SUFFOLK
Suffolk officials are considering moving the city's annual Christmas parade from downtown to its newer, faster-growing Harbour View community.
City Manager Selena Cuffee-Glenn suggested the idea in a July 8 letter to council members.
Vice Mayor Curtis Milteer Sr., whose Whaleyville Borough is south of downtown, said he wasn't aware of the proposal until he was asked about it Friday. The parade should stay where it is, he said.
"Those people in the northern part of the city are newcomers," he said. "They came from elsewhere, OK? Let's not disturb the whole apple cart."
Mayor Linda Johnson said she did not yet have a position. She lives in the Sleepy Hole Borough, which encompasses Harbour View.
"I would certainly be willing to consider the proposal and would welcome public input on the idea," she said by e-mail.
Suffolk's population grew by nearly 29 percent from 2000 to 2008, and much of that happened in the northern end. One measure of the trend: The three northernmost of Suffolk's seven boroughs accounted for 73 percent of the overall jump in registered voters between 2004 and mid-October 2008.
"With the continued commercial growth throughout the City, we have an opportunity this year to reach out to various segments of the community to partner with us on this year's holiday events," Cuffee-Glenn wrote about the parade move.
Her letter listed several considerations:
- Downtown already hosts the city wide Peanut Fest parade. Cuffee-Glenn noted the two events are only nine weeks apart.
- The growing population of Harbour View and its proximity to other communities make it an appealing location to draw participants and spectators, she said.
- Harbour View Boulevard provides "a practical route for an evening parade without incurring extensive police staffing or traffic control costs."
- Privately sponsored transportation, such as a bus or trolley, could help bring spectators from downtown and elsewhere.
John Kohlman, manager of the Harbour View Owners Association, said Friday that he had not heard about the proposal. He planned to bring it to his board Monday.
Andy Damiani, president of the Downtown Business Association, called the proposal "just one more nail in the coffin" for downtown.
Cuffee-Glenn wrote that if she heard no objections from council members, she would tell staff to explore the idea with residents and commercial property owners in Harbour View. She planned to provide a recommendation within weeks.
Staff have proposed that the annual illumination ceremony, which takes place the Friday before Thanksgiving, remain downtown.
Dave Forster, (757) 222-5563, dave.forster@pilotonline.com
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The Facts
Get the facts straight!
Whaleyville nor Holland where annexed by the City Of Suffolk. They where incorporated towns that voted to merge with Nansemond Co. to form the City Of Nansemond for one year, then the two cities merged.
As for the parade, who gives a flip, the last good one that I attended and was apart of, was 3 years ago when it was held at night. Sidewalks where packed and it had a christmas feeling.
The event cannot be held at night anymore because of the candlelight tour and the riverview connection. It upset the parking and people couldn't get to see the homes.
They cancelled the peanut fest parade 2 years ago because of funding. The one this past year was a joke!
One More Option
Cancel it. That saves money for police overtime, no more fights, gunfire and disturbances and no one gets their feelings hurt about moving it, if it is cancelled. Claim the econoimy forced cancellation....works for everything else.
No Way!
Where exactly are people going to park to watch the parade? This would be of great concern if I were one of the retailers along Harborview Boulevard. The entire portion of Harborview Blvd. is professionally landscaped andcontains an irrigation system maintained and payed for by the Harborview Property Owners Association. Who is going to pay for that when those items are torn up?
VaPilot, let me know if the parade is moved. That way I can make sure my house is extra secure, my cars are stashed at another location (locking doesn't matter anymore) and the retailers will have time to take inventory.
Let's be real
Come on now...anyone who has been to the parade in the last few years can see the truth. The entire police department is forced to work overtime to deal with the fights, the gangs, and yes, the gunfire that has come to define the parade. Milteer my put his foot in his mouth, as he always does, but he is the elected voice of the Whaleyville borough..much to our shame. The city manager is just stating the obvious...the "downtowners" have turned the parade into a ghetto event that is marred by low class citizens(and thier kids), who only come out to disrupt the event. Moving it up north is a good idea...put the parade where people will appreciate it. Not convinced? Look up the fight/disturbance/shots fired calls that warrant the entire police department to be on duty for the parade. I guess the city manager is just trying to save money....now if only she will choose to drive a city owned vehicle on city owned gas...$900.00 a month savings....and our detectives cannot even get a clothing allowance anymore???? What a shame..but again...lying politicians with agendas is the flavor of the day...good job Suffolk.
moving christmas parade
I think moving the christmas parade is a good idea,Suffolk is a big place,don't restrict the parade to one place.I wish they would move the Peanut festival,Iam tired of the traffic it causes.
