May 9, 2008
Pantele for mayor?
The Richmond Free Press is reporting that 2nd District Representative and City Council President William Pantele will soon be joining Delegate Jones, Paul Goldman, and Lawrence Williams in the upcoming mayoral race. Pantele would have to give up his council seat to run…
Wow. Another corrupt city official in the race.
I’d have a very difficult time getting behind any of the announced candidates.
Even Dirtwoman?
http://scfoj.tumblr.com/post/33989375
Green Mayor for Richmond!
being relatively new to Richmond, I’d say I don’t yet know enough about Pantele to say I won’t support him, but seems like a complete change in leadership could do wonders for the city.
Since I’ve been here, it seems Pantele had just as much fun fighting as Wilder.
“Id have a very difficult time getting behind any of the announced candidates.”
Seriously?… Why not Goldman? I can’t think of any reason not to support him.
Pantele has *very* close ties to developers. I won’t say that he can be bought, but it seems shady.
I do like Goldman, but I keep forgetting about him — he seems so entirely unelectable.
Goldman takes interest in the state of the RPS…that is very important to me. I’ve read too much shady stuff on Jones and I don’t like Pantele’s “ties to developers,” and I don’t know anything about Williams. I’ll have to read and research some more. So far, I’m leaning towards Goldman.
I know what you’re saying about Goldman. :)
I’m just having a tough time finding something to disagree with this guy on. Aside from being highly intelligent…he possesses the drive necessary to make things happen. And, there’s no doubt that the man can get some things done. He has proven to be both creative and resourceful in working toward change in City government. What he really needs a is PR machine so he can get in front of the public eye so folks get to really know him.
I am very wary of Pantele - isn’t he one of the biggest supports of Echo Harbor?
If you want to see how Pantele does business with the people’s money, and stifles debate, watch this:
http://www.vimeo.com/310948
Pantele claimed that this project’s funding needed to be pushed through immediately because of “sub-contractor issues.” This was later shown to be totally false. He also made sure that the details behind the project would be shielded from future Freedom of Information Act requests from taxpayers.
A few weeks after this vote, the president of CenterStage co-sponsored a fundraiser for Pantele. Gee, wonder why.
Do I even have to mention his patronage of the “Party patrols” that cruise up and down the Fan on weekends trying to stop “parties,” even when there are no complaints.
He was also the one who assured Richmonders that the meals tax hike imposed in 2003 would be “temporary.” Just last year, council members conceded that the tax would be with us “long after we are gone.” Uh-huh.
Pantele would be a disaster for Richmond. If you don’t believe me, watch him closely on the upcoming council vote for the Downtown Master Plan. It’s Echo Harbour all the way, baby. And I’m sure there will be “sub-contractor issues” justifying his vote.
Hello Richmond,
I hope this dialog is going to be fresh and open. It is always so stale when everyone jumps on the same band wagon.
I’ll be voting in the election in November and I am looking for someone who can actually make things happen.
As I read today’s comments about Mr. Pantele there seems to be considerable misleading and inaccurate information being shared.
Regarding the mis-statements about shielding public information…this is just flat out inaccurate. And God forbid someone supporting the politician who is a strong supporter of the arts!
Oh! And that Party Patrol comment, the real issue clearly is about someone who got caught with his pants down at a party. Probably at a gathering in a friend’s house. So the rest of us know accurately…the privately funded supplemental task force has contributed to significant reductions in personal and property crimes in the Fan area; it also allows the on-duty officers to focus on more significant issues in Richmond; and it has contributed to the positive impact of a safer community. Lets get it all out there if you want to talk Party Patrol…I didn’t hear any references to these quality of life issues in the comments. I guess in your bitch session, these were easy to leave out. Finally, it is only when the task force gets a call to service do they respond to disorderly activities. So to say they are just out there crashing parties and driving the community looking to stop a good party…NOT SO!
I thought the video was very good. I didn’t hear Mr. Pantele stifle anyone…actually it appeared to me that he was getting something done. When the vote came down you had a majority in favor, a couple abstentions and only one nay. If all you want to listen to is nay saying that is fine, but don’t hold the rest of the community hostage…let it go to a vote and see what the people want. Go figure!
I’m sure we can find something we don’t like in all the candidates. How about we look to see what positives they have to offer, before we start the bashing. After all it is about moving the city forward…not just pushing off things that can help our community advance.
The city has an opportunity to better manage blight all around us…how about we get it together and find a way to help out instead of following the phylosophy of “What have you done for me lately” attitude.
Thanks for the opportunity to chime in.
All the best to you all.
Work for peace!
Evenkeel
Here is something on Lawrence Williams http://www.richmond.com/print.aspx?articleId=24155 . But I’m still leaning towards Goldman…actually I met him outside of ET a few weeks ago and he seemed to know the deal with RPS and he has some good ideas on how to get people working together. Overall, Goldman left a good impression.
