buses on the road. They're now making the trip on Virginia Railway Express (VRE) trains.

ARNT

There was little to report on the timed-out Virginia Beach study, so Marie spent most her time talking about Norfolk's Starter Line. At HRT "everyone is working their butts off" towards revenue service launch. Most likely trains would run on a Saturday and Sunday with no fare required, before a revenue launch on a Monday morning.

Arnt worked her way down the line west to east, noting features at each stop. She also touched on feeder bus service and the light rail safety program.

The golden nugget: the final hours of operation at launch were agreed to at a Tuesday evening meeting. It will be Monday - Thursday 6 A.M. - 11 P.M., Friday & Saturday 6 A.M. - Midnight, and Sunday 11 A.M. - 9 P.M.

I'm elated: I can go to a weeknight Admirals game, and that extra hour of service means I can catch the train out afterwards.

As For The Threat

2011-06-02T07:33:00.004-04:00

After last night's CCO meeting (next post), I was threatened by a well-known Virginia Beach personality. If I continued to make the one point online, I would need to "watch my back", and was told "I will destroy you."

Very short-sighted. Are you oblivious to the fact that many people in this town would love to destroy you, and that to strike against me would give them the legal pretext to come down on you like the proverbial ton of bricks? You'd be lighting their Reichstag fire, giving them the window to do what they've long dreamed of doing to you. (Didn't bother to think that one through, did you?)

You may get me, but you'd be destroyed in the wake of it.

Mike McLean Charged In Lynn-Gainous Shooting

2011-06-01T13:21:00.003-04:00

Michael Jemar McLean has been charged with second degree murder and use of a firearm in the shooting of Tyler Lynn-Gainous.

MIKE

I thought I knew him: he lived two apartments up from mine. He was one of the nicer neighbors to me. He was usually amiable and mild-mannered. Even when he appeared to be agitated, he would quietly keep it to himself. Therefore, I'm somewhat surprised that he would shoot someone in cold blood as charged.

On the other hand, I never knew of Mike having a steady job. He would talk of getting one, and doing things to improve himself (like his older brother did), but I never knew of him doing such.

I had a beer with him on Thursday evening, less than 24 hours before the murder. (Mike knew I normally keep beer in my refrigerator as a social inducement for neighbors.) He laughed at how fast I drank mine.

Another point: where did the gun come from? The standard Aden Park lease prohibits tenants from keeping firearms in their units. Simply having a gun at home would be grounds for eviction.

THE CHARGES (OR, WHAT YOU CAN LEARN VIA GOOGLE)

Second degree murder carries a penalty of anywhere between 5-40 years. It's the default charge in a case where the Commonwealth's Attorney doesn't have enough evidence to prove first degree or capital murder beyond a reasonable doubt.

Use of a firearm is a distinct charge in Virginia. Using a firearm in the commission of a felony carries an automatic 3 year penalty for first offense, 5 years for second offense.

For Tyler's family and friends reading in New Jersey, Virginia has jury sentencing. The jury not only determines guilt or innocence, but passes sentence if they convict. Our juries tend to be tougher than judges.

OUR CHILDREN

Usually there are small children outside playing on Jasper Court from after school until 7:30-8 in the evening.

They still haven't returned to their normal play patterns. We're not over this tragedy until parents believe it's safe to send their children outside.

It Could Have Been Handled Much Better

2011-06-01T13:05:00.002-04:00

Hampton Roads Transit's (HRT) move from the temporary garage at the former Ford plant to the new permanent facility on 18th Street in Norfolk disrupted service among Norfolk garage buses for 1 1/2 days, but everything is suppose to be back to normal now. However, I have two points for HRT in the wake of this snafu.

First, since the move to the Ford plant from 18th Street didn't cause a disruption, why did the move back trigger one?

Second, why wasn't specific information provided to bus riders during this period? Had they been told exactly which routes would be disrupted and how, they could have planned around the temporary gaps in service. Instead, there was simply an announcement about "limited service" with bus riders left to guess where the holes were.

As with the Nor'easter in November, 2009, this should be a lesson to HRT that it needs to improve getting information to passengers in the event of a service disruption.

Tyler Lynn-Gainous Shot

2011-05-28T21:56:00.003-04:00

As you may have read or seen by now, Tyler Lynn-Gainous was shot on Weaver Drive late Friday afternoon and killed.

I haven't been one for blogging crime stories. (Then, I haven't seen a blog that regularly does.) However, this shooting is quite different for me. The victim died about 35 yards from my apartment's front door. One of my neighbors was taken into custody by the Virginia Beach Police Department (VBPD) as a "person of interest" for questioning. Therefore, I won't take the usual approach to such an event, but want to look at how such a tragedy impacts a neighborhood. With (hopefully) a murder trial in the months to come, this may become a series.

WEAVER DRIVE

My home neighborhood for over 8 years now. Weaver is a cul de sac with two apartment complexes on it. Aden Park Apartments is the front of the two, providing about 10% of the units in its price range in Virginia Beach. Behind it is Ebbets Plaza, one of the few directly-subsidized apartment complexes in town. The neighborhood is poor, and about 90% minority. (I'm used to being the only White at a social gathering.)

The neighborhood was troubled in the 90s, but brought back through a concerted effort. VBPD came in and did community policing. (Among those who served here was current VBPD Deputy Chief John Bell.) A new company acquired Aden Park and upgraded it. The Community Manager chosen has been excellent: a firm but fair lady who will refuse to renew leases, and even evict, on those who are problem residents.

However, I've seen symptoms of backsliding over the past 10 months and have spoken to a couple of people about it. If there's a silver lining to this tragedy, maybe it will be the alarm that triggers a comprehensive process for improving our neighborhood.

For the purpose of the shooting, let me set the geography. Tyler Lynn-Gainous lived on Williams Court, the first cluster of apartments on the left side of Weaver Drive as you come in. The person of interest lived on Jasper Court, the first cluster of apartments on the right side of Weaver as you come in. The shooting was on Weaver, with the victim dying on the sidewalk on the Williams side of Weaver.

FRIDAY NIGHT

I worked Friday afternoon. With HRT's Route 20 messed up at rush hour, it was about 6:30 before I reached my home neighborhood. As I approached, I could see VBPD had Weaver blocked off. At first I thought we'd had a traffic accident, but then noticed how large an area was cordoned off with yellow crime scene tape. Something serious had happened. I told the cop at the entrance of Weaver that I was a resident, and he told me to walk through via the fields to the north. I had already figured that was probably the only way in, but had never walked it as long as I've lived here.

Entering Jasper, the crime scene tape came to within yards of my door. A black screen concealed the body on the sidewalk on the far side of Weaver. Small groups of residents stood along the edge of the crime scene trying to see what was going on in our neighborhood.

After dinner and a short Internet session, I came back outside. Some were still watching. I grabbed my favorite lawn chair and took a seat. The body was removed in a body bag about 8:30. Policewomen were combing the grass for evidence, and photos were being taken. VBPD pulled out shortly after 9 P.M.

