A felon shouldn't run anti-crime group, Norfolk mayor says

The city of Norfolk is hiring, ask for Regina Williams.

oh, please, it wasnt him who paid his debt, it was a church! and it was only paid 30 years late. Oh yea, not to mention that he will have a great life, while his victims, one of which is dead, can not and have not been able to work since his actions permanantly disabled them, 30 years ago. makes sense to me to let him have a wonderful life. this only confirms that our government, even on a local level does alot of shady stuff. I am glad that we no longer live in this crime infested area.

White America proselytizes non-christians preacing how Christian America is. But, when it comes to Christlike behavior it is a different story.
A men redeems his life and aspires to help others is passed on the side of the road like the religious people in the Good Samaritan story.
The President creates a lie to murder over a million people,in Iraq, and he is praised and supported by the American people.
Mr Albert cannot be give a chance to help those who could relate to his life story.
Tells you a lot about Christians.

The decision has been made, leave the man alone, let him move on and do the job he was hired for. Until he was appointed, I had not heard of another individual stepping up to the plate addressing the issue to stop recidivism in Norfolk. Maybe most of you would rather pay $98,000 to house, feed and clothe a convicted felon than pay one who has turned his life around and is attempting to stop the cycle of being a repeat offender. I would prefer my taxes to be used in better educating our children, putting an end to poverty and crime in our communities and housing for the homeless. Or should we just build more condos? Somebody is making more than $25k a year in Norfolk, most of the condos start at $300k and where do homeless families now live?

Isn't it interesting how Mayor Fraim was only swayed by public outcry to end this madness? Paul, I think you have done so much for Norfolk while in office and you are truly a good person. However, decension amongst your managers is the first step to a coup. I think it's time to listen to the public outcry of booting Mr. Riddick and stop allowing his mouth to demean and undermine your position. To publicly incite an economic boycott within the city he supposedly serves is downright unethical, non-productive, and a threat to the city fiscal responsibilty. I believe, as my fellow Norfolkians do, that Mr. Riddick does not have the city's interest at heart as much as he does solely the black community. This is a betrayal to the council's mission

Moved to another position? Come on now...he's still got to kick back some of that salary to his Godfather Don Riddickulous! I've never seen a city so paralyzed with "racially political" undertones. Your all to blame for this-the mayor on down and the people for not marching on city hall!

When, oh when, will the citizens of Norfolk get fed up and boot all our councilmen out in the next elections. They are spineless, self-serving men and women who fancy themselves as big city high-rollers with OUR money! Aren't they the ones who hire and fire the city manager? Why are they so afraid of Regina Williams? It is as if she is holding something really big over their heads! This entire city hall bunch is such an embarassment I hide the Virginian-Pilot when I have out-of-town visitors! I say we should vote them all out and keep doing it until we have a city council who listens to the people. Good men and women don't want to sit with them on council.

The Mayor a racist? Was'nt he behind the hiring of the city manager and police chief, whom both happens to be black?

Riddick is not the vice mayor and hasn't been since Jan 23, 2007, since his last stunt.

I hope Riddick never leaves the city limits. Keep him Norfolk. You voted these losers into office Norfolk-iens. Deal with it!

How long is this going to be debated before a final decision is made? For crying out loud enough is enough.

I can't believe that someone actually wrote "the mayor is finally showing some backbone". It seems to me that it's the opposite. He supported Mr. Albert a few days ago, but now that people are whining and crying (boohoo, I have 26 years experience and 2 degrees why can't I have the job) he pulls his support. I think that the Mayor is spineless.

to the Businesses that Mr. Riddick serves as a compensated boardmemeber. Yes that's right our elected officials are given the courtesy of having a compensated seat on many South Hampton Roads Corporations& Banks. So get the list from the city managers office because it is a matter of public record to avoid conflicts of interest, write to these fine establishments and voice your discontent that they support a blatant racist and if they continue to host him on their board well, we, our family, our friends can't do business with them because of our principals against such devisive public behavior.Also for the record, Second Chances is city operated and funded program (412k)that helps released misdemeaner offenders only, Felons are not allowed

It's wonderful that Mr. Albert has turned his life around. For those that keep saying we all have something in our past and not to throw stones I am curious how many coming to his defense have have killed anyone in their lifetime and then offered a job with the city. Would these same people hire a convicted child molester to babysit their children? Maybe this job should be a volunteer position.