Evenkeel, actually we didn’t jump on the same wagon, we simply started talking/blogging and it turned out we all are thinking along the same lines. I don’t think anyone is working for any of the individuals running for mayor but you do come off as if you are related to or campaign for Pantele.
Hello Gray,
Sorry to dissapoint you, but it is about action for me. My wife thinks I’m crazy, but I stay involved with our community by watching the reruns of the city council meetings, when I can, and there has been much in the way of quality oversight being done by this city council under the leadership of Mr.Pantele.
I’ve watched him work diligently for the other districts’ concerns, with the focus on making sure the citizens don’t get caught holding the bag.
I’ve watched him strongly support the budget audits to keep an eye on your and my tax dollars.
I’ve watched him support the Richmond Public School system by not allowing Doug Wilder and his heavy handed administration attempt to evict the RPS from its City Hall office space. The money spent there and the money still being spent on the empty building on W. Broad Street could go a long way to improving the opportunities for the children attending our public schools.
I watched him reach out to all corners of his district, district 2, to find ways to make their lives a little better.
I watched him go the extra mile to help the City of Richmond attempt to keep our Richmond Braves, but that unfortunately was an effort out of his control and one this current administration squandered before our very eyes.
I look for people of action and I keep my support for those who really believe in the city of Richmond. Wouldn’t you agree it is time to look for the good in those who want to lead our community and find ways to help those causes, instead of looking for something to complain about, sling a little mud as you hide behind the bushes, and ultimately not go to the voting booth to make your voice heard?
I like your steadfast support for Mr. Goldman. He clearly has struck a cord with you and that is a good thing. I am of the belief that you need to fight for what you believe is right. I happen to believe Mr. Pantele is right for Richmond, and I take comfort in clearing up any mis-information that people spread about a good person. We have been fed enough mis-information in the past 8 years to kill a nation by the Bush administration, and I do not take comfort in spin of this sort.
Thanks for your openness. It is refreshing when dialog has meaning and truthful content. I believe we will both gain something from our discussion. Thanks for tempting me with your commitment to Mr. Goldman.
Once again, all the best to you.
Work for peace.
evenkeel
I understand the whole action thing. I drive my husband nuts with my obsession with RPS administration and School Board…this is the stuff that directly affects my family and neighborhood. We’re having a difficult time in the city because the way RPS operates downtown. I’ll admit, I haven’t paid much attention lately to politics outside of RPS but the candidate for mayor with the best plan regarding public education will be the one to get my vote. Good public education is ultimately the deciding factor for many on whether or not they’ll live in the city.
Evenkeel:
1. If you don’t like the way I characterized Pantele’s orchestration of the CenterStage vote where two council members abstained and one voted no because they couldn’t get basic questions answered perhaps you’d prefer the words of City Council Vice-Chair Delores McQuinn, a former arts center supporter who called the affair a “rush job” and said that “council had not done its due diligence.”
See for yourself:
http://vimeo.com/316381
Or maybe you’d prefer to read how Councilman Chris Hilbert characterized the vote in Style Weekly:
http://www.styleweekly.com/article.asp?idarticle=15185
I thought it was a disservice to the project not to engage the public, Hilbert says, adding that the original argument for the arts center was to revitalize Broad Street by putting the grand stage on the former Thalhimers site. This project will not fulfill that goal.
Or read the Times-Dispatch account before the vote:
http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2007-09-06-0249.html
QUOTE: “Council President William J. Pantele said he’s hoping to be able to vote Monday and didn’t want to say who might be responsible for any increased costs.”
Finally, check out who co-hosted a campaign fundraiser for Pantele weeks after the vote Bob Mooney of the CenterStage Foundation:
http://saverichmond.com/?page_id=438
2. The clause in the CenterStage agreement that shields the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation/Centerstage Foundation from Freedom of Information inquiries reads:
Section 20 (c) of the Comprehensive Agreement - Financial Statements: On a periodic basis, as requested by the City, the LLLP and the Foundation shall furnish the City with current and complete financial statementsfinancial statements submitted as required by this subsection will not be subject to public disclosure.”
3. If you don’t believe that the Party Patrol enabled and funded by Bill Pantele is proactively shutting down parties and expanding to other communities, click below and scroll down to the March 30 entry from Galen Pierce-Gardner, Deputy Director of Student Affairs for VCU:
http://forums.vcusga.com/viewtopic.php?p=1176&sid=4fb6ba0b602893bc4906e9f419694a19
Pierce-Gardner: As of now it’s still going to be a school year only patrol, however some attendees were lobbying for year round patrols… I also advocated that patrols revert to their standard priorities with respect to parties they’ve not received complaints of and not aggressively seek to disrupt them. I was told I would receive a follow up regarding procedures, which I’m still waiting on. There will be a follow up meeting in which the specifics of the new city wide patrols will be discussed.