Once the tape came down, I wanted to go look at where my neighbor had died. Before I could get out of my lawn chair, two women were already there. I went over and said a prayer. Despite the area being sprayed to clear blood at the end of the investigation, I could see it in a couple places. Within minutes, neighbors began erecting a makeshift memorial at the site of the death.

SATURDAY

I noticed on Saturday morning that the memorial was growing. Already having planned a shopping run for Saturday earlier in the week, I bought a candle for the memorial while I was out. Shortly after getting home, I took it across the street. I blessed it in the manner of a priest, lit it, and placed it among the others.

Today was eerily quiet in our neighborhood, especially for a Saturday. I neither saw nor heard any children outside playing, despite the great weather. Parents may have been keeping them inside.

I've been checking the Internet throughout the day for updates on the case, but haven't seen anything yet.

I thought I should go relight all the candles at dusk. Taking out garbage in the early evening, I noticed someone else already had. They look beautiful in the dark tonight.

TDCHR May 26, 2011

2011-05-28T10:56:00.002-04:00

Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads (TDCHR) meetings normally run about an hour. Thursday's went about 130 minutes, featuring a stormy debate around the fare verification & security services for The Tide contract.

You all want the light rail news. The Tide's maintenance facility is down to the punch list phase. Communications systems are on the ground. Systems integration testing will be completed by mid-June. Phase 1 of the Military Highway park and ride will be done by the second week of June, with the others done by July. The revenue service launch date will be announced by June 15, probably on June 9. It will be a date "in the near future".

Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) is $1.33 million under Budget for FY 2011. A plethora of bus maintenance issues during the past month cut into the surplus. In addition, the Budget for FY 2012 was passed.

Ridership for FY 2011 is up 4.6% over FY 2010, and ridership in April, 2011 was 3.3% greater than in April, 2010.

Four contracts were awarded on Thursday. Three were routine: for The Tide marketing campaign surrounding revenue service launch, Phase 2 of the Military Highway park and ride (which involved a four party land swap), and repairs on Elizabeth River Ferry II.

The fare verification & security contract sparked a broader debate about the fairness in awarding Tide contracts in general. Staff will now prepare a report on contract awards. After a heated discussion, the contract was awarded on a 7-3-1 vote.

For the buffoons in the extremist Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA) who have tried to make issues of both fare verification and safety on the trains, Top Guard Security will now be patrolling them. Shut the hell up!

They're Coming To Take Them Away

2011-05-25T16:23:00.002-04:00

64% agreed that Napoleon XIV's They're Coming To Take Me Away should be the theme song of the extremist Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA). 35% chose Red Rider's Lunatic Fringe, while no one voted for Steve Miller's Lost In Space.

The new poll question: does the Virginia Beach city government care about the average resident?

Top 10 Reasons I'm Glad The Rapture Didn't Happen

2011-05-21T18:30:00.002-04:00

Protestant preacher of heresy Harold Camping claimed The Rapture would happen at 6 P.M. this evening, but it didn't. While I was waiting for the hour to come, I drafted my Top 10 list of why I'm glad it didn't happen:

10. I want to see Zoe Saldana in Colombiana.

9. I don't want the world to come to an end having never married. (I still hope to meet a good African-American woman out on the buses.)

8. I want to see what challenges the Demonrats mount for General Assembly seats in Virginia Beach in 2011.

7. I want to hear the warped "logic" the Virginia Beach City Council espouses in defending the obscene at-large voting system. (I don't know whether I'll laugh or scoff more.)

6. I want to see an agreement for building an entertainment venue at the Dome site and read its details.

5. I didn't want the world to come to an end with the UFL's Virginia Destroyers having never played a game.

4. I want to see the tantrums VBTAers throw when John Moss isn't appointed to Rita Sweet Bellitto's vacant City Council seat.

3. I want to find out exactly which Virginia Beach City Councilman Virginia News Source is accusing of sexual misconduct.

2. I'm having too much fun laughing at the joke that is Protestantism. After this red herring, maybe more people will see it for what it is.

1. I want to ride Norfolk's light rail starter line before the world comes to an end.

2011 Virginia Beach City Redistricting Schedule

2011-05-21T17:09:00.002-04:00

This is the proposed schedule for the redistricting of the seven Virginia Beach City Council residency districts. Also during this process, residents may advocate for reform of our at-large voting system:

May 25 - Public Meeting at Green Run High School, 6 P.M.

June 16 - a public meeting at a location and time to be determined.

June 28 - the proposed plans will be presented to City Council.

July 14 & 27 - Public Meetings on the proposed plans.

August 9 - a Public Hearing on the proposed plans in the Council Chambers.

August 23 - City Council votes on their preferred plan or multiple plans.

The consultant will be available to meet with interested residents on May 25 & 26, and June 16 & 17. By appointment any resident can meet and submit a plan.

Some Mood Music

2011-05-21T16:59:00.001-04:00

With The Big Event about an hour away, here's some mood music from Blondie....

7th Annual HRACRE Property Tour

2011-05-19T18:05:00.003-04:00

Today the Hampton Roads Association for Commercial Real Estate (HRACRE) held their 7th annual property tour. Participants boarded a double decker motor coach at Virginia Beach's Town Center for the five stop tour that focused on Transit-Oriented Development (TOD).

The first stop was 31Ocean. Catching even the organizers off-guard, PHR/Gold Key prepared a special welcome for the tour. The group was taken to the 31st Street Hilton's Sky Bar for desserts and drinks. (No, I didn't. I can't stand the taste of rum.) There on the rooftop, Bruce Thompson gave a talk on what he was doing in the area, pointing to his nearby projects at 34th Street and across Pacific Avenue. He related it back to the City's vision for the Resort Area. For those who have tried to portray Bruce as entirely self-serving, he offered to partner with other developers to get projects done, and even offered to aid projects PHR/Gold Key wasn't even involved in. As a parting gift, tour participants were given passes for themselves and a guest to return to Sky Bar during the 2011 season.

There was then the bus ride into Norfolk, which produced a couple nuggets. First, while the City of Norfolk is hoping for an earlier launch, Tide revenue service will probably begin in September or October. That's due to safety system testing. Second, the City of Norfolk Staffer pushed St. Paul's Quadrant, redevelopment plans that (at least publicly) had appeared to be on the back burner. (St. Paul's Quadrant also came up later at MacArthur Square.) Norfolk's current downtown is 93 acres, while St. Paul's Quadrant would add an additional 110 acres.

The second stop was Fort Norfolk Plaza, one block west of the western terminus of the light rail starter line. It's the first medical office building "of scale" built in the periphery of Norfolk General Hospital in 50 years. It's already about 90% leased, as it offers competitive rates and amenities that the older buildings in the neighborhood don't. We met on the unleased 2nd Floor. Looking across Plum Point Park towards the Elizabeth River, I thought, "For us, that's beautiful; for the VBTA, it's a conspiracy."