How long has this story been in the news and nothing yet has been done? I say move on Pilot to something new. It's obvious that no one is going to stand up to Williams and Riddick and say it the way it needs to be said. So stick your tail between your legs, bow down to hate monger Paul Riddick and admit defeat to what's right and wrong. How can a patrolman look me in the face and expect me to sign a summons for 37/25 when he works for a municipality who hires a former killer and drug dealer. If they are going to forgive him my minor speeding and seat belt infraction most certainly deserves another chance!!

Regina Williams-Cannot Understand Normal Thinking. She should give plenty other fired city workers their job back. If you ask any of them, they all made amends for their actions. If you are going to allow a multiple,repeat felon get a 100k a year job, then former city workers their jobs back. Mr Fraim, get a backbone and stand up for your beliefs. Only Riddick will consider you a racist. And considering the source, no one will listen. When a racist issue comes up in Norfolk, who will listen? Riddick cries wolf too many times. Alphonso Albert should step down and move on.He has no higher education for the position,unless you consider state prison as higher education Regina Williams, forgive her, she had a blond moment when she hired him.

Thank you, Evelyn, for recognizing Regina Williams' gross lack of intelligence in hand-picking Albert for this job! She is fully at fault for this entire fiasco. How on earth does she manage to hold onto her job, let alone manage the city? I'm sure council is afraid to let her go because she'd be suing for race discrimination in a heartbeat. Forget the fact that she is clearly incompetent. The same thing goes on within the school system - incompetent teachers are shuffled around and eventually end up with a great position downtown they are highly UNqualified for because no one wants to fire a black. People are in supervisory positions with zero experience teaching in the area they are now magically in charge of. It's a joke.

Hey Virginian Pilot... I think you should delve into the history of the city council and its various management. There is much to do about nothing on this case. A felon should not, can not and will not be an appropriate hire for a L.E. job. It makes me suspicious of the rest of their backgrounds. I think the best thing we could do for this situation is call back are old friend Bill O'reilly. If anything hes persistent and will call them on their nonsense!

Mr. Riddick is our vice mayor which makes him a leader in our city council. So lets look at the facts about his leadership. He does not maintain his buisness or home up to city codes that he help enact, he does not pay his taxes on time which he helps establish the tax rate for the city. He loves to play the race card but offers no alternatives or solutions to correct or stem racism in our city he just fosters it. We have young black males killing each other at record rates yet does Mr. Riddick do anything to help stop this no because he is burying these kids and making a living doing it. So if blacks in Norfolk want things to stay the same keep voting for Mr. Riddick and nothing will change, but I believe we all want better!

If you look on the city's website, the application for police states the following: disqualifications for this position include any felony conviction or conviction of an offense involving moral turpitude. For drugs, any substantiated illegal act, including sale, manufacture or distribution. Also note: other disqualifiers may apply. If police are held to this standard of conduct, shouldn't someone who will be involved in their daily activities be held to the same? Clearly Mr. Albert would not qualify. So for Mr. Riddick-ulous to say that it is a racial matter in disqualifying Mr. Albert for this job is preposterous. The mayor and city manager also need to get a clue. City jobs must be posted for any one to apply. What happened here?

Since Mr. Albert was considered to head this public safety related position, but Mayor Fraim now states that a felon shouldn't run anti-crime group, it begs the question in what capacity the city might employ him. Unless I am mistaken, according to the city's Human Resources policy a convicted felon is not eligible to be hired for any position related to public safety. One would hope that in her recommendation to hire Mr. Albert, City Manager Regina V.K. Williams had a temporary lapse of memory and was not intentionally circumventing Norfolk's hiring policies.

