The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
"Surprising" Suffolk isn't the only local city that might be looking for a new motto.
City Councilman W. Randy Wright proposed at the council retreat last week that Norfolk ditch its long time motto - "Life, Celebrated Daily."
"It's a real dud," he said.
In its place, Wright, who led the city's effort to attract light rail, suggested "Norfolk, a City on Track."
Some council members liked the idea, and nearly all made light of it. "We could call it Wright on Track," said Mayor Paul Fraim, drawing laughs.
However, it was no laughing matter to Wright, who said the city needs to capitalize on next year's opening of its 7.4-mile, $288 million light-rail line.
"There are only 38 cities in America that have light rail," he said. "That puts us in elite company. We need to make that a part of our marketing tool right now."
Wright said his suggestion captures much of what city officials are trying to convey about living and working in Norfolk.
"Too many people perceive Norfolk as a great place to visit and not a great place to live," Councilwoman Daun S. Hester said.
Wright's got a decent track record when it comes to branding. He suggested that Hampton Roads Transit name Norfolk's light-rail line The Tide. After being vetted by focus groups, an Internet survey and the Downtown Norfolk Council, HRT is now promoting the slogan "Ride the Tide."
Suffolk officials announced last month that they were searching for a new motto and would invest several thousand dollars on the initiative.
The Norfolk council agreed to discuss Wright's proposal at a later date. However, Councilman Paul R. Riddick said: "This is something we shouldn't spend a dime on."
Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com
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Norfolk Slogan
Life Celebrated Daily until you're shot an killed by one of our gang members.
Here it is....
1). "Norfolk...where's that?
2). "Norfolk...Home of Buddy Gaddams"
3). "Norfolk...where council needs counsel"
4). "Norfolk...awe shucks...just stay home"
5). "Norfolk...home of the lifetime city council"
6). "Norfolk...try gettin' here without a bridge or tunnel"
A couple more suggestions...
"Norfolk--Re-routing traffic for useless projects daily!"
"Norfolk--Please, PLEASE ride our light rail?!"
"Norfolk--We want your business, until we don't."
"Norfolk--Closing businesses for rich constituents!"
"second time around "
name it the" second time around " not the first for a rail system in the city
How about this ---------
"Norfolk ----- Council Stupidity Celebrated Daily"
Here is a perfect new motto:
NORFOLK: YOU CAN'T GET THERE FROM HERE!
Perfectly summarizes our transportation mess.
Can you see now why we're paying more and more taxes?
Out of the 38 cities that have light rail, how many are self supportive? How many are actually utilized to the extent that the city councils used to sell it to the public? Good reporting would have included that information in the story but as we all know, investigative journalism is dead. Another good piece of information would have been how much this silly slogan change that no one pays attention to is going to cost the taxpayers of Norfolk. As far as, "Norfolk being a nice place to visit but not to live". I've never heard anyone say Norfolk was a "nice place to visit" or "live". Face it, Norfolk is not the tourist draw and never will be. For the most part non-work related visitors are in the area only to visit relatives or friends.
even funnier
with Wright, Winn, Fraim and Hester running their mouth Riddick looks like a genius by keeping his mouth shut (for a change). Truth IS stranger than fiction!
I have always been partial..
to the old high school chant that went: "we don't drink nor smoke Norfolk"!
Guess how 'Norfolk' was pronounced?
I hope this makes it past the monitors!
Norfolk The Mother City
If worse came to worse and they insisted on changing the name they should focus on the heritage and maternity role of Norfolk. Norfolk is the mother city of Tidewater. The Beach, Chesapeake, and Suffolk sprang from Norfolk's existence. Their the daughter cities of Norfolk. The economic, cultural, arts, entertainment, museum, University, research, hospital, military, theater, maritime, and sports capital is headquartered in Norfolk. The suburban cities of Va Beach and Chesapeake are pretty much the bedroom communities of Norfolk. The quintessential suburb replicated a thousand times throughout the country. The suburbs don't exist without Norfolk. The negative flip side to Norfolk is higher crime, higher poverty index, and poor public schools. The negative side to the suburbs is none of the above said capital is substantially invested in the suburbs. On the positive flip side of the suburbs you have better public schools,less crime, nice recreation centers and good roads.If they could frame the motto around the historical foundation and contributions of Norfolk then they may have a winner.