The third stop was the Wells Fargo Center, where we met in a Willcox Savage conference room on the 22nd Floor. (You could see the rail line going west to Fort Norfolk.) The site for the building was chosen based on the neighboring Monticello Station, and having light rail right there was greatly helping leasing of the 121 apartments. There's a 1st Floor restaurant, Bite, that some were crowing about. (Memo to self: check it out for breakfast once the adjacent train is running.)

The fourth stop was MacArthur Square, where City of Norfolk Staff spoke to us. First, Norfolk is looking at placemaking around the station: the Slover Library diagonally southwest, a mural was planned for the post office wall facing the station, and the MacArthur Memorial is going to raze the existing theater and build a new $6 million facility facing MacArthur Square. (The current one has its back to it.) Second, TOD overlays are being prepared for all light rail stations. Noted were that there will be bicycle parking requirements in construction of new buildings, and that any such new buildings will be required to be a minimum 30 feet in height.

The final stop was Virginia Beach's Newtown Strategic Growth Area (SGA). (Actually, the meeting was in a hotel on the Norfolk side of Newtown Road.) SGA Office Manager Barry Frankenfield gave a brief overview of Beach SGA policy, covered some of the particulars in Newtown's seven subareas, and made a sales pitch to work with developers who want to come in and make the vision a reality.

However, Frankenfield made one statement that deserves bold print: the primary public spending in the SGAs will be roads and stormwater. That's it. For those knuckle-draggers who have tried to portray the SGAs as never-ending money pits, the City of Virginia Beach will simply cover transportation and stormwater.

My thanks to HRACRE for being allowed to go on the tour as a guest. Not only was it informative, but that was a nice box lunch and the beer was a pleasant surprise (I do like Coors Light.). For the extremist Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA) regularly portraying the business community as the enemy (real conservatives are pro-business), HRACRE welcoming some grassroots activists onto their bus tour shows forward-looking forces can work together.

84% Want Economic And Military Sanctions

2011-05-15T22:03:00.002-04:00

84% want economic and military sanctions against Pakistan for harboring Osama bin Laden, 16% want no sanctions, and 0% want economic or military sanctions alone.

The new poll question: what should be the theme song of the extremist Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA)? I give you a choice between Lost In Space by Steve Miller, Lunatic Fringe by Red Rider, and They're Coming To Take Me Away by Napoleon XIV.

Where Will The Social Conservatives Go?

2011-05-15T10:21:00.003-04:00

I admire Mike Huckabee. I endorsed him for President in 2008 (Huckabee Rally, 2/11/08), and was ready to support him again in 2012. Alas, last night he announced he isn't running. That raises an obvious question: where do social conservatives go with Huckabee out?

On another blog, a commenter suggested Rick Santorum to me, but the former Pennsylvania Senator doesn't have a snowball's chance of winning the nomination.

Mitt Romney is a phony.

Tim Pawlenty is an apostate Catholic, so many Catholics (including myself) would never vote for him.

There's an online draft Bob McDonnell movement, but Bob isn't going to run in 2012.

Does someone else get in to fill the vacuum?

How Do We Fix Route 1?

2011-05-13T19:14:00.002-04:00

It's Norfolk Greek Festival Weekend, and the only bus there is Route 1. Therefore, I was on the 1 today to go and get my pastitsio for lunch. The bus was running late, and obviously wasn't going to make the Wards Corner lineup. While eating, I saw the next 1 pass...also late. That got me thinking about the 1 in more general terms. What should we do? A few things:

1. Is it as simple as having it jump earlier from the Cedar Grove Transfer Center?

2. Hampton Roads Transit's (HRT) efficiencies report puts every 15 minute service on Route 1 throughout the day on weekdays between Cedar Grove and Ocean View. What kind of impact would that have?

3. IMO, the long term solution is a streetcar along the current Route 1 alignment from downtown Norfolk to Wards Corner. That would not only relieve the 1, but help economic revitalization at Riverview and Wards Corner.

My fellow bus riders, chime in under Comments. What would you do, and why?

A New Zoe Saldana Movie

2011-05-13T19:02:00.004-04:00

I went to see Jumping The Broom on Thursday afternoon, which was a pretty good movie. However, the highlight was that I saw the trailer for a new Zoe Saldana movie. Zoe is my favorite actress, and I've been smitten with her since watching Guess Who. Her new film is Colombiana, which is scheduled to be released on September 2. I embed the trailer below. Enjoy!

More YouTube Soccer Footage

2011-05-07T12:11:00.003-04:00

You have to love this one. The Goalie thinks he's stopped the penalty kick, celebrates, and walks away. The camera crew believes the shot was missed, and television coverage pulls off the ball.

Better wait and see what the backspin does on this ball....

Go For It!

2011-05-06T08:55:00.003-04:00

56% of voters lean towards light rail extended all the way to the Oceanfront, 39% are leaning towards the Lynnhaven option, while 5% want an extension to Town Center.

While all three options are in play, I'll explain why I'm one of the 39%:

1. The gap between Lynnhaven and the Resort Area could easily be bridged transit-wise. Simply run a shuttle bus between the Lynnhaven Station and the transportation center planned for the Dome site complex.

2. You can run feeder service to Oceana NAS nearly as easily from Lynnhaven Station as you could Oceana Station.

3. The Lynnhaven alignment would bring in 4 of the 6 Strategic Growth Areas (SGAs) along the Norfolk Southern Corridor. Remaining would be AICUZ-constricted Hilltop, and the Resort Area. (Obviously the dynamics of the Resort Area are quite different than the other five.)

4. The estimated $251 million lower cost than the Resort Area option would be easier for the public to swallow.

5. One of the two major obstacles an Oceanfront extension faces in getting Federal funding is the constrained redevelopment opportunities adjacent to Oceana NAS. (The other is the large sum of money.) Stopping just west of the Oceana doughnut hole negates that, and also boosts us on the other count.

Should Oceana lose Master Jet Base status in outlying years (as many anticipate), the AICUZ footprint around the base would shrink dramatically for choppers or turboprops. We can then extend Lynnhaven - Dome site without breaking our commitment to the Navy.

The new poll question: should Pakistan be sanctioned for harboring Osama bin Laden? If so, how?

Barf Bag!

2011-05-05T06:28:00.002-04:00

Late last night John Moss put out an e-mail announcing that he'll be a candidate in the November special election to fill the seat being vacated on the Virginia Beach City Council by Rita Sweet Bellitto.

As Wally Erb would tell John, "No means no." Is the guy so arrogant that he doesn't get the message from election losses in 2004, 2008, and 2010?

First, he has no chance of winning. Second, next time the extremist VBTA complains about government not listening, point out that the VBTA doesn't listen. Rerunning the same retreads with the same stale and rejected message is downright anal.

India Must Be Laughing

2011-05-04T05:40:00.003-04:00

Osama bin Laden is dead. The neighborhood his safe house was in has four Pakistani military installations, so it's implausible that the Pakistani military didn't know where he was. After all, wouldn't an oversize house having 12-18 foot walls topped with barbed wire draw your attention?