And letting us poorer people in your fair city know that you really have to know someone to get a job with this city. I am well qualified and have worked with criminals for 26 years. I have 2 degrees and I don't even get a chance to apply, nor can I get a job with your city. I wonder why the city manager has the "right" and the "arrogance" to offer this position to someone not qualified and also withholds information about the criminal background from the rest of council? Wonder what is really going on?

If you truly wanted to stop the crime...Y wouldn't you let a person who has been down that road..who probably has more street knowledge then the mayor, the judges and the other paper pushers? If you don't believe in your own rehabilitation system...then what the hell do we have it for ...Oh thats right! I know why...And if someone was better qualified where they at...cuz they should have been taken the job...the powers that be make too much money off of crime..they aren't trying to stop it for real..just like they war on drugs..Totally full of melarchy

The people shouting racism are insane... sometimes a candidate is badly qualified regardless of race. Come one people wake-up. It is insulting to think that this guy (a convicted felon) is the best candidate for the position.
At least the mayor is finally showing a backbone. Even better if he would fire this incompetent City Manager AND if the council would get rid of the the Riddick types who do nothing but sow ignorance and hatred wherever they go.

Regina Williams needs to go. She makes decisions without any thought , lacks common sense in many of her dealings and could care less about the residents of Norfolk. She does what she wants and hopes that she will not get caught in the turmoil she now finds herself in. She refuses to fire Albert when asked by the mayor.....hhhmmm, wasn't she appointed by City Council? I do believe the answer to that would be yes. Regina was missing in action for 4 months for her husband's illness. She didn't take an unpaid leave, she didn't step down, she just left the city and stilled was paid. This would not have been tolerated for any other employee of the city. I think the consensus from many within the city is that she now needs to be replaced

Oops thats right it was Mr. Riddick's comment, not getting your way Mr. Riddick. I think Mayor Fraim is looking that there would be an uneasiness feeling that the public and law enforcement officers would have, that would make where Mr. Albert could not succeed in this position due to his past. Mr. Albert has done a great job of turning his life around and should have the opportunity of getting a city job that would suit him and go through the proper channels. I thought that there were procedures to apply for a city position and Mrs. Williams seems to have by passed that. I am happy that Mayor Fraim listens to the people and the enforcement officers on certain issues. I would like to Thank Virginian Pilot for keeping us informed.

Maybe, just maybe there are taxpayers in Norfolk who don't believe in Jesus, or God for that matter. Besides "Jesus" isn't paying Alphonso Albert's salary, Norfolk taxpayers are! The question is is Aplhonso Albert
the best possible person for this job? The answer? No.

People who blindly throw the race card should be kicked off the Norfolk City Council! It serves no purpose other than trying to further divide the community and spark controversy.
The fact that the man is a convicted felon (for the pretty serious crimes of manslaughter and drug dealing) is what is driving public reaction and not the fact that the felon happens to be an African American. The guy could be purple - who cares! He is not right for the job regardless of race!
I believe people can change and I am impressed with his turn-around but to place a man with his history into this position would be a mockery of the law enforcement efforts.
Councilman Riddick - please stop fanning the flames!

Let us all look beyond the fact that Mr. Albert is a convicted felon, and was in debt to the city for almost $10,000. It has clearly been stated that he has no college education and I assume no "official" training in crime prevention, neighborhood revitalization, or management practices. This job was never announced to the public. No one knew it existed except our City Manager and Council. I am sure there is a much better qualified applicant out there somewhere that does not have the tainted past that Mr. Albert does. Mr. Albert seems like a perfect canidate to continue counseling and helping turn lives around, but not a director of a group trying to stop crime in our neighborhoods.

If everyone who has made a mistake in life should be fired then who would be left.. "let the one without sin cast the first stone" ,, Maybe people should look into the past of the ones who were just voted in to run this state.....