I spent last weekend in Richmond visiting with family. The renovation of the Capitol building is complete and the building looks great. In stark contrast, the sidewalks, streets and many of the surrounding buildings look like the Civil War just ended. As our State Capitol, the place could use some serious work.
While I was in the hotel room recovering from too much prime rib at the Tobacco company, I caught Doug Wilder delivering what seemed to be a “State of the City” address on the government cable channel. Mr. Wilder spoke quite a bit about Economic Development and the pressing need for Richmond to focus on ED and quality schools. I find this interesting as this is exactly what our City is talking about. In the days and weeks ahead, I believe there will be an expanding discussion on the subject.
All of that got me thinking about “change” and what it takes to make “change” happen. On the local level, if you and ten of your closest friends are prepared to sit through a couple of meetings at City Hall and speak up when the time comes, you can pretty much guarantee that some sort of change will take place. In our lovely little town, things will not change much this year unless the citizens get involved. The tax rate will need to increase about 16 cents just to get back to a flat budget. If we’re to do anything past that, the Council will need to hear from the citizens. The budget process is still young: If you think things need to change, you need to let the Council know. We have a hearing on this on Monday night – 7:30.
March 10, 2008 at 12:04 pm
Notes-
– Let’s start with the obvious. Everyone dislikes taxes.
– Times are tough – we should “tighten up”, “cut the fat”,
“eliminate waste”, “get ship shape”, “put on our thinking caps”,
and “get some rubber bands around our pigeons”.
– “Don’t tax me, don’t tax thee, tax the man behind the tree”-
Senator Colgan.
– See you all at the public hearing – 7:30 – City Hall – tonight.
March 10, 2008 at 2:00 pm
I don’t know about all that but the more I read my post the more I hate it. Whatever message I was trying to get across seems to be lost…:)
March 10, 2008 at 8:03 pm
No, you did fine, Andy. Your message was: Show up and let’s make sure we get the economic development and the schools that we want.
Broadly restated, in the words of fatherly advice I once received, “Take good care to get what you like, or you will be forced to like what you get.”
March 11, 2008 at 4:44 pm
Andy- Take a few moments and go by the site of the new parking
garage in Old Town. Some of the exterior wall is up on the
Railroad Station side. Looks good.
As an example, this project took years of planning, compromise,
bargaining, changes, and hard work to get out of the ground.
In my experience Metz, the new OHS, Mayfield, the Harris Pavillion,
the Candy Factory, the Airport Terminal, the Boy’s and Girl’s Club,
the Georgetown Community Center, etc. all had their moments of angst.
And those are just the building projects. Facing down major DC
drug kingpins in GTS and working to get what is now Micron here
had their special challenges. And this only a part of the list.
Agree with Rich M. – you are doing fine. Don’t let the “process”
wear you down. Manassas needs new ideas and people to make
them happen.