The Virginia Municipal League convention is this week in Richmond. I attended the first two days but had to come back last night for a Museum Board meeting. The big awards
banquet was last night and Manassas was the recipient of the Presidents award for our Neighborhood Revitalization Project!
Selected bits of the press release: “The Virginia Municipal League (VML) has
notified the City of Manassas that the municipality will be awarded the VML
President’s Award 2011 for its Neighborhood Services revitalization projects, including 1 By Youth, Week of Hope and Neighborhood Improvement Circles.
The VML President’s Award is the most prestigious award given by the Virginia Municipal League, recognizing the best of all candidates nominated in VML’s annual achievement awards competition. The award recognizes innovative problem-solving, excellence in management, increasing citizen participation, and reaching toward higher service levels.”
“This is local government of the future: partners, mentors, facilitators.even cheerleaders to emerging community leaders,” said City Manager Lawrence D. Hughes. “Our Council has cut $3 million, five departments and the equivalent of 20 full-time positions to balance the budget. We need residents who are themselves engaged in revitalizing their own neighborhoods.”
October 5, 2011 at 6:20 pm
Not to be a Debbie downer, but it’s sort of bitter sweet to win the award, because it’s a admission that we have some pretty run down neighborhoods where outside people have to come in to fix up because the people who live in said neighborhoods are not willing to do it themselves.
October 5, 2011 at 10:20 pm
There are lots of ways to judge and value communities. One way is to see how well the members of a community can work together. We certainly did well on this one. I applaud and thank those who engaged in this effort.