4. If you think Bill Pantele is a stellar supporter of the arts, you probably weren’t one of those who attended the series of meetings convened by Church Hill artist Lisa Taranto and (theoretically) Councilman Pantele in late 2003. Pantele himself didn’t attend the first meeting. The purpose was to address Richmonds schizophrenic relationship with its burgeoning arts community issues involving economic development and common sense that we are still grappling with today. Nothing ever happened with this action plan, devised charrette-style by a diverse crossection of Richmonds indigenous arts community. Pantele didn’t lift a finger for it. Contast that with the endless subsidies he’s given VAPAF/Centerstage.
5. Here’s what Pantele told Richmonders before voting for the Meals tax hike, July 2003:
“There are a couple of aspects of this the financing that we havent talked about tonight and the public needs to know. Whats been proposed is an interim financing. This isnt a 1% 20-year or 30-year tax that gets imposed whether it goes or not… its going to last until June, 2005. At which point the other elements of the financing need to be in place. And I think thats wise.
6. Did I forget anything? Oh yes…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oY1nkqxQBbY
It is Pantele’s support of CenterStage and Echo Harbor that make the most impact for me - I support neither of these projects and am angry about the amount of money we have spent on them.
Don, I work with Lisa Taranto and Richmond is fortunate to have someone as creative and brilliant as her. Yes Pantele should have met with them if he was truely interested in the arts.
Looks like John was right about Pantele’s ties with developers.
Good morning Don,
As far as forgetting anything…NO, I believe you have covered your side of the story fine…what about the rest of your neighbors? Have you addressed their concerns? I think not! This is the “what have you done for me lately” position you continue to embrace.
However, I believe you have added good text to your old argument.
Richmond has the positioning to be a first rate 21st century city that requires all of our attention. I encourage you to continue to discuss your positions and encourage you to look outside the tunnel you live in to see the remainder of the world.
However, once again all I hear from your dialog is “NO” to this because someone else said so; “NO” to that because someone from the planet “Pluto” didn’t get a chance to say something; “NO” to the safety of the student body and the general public, because a student who attended a meeting of the party patrol mentioned incorrectly that parties were universally being shut down.
Again, the rules of engagement for the privately funded Party Patrol are driven by calls to service. Mr. Galen Pierce-Gardner’s comments from the meeting reek of “spin” to support the argument that students are being unfairly treated when a disruptive party overflows into the city streets and sets the stage for disorderly conduct, assaults, vandalism, urinating on any property of choice, littering without a care to the community and our environment, burglary, graffitti, rape, etc, etc,etc… Have I left anything out? OH, yes! Underaged drinkin. I don’t suppose you condone this?
Are you aware that when a party grows to the size that warrants a complaint, and therfore intervention by law enforcement, a significant percentage of the attendies were not invited to the event? And in this crowd street criminals are also there and have penetrated the party unnoticed and are in attendance without anyone the wiser.
Once this happens the place has been cased; some of the belongings to the residents and others are already missing, and anyone who by chance is leaving the party, when the assailants are making their move out before being identified, are very likely to be assaulted, robbed or personally violated.
Don, if the calls to service for the Party Patrol are predominantly resulting from parties that are student sponsored, student attended and resulting in the disorderly violations mentioned I can appreciate how you and the student body might find it disagreeable when the police arrive. Why wouldn’t you consider it safer and wise to protect your friends and mine from this unhealthy situation and potentially criminal condition? Perhaps you could clear up for our readers what your goals and objectives are. Perhaps you could make me understand how removing the added patrols to our city streets helps the law abiding citizen stay safe from the added crimes that will occur when no one is looking at these problems.
As a rule of thumb, when I notice that something doesn’t seem right I tend to look for quality solutions to help the cause, rather than find the first microphone to use to provide negativity. Where are your solutions?
Thanks for the discussion.
I wish you well.
Work for peace.
evenkeel
Gray: I agree with you about Lisa T. She tried her best. And as far as I know, the action plan that the dozens of artists and arts professionals came up with over the two night “visioning session” is still valid. Mr. Pantele could revive the plan or any of its individual planks at any time he chooses. Please tell Lisa I said hello.
As a rule of thumb, I’ve noticed that when people can’t counter your argument, or refute the documentation you provide for them, they accuse you of being negative and think the discussion ought to end right there. Yes, hiding our head in the sand and forgetting (or ignoring) past history is indeed the Richmond Way. In other words: “Don’t worry, be happy.” And then we wonder why we continue to lose.
And I love how I’m suddenly a proponent of underage drinking because of my opposition to the tactics of these Party Patrols. Ummm… yeah, and I’m also a strong advocate of cow-tipping and arm farts in church. Why not just call me a poopyhead and leave it at that. Evenkeel, please. This kind of argument is beneath someone who claims that others are being too “negative.”
