Kerry Dougherty

Beach bailout of arts group shows council doesn't get it

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:38:24 -0500

This is rich. As most American cities hunker down and prepare for an economic apocalypse (Chicago may cut corners on snow removal) Virginia Beach officials stubbornly continue to spend, spend, spend. As if to prove that the Beach is awash in cash, the City Council on Tuesday approved an extravagant no-interest loan - courtesy of the taxpayers, of course - to a financially ailing arts group.

Sleazy handout in mayoral race calls to mind politics of yore

Mon, 01 Dec 2008 23:33:12 -0500

I'd almost forgotten just how, ah, exciting Virginia Beach city government could be. What, with half a dozen years of benign-yet-bumbling municipal rule, many of us had developed amnesia about how the city used to operate, when some in the resort city treated politics as a gladiatorial sport. Remember the Sportsplex? The 31st Street hotel? TPC golf course? Shameless canoodling with developers?

Get a full plate of savoring; let the saving wait till Friday

Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:37:03 -0500

Happy Thanksgiving. The turkey smells delicious. Hurry up and eat so we can get to the mall. OK, I exaggerate. Just a little. As if the traditional Black Friday give-thanks-buy-more mantra wasn't enough, retailers are now trying to lure us into their stores before we've even had time to digest our dinner.

Clueless CEOs from Detroit could use some horse sense

Sun, 23 Nov 2008 00:01:00 -0500

Most people know it's not smart to walk into a college financial aid office wearing a fancy piece of jewelry.
Even if it's just your grandmother's old ring with an imperfect diamond.
It's all about perception. The last thing penniless college students want to do is telegraph to a financial aid officer that they're rolling in dough.

Virginia Beach officials out of touch with fiscal reality

Wed, 19 Nov 2008 22:45:47 -0500

They're joking, right? Virginia Beach city officials cannot possibly be serious when they talk about more manna for developers, on the same day they discover that the Resort City is rocketing toward an estimated $81 million budget shortfall next year. Worse, the vice mayor reckons the real number could be closer to $100 million.

The good news is out there - if you're willing to look for it

Mon, 17 Nov 2008 23:11:41 -0500

From time to time a reader will complain that they're fed up with all the negativity in the newspaper. (Never mind that by griping, they add to the general negativity quotient.) Why don't papers - or columnists, at least - give us something to smile about, they ask?

Obama must care for presidential pooch long after term ends

Kerry.Sipe — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Was there anyone who didn’t cheer when our president-elect declared that his daughters were getting a puppy?

Yes, there was: Me.

In that instant, I knew that Barack Obama would one day reflect on that historic night, that stirring speech and kick himself. Every parent who’s ever gotten a puppy for a kid knows what I’m talking about.

Dear Mr. Davis: It's best to go along and get along

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:34:28 -0500

An open letter to Glenn Davis, newly elected member of Virginia Beach City Council: Dear Councilman-to-be Davis, Congratulations! That was an impressive win last week over incumbent council member Reba McClanan. Last time I checked, you got almost 79,000 votes, or nearly 53 percent of the total. You, sir, have a mandate. You may also be just what this body needs: A leader.

Dad's diary on war experiences still holds tender value

Mon, 10 Nov 2008 23:56:13 -0500

"If the house is ever on fire and you can take just one thing, grab this," my father once told me, as he pointed to a big metal case in the closet by our front door. Inside the box were 8 mm movies of birthday parties, summer vacations and Christmas mornings. When no one was looking, I'd head to the closet to try to pick it up.

Mention of old song does disservice to new Virginny

Sat, 08 Nov 2008 20:35:20 -0500

Old Virginny is dead! That was Gov. Timothy M. Kaine, on the result of Tuesday's election. Geez. Will someone please tell our giddy governor to calm down? We know he was one of Barack Obama's earliest boosters. And the two men are reportedly friends. So it's natural for Kaine to be happy his pal was elected. A little celebratory hyperbole was in order last week.