■ 13 July 2010 | 5:00 AM
Rebuttal: Downtown is No. 1
Re 'Downtown is No. 1 in growth,' letters, July 9: The writer suggested that I do not care about all of Norfolk and have ignored the contributions of downtown. Not once have I ever said I was against downtown.
During my campaign, I questioned the amount of money spent on light rail and Town Point Park, but my concern was for the priorities of past leadership, which spent tax dollars for luxury items while letting our schools and streets decline and decay.
The government intervention to revitalize downtown Norfolk has succeeded. Tax dollars and government incentives have stimulated private investment.
But there is much work to be done in our city. In parts of Ward 5, residents still do not have curbs or sidewalks. And there are too many residential and commercial units sustained by slumlords who cash rent checks quickly but take their time maintaining the properties.
Drive down Little Creek Road and see some of the abandoned storefronts and the needed investment in Wards Corner. Our schools collectively need over $800 million to rebuild or renovate.
Our teachers, first responders and other city employees haven't had reasonable raises in years. And recent cuts in hours and dollars for our libraries, parks and recreation centers reflect the true impact that skewed priorities have had on the citizens who have funded Norfolk's vibrant urban center.
I recognize the importance of an urban center, but it cannot be the only catalyst for bringing families to Norfolk. We are beyond campaign rhetoric. Hard work lies before us, and I am committed to the undertaking.
Tommy Smigiel
Norfolk
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Agree and disagree
I agree that the entire city of Norfolk should be properly served by the city government, however I disagree that past spending priorities have "caused" the impact we are all feeling due to the poor economy. Teachers are not getting raises and certain amenities are not open seven days a week because city tax revenue is down as a result of reduced general economic activity.
partly right
Some of the issues mentioned are a result of, indirectly, the turn in the economy.
The big issue is lack of planning on the part of city leaders. They, like others, expected the real estate market to boom forever. Had they been thoughtful, they would have known better. Nothing goes on forever.
What we are seeing is the result of our city manager, our city council, our Constitutional Officers not seeing an influx of moneies as a short term annomaly. They should have remembered the story of the grasshopper and the ant from our childhood.
Here's hoping Tommy will make a difference.
He's the only true "new" voice on city council.
Protogyrou is merely Fraim's hand-picked rubber stamp, so don't expect anything outside the box from him that Fraim hasn't blessed.
Green was the council's choice to join the club and not make waves.
If Tommy can forge some alliances, he might get something done. Otherwise, he's going to be told to go stand in the corner and be quiet by the rest of Fraim's cabal.
I don't see . . .
I don't see either of them, Tommy Smigiel nor Andy Protogyrou, being 'rubber stamps' for anyone. My experience in seeing and hearing and talking with both men is that they have their constituents best interest at heart and constantly on their minds.
Sending these two men to 'go stand in the corner and be quiet' is NOT going to happen and is not an option. I'd say that's very much a good thing.
Hope not
While I have heard the same thing about Andy, I have also heard that he is nobody's "rubber stamp". I am hopeful the latter is more true than the former.
East Little Creek Rd. is the poster child for urban blight.
It is nothing short of being rough as a cobb. And it has remained unchanged that way for the last twenty five years I have lived in OV.
But then take a little hop and a skip over the Little Creek Inlet bridge and set foot on to the East Beach waterfront and you will see where all the city's incentives were placed. They even plowed under my city park and sold it to those who could afford a view of the bay.
And somebody explain to me that shortened 4on4 city basketball court by the razed Ramada on OV Ave. Was that somebody's idea of an insult ? There is an acre of land sitting right in front of it that would help accomodate 4 regulation courts. If I was you Smigel my first priority would be to bring that recreational park up to a standard that benefits the hard working taxpayers who have earned it and have been overlooked. This is a perfect location for this venue. A good place to see and be seen. Lengthen the existing courts to standard and build two more including night lights, water fountains and bleachers. Give the city back to it's people !!