Does it matter?
I'm a lifelong resident of Suffolk and have attended more parades as a spectator and as a parade participant. The past few years, the parades are becoming increasingly pathetic. It won't matter if you move them to N.Suffolk or keep them downtown- when all you have is a pick-up truck with people waving, no one's coming either way. Neighboring cities are able to pull together bands, cheering squads, local celebrities, and other impressive 'acts'- the last parade I attended the highlight was the firetrucks...that was it. some vehicles driving in the parade didn't have a banner or sign saying who they were- you'd think they just got caught up in the traffic and sent down the parade route. If others feel as I do about the parade, it's not going to matter where you have it, no one's coming.
New City Manager's proposals
In the last months, I have heard nothing but rave reviews of the new City Manager's actions from the city council members. But let us think about what she has proposed. We no longer have the services of bulk trash removal. We have to call in advance and pre-pay twenty dollars to have it removed. Now let's think, are average citizens going to pay to have their trash removed or feed their families? I would think feed their family. Then she has proposed that we must pay twenty-five dollars to have the police respond to citizens who have alarms systems. Does that mean if we do not pay the fee will the police not respond? Will it give free reign for criminals to go from house to house ripping us off because the police may or may not respond? As well, she has proposed to raise water rates so that property taxes will not increase. How does this work if citizens have wells or septic tanks? I guess those citizens get a free ride off the backs off of us who have city water and sewage. Then she has also raised the taxes for local businesses. We have had many businesses close because of the economy. No new businesses will want to come if the taxes are too high, no new business, n
I agree with you Short
I agree with you Short Timer...
In light of Councilman Milteer's comments, it shows how divisive the city council is on many issues. Perhaps Northern Suffolk may one day become independent of Suffolk. Such comments are only a sample of issues that these 7 boroughs have quarrel over daily. I can only imagine what comments are made off-camera during council sessions. Just imagine why this region can't come together on issue such as light rail, bride/tunnels, water and etc.
I personally believe that a parade in Northern Suffolk is inappropriate. Most parades should be 'downtown'. Lastly, I believe that Mr. Milteer owes the all citizens of Suffolk an apology.
No thanks
It's clear that Mr Milteer is stuck in some time warp back in the early 1970s; the time before the merger. To call many Northern Suffolk residents "outsiders" is an outrage. The next thing he will want is a parade without any "outsiders" participating in it! Keep the parade downtown, Mr Milteer, Northern Suffolk doesn't either need or want it.
THE PARADE AND MR MILTEER
I believe the parade should stay downtown. It is the atmosphere of downtown with all of the businesses and decorations that provide a better setting for the parade downtown.
Also, Mr. Milteer is an example of one of Murphy's Lesser Known Laws, whereas, "Light travels faster than sound". This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak!!
Mr. Milteer I'm surprised at you!
What a short sighted statement to say that people in Northern Suffolk are newcomers. You were quoted "Those people in the northern part of the city are newcomers," he said. "They came from elsewhere, OK? Let's not disturb the whole apple cart."
I have lived in "Northern Suffolk"/Nansemond County for 49 years. As you know this area of the city was Nansemond County, as was Whaleyville until it was annexed by Suffolk in the 70's. So if we are newcomers up here, I guess you are newcomers down there.
As far as the parade moving to Northern Suffolk, no thanks. Keep it downtown. Downtown Suffolk is a much better for it than Northern Suffolk.
Suffolk -Considering moving Christmas Parade
You might as well, the city has taken Christ out of Christmas by not allowing manger scenes / nativity scenes!!! The city government falls in line with the rest of the country's new theme of being "Polical Correct"! All religions can be honored or celebrated, just not Christian...humm maybe it is just another way of hiding it in Northern Suffolk. The folks that are really going to miss out are the minority children that walk down to Main St. ever year to watch. Oh, unless under the Obama Plan he may be buying them all new cars.
Like everything else, Change is only good for a certain group, and moving the Christmas Parade is the same as telling Santa Claws to stay in the North Pole! :(
Just a tax payers thought!