Portsmouth mayor's remarks show his colors

You must live on a different planet than I do. Equal opportunity, welfare, food stamps, hiring preferences for government contracts or jobs, a PUBLIC apology from President Clinton. What more do you want? How many of these things were available to whites when "whitey" ran the country? The fact is America has apologized for decades, but people like you in America don't want apologies, you just want to receive the benefits of the double standard, and talk about "fair." The idea of Portsmouth taxpayers supporting private business is outrageous whether it's 12 or 50 million, or 50 thousand dollars. Holley should not resign over a controversial comment. He should resign because he, like the rest of the council, are incompetent, and they have failed the citizens of Portsmouth. But, people like twomiler will keep the man there, because to them, an incompetent black man is better than ANY white man. And then they'd have the audacity to preach to me about fairness and what is due blacks.

Those wanting Mayor Holley recalled, are asking for things that will not cause change for most citizens of Portsmouth. An old man, who has dealt with real racism, apologizes for a bigoted statement & or is recalled, to what gain? Will there be in Portsmouth, better access to funding for projects built by Black owned companies? Will all, whether Black or White, be satisfied with what goes on in Portsmouth, as a whole? The mere fact that people are demanding a resignation/recall & or apology, is change from the old Jim Crow days in Portsmouth. We paid taxes, & unlike you today, really had no say, in anything, period. Dr. Holley's comment was out of place, only due to changing of the guard. He recalls, as I do, comments far worse, being made with impunity, & also protected by law, by his opposites in race.
Portsmouth's heart has to change. Apologies have been due us for far longer.

Thanks for the information. Please keep this up in all blogs that may be following. I will be signing tomorrow. Do you know what is the "magic" number of signatures that are required. I am sure that based on the election it isnt many and I am also sure the number gathered will be many times over what is required. I personally have talked with 25-30 people that will sign. I am emailing Ted in the next 5 minutes. Again, Thanks for the update.

A petition is going out all over the city at this time. Ted Lamb is heading it up. If you are interested in signing a petition you can e-mail him at tedlamb@hotmail.com.

We should be careful, not to come close to implying, that large groups of people, which whom we may disagree, are idiots. Unless the inference is intentional, then that is quite another matter. Also, we need to tread lightly in wording coming close to implying that a person accepted, on merit, & graduated, with honors, from one of the finest universities in our nation, is an idiot.

"I do know why...a number of Black people feel it's better to have an incompetent idiot in office - who happens to be Black - than to not have a Black person in office at all."

I'm a Democrat, but I'm afraid the same thing is going to happen in the presidental election. I'm not an Obama fan, and race has nothing to do with it, and I don't like McCain either.

If more people thought like you Portsmouth wouldn't be in the shape that it's in now. Thank you for telling it like it is.

Holley was recalled in 1997. It's my understanding he was re-elected in May 2008. He cannot be recalled until a year after his election and with proper petitions. If I'm incorrect please feel free to tell me and others how this process works.

aside from the fact that Mayor Holley is a buffoon, is that there are so many people who support him anyway just because he is a black man. If he were a white bigot, black people would be rightly outraged by such comments, and white citizens would be calling for his scalp. But he can get away with it because he isn't white. Why are Portsmouth's black taxpayers not demanding better? Nope, no double standard here. But these same people will wonder why so many whites are still distrustful. The sad thing is that if you are white, and have the audacity to speak, you are labeled a racist. Well then, I guess I am a racist, because this man is shameful. By the way folks: go to the Renaissance and see the number of black people who stay there and then tell me it's a "white" hotel. It's time for us to point at a problem, say "that is the problem" and then have some honest discussion about a solution.

Those calling for the Pilot to put this *editorial* on the front page and keep the topic hot . . . we're supposed to *make* the news, folks, and the paper is supposed to *report* the news.

