Deirdre Fernandes
The Virginian-Pilot
©
VIRGINIA BEACH
A resident's effort to put the question of light rail out to referendum in 2010 has some City Council members scrambling to keep it off the ballot - at least for now.
Wally Erb, a 64-year-old defense contractor and blogger, has filed paperwork in Circuit Court to start the referendum process, which requires gathering thousands of signatures.
"I want to promote a dialogue in Virginia Beach to make sure the desires of residents are really known," said Erb, who ran unsuccessfully for City Council in 2000 and Circuit Court clerk in 2003. "There's not enough discussion to find out what folks really want."
The city is completing a $40 million deal to buy a 10.6-mile right of way that could be used for a light-rail project to connect to Norfolk's line, which is under construction.
Ten years ago, Beach residents defeated light rail in a nonbinding referendum that killed the project when council members declined to pursue it.
This time around, most council members say they support light rail, but the question of whether there will be a referendum remains murky. Some council members say there should be one, others say there shouldn't, and several are undecided.
Councilman Glenn Davis, who opposes a referendum, is preparing a resolution that would oppose a ballot question on light rail before the light-rail feasibility study that's now under way is finished.
"There are groups that are going to want to use it as support for, or opposition to, light rail going forward," Davis said. "I don't want to provide the ability for either side to take advantage of citizen opinion for political gamesmanship."
The light-rail study is expected to be done in late 2010 or early 2011.
Mayor Will Sessoms, who campaigned on holding a referendum but later said that was a mistake, agreed that the city should wait until the study is done before deciding on a referendum.
Erb writes a blog for the Virginia News Source, a Web site run by some members of the Virginia Beach Taxpayer Alliance, an anti-tax group. Erb, VBTA's former director of "media operations," said he was against light rail in 1999 but has "mixed emotions" this time.
The exact number of signatures needed to get light rail on the ballot is unclear. The number must exceed 25 percent of the number of voters who cast ballots in the previous election, according to city code. That number would be decided by turnout at next month's election.
Last year, 201,940 Beach residents voted in the November election, according to the voter registrar's office. Twenty-five percent of that is 50,485 voters. Erb noted that turnout last year was high because of the presidential election and said he expects to need about 20,000 signatures. He's starting a petition drive Saturday.
Some council members stressed that any referendum would be advisory.
In the 2000 referendum, residents voted for a park at the site of the 31st Street Hilton, but the City Council decided to build a hotel instead.
Councilwoman Barbara Henley, a light-rail supporter, said, "I don't want to get into a situation like 31st Street."
Aaron Applegate, (757) 222-5122, aaron.applegate@pilotonline.com
Deirdre Fernandes, (757) 222-5121, deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com
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Difference between public opinion and the public interest
My concept of the public interest, which is what I believe every elected offical should serve, is that they should strive to see clearly, think rationally, and act dispassionately. In they do so, they have the best chance of getting it right. I frankly believe that being a shill and following public opinion on any given day is a formula for disaster; for them and for us. Now I know that some say they simply follow public opinion, but public opinion can shift drastically hour to hour much less day to day. It is an unworthy indicator of what an elected official should do. Far better to have public opinion subjected to the rigors of education, discussion, negotiation, debate and essential wisdom as a guide than unfettered and uninformed public opinion. Frankly, I think that is true for individuals as well, yet in today's world of instant access and polls, I fear for our republic.
So you are assuming that the
So you are assuming that the posters on this blog who disagree with your concept of what is in the public interest are uninformed? I see. Well, I stay very much involved and as much as possible on issues that affect my checkbook. I don't have as much money to freely spend in taxes and fees as a CEO of a commercial developement company and I certainly don't have the influence of city council to shell out taxpayer money for a new roof for my house. You seem to make an assumption that since some on this blog disagree with the high and mighty decisions of the HR entites and city council, then we should just sit down and shut up. Well I refuse, and I will continue to rebutt comments that I feel are horse squeeze and I am sure you will do the same.
"The people of the City of
"The people of the City of Va. beach elected you to serve OUR desires, not yours."
No one is elected to do as you wish, but hopefully to work in your best interest. Just because you are able to vote in no way means you are able to dictate the best path for society.
My pleasure!