While bin Laden's death was a great adrenalin rush for we Americans, they must be laughing in India. Pakistan has been caught red-handed working both sides of the street in the War On Terror. As more evidence comes in, Pakistan will probably face a draconian sanctions regimen from the international community. The world's largest democracy (i.e. India) stands to reap huge benefits here.

Springfest 2011

2011-05-01T12:12:00.002-04:00

Saint Gregory's Roman Catholic Church (my home parish) will hold it's annual Springfest May 13-15. It will run Noon - 10 P.M. Friday and Saturday, and Noon - 6 P.M. on Sunday.

There will be games, a few kiddie rides, live entertainment, and plenty of food. There will be American, Filipino, German, Greek, Hispanic, and Italian cuisine. (No Hispanic food on Friday.) In addition to soda, beer and wine will also be available.

Saint Gregory's is undergoing a three phase renovation to it's sanctuary. The lighting has been replaced, and the ceiling repainted. If Springfest is a success, we'll have the funds to replace the carpet.

Be sure to come!

Rolling About April 30, 2011

2011-05-01T11:47:00.004-04:00

With yesterday off, I spent Saturday rolling about. Five buses, and quite a bit of walking.

1. I've heard strategic planning meetings compared to watching paint dry. Full government reports can be boring, if you're not interested in the issue.

However, I discovered a new definition for painful: watching open tryouts for a professional football team. I went to Dick Price Stadium to observe the Virginia Destroyers open tryouts. After 80 minutes of watching slow guys trying to run 40 yard dashes, I was heading for Route 9.

2. Finally got to The Jewish Mother Backstage. Good food, and their second floor dining room had a great view of the parade passing on Granby Street.

What struck me was the small size of our local high school marching bands. My high school had only about 440 students, but our marching band was larger than the Booker T. Washington and Maury bands combined.

3. Having taken care of a major hunger problem, I then walked over to MacArthur Square for Light Rail Safety Days. I took the tours myself. A few fellow bus riders/transit advocates showed up.

After hearing the officials butcher a couple answers to questions, I started the "Ask The Experts" table. There was a vacant literature table where a quartet of bus riders (including myself) set up shop to give definitive answers to questions, especially the feeder bus system. We figured between the four of us, we could answer any HRT bus service question.

[For my TDCHR thread commenter, there you have it.]

TDCHR April 28, 2011

2011-04-28T20:37:00.004-04:00

I try to give you a digest of meetings of the Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads (TDCHR), the governing board of Hampton Roads Transit (HRT). Debbie Messina goes for a single sexy story for the newspaper, and I don't see one out of today's meeting.

Let's start with the financials. HRT is nearly $2 million under Budget after three quarters of the fiscal year. They received the 5/12ths apportionment they applied for from the Federal government, and used some of that money to payoff their Line of Credit.

You all want the light rail news. The safety system testing should be completed by the end of May. President Phillip Shucet hopes to be able to give the TDCHR a firmer hold on a revenue service launch date at the May TDCHR meeting.

The new Southside maintenance facility will be completed on time and on budget. Operations should be back there from the Ford plant in later May, with a formal opening ceremony in June.

Operating Budget Officer Brandon Singleton presented the proposed FY 2012 Budget. Ongoing negotiations with the contractor may bring paratransit costs down. The big issue is fuel costs. With the current price spike driven by speculators, it's hoped to be able to lock in at a lower price once they go to cash in their profits. HRT's current fuel contracts will take the agency through the end of the Summer.

The TDCHR approved seven contracts today: one for an overhaul on a paddlewheel ferry, two for construction management services, two for software and support, one for the Ballentine Boulevard park and ride, and one for the Newtown Station employees restroom.

New Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Henry Li was introduced to the TDCHR. He arrived just two weeks ago from his previous job in Georgia. What struck some of us before the meeting is that Li had been studying the photos of Commissioners on HRT's website, so that he could try to recognize them when meeting them for the first time. (That's the kind of detail junkie you want watching the money!)

Phillip Shucet presented two awards to employees:

1. Brian Smith got the President's Coin for being the driving force behind getting Project 31/90 done. Project 31/90 was the effort to implement reforms at HRT after the Inspector General's report.

2. David Sullivan was given a plaque for his service as interim CFO.

The next TDCHR meeting will be May 26 at 1:30 P.M. in Norfolk.

By A 2:1 Margin...

2011-04-27T19:51:00.003-04:00

You believe Blockbuster is in worse financial condition than Sears Kmart.

I went to Kmart this morning to buy a box of Pepto Bismol chewable tablets. (Hey, Kmart is across the street from work.) The same box that would cost me $3 at Walmart was $4.49 at Kmart. No wonder they're in the proverbial "deep doo-doo"!

The new poll question: which light rail extension are you leaning towards in Virginia Beach? Yes, the study just went to a timeout and we don't have enough information to endorse an option yet, so that's why I used the modifier "leaning towards". However, I thought this would be a fun exercise that would allow us to compare and contrast options.

2011 Virginia Destroyers Open Tryouts

2011-04-23T05:31:00.002-04:00

Next Saturday, April 30, there will be open tryouts for our UFL Virginia Destroyers. They will be from 9 A.M. - 1 P.M. at Norfolk State University's Dick Price Stadium. (That's where they should actually be playing their homes games, but that's another story....) Spectators may come and watch, and both the team and their fan club (i.e. The Fleet) are promoting attendance.

Statements have been made that side events will be going on to enhance the fan experience, but no specific announcements have been made yet. (It wouldn't just be four hours of watching drills.)

I plan to be there, and hope many of you will, too.

Looking Towards Electoral System Change

2011-04-23T04:51:00.003-04:00

It's redistricting year, so that also means redrawing the residency districts for the Virginia Beach City Council. A push will certainly be there to scrap Virginia Beach's obscene at-large voting system.

At-large voting seeks to marginalize the franchise, placing a much greater emphasis on campaign donors than residents. Lineup the checkbooks in the backroom and you can determine who can be a "serious" candidate for City Council. The City has stumbled into past mistakes due to a lack of diversity of opinions and backgrounds at the table. To support at-large voting, you have to believe Virginia Beach is stronger for marginalizing 98% of the population.

What would the new system look like? That would depend on how many district and (if any) at-large seats you go with on Council. In addition, you could turn to some alternate form of voting. Cumulative voting would still mean voting for everyone throughout the City, none of the common publicly spoken arguments against a ward system apply to it, while it would produce a neo-proportional system.

The 2010 Census gave us more of the same from the 2000 Census, but at a slower pace than some expected. However, two central facts remain. First, what population growth Virginia Beach is experiencing is entirely minority. Second, there were fewer Whites in Virginia Beach in 2010 than in 1990. "White flight" has been on here for a generation now.

