A DOLLAR HERE A DOLLAR THERE

Got a nice letter today from Scott Mills, head of planning, informing me I must spend about $350 to have my double septic tank give up its contents by calling one of eight certified experts. No threats at this time for failure to do so. My only complaint is that the mailing required the usual envelope plus five sheets of paper. Using just 37,000 households in Suffolk that misadventure required 185,000 sheets of paper, planning at its worst. The last timeI looked paper had two sides...a front and a back...the five sheets could easily have been reduced to a pair. One sheet had only my address on it. Is this worth a post on InsideSuffolk? Lord I hope so; City Hall is supposed to be reducing costs so that we might reduce taxes and every little bit helps. Right Scott?

CLOSE COUNTS

Don’ yu agre tha nin hundre is clos enoug to thre thousan? The TFC Recycling business lowered it’s sights to 900 to accommodate lack of interest and shortage of money in order to get a new business on line salvaging valuable materials formally gifts to SPSA. That was a long sentence, perhaps longer than the list of clients who can write four checks a year for 36 bucks to feel good about not tossing the baby out with the garbage. Of course they pray the list will lengthen and the amount collected will cover costs and provide at least a small profit. A lot depends upon what TFC can get for the materials collected and the cooperation of the customers who are responsible for materials selected. It is a good idea even if it fails and there is money in it somewhere.

LOOKING FOR THE REGISTRAR

Voter Registrar

440 Market Street (1st Floor)

Suffolk, VA 23434 map

(757) 514-4300

info@city.suffolk.va.

Important election in November

COUNCIL USURPS SCHOOL BOARD

Five of our eight city elected leaders decided to take school decisions out of the slow to act School Board by deciding the City Manager should decide where the new school or schools should be located. Bennett, Barclay, and Barlow, the three “Bs” thought otherwise and were reminded by Skeeter, in so many words, it was none of the city’s business. Gardy, tired of School Board dithering stuck Council’s neck out but Skeeter countered with quotes from the State Constitution indicating the School board held all the marbles. Skeeter said she could not give away the authority of the School Board. Any teacher might have said, “Now children, let’s get along.”

Are you happy with the district's graduation rate?

The Suffolk News Herald posted an online article this evening entitled, Falling short.  The report shares that two of our three high schools will likely fall short of meeting a higher graduation rate standard this year.  Additionally, Tracy Agnew reports that only 69 percent of our students graduate on time.  That’s 1/3 (one-third) of our students!

Graduation rates are one of the most important indicators of a school’s success – and more importantly, one of the key indicators for student success as they move into adulthood.

Four of our school board members are up for election this year.  These four were elected in 2006 and supervised the district during the entire time this year’s graduates were in high school.

Are you happy with our graduation rate?  If not, there are citizens who are ready to step up to the plate.  

AGREE OR DISAGREE

Our President continues campaigning, golfing, undermining border security, bankrupting the country. I ask what would happen if BP goes into bankruptcy. While the White House assured BP that it wasn’t seeking to drive the company out of business, I seem to recall the same promises made to Chrysler and General Motors, and after a manipulation and perversion of the bankruptcy process, we now own two car companies. Obama is a petulant and immature child who is totally incapable of dealing with others, he's violent, combative, insolent, smug, rude, insensitive, small minded, petty, and extremely delusional. He was never qualified nor fit to serve in the senate nor the white house. His lies are becoming too common, his deceptions are too transparent and those few who still worship him are not enough to keep him in the undeserved place he has dishonored with each statement and act. His phony and weak facade is cracking. Will enough voters realize this in November?