If you P'town folks want your mayor to resign, use the power of a petition, a demonstration, or something. We can't get to the point where we think newspaper reporters are supposed to do all of our political lobbying for us!!! Really! Cheers, MGM

The shame of this whole Mayor Holley fiasco is that this newspaper stood behind him just prior to his re-election in May with their glowing front page article with the title "Mayor for Life", or something along those lines. One has to wonder, with the election having been so close, would the outcome have been different had the Pilot not bent over backward to paint our disgraceful mayor in such a wonderful light. Martha Anne Creecy gave Portsmouth a choice (for once) and had the Pilot been fair to her, we here in Portsmouth could have had a Mayor to be proud of not one we are ashamed of.

I'm Black, in my 40's. That said, I think Holley should have been put out to pasture a long time ago. I don't understand why he is continually reelected to office. Oh, I'm sorry, I do know why...a number of Black people feel it's better to have an incompetent idiot in office - who happens to be Black - than to not have a Black person in office at all. This man belongs in a rocker on his front porch with a note pinned to his lapel!

This should not only be front page news it should be the leading story on every TV station in the area. But of course it won't be, it's PC to be a "reverse" racist. Holley is a disgrace, I didn't vote for him, never have but I'd certainly sign a petition to get him removed....

After yesterday's number of comments regarding this issue (easily the most commented on in months), I expected to see a followup story this morning. The editorial is fine, but someone needs to investigate this further and have Holley make an official statement as to his remarks.

He is the highest elected municipal official in the City of Portsmouth, and he has a DUTY to answer to his citizens.

That the Mayor has not apologized to the City of Portsmouth and has "no comment" for the news! The Mayor represents and reflects the entire City of Portsmouth. Apparently, no remorse on his part.

The Pilot recently quoted Mayor Holley stating the following of the Renaissance Hotel.

“The city needs a hotel that targets blacks, he said. “It’s got my black picture in the lobby, but it’s a white hotel,” Holley said of the Renaissance.

What a great figure-head for the City of Portsmouth. If a white Councilperson were to say such a thing it would be headline news both in this paper and all 3 local networks.

Is this a surprise to anyone? Portsmouth is only living up to it's reputation!!

Political correctness and the accusations of profiling by some in our community have made it impossible to be proactive in preventing crime. We are told by the Police you can only protect yourself forcefully if someone is in your home and even then they must have a weapon in hand. This means the best you can do is use harsh language but be careful what words you use or YOU could be prosecuted for a hate crime...rememb

Tuesday night the Honorable (?) Mayor Holley came off sounding like an addled-brained nincompoop as he spouted his rambling diatribe in support of the Queen Louise project. I've never felt like his incoherent speeches did much harm before this, but because of this instances, we can no longer tolerate his inane discourses. I thought we were working towards all races interacting harmoniously, not looking to build venues to further separate them. I respect the three members of council who refused to give in to the rantings of an old man, and voted to deny the issuance of the bonds to help fund this project. To turn this into a race issue was very irresponsible of the mayor. He should be very ashamed of himself, and he owes every citizen of Portsmouth (white and black) an apology, which should be part of the speech he gives as he relinquishes his position as mayor.

Good job on the article. You have my vote.

If Holley were white and made those staements, it would have made national news and he'd be packing up his desk.
With that said, how do we get him removed. A leader should not divide the people.
Racism shouldn't be tolerated in any form when holding public office.
Poor choice in words Mayor Holley, sorry you didn't get a bonus from Lucas for pushing this thing through.

It's not on the front page of the website for the same reason that isn't not on the front page of the paper: it's an editorial. As an opinion, it's not news, but merely an interpretation of it. I certainly agree with the message and tenor of this article, but come on guys, for papers to be objective, the spin belongs in the back.

Finally, an honest, forthright article about the idiocy and over-the-top statements espoused by our mayor; but, as jfr properly cites, why isn't this on the front page where it belongs? Us Portsmouth citizens are irate and deserve better from our leadership and the media!

Seems to me that this article is kind of hidden in the paper (on line)...needs to be where all can see.