There are three possible areas for drawing minority-majority Council districts or influence districts:

1. Densest minority concentration - the Baker Corridor, stretching in a crescent from Burton Station to the northwest corner of the Virginia Beach Boulevard/Witchduck Road intersection, via Lake Edward.

2. Largest minority concentration - stretching diagonally from Green Run to Seatack, through Oceana NAS.

3. Centerville District is already over 40% minority in the current system.

Status quoers try to run from even discussing an electoral system change. However, the longer they wait to do the inevitable, the less palatable the new electoral system would be for them. If the 2020 Census numbers look like the last two sets, there will be no need to beg next redistricting. In 2021, grassroots inclusionists will have the numbers to simply kick in the door of City Hall. Therefore, 2011 is the last chance for our status quoers to get a reform deal that is good for them.

The fringe right gives lip service towards wanting a ward system, but never lifts a finger towards advocating for one. If they actually want to defend the suburbia they claim to champion, here's their chance. In implementing a ward system, you could draw districts that take in those suburban subdivisions while trying to avoid the Norfolk Southern Corridor. As our Strategic Growth Areas move towards building out, we could eventually have separate Council districts for suburban dwellers and urban dwellers.

Electoral system change is a necessity that will make Virginia Beach stronger by allowing us to work more of our talent into building our city. We're eventually going to have to do it, so why not in 2011? The sooner we get it done, the sooner Virginia Beach can move forward at battle speed.

Disclosure Statement

2011-04-23T04:49:00.000-04:00

No post on this blog has ever been ghost written by John Moss.

Form-Based Zoning

2011-04-18T15:39:00.002-04:00

There will be a form-based zoning open house and workshop. Form-based zoning is in the pipes for the Resort Area as a means to implement the Resort Area Strategic Action Plan. The meeting is on Monday, April 25 at 6 P.M. It will be at the Virginia Beach Convention Center, Rooms 2-BCD.

Morality Wins!

2011-04-18T04:17:00.002-04:00

61% want traditional marriage only, with 39% supporting gay marriage. 0% wanted civil unions.

Of course, it's a moot point in Virginia. Our state Constitution defines marriage as between one man and one woman, prohibiting any alternatives. I worked the polls to do my small part in getting the amendment passed.

The new question: which company goes bankrupt first, Blockbuster or Sears Kmart? It's from a water cooler discussion I had at work.

Virginia Beach City Hall: Bigotry And More Bigotry

2011-04-17T08:25:00.002-04:00

It's a dark week for those of us striving to build an inclusive Virginia Beach.

The first Public Hearing on the FY 2012 Budget is scheduled for Holy Thursday evening. That's a night that any Catholic worth their salt is in church, not at a Budget Hearing. Yes, there are two other Public Hearings. However, the second one traditionally focuses on the Property Tax rate. The final one is the night of Budget adoption. Given that City Council is highly unlikely to amend the Budget on the floor that night, its only real use is to stake political ground towards the next Budget.

At Tuesday's Council Workshop, first item on the Agenda is City Redistricting. The City has rehired Kimball Brace as consultant, who had the same contract a decade ago. In 2001, he told City Council that it would take many more districts to draw a minority-majority Council district in Virginia Beach...then proceeded to help draw one for a draft eight district plan. His rehiring in itself is a rejection of inclusion, and shows the City Council Redistricting process will be another sham.

Learn To Drive, NPD!

2011-04-16T08:26:00.003-04:00

Payday is Walmart Day, so Friday morning I was on my way there to go grocery shopping. At Military Circle's 6 A.M. cutback lineup, it was Cutback Inbound 20 to Cutback Outbound 15.

As the 15 started to head up Military Highway, a Norfolk Police Department (NPD) K9 unit came out of the Kangaroo Express at Janaf. The K9 unit made a slow looping turn...right into the path of the bus. Thankfully the bus wasn't going full speed, so we were able to brake to avoid a collision. The bus Operator exclaimed to the passengers afterwards, "They're suppose to be the police!"

Tired cop after being on duty all night? Regardless, had that been a 40' bus at full speed, the NPD K9 unit would have been flipped over. (We had a 30 footer on the cutback run.) Since this was a K9 unit, remember that the police dog would have been in the rear...right where the bus would have struck.

I've e-mailed Hampton Roads Transit (HRT), advising that a copy of the bus' security tapes be sent to NPD.

Bring Our M-1s Home!

2011-04-13T20:40:00.002-04:00

The M-1 Garand rifle was used by American infantry in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. After the Korean War, the United States left nearly one million M-1s in South Korea for that country's defense. In 2011, South Korea would like to be able to sell the authentic M-1s to collectors in the United States.

One serious problem: the Obama Administration has moved to block them. Never mind that the rifles were manufactured here in the first place, and newer versions can be legally bought here.

Speak up to your Congressmen about allowing them to be imported back into the United States.

H/T Townhall

The Letter To The FTA

2011-04-08T11:48:00.004-04:00

Above is the actual April 1 letter from Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) to the Federal Administration (FTA) seeking answers to questions raised by the FTA. Most of you have heard the story by now: a stop work order has been placed on the Virginia Beach Transit Extension Study pending the FTA's reply.

I post the actual letter in order that you can see through the disinformation spread by the opponents. There are two main points:

1. Can the Virginia Beach extension be phased?

2. If actual Norfolk ridership numbers are desired by the FTA, how long of a halt?

That's it. Nothing more. This is not a serious blow to the project.

Should there be a lengthy halt, it would give Virginia Beach time to finish Strategic Growth Area (SGA) plans along the Norfolk Southern Corridor. Rosemont is in progress, Lynnhaven will be later in 2011, and Hilltop in early 2012.

Riding With Phillip (And James)

2011-04-06T21:55:00.002-04:00

This morning we finally executed an event long in planning: I took Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) President Phillip Shucet bus riding. We left from Cedar Grove on a seven bus journey across South Hampton Roads. HRT Chief Communications Officer James Toscano joined us.

I was asked to plan an itinerary no more than five hours. For my fellow bus riders keeping score at home, we went Cutback Outbound 1 - Cutback Inbound 15 - Outbound 27 - Inbound 1 - Inbound 8 - Cutback Outbound 6 - Cutback Inbound 6. The initial cutbacks were to give us a cushion at rush hour in case we missed a transfer...which we nearly did at Wards Corner. The timing then put us onto the cutbacks for 20th & Seaboard. The double 6s were because we finally did miss a transfer: the Cutback Inbound 13 pulled out yards ahead of us at 20th & Seaboard. Instead, we took the same 6 back to Cedar Grove.

Phillip got to speak to some bus riders individually. Observing both a high floor and a low floor bus doing wheelchair lifts at Cedar Grove, I may have sold him on the idea that HRT should never order another high floor bus. At Cedar Grove he noted the lack of a pedestrian gate onto Princess Anne Road, and the fuel burn by buses idling on Salter Street. (FYI, he prefers to be addressed by his full legal first name, rather than as "Phil" or "Mr. Shucet".)