AUTHOR KNOWN

LUNCH WITH MR. SUFFOLK

I had lunch with Andy Damiani at Ed’s new place that is named for reasons unknown the Purple Turnip. Andy had been telling me the Ed's menu is unique and portions too big. It was a challenge but Andy was correct, I could not clean that plate. I was with Andy to see the two new buildings he’d just purchased. When you think about Andy’s success you realize just how much faith he has in the Downtown. He owns a good part of the brick and mortar there it and at nearly 88 he is still making plans and itching to create two new businesses. Remember, he started with a small washette a few years after spending time overseas in World War II. Andy picked up Ed’s tab in exchange for me teaching him what little I know about his new computer. He had purchased it in March of this year but hesitated to turn it on for fear he would blow it up. It didn’t take long to locate his Email and to my disbelief there were 874 messages waiting for an answer. Answer, no way, he couldn’t find them. It seems to me that Andy is and has been involved in every aspect of and every organization in Suffolk and has been since the early fifties. He is correct when he says that he and his friend Ralph Nahra do the city a favor by restoring buildings that when empty don’t generate tax revenues and end up costing the city. Former Mayor Damiani is still sold on Downtown and believes it worth saving. One day Andy will receive the honors he deserves as Mr. Suffolk.

DEPENDS ON HOW YOU SEE IT

The amount of oil pumped up into the gulf so far is about 125,000,000 gallons. But that well still contains enough oil under pressure for 2.100,000,000 gallons. And the oil spread in our waters, killing all sorts of animals, fouling beaches, ruining marshes, and costing millions to clean up would only bring the New Orleans Superdome to one seventh full. I'm asking myself how one well can cause so much damage to a country. Then I remembered damage to country by Obama...and we have the same problem there...how do we shut him off? Congress is as defective as the BP oil well shutoff switch a mile under the sea.

WIND CREATES JOBS

FROM HAMPTON ROADS PARTNERSHIP AND OFFSHORE WINDS

The development of a turbine manufacturing industry along Virginia’s coast is key to creating jobs and reducing the costs of offshore wind energy, according to the most detailed analysis yet of the state’s offshore wind prospects. The report by the Virginia Coastal Energy Research Consortium concludes that the development of an offshore supply industry in Hampton Roads would generate thousands of jobs and reduce the estimated kilowatt-hour cost of energy generated by wind turbines off the coast. “The greatest upside opportunity for reducing the cost of offshore wind energy in Virginia is to attract major elements of a Mid-Atlantic offshore wind supply chain to the state,” the report, Virginia Offshore Wind Studies, states.
Using existing coastal facilities, the manufacture of huge components needed to capture winds off the Virginia coast would create thousands of jobs, the study found.
“The shipbuilding and port facilities in Hampton Roads are well positioned to manufacture, stage and install foundations, towers and turbines anywhere on the Mid-Atlantic continental shelf,” wrote George Hagerman, who led the research.

“Attracting investment in offshore wind turbine manufacturing to our region would create thousands of new, career-length jobs and reduce offshore wind energy costs by 1.5 cents per kilowatt hour,” said Hagerman, who is with Virginia Tech’s Advanced Research Institute.

KEEN OLD BUILDING FOR SALE

Discovered today.

"The purpose of this Request for Proposal (RFP) is to solicit sealed proposals to establish a contract through competitive negotiations for Architectural and Engineering Services to prepare a master plan for a new Municipal Center. The facility will be developed on City owned property. Selected firm must demonstrate experience and knowledge in the planning and design of a Municipal Center facility or similar facilities."

To be built on City property but where? For Inside Suffolk to have been totally correct it must be built in North Suffolk. But that would be too much of a kick in the seat of Downtown merchants, the final blow. We'd rather be wrong and have it somewhere in Washington Square. Place your bets on where they will find the money.

See the RFP at www.suffolk.va.us

BETTER START BUDGETING FOR THIS

In January expect to cough up an extra $150 to $200 per month because of a new tax
‘Community Living Assistance Services and Support Act.’ But if you are already on Medicare you don’t pay. This tax was added to the Reconciliation Bill 3/19/2010 and Congress passed it two days later...surprise. The money will be used to help pay for long term care of the elderly. ALL of us will be taxed on this one, rich or poor. Everyone except those who don't have a job is included. Again, if you have a job and get a paycheck, the government will take this tax from you. The CLASS ACT is apparently a pet project of the late Sen. Ted Kennedy who was never able to get support for it because it was just too costly. Check it out on the net with;

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/Apr/01/robbing-peter-to-pay-pauls-
health-care/

At this point we are not aware of any extenuating circumstances that would relieve you of this tax. Beneficiaries of this law will include anyone age 65 and older that has paid into the Class Act program for at least five years and is receiving home health care. Under those conditions you might get some of your money back. Give Nancy a call if $200 a month will hurt.