And your defense of the Party Patrol is straight out of the Fan District Association handbook except that you are actually able to spell. It absolutely kills me that people move near a major urban college campus and then get their panties in a wad about all these damn students everywhere making noise. If all of this raping and looting you speak of is occurring and maybe it is and I just never hear about it please provide me with some links to news articles about all of these terrible heinous crimes.
And if this is all about restraining out-of-control students and nothing more, then please tell me why we need to expand this program to places where there are much fewer students, and why the patrols would need to run year-round (which some within the FDA are pushing for). No, Richmond has a bad reputation as a prudish and censorious backwater and this kind of stuff is the reason why.
From what I understand, Ms. Pierce-Gardner is cooperating fully with those behind these patrols, and working with both sides - students and residents. That is why I would trust her to tell the truth and not just be a blind advocate either way. BTW: The word “Patrol” is not a reactive term. It is a pro-active term. The dictionary defines it this way: “The action of keeping watch over an area by walking or driving around it at different intervals.” Either way, it is YOUR tax dollars at work, Richmond, and we all know that city police have nothing better to do on the weekends than respond to the Fan District Association and their busybody noise-o-meters.
Solutions? I’ve offered plenty at http://www.saverichmond.com but here’s a huge one when it comes to the arts: How about the city giving its monetary arts support (or at least more resources) to something that actually WORKS for downtown, and has a proven track record, like the First Fridays Artwalk, rather than something that has already wasted more than $22 million in public and private dollars and left us a hole we had to fill in? At his next campaign fundraiser, please ask Mr. Pantele why, as an arts supporter and city council president, he is able to find city funds for Party Patrols and for construction boondoggles pushed by rich county residents, but can’t find a dime to help out the one regular event that has truly helped revitalize our downtown and save it from becoming “Bosnia.”
In closing, what I wrote was hardly all that needs to be said about Mr. Pantele as a leader. I didn’t even mention his ties to incarcerated developer Louis Salomonsky and the fact that when Councilman Gwen Hedgepeth was indicted for accepting a paper bag full of money from Salomonsky, it was to buy off her vote on who should be city council president.
Guess who she was being bribed to cast a vote for? … Wait for it… Bill Pantele.
I wish you well as well, evenkeel. Just remember that you can work for peace all you want, but in some places you have to DEMAND good and honest government first before any kind of peace has a chance.
Sorry, one correction. I made a mistake in the above: Hedgepeth was bribed to buy off her vote on who should be MAYOR, not city council president. In those days, city council selected the city’s mayor from within its ranks.
This sordid episode with Solomonsky/Hedgepeth/Pantele was one of the main reasons why proponents of directly electing the mayor wanted to change the city’s charter so that citizens could elect the mayor and NOT leave it up to City Council.
Oh yes, and I should remind: One of Hedgepeth’s final votes, cast a few days after she was charged with bribery, was to support raising the meals tax to fund the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation. She said she was doing it “for the children.”
Good afternoon Don,
Sounds like someone has his panties in a wad.
Actually it was your video reference and articles that helped me appreciate your defensive position, and yes, you still sound sour and negative.
Interesting that only the underaged drinking issues seems to have hit a cord. For sure you only need to visit the RPD public information links to see the truth to my statements. I’ll let the RPD stats speak for themselves. I never would have picked you as a cow-tipper or Church goer.
Perhaps you were unaware that the Fan, Carver, Oregon Hill, Randolph and the other neighborhoods were here well before the VCU facilities saturated the streets with 30,000 students. Understanding the history would help when you find it difficult to appreciate someone else’s position.
FYI - It is at the request of the Carver, Randolph, Oregon Hill and some of Jackson Ward community leaders that the FDA has considered expanding their Party Patrol Program to assist them with similar concerns in their neighborhoods. Also, your understanding of when and how the patrol operates indicates your unfamilarity with the effort. Once again, your third hand information through the eyes and ears of Galen Pierce-Gardner have led you astray. It sounds like we are hearing another “NO” because someone else said so. Oh! And thanks for the English lesson; I’ll pass your insight on.
Clearly you’re missing the entire point of the Party Patrol. It is looking for criminal activity of any kind while they are on duty. Their response to the party concerns are again ONLY when there is a call to service, otherwise they are helping to keep the community safer.
I’ll look into your other comments further before I go accusing someone of guilt by association. I’m not one for MUD SLINGING.
I wish you well.
Working for peace has never failed me, but DEMANDS usually stimulate animosity and division…and I try to stay away from that approach.
evenkeel
evenkeel, you also have your panties in a wad.
Good morning edg,
Thanks for your observation.
I’ll consider re-phrasing my thoughts when I correct the mis-information being slung around the e-table we share. Your right! I’m probably somewhat worn out by 8 solid years of being lied to by the worst and most corrupt administration in out country’s history.
I’ll do better as we move forward.
Thanks again for setting me straight.
I wish you well.