Being Chief Communications Officer, James spent time checking out the Insider Cards. He was also the note taker for the trip, and snapped some photos, too.

Best of all, we agreed to make this a regular periodic event. If you see us out on some future excursion, please be more talkative than this morning's group.

Howell Or Rorschach?

2011-04-05T06:53:00.003-04:00

Yesterday the Republican Party of Virginia sent this out as a Facebook status update. (Yes, I saw it on Facebook Mobile while on the Suffolk trip.) Virginia now has a great new game to play, Howell Or Rorschach? Can you tell the difference between a state Senate district gerrymandered by Senator Janet Howell and an ink blot?

Have a try at www.howellorrorschach.com

Visiting Suffolk, Flag Flying

2011-04-05T06:09:00.004-04:00

I've been to Suffolk about seven times before to check out the Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) service in southern Suffolk. Four mainline routes (Routes 71 - 74) are in the historical town of Suffolk and the immediate surrounding area. (Route 47 serves part of northern Suffolk.) I've always rode low key, not publicizing who I was.

Monday was different. I was there to recruit on behalf of HRT's Transit Riders Advisory Committee (TRAC). Neither Chesapeake, Portsmouth, nor Suffolk currently has a TRAC representative, with Suffolk's drought now for nearly a decade. Therefore, myself and a compatriot were recruiting on the buses, speaking to riders and handing them fliers.

The big issue in Suffolk was the proposed service reductions in HRT's efficiencies report. On the one hand, nearly everyone in Suffolk knew cuts were on the table; on the other hand, no one I met could name which two routes were tagged for elimination. (Psst...it's Routes 72 and 73.) The City of Suffolk is holding a public hearing on the issue Wednesday night, which may shape their position. The misinformation in Suffolk is so bad that one woman believed Route 72 was getting every 15 minute service. (I don't think so.)

However, I was very pleased with the level of service offered by the HRT Operators in Suffolk. The irony wasn't lost on me that we were considering eliminating half their service with Suffolk now having the team in place to execute quality bus service.

One major new issue was pointed out to me on Monday. Route 73 goes through an industrial park at 2:57 P.M., while the QVC and Sara Lee plants there discharge shifts at 3 P.M. (Memo to the Planning Department....)

For my fellow bus riders in the other six cities, if you've never rode Suffolk, do so if you have a weekday free. It's quite different from HRT service elsewhere.

You're Happy With the Mayor's Performance

2011-04-05T05:48:00.002-04:00

45% of you rated Mayor Will Sessoms' job performance excellent, with 23% voting Good. 3% think he's done a Fair job. 29% rate it Poor. The striking thing about the Poor vote is that it corresponds with what we saw in Bayside and Lynnhaven Districts last November, where 30% would vote against any incumbent no matter what.

Personally, I'm not enamored with Mayor Sessoms performance. (I was a Good voter.) I may have some pointed things to say about him (and other members of Council) after this year's City redistricting process. However, Virginia Beach is moving forward after four years of sitzkrieg under Meyera Oberndorf. If Meyera was still there, City Hall would be giving lip service to a number of key initiatives, but doing nothing about them.

The new poll question is inspired by a Facebook exchange I was involved in yesterday. Which do you prefer: traditional marriage alone, allow gay marriage, or allow civil unions?

2011 Virginia Destroyers Cheerleader Tryout Finals

2011-04-03T02:21:00.002-04:00

Okay, I normally blog on substantive public policy issues. However, with the day free on Saturday, I went to MacArthur Center to see the Destroyers Cheerleading Tryout Finals. By the team's estimate, "about 400 people" were there, which sounds about right. The event had been promoted on Facebook by both the team and its fan club, The Fleet.

About 50 candidates were brought forward in groups of four. Each quartet did dance routines to the same two songs: Aerosmith's Walk This Way and a dance remix of Kelly Clarkson's Since You've Been Gone. (The remix was a bit bizarre in that it began with a rift that sounded like it was from 96 Tears.) There were six judges: the cheerleading director, four with cheerleading or dance backgrounds, and a representative from The Fleet.

After all the finalists had performed, we were told the judges would tally the scores and be back "in 15 minutes". It took about three times that long. The wait inspired me to download the Jeopardy theme song to my Nokia E71x.

Yes, the Finals had their lighter moments. One girl lost her balance, only to catch herself. Another was big enough to play linebacker herself. There was one with long, thin hair that kept flying in her face. However, what was striking was how many now want to be a professional sports cheerleader. There were two candidates from South Carolina, and one each from Hawaii and Michigan.

Those attending were given pitches for Destroyers tickets, Fleet memberships, and Destroyers gear. I bought myself a Destroyers t-shirt beforehand.

When they came back, about half the Finalists had been cut. Jubilation, some needing consoling, while those chosen posed for photos of the group.

Anyone wishing to discuss the Virginia Destroyers, or the UFL in general, have at it in the Comments section.

Things You Find On YouTube

2011-04-02T07:45:00.002-04:00

Surfing YouTube yesterday, I found a video of Top 10 blown scoring chances in soccer. My fellow soccer fans should enjoy. As a former Center Forward, I winced at some of them. The #1 goof was a well-deserved award. I post it for your weekend fun.

The VBTA Calls For A Referendum On Sanity

2011-04-01T00:01:00.003-04:00

April 1 saw the extremist Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA) call for a referendum on sanity, wanting it excluded from public policy.

"To espouse sanity is to attack Beach families", said VBTA Maximum Leader Robert Dean. He went on, "Only I know what's in the best interest of Virginia Beach, and everyone knows I've gone off the deep end."

"Every Statement and position of the VBTA is utterly insane", stated VBTA Chairman John Moss. "We believe you can make massive cuts in the City Budget with no negative consequences, the city can simply stop growing, 100% of surface transportation could and should be by automobile, the state should spend $3 billion on roads without building a single new road, etc."

"Sanity is a conspiracy by the Chamber of Commerce, for Virginia Beach Vision, with the consent of Light Rail Now", claimed VBTA Vice Chairman/Chairman of No Transportation Reid Greenmun. Wiping his running hair dye away, he continued, "The taxpayers want insanity! Sanity is corruption imposed on us by a few influential business lobbies."

The VBTA hopes for a November, 2011 referendum to eradicate sanity.

Random Thoughts March 31, 2011

2011-03-31T13:46:00.006-04:00

1. Am I the only one who thinks the fuss about the City Manager's proposed Budget for Virginia Beach in FY 2012 is bad theater? Given that the Budget had been trimmed and savings dipped into the past two years, tax and/or fee hikes were a given this year unless the economy improved markedly. It didn't.

2. The Democrats' plan for redistricting the state Senate is farcical at points. However, when I looked at the proposed 13th District, know what I thought? After 75 year old Fred Quayle, Senator Bob Dyer?

3. In the Republican House redistricting plan, Virginia Beach's Central Business District goes from the 83rd to the 85th District. Quite fitting for Bob Tata, whose bill jump-started the Beach light rail process.