You're welcome Mike. Glad to be of help. And after watching tonights debate, it's looking better all the time. And no I didn't forget about HB6028 which was signed into law in 2008. Bob Tata is not my delegate. I NEVER said that I am totally on-board with every republican position in the HOD or in the legislature in general. I tend to be more in agreement with the republicans and very rarely agree with the democrats on anything. Again Mike, 'the public interest' is a very broad term and one size doesn't fit all. As for partisanship, you don't seem to have any trouble with it, when YOU are in disagreement of something. You have blamed the Virginia republican HOD for everything except the drought in Africa.
Not a Partisan issue
Thanks Keith for your prediction. I cerrtainly prefer to let the voters decide that. But just for kicks, so what if that were to be the case? Perhaps you have forgotten that Bob Tata, a republian from the Beach is the elected official who introduced the Bill in the House of Delegates by which the body voted almost unanimously that the extension of light rail from Norfolk to the Beach was in the public interest. I certainly agree with them, and see no reason why either candidate for Governor would think otherwise. Fact is, both support high speed rail to South Hampton Roads, and of course light rail could tie into that at Harbor Park. So again, I think your attempt to make this a partisan issue is ill conceived. Afterall, all of us in this corridor need an alternative as the corridor is increasingly congested and unavailable for rapid travel.
Yes of course. And it's also
Yes of course. And it's also known that the republican house of delegates still hold the majority in the legislature because their constituents voted to keep them in office. But we can't bring that up can we Mike?Next month I believe we will have a republican governor, lt. governor, and attorney general.
Referendum held last year
It is no surprise to hear from the less than 16% of the voters who by voting for John Moss voted against light rail. They lost so badly, they must try some other technique to keep from losing again. Fact is, more than 84% of our voters voted for candidates who supported light rail. The referendum held a decade ago was very close, that is 54%-46%, and that was with the entire political leadership, except Mrs. Henley, either vocally opposed, or sitting on their hands. So the evidence is clear that light rail transit is a necessity in this corridor, it is very popular, the state simply has no money for roads, and if we want improvement in transportation options, an extension of the system through Virginia Beach is absolutely essential.
Mr. Barrett is mistaken about 2008 Beach Mayor's race
This Pilot article is about a referendum on Light Rail along the NS ROW in Virginia Beach. Mr. Barrett likes to try to attempt to use voting results from the last Mayor's election to somehow pretend there is a mandate to construct light rail without a referendum, due to the votes cast. The truth is that both John Moss and Will Sessoms promised to conduct a referendum on light rail and promised to work to lower the tax burden on Beach families. In a 4-way race for Mayor, John Moss garnered 16% of the vote and Will Sessoms received 39%. So, collectively the majority of Beach voters (55%) voted for the two candidates that promised to lower taxes and hold a referendum on light rail. The proposed light rail and it's feeder bus system will increase the tax burden on Beach families. And now you know the rest of the facts from the last Mayor's election and the matter of a referendum that Mr. Barrett fails to mention.
Light Rail in Virginia Beach supported by the General Assembly
Look up house bill 6028 which says, in part:
"The General Assembly determines that expansion of the Norfolk Light Rail system, including extension from its current terminus at Newtown Road in the City of Norfolk to the Oceanfront in the City of Virginia Beach, along the Interstate 264 corridor on the right-of-way of the Norfolk Southern Railway, is in the public interest..."
This was approved July 24, 2008. Without any referendum. Basically elected leaders doing what they are supposed to do, make tough decisions, not govern in fear.
Unconstitutional, all appointed Regional taxing authority
Gee, you mean that General Assembly that passed HB 3202 in 2007 and created an unconstitutional, all appointed regional taxing authority in hopes to cram the business lobby's "6 pack" of port pork highways down the troats of Tidewater residents? Yeah, I guess because a special session was used to slip this bill in the rest of us are supposed to swoon and pretend those folks up in Richmond are rocket scientists and they actually have the capacity to understand what is in the "public interest" and what is not - you know, like creating all-appointed regional government to force taxation without representation on the good people of Tidewater! Pleeeeses. This political pronouncement from Richmond doesn't change the reality that the proposed light rail TOD boondoggle in VB being pushed by special interests pales in comparison with so many other more pressing needs. Light rail TOD along the NS ROW is a "want", not a need.