I know that some think I’ve been kind of absent lately. I haven’t been causing much of a fuss lately because I’ve been working on something called “Manassas Next”. It started in late October of last year and I have spent a tremendous amount of time on it. If you want to know more about Manassas Next, check out the website here.
If you want to comment, please be gentle. The plan is a strategic plan so there aren’t many details yet. We’ll get there but it will take time and it won’t be easy. The Council is having a public meeting on this the 18th of March.
March 14, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Andy,
It is an interesting idea to kick around. I will agree our City does have a sense of community that simply is not found in most of Nova. But, I also believe that we have that sense of community in part because we are not a “corporate” town or simply one high rise after another.
What we need are good local businesses and restaurants that are family friendly. We need to get Lake Manassas open again, we need to keep taxes low and allow people to spend more money on goods which will benefit the business owner and the purchaser.
Y’all should look at the City of Dunedin, Florida to get some ideas. Dunedin is a pretty small town about the size of Manassas. About ten years ago the City revitalized the downtown area(I think they took it a bit too far, but nevertheless it did help the City).
In fact Dunedin and Manassas have many things in common, from the population size to the unique character that simply is not found in their respective surroundings.
March 14, 2008 at 8:47 pm
Keep taxes low and take care of the nitty griddy, yes. But at the core there must be a “vision thing” aka a center of the target. Let’s develop a consensus of what the center of the target looks like. To me, Manassas Next presents the beginning of such a vision. Andy, your Manassas Next website presents an excellent starting point for discussions about our city’s future.
March 16, 2008 at 9:25 am
Interesting project.
March 16, 2008 at 11:41 am
My grandchildren have gleefully shared with me that the popular
new animated Horton movie includes scenes of the Mayor and “funny faced” Council of Whoville. Hummm.
“Horton (Andy) Hears A Who?” As I understand, Horton is the hero
in the movie who attempts to head off doom for Whoville.
March 16, 2008 at 3:29 pm
Andy,
Very good way to focus on the future. This could be Manassas’ own “to the Moon and back” effort, although readily achievable with proper planning and execution. I would enjoy the opportunity to discuss the details with you.
March 17, 2008 at 11:22 am
FYI – Special meeting of the Manassas City Council – 2nd floor
conference room – Tuesday (3-18-2008) – 5:30 PM.
1. Action item – Consideration of resolution to support the proposed
merger of Prince William Health System (the hospital) with
Inova Health System. Council Member Way. (Estimated 10 minutes).
2. Work session on Manassas Next. Council Member Harrover
(Estimated two hours).
The public is invited.
March 21, 2008 at 2:49 am
Manassas Next is being offered as the site for making Manassas a better place http://manassasnext.com/ It is a slick little site with great words.
The key is how it will be implemented. If the owner of the site, City Councilor Andy Harrover, is sincere in his intent to make this “an initiative that takes a holistic approach to making our hometown a better place,” then he needs to make sure ALL of the community is included.
But if this is just a “white bread” approach to build up some political exposure for Mr. Harrover, rather than a true attempt to include all of Manassas’ diverse cultural, race, religious, age, neighborhood, economic, occupational, gender, sexual orientation, and political groups in a meaningful initiative, than I heartily oppose it.
Bottom line, when I see Andy Harrover soliciting the input of homeless people to make Manassas a better place, and advocating the positions of those who are less fortunate than most on the City Council level, then I will be his biggest supporter of Manassas Next
March 24, 2008 at 9:42 pm
I fully respect the opportunity for input that Andy is offfering here. Here is a blog that describes Manassas Next. There are links to the Manassas Next Website. There are links to presentations about Manassas Next that have been made to the city council. There is an invitation for folks to comment. I cannot think of any other proposal in recent Manassas history where a council member has offered more opportunities for input from everyone. And, as Manassas Next is discussed by the city council, all citizens of Manassas are invited to speak: Every citizen has a right to present his or her views for three minutes; more time is available if a request is made ahead of time. Also, written comments may always be submitted. Again, thanks to Andy for initiating an extremely transparent debate about Manassas Next, and thanks to the good citizens of Manassas for putting their views on this bog and before the city council.