Work for peace.
evenkeel
p.s. I hope you can guide others who only see and embrace negative and divisive dialog with their comments. We will all benefit as a result.
You are welcome. And I still do not support Pantele and it has nothing to do with the party patrol.
Evenkeel:
Is it “negative and divisive” to ask you to back up your claims with proof? Everything I’ve mentioned above about Pantele’s record of accomplishment can be backed up with documents and news articles that are in the public record - and even with video clips. We’re still waiting for you to refute even one of them.
If I’m wrong about Pantele and how he’s done business with the people’s money and trust, prove it.
Good evening Don,
Although your articles, documents and city council video snippits are informative, they do not match up with the negative SPIN you choose to apply to the segments of the information. Your thoughts are still one sided, second hand, negative and divisive. No additional information is needed, your words speak volumes.
Your aggressive behavior seems to be worn like a badge of honor. I hope some day you can see beyond it.
Yes, your references are public record, and I have already refuted your interpretation of those I find you off base with. Again, I believe your own documents, articles and segmented video clips will do fine to refute your own narrow version of what took place.
I have no interest or desire to scour the old press blips, just to add more opportunity for you to selectively determine how best to proceed. Don’t loose much sleep waiting for me to volley back and forth, when all that will be achieved is a stale mate.
Sleep tight!
I wish you well.
Work for peace.
evenkeel
Green Mayor for Richmond!
http://www.vagreenparty.org/richblog/?p=4
Thank you, Evenkeel, for a very predictable exchange. And good luck working for peace with your eyes and ears closed.
Your welcome, Mr “NO”, or was it Mr. “Negativity”. Whatever! Either one fits.
I wish you well.
Keep working for peace.
evenkeel
Another running for mayor: http://chpn.net/news/2008/05/16/at-this-moment/. Does anyone know anything about this guy, Robert Grey, Jr? Don do you have a take on this guy? You seem to know a lot about what’s going on down at City Hall. I’m interested in your opinion. So now we have five folk running for mayor. This might split the vote in a bad way and we may end up with someone we all dislike.
It is rumored that Wilder backs Grey for mayor: http://www.styleweekly.com/article.asp?idarticle=17032
I’m sorry, but if he’s the guy the Wilder wants, then I am pretty sure I do not want him.
Gray: Let’s put it this way if the race for mayor is between Pantele and Grey, the only sane choice would be a U-Haul truck.
How nice it is that the local business community has gone ahead and picked the next mayor for us. And isn’t it lucky for them that their candidate can bypass having to run for City Council? I’m sure that it wasn’t planned that way at all.
For more on Mr. Grey, read:
http://saverichmond.com/?p=487
http://saverichmond.com/?p=485
http://styleweekly.com/article.asp?idarticle=12198
Check out latest post at SaveRichmond.com on Greys sketchy public service.
Also, this from Goldman:
At the 2PM Press Conference, 9th entrance to City Hall, I will be discussing, as my Press Advisory stated, the possible ramifications of Elected School Board related VA Code Statute 22.1-57.4 copied below, given (1) Mr. Robert Greys previous confrontational effort to try and abolish the right of the people to elect the School Board, (2) his recent statements, and (3) given how, if elected, he could use the power, prestige and money-raising ability of the next Mayor to use 22.1-57.4 to abolish the elected school board in a low-vote election relative to the one we are having to pick the elected school board this November.
22.1-57.4. Referendum to revert to appointment of the school board.
A. By the same procedure and under the same requirements as provided in 22.1-57.2, the registered voters of any county, city, or town which selects members of the school board by direct election of the voters may petition for, and the circuit court shall so order, a referendum on the question of changing from direct election of the school board to appointment of school board members by the governing body or, if the petition so states in the case of a county, by a school board selection commission. The question on the ballot shall be:
Shall the method of selecting the school board be changed from direct election by the voters to appointment by the governing body (or, if the petition in a county so requests, a school board selection commission)?
_ YES
_ NO
B. If a majority of the qualified voters voting in such referendum vote in favor of changing the method of selecting school board members to appointment by the governing body or by a school board selection commission, as the case may be, the terms of the school board members in office through direct election shall terminate on June 30 following the referendum. A school board selection commission shall be appointed pursuant to 22.1-35 if a majority have voted in the referendum for that selection method. The members of the appointed school board shall be appointed for the terms and in the manner provided in the article of this chapter or the chapter of Title 15.2 applicable to the county, city, or town in which the referendum has been held.
(1992, c. 594.)
I posted a link to Grey’s bio on chpn and that was enough to scare me away. I’m not big on health care and funeral industries.
Goldman looks like the good guy in this bunch. So how can we make him electable…it seems folk like the bad guys and for some reason see them as more electable. I personally have always liked the nerds. So what can we do to spruce Goldman up?
Paul has got more ideas than the other candidates put together, and he’s a hard-worker. Whether or not he is electable by a wide majority of Richmonders is the question. He’s easily the most serious candidate, but it is debatable that Richmond can break through this cycle of “business community” politicans and actually get someone in there who will work for us all.