FOUR TITLE FIGHTS IN COUNCIL ELECTION

Council races filling up fast as courageous challengers may be signalling a bit of dissatisfaction with City taxes, assessments, the status quo. We will just use names here, nothing else. We leave it to the candidates to tell you why they are running.
Duman versus Caroline Martin for Joe Barlow's vacated seat. One term Incumbent Gardy challenged by J. B. Varney hoping to continue the "one term theme." Alvin Copeland takes on incumbent Charles Paar and Bill Newsome dares to put the gloves on with the perennial Charles Brown. It is great to see citizen interest in selecting eight people to determine the success or failure of the few thousands of us that still believe ones vote is important. Changing the local election to November may make a difference in the tallies.

Far more important is the brain quality offered by both incumbents and challenges so there is a reason to vote one way or another. People living in a particular borough should give that more thought than their relationship with the candidate. Sadly that is seldom the case and we plow on with trial and error. Each candidate should be forced to tell us exactly why they are available, what they would attempt to change and why. That won't happen.

Any candidate for Council or School Board is welcome to place their reason for running here in Insidesuffolk. We will provide a space for it later n the year, closer to the election.

AFTER ALL THESE YEARS OF GOOD FAITH

Strange how Mark Outlaw, heir to the new Taj Mahal on Kings Fork, suddenly decides the Nansemond Suffolk Volunteer Rescue Squad doesn’t need the $50,000 they asked for during the budget meetings. Does that mean Chief George William talks through his hat or just likes to lie and/or stretch things past the limit. Biased, yes I am, only because my grandson moved to Norfolk after being part of the Suffolk Squad for years still drives out here to do his volunteer duty. These volunteers have been offering free labor and time for 50 years receiving nothing but praise for what they do. All Cuffee Glen could offer was that the city will not be bullied or threatened, a very cavalier attitude toward a group of generous citizens with open hearts. But if Chief Outlaw will pick up the tab for supplies, training, and equipment it boils down to the city wanting control and trusting no one. Well I guess that’s what government does…Obama and Cuffee Glen merely share a prerogative. Perhaps the decision could have been handled differently and a better information exchange.

YOUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM IS UP FOR GRABS

A little more heat being generated in the School Board tent, Dr. Debra Wahlstrom hoping to defeat Debranski who should be measured against her credentials, and Bill Whitley who is stepping down after 51 years of positions in Suffolk Schools. This leaves a slot for one of three, Linda Bouchard, and Dorothy Gamble, who teaches in Chesapeake, and perhaps Mary Hill who needs no introduction. Planning Commissioner William Goodman has thrown down the glove and hopes to oust incumbent Lorraine Skeeter from the Cypress seat. This leaves Holy Neck where retired principal Bill Owen squares off against incumbent Enoch Copeland. All this could be interesting and we ask why three incumbents face challenges. We would also like to hear what all have to offer to bring about needed changes in the system that needs help. This School Board election provides a golden opportunity to make big changes, especially in view of the fact Dr. Liverman steps aside. The hope is that the voters are wise enough to do the right thing. Removing incumbents might be a good start if the replacements are up to the task and not just looking for extra income or prestige. Suffolk's future depends on the education of its children.

COUNCIL'S COLLECTIVE SPINE STIFFENS

If someone were to suggest I come up with $19,000,000 annually my backbone would turn to steel. Imagine having to pay that amount just to dump our city’s trash in a pile that stinks to high heaven within the borders of Suffolk. SPSA has gall, tons of it by the suggestion our contract with them be abrogated. Dumping fees are too high as evidenced by SPSA lowering it $20 a ton for other cities…perhaps they just want us to make up for their sudden generosity. But supposing they could charge us that amount, the contract ends in a few years; 19 million is a scary budget item of magnitude.

On the other hand has our Council spine, or someone’s spine turned to mush, in regard to the original required amount of signed and paid citizens required for recycling? The day of the announcement there was a minimum that must be signed and paid for or it was a no go. We knew that wouldn’t hold and it will be far less. But aren’t you at least a little curious? The SNH stated yesterday recycling will fly even though they still don’t know how many will write a check for $144 when they can opt to toss the stuff for free.