4. Advertised for today was a Sea Level Rise Listening Session from 1-4 P.M. It was moved to 9 A.M. - Noon with no word I heard. So do they really want to listen?

5. Are you all having fun watching Norfolk being dragged into glasnost by Andy Protogyrou and Tommy Smigiel?

6. Under the Republican House redistricting plan, I go from the 83rd District (Chris Stolle) to the 90th (Algie Howell). Hey, I was considering looking for a new barber.... More seriously, Algie strikes me as a nice guy.

7. Why does it scare me on one level when I agree with the TEA Party? Not enough spending cuts in what's being considered by Congress.

8. The Laskin Gateway Project may spur what's hoped for in the Resort Area Strategic Action Plan. However, the knuckle-draggers are still refighting the 31st Street referendum battle. Pathetic.

9. Please note that light rail opponents have yet to offer a comprehensive alternative plan that is both constructive and realistic. Until then, they shouldn't be taken seriously. Do they think they can complain often and loud enough that people don't grasp they have nothing to offer?

10. Hang on, UFL: you might get your dream cancelled NFL season.

Government By Referendum

2011-03-27T16:26:00.003-04:00

Government by referendum sounds nice in theory: a method for allowing the community to participate in decision-making. The problem is that, in Virginia Beach today, referenda have become nothing more than a device by which the fringe right tries to veto any attempt by Virginia's largest city to move forward.

We have three issues in the pipes that members of the extremist Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA) have called for referenda on: the Dome site entertainment complex, a convention center headquarters hotel, and light rail. Let us hope that City Council grows a pair and puts none of the three on the ballot. The entire trio is crucial to future economic development in Virginia Beach.

On light rail, their expectation that there has to be a referendum has prevented the VBTA from putting together a coherent argument against it and presenting a detailed and realistic alternative. Ever notice how the VBTA calls for referenda on everything they oppose, but nothing they support? It's the antithesis of leadership.

TDCHR March 24, 2011

2011-03-25T08:35:00.003-04:00

The Transportation District Commission of Hampton Roads (TDCHR) held a long meeting on Thursday. Normally the governing board of Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) meets for about an hour, but this meeting went about 105 minutes.

The big item was an overview of the efficiencies report. First some general information was given, then numbers for each individual city. The TDCHR vote will now be in May, not the previously-slated April. Any changes would be implemented with the January, 2012 service board change.

What I found disappointing was the lack of detail. Which routes are being cut? None were specifically named. The Top 18 routes will be boosted, but the only singling out were route lines on crude maps on the PowerPoint. (I could figure out most Southside, but was guessing on the Peninsula.) Granted, HRT has only spoken to 2 of 7 cities so far (Hampton and Virginia Beach), but to get bus riders buy-in you need to get information to them ASAP.

There was a Presentation on Phase II of the Regional Transit Vision Plan, with the TDCHR unanimously voting to endorse.

The high drama of the day was over the Vehicle Advertising Services contract. Staff recommended a new contractor, even thought the existing contractor had tendered a better bid. In addition, attorney Bill Bischoff alleged procedural issues in acting on the bids. When HRT President Phillip Shucet could not get clear answers to the questions raised, the TDCHR voted to defer the awarding of the contract.

HRT is $1.858 million under Budget for FY 2011. Acting CFO David Sullivan warned the TDCHR that Budget numbers will get wacky at the end of the fiscal year, as neither light rail revenues nor expenditures will be made in May and June.

A new light rail revenue service launch date will probably be announced sometime in May.

Senior Vice President of Operations Homer Carter will retire April 4. Temporarily, Bus Operations Director Bill Law will report directly to Chief of Staff David Sullivan. (I'll miss Homer.)

It is planned to have a Retreat recommendation for the TDCHR at their next meeting, April 21 In Hampton.

The Portsmouth Question

2011-03-24T00:16:00.004-04:00

(I don't like doing back-to-back transit posts, as I don't want this to exclusively be a transit blog. However, I'm probably going to have three consecutive here. Sorry.)

The question remains: exactly how do we connect Portsmouth into a regional light rail network? For the most fiscally stressed city in the Commonwealth of Virginia, it could reap a load of benefits by being connected into such a system in the midterm. Complete the Virginia Beach Oceanfront to Naval Station Norfolk via downtown Norfolk line, then start trying to get light rail across the river to P-town.

You start to grasp the scale of the problem when you read Phase II of the Regional Transit Vision Plan. It puts a streetcar in Portsmouth, to maybe later be extended to the Harbor Park multimodal station. There's a proposed corridor from Harbor Park to Harbour View via downtown Portsmouth "BRT, maybe LRT". However, even those partial measures rest on one huge if: a multimodal expansion of the Downtown Tunnel, with dedicated mass transit lanes.

That's not a report, but rather a death sentence for Portsmouth. I raised the issue during a Public Comment session at the TPO, and have talked about it with regional leaders. Failure to secure Portsmouth into our regional light rail network in the midterm risks having it become a sinkhole in 30-40 years that could take down the rest of South Hampton Roads with it. Portsmouth needs to be online, where it can reap the benefits of such a system.

69% Favor A Midtown Tunnel Routing

2011-03-24T00:09:00.003-04:00

69% prefer taking light rail to Portsmouth via the Midtown Tunnel, with 31% favoring the Downtown Tunnel. Here's the problem: Phase II of the Regional Transit Vision Plan eliminates the Midtown routing, leaving a possible Downtown Tunnel routing.

The new question: how do you rate Mayor Will Sessoms' performance in office? He's been there now over 26 months.

Rosemont SGA, Second Meeting

2011-03-18T03:57:00.003-04:00

How many housing units can you stuff into a SGA? Take a look at the draft plan for the Rosemont Strategic Growth Area (SGA) and you might get an idea.

On Thursday evening there was a meeting at Windsor Woods Elementary School on the draft plan for the Rosemont SGA. Attendance was very good, considering it was Saint Patrick's Day and opening day of the NCAA basketball tournament. The meeting began with brief remarks by Planning Director Jack Whitney and Councilman Glenn Davis. That was followed by a PowerPoint presentation on the Rosemont SGA and the team's draft plans.

RCLCO was asked to suggest for each SGA in Virginia Beach a potential identity that could color it's redevelopment. Rosemont is the Transit-Oriented Residential Village. Given such, the predominate feature is housing units. RCLCO saw a potential market for 1,750 townhouses, 800 condominiums, and 2,450 apartments across an area about 250 acres. The draft plan puts about half that many in 130.5 acres.

The draft has mostly multifamily housing, with some single family as buffers against healthy existing residential neighborhoods. There is some office and mixed use, with one planned new retail center. For the "They don't listen!" crowd: at the initial meeting we residents told the team that the Collins Square and Loehmann's Plaza Shopping Centers were strengths, and the team redacted them from the study area. (Initial Rosemont SGA Meeting, 2/11/11) They'll go untouched.