First thing Goldman needs is a good web site where he can post his ideas, initatives and comments. What I really like about Paul is that he doesn’t shy away from talking about hot-button topics and breaking news stories THE DAY THEY HAPPEN. Meanwhile, you can expect to hear a bushel of “no comments” or “the candidate couldn’t be reached for comments” when the other mayoral candidates are surveyed on where they stand on important issues.
For instance, Goldman sent this out today, in response to last night’s council meeting:
****
Goldman for Mayor - 20 May 2008 - For Immediate Release: Contact, 804-833-6313
Goldman: “Last month, a leader of City Council was criticizing City Hall for wanting record high taxes and wasteful spending even though City Hall said money was tight. Yet, while Council now concedes money is tight, they have too have now proposed record high real estate taxes and city government spending on citizens and businesses.”
(Richmond) Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, says that while he is “pleased City Council adopted my proposal of abolishing those undocumented and wasteful car allowances given to as perks to a handful of high-level government employees” he gives the proposed Council budget an “overall failing F grade due the fact that it is out of touch with the economic squeeze being faced by many in Richmond’s business community and far too many of our citizens.”
“There is an economic squeeze being felt right now in the private sector, affecting so many businesses and Richmond workers and their families. But City Council either doesn’t see it, or refuses to see it and this can be shown in part by their refusal to make sure as much of the wasteful spending of city government that could be cut will be cut. This can be seen not only on my own analysis of the bloated city government structure, but also on the findings, reported for all citizens to read in the newspapers, of the audits conducted by City Council’s own appointed city auditor” Goldman said.
“Last month, “Goldman continued ” a leader of city council was criticizing the Mayor for saying money was tight yet asking for record high spending and taxes.
“Yet now, while City Council concedes that money is tight, they too want record high real estate taxes and wasteful spending.
“We need to stop this same ole, same old budget game. We need a real change in the city’s budget process and I have already detailed a plan for how this is going to happen in a Goldman Administration, saving many millions of dollars for citizens while reshaping a bloated administrative structure so that we can get a better, less costly and far more efficient delivery of services to the people.”
******
Hmmmm….who will it be … Robert Grey, the annointed choice of the Gang of 26, most of whom who live it out of the City and could not care less (really); Bill Pantele, unctuous to the nth degree; Dwight Jones, “the churches will elect me”….or Paul Goldman, a man who has seen the error of his ways and seeks now to show the city that the Mayor-at-Large idea was and remains a great one, just not as great as Mr. Wilder who hijacked it and tried to use it and a half-a-million bodyguard unit to protect himself from the truth ….hmmmm…..
GOLDMAN IS THE ONE …
there’s also Lawrence and Dirtwoman
There seems to be a lot of hostility towards Bill Pantele which I find hard to understand. He keeps getting reelected by comfortable margins. His district meetings have supportive crowds and he has maintained a principled stand against the abuses of the Mayor. I have seen him angry, but never lose his temper. He has good relations with the School Board and state legislators.
It us one thing to have a principled disagreement with someone. It is another to casually accuse them of being corrupt.
Paul Goldman on the other hand is the author of all things Wilder. He has never taken any responsibility for the disaster he masterminded.
Goldman for Mayor - 28 May 2008- For Immediate Release
Paul Goldman wants full accounting of all public monies connected to the failed $100 Million Downtown Arts Center project, the new Arts Center project, and a review of the operating subsidy agreed-to by the City Council and City Hall.
“Given that Mr. Pantele just voted for record taxes and wasteful spending despite the economic squeeze facing Richmond citizens, and Mr. Grey supported City Hall’s budget that had would have imposed even higher record taxes and wasteful spending on the public, I think a full accounting and review of all the public monies involved and expended on these Arts Center projects is required before the new city budget is finalized.”
__________
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said today that with Bill Pantele and Robert Grey “getting ready to announce their candidacies” the time has come for full-accountability on all the public monies involved with the failed $100 Million Downtown Arts Center project, the new Arts Center project, and of course the operating subsidy deal agreed-to by the City Council and City Hall.”
“Bill and Robert were major supporters of the failed $100 Million Downtown Arts Center project, and backed the unprecedented move of raising a general public tax to directly benefit a private development project without requiring even the most basic of financial oversight. Moreover, supporters of the project promised the public they would not ask, nor need, a public operating subsidy.
Those lobbying for imposing higher taxes and higher wasteful spending on the people of Richmond, for public and private projects, already have powerful allies at City Hall and in City Council.
The next Mayor has to be someone who can be an independent voice for the people, willing to champion the public interest, willing to protect the public treasury: for if the Mayor cannot do it, then it will not be done.
As Bill and Robert know, it took my “City of the Future” plan to finally provide a fiscally responsible path to actually get the Carpenter Center modernized. So my support of the arts is well-known in objective circles.