There were some road improvements suggested. First, a flyover west of Rosemont Road to Sentara Road, bypassing Rosemont's intersection with I-264. Second, the team is evaluating ramps off I-264 north at South Plaza Trail so Little Neck traffic doesn't have to shuffle to the I-264/Rosemont intersection. (There would be no ramps south on South Plaza Trail.) Third, swinging Bonney Road out to Virginia Beach Boulevard short of Rosemont Road.

After the presentation, the public broke out to tables with facilitators and team members to comment and make suggestions on the draft plan.

TPO March 17, 2011

2011-03-17T13:56:00.002-04:00

The Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) held a quite substantial meeting today.

Thelma Drake, Director of Virginia's Department of Rail and Public Transportation (DRPT), was present and gave an "informative" (Yvonne Miller) briefing on High Speed Rail. The TPO voted to work with DRPT, and try to scope out the next phase of their own work.

The TPO voted final approval of the project prioritization list, with an in-depth discussion of the projects slated for April. The impetus of today's vote was to allow the Virginia Department Of Transportation (VDOT) to being air conformity work on the list.

There was a presentation on Phase II of the Regional Transit Vision Plan, with the TPO voting afterwards to endorse.

There was a proposed list approved for allocating CMAQ and RSTP funds through FY 2017, including $5.5 million ($3.5 million RSTP, $2.0 million CMAQ) for Norfolk light rail. (Take that, tea baggers!)

Finally, a Resolution was presented from the Citizens Transportation Advisory Committee (CTAC). It endorsed the prioritization process, with the caveat that new funds be found for "additional lane-miles across the Hampton Roads Harbor."

City Council Was Correct On Harmony

2011-03-15T18:51:00.002-04:00

While they may be taking heat from the Point O'View Civic League over it, the Virginia Beach City Council was right to approve a proposal by Harmony Investments to build apartments just off of Greenwich Road.

The key factor here: the Newtown Strategic Growth Area (SGA) is one of the few SGA unencumbered by AICUZ regulations, making it prime for residential redevelopment. (Newtown SGA Plan Rollout Meeting, 3/27/10). Multifamily residential dovetails nicely with exactly what's envisioned for the area.

94% Grasp The Mistake

2011-03-15T18:11:00.004-04:00

94% of you grasped that the Council of Civic Organizations (CCO) inviting John Moss, Chairman of the extremist Virginia Beach Taxpayers Alliance (VBTA), was a blunder. There are so many reasons it shouldn't have been done.

First, it hurts the CCO's credibility. There's an old diplomatic axiom that "You can tell a revolution by its friends." The CCO holding hands with the VBTA doesn't paint a pretty picture of the new CCO leadership.

Second, wait for the political blowback. The CCO now has a number of powerful organizations and individuals unhappy with it. There will be ramifications.

Third, from my own prior tenure with the CCO, I know you schedule programs based on two drivers:

1. It will get good information to the community.

2. It will bring out attendance.

The VBTA only gives lies and conspiracy theories. The only attendance will be the Kool-Aid chuggers coming to worship their cult leaders.

Fourth, the CCO used to have annual Budget meetings. Management Services from the City of Virginia Beach would give a presentation. They were discontinued due to poor attendance.

Fifth, some will probably claim the CCO was just trying to offer a different perspective. If so, why doesn't it invite the KKK, the Nation of Islam, and the National Socialist Movement? If not, why are they inviting the VBTA, another group clearly out of the mainstream?

Sixth, did the CCO forget it has a seat on the Resort Advisory Commission (RAC)? How does the CCO expect it's RAC representative to be effective when it's playing footsie with the VBTA, which believes the Resort Area is public enemy number one? (If I held the CCO RAC seat, I'd resign, my job impossible to accomplish.)

Seventh, the CCO often works through partnerships. It does projects jointly with the City, including the Community Legislative Package. It funds it's annual Party In the Park, and offsets the annual Banquet, through donations from the business community. Neither will be pleased with this snafu.

The bottom line: the CCO will spend at least six months repairing the damage from this.

The new poll question: which routing should light rail take into Portsmouth - Downtown Tunnel or Midtown Tunnel?

Sea Level Rise Listening Sessions

2011-03-13T06:02:00.002-04:00

There will be Sea Level Rise Listening Sessions at the end of this month in Virginia Beach. They will be held:

March 30

1 - 4 P.M. - Virginia Aquarium

5:30 - 8:30 P.M. - Red Mill Elementary School

March 31

1 - 4 P.M. - Meyera Oberndorf Central Library

5:30 - 8:30 P.M. - Bayside Recreation Center

As has been discussed at meetings of the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC), Hampton Roads' infrastructure is second most vulnerable in the country to sea level rise. The only region worse than us is (gulp!) New Orleans. Cliff Hayes stated that if we don't get to work on this issue, future generations will condemn us for our inaction.

Involved in the sessions are the University of Virginia Institute for Environmental Negotiation, Old Dominion University, the HRPDC, Wetlands Watch, and the City of Virginia Beach.

WAVY - TV On Cedar Grove And Late Buses

2011-03-11T19:04:00.005-05:00

The video embedded below is a story run by WAVY-TV yesterday. While some of the statements in it are hyperbole, there's much truth in it.

First of all, don't send a reporter to do a story on Hampton Roads Transit (HRT) who doesn't know the difference between a Handi-Ride vehicle and a former Handi-Ride vehicle. Behind her was a former Handi-Ride vehicle now being used as an Operator's shuttle from the Ford plant. Actual Handi-Ride vehicles are painted with green and blue trim and have the Handi-Ride logo on them. (Moron!)

The one woman's comment that a late bus can cost you 3-4 hours is ridiculous. Actually, 29-59 minutes maximum.

However, I do love the emphasis on late buses. I've said before that late buses are the most frustrating thing about riding HRT. Part of the problem is that HRT's Dashboard measures late at 5 minutes, when a typical transfer center lineup is 3 minutes. That gives a better than actual picture of the problem. A bus 4 - 4 1/2 minutes late probably costs you a transfer, but the Dashboard counts it as on-time.

The Route 15 to Robert Hall is brought up. Yes, any HRT regular knows the 15 is chronically late at rush hour. However, the Comprehensive Operations Analysis (COA) proposed changes to the 15 to help...and not all the impacted cities signed off on them. (It's not HRT's fault.)

In the written story that accompanies the video on WAVY's website, Norfolk Vice Mayor Anthony Burfoot calls for the transfer center to be moved to Downtown Plaza, and to "include restrooms, a cafe, a newsstand and TV monitors." While Burfoot's heart is in the right place, that's overkill. Get us downtown, provide restrooms, and allow a variety of vendor carts and/or kiosks. It would be temporary until we get to the Harbor Park multimodal station.

One tip for them from an experienced rider (me): if it's important (such as work), go a bus early. You're covered in case of a missed transfer, bus breakdown, need to use the restroom, etc.

HRT riders frustrated with tardiness: wavy.com