But there is a difference between fiscally responsible support, and a fiscally irresponsible waste of public money on a fiscally irresponsible $100 Million project.
The Elected Mayor law that I wrote was intended to create an independent Mayor, answerable only to the people, not another cheer-leader for the High Tax and Spend Lobby, especially with the economic squeeze facing the citizens of Richmond.”
For more, log onto: http://saverichmond.com/?p=489
I’m sorry Don. I didn’t catch that. Would you mind repeating yourself?
I’m sorry Paul. I didn’t catch that. Where did you say you worked again?
I saw Goldman at the forum for the superintendent search at Holton this evening. That’s good to see candidates at important community meetings and forums. Good schools make for a great city.
[...] called by the Free Press 3 weeks ago, 2nd District Representative and City Council President William Pantele used last night’s [...]
Don,
I work for a major media company that did not endorse Bill Pantele in his last election. Where to you word Don?
Reason to distrust Pantele:
Arts Center
Echo Harbor
Ties to developers
Gee, Paul. I was referring to your work on the “Bill Pantele For Mayor” campaign. I didn’t know you worked for a “major media company.” Which one? Does your boss let you blog at work? How cool.
I assume that the blog that you started is an official arm of this major media company? The one where you make political endorsements… badmouth other bloggers who fail to properly play booster for large projects initiated by Richmond’s “business community”… and lobby for unrestricted development along the river. That one.
Please explain more. Fascinating. Who’da thunk?
Edg: About Pantele: You forgot to mention the Party Patrol… soon to be expanded citywide.
I’ll chime in on this. I agree with Don about Pantele….I even ran against him in 2002 in the second district and here are my observations:
Pantele is a wolf in sheep’s clothing (albeit a very easy to see through one). He’s a blowhard who likes to talk a big game, get pats on the back by his peers, and act like he’s concerned about Richmond’s well being. I’ve been to many a neighborhood association meeting where he gets up and tries to smooth the crowd over with his transparent hot air. Shame he doesn’t see the eyes role or hear the whispers after these meetings. So, as he’s making behind closed door deals, conferring with the corporate “leaders”, and helping squander our tax dollars on needless “faux panacea” projects like CenterStage we the people suffer. What he doesn’t seem to understand is that he and people like him are regressive for Richmond’s growth. We as a city are trying our hardest to reach our potential and break the glass ceiling that our corrupted leaders of the past and present have placed over our heads. We are tired of the people in power not having the citizens of Richmond’s best interests in mind. Pantele of course says he does, but he really has his property and pockets, his developer friends, and corporate ties as the best interests in his mind. If Pantele gets elected Richmond takes a few steps back.
Yes Don you found me out. You substitute slander for substance. While ostensibly balancing spreadsheets and drinking free coffee, I am secretly in do the bidding of my masters writing on a barely read website. I don’t know where we would be without you to Save Richmond. Your doing a great job.
Hi Paul, without getting in the middle of your fight with Don, could you clarify for us that you are/are not working on a Pantele for mayor campaign? I’m not an insider and don’t know who you are. Thanks
Actually a lot of folk read the websites such as Save Richmond and the community blogs. I’m forty and the people I know between 30 and 45 get their news and opinion from local online sources. All memorial weekend at cookouts and parties in the city and counties people were talking about what they had recently read on online. Online news has the dirt. Times-Dispatch and T.V are a sanitized news source…it’s like bland white flour with all the nutrients beaten out of it.
Don actually digs deeper, has no ties or need to spin and doesn’t hold back on the truth…and you Paul?
Yes Don is very proud of his hit count. As far as holding back on the truth you can judge for yourself. If I’m wrong you can tell me. If I agree I will admit it. Try going on Don’s website and doing that.
You can support whoever you want. My opinion is just that, an opinion. Someone must think Bill is doing a good job. He keeps getting elected, despite the opposition of the local media giant who endorsed his opponent. I don’t open up the editorial page to get my opinion. I have found Don quick on the draw and short on substance.
Also my reference to a barely read website was my own, not his. I encourage discussion, he doesn’t allow any.
What’s your website Paul?
Don, it’s not a bad idea to have a comment area. I tend to hit sites more often if they have that.
I hear you, Gray. And someday we may bring comments back but it won’t be anytime soon. As Paul may know, Save Richmond did have a comment area at one time and we got spammed like crazy (we had your Viagra needs covered, folks). While it doesn’t surprise me that Paul would like to divert this discussion away from details of Bill Pantele’s record and the rather startling admission that he blogs while working for a “major media company,” his argument is really a non-starter. As one of the first in Richmond to blog, numerous people throughout the years (and not just in Richmond) have told us that they started their blogs after seeing ours. I’ll leave it for others to determine whether or not providing timely, independent, thought-provoking content that inspires other bloggers to start their own websites “encourages discussion” or not. I say that if you have something to say, start your own blog. Simple as that. Don’t WHINE that someone owes you space on their site - they don’t. It’s so easy to start a blog nowadays that there is really no excuse. The following story sort of says it all: In January, a new blogger came on the scene with a site that attacked Save Richmond and River City Rapids for not allowing comments. Supposedly this was a heinous violation of his free speech rights or somesuch. Six months have now gone by and this fellow has managed to update his blog a whopping six times — and one of those entries was a rant about how the RTD misspelled his name when he wrote a letter to the editor; some really top-notch, must-read stuff! So, if you are scoring at home: I’m supposed to allow this gentleman unlimited space on MY site at the same time that he’s not even capable of filling and adequately maintaining the space he has on his own blog. Sounds good on Mars, I guess.
Don,
Don’t be disingenuous. You know you quizzed my about this in a half dozen emails. Do you really think I would sell my soul for the vast sum of money I am paid to telemarket a newspaper. What gives you the right to assassinate any body’s character. You’ve never met me or know anything about me. The most substantive criticism you have made is my poor typing. You don’t owe me anything, but you owe your reader a lot more. I have been blogging for 5 years and writing for much longer, but sincerity can’t be measured in words or years. My blogs speak for themselves, both good and bad.
You don’t have to print everything, just a few critical opinions would be interesting. I do have to thank you for boosting my ratings. I personally have stopped reading SR, but I appreciate your recent comments on LAOTC.
Stuart, I am not part of the Pantele for Mayor campaign. I am a 2nd district resident and have been impressed with his hard work, knowledge. I by no means agree with him on everything, but I think he is the best qualified candidate in the race and would do the best job for the city. Paul Goldman is a loose cannon like his former employer, long on ideas, short on results. I never heard of Grey before last week and Jones does not have a background in City government.
I think Bill Pantele has done a good job as City Council president lowering taxes, supporting the schools and local business, hiring the city auditor and uncovering waste in city hall and the school district.
Paul: Over at the Monroe Ward Neighborhood site — which you seem to be turning into an exclusive “Pantele For Mayor” blog — you inform readers that you will be working to elect Bill Pantele. Here, you tell us you aren’t. Which is it?
I repeat:
Paul, which is it? You seem to have all in the time in the world to offer your opinion of my writing on every comment section in town. But you don’t have the time to answer a simple question here:
Over at the Monroe Ward Neighborhood site, you inform readers that you will be working to elect Bill Pantele as Mayor. And here you tell us you aren’t.
Please tell us which is the truth.
Don,
I have posted at least two press releases from Paul Goldman on the mwnn site. You know this, because you posted one of them.
http://monroeward.org/2008/05/28/bill-pantele-announces-his-candidacy-for-mayor/
8. posted by Don at June 2, 2008 2:24 pm
Since this site won’t post news and campaign positions for other candidates, here is a press release I received today from the Goldman campaign:…
Goldman for Mayor - 2 June 08- For Immedite Release:
Later today I will post a list of all candidates on the Monroe Ward site. Other than that I will not use that as a campaign site for any candidate.
Don,
Would be interesting to hear your take on Echo Harbor on the chpn http://chpn.net/news/2008/06/09/a-new-echo-harbor-proposal-emerges/ .
I think the Echo Harbour plan is a travesty and one more reason why Richmond’s motto should be “No Developer Left Behind.” I can’t imagine anyone seriously thinking that taking away this historic view from future generations of both residents and tourists is a good thing for the city.
While we are on the subject, here’s Mayoral candidate Paul Goldman’s very clear statement on Echo Harbour (don’t you wish Mr. Pantele would be so definitive and forthcoming?). From a press release received today:
*****
Goldman for Mayor - 13 June 08 - For Immediate Release
Goldman opposes Echo Harbor says “Grey/Jones/Pantele can run but they can’t hide” as Joe Louis pointed out many years ago.”
Goldman says that “as lawyers, my friends Mr. Grey and Mr. Pantele know that silence is considered acceptance” in these kinds of matters.
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said today that “it is telling that I remain the only leading candidate for Mayor willing to protect the Riverfront and all it means to the future of our City by stating my clear and principled opposition to the Echo Harbor project that continues to receive political aid and comfort from my opponent’s continued refusal to join me in public opposition.”
In a statement, Paul continued:
“Given the news in today’s RTD concerning yet another twist and turn as regards City Hall and it’s activities over time, the Echo Harbour proceeds apace.
Indeed, as the project’s lawyer, James W. Theobald told the RTD today, the “the original plan” is the one they are still determined to build.
Clearly, the continued silence of Mr. Grey, Mr. Jones and Mr. Pantele is giving him and the Echo Harbour developers hope that should any of them get to be Mayor, then the sky is the limit (to use a pun) for this High Rise project that will destroy one of the great scenic treasures of Richmond.
So while I am the only candidate willing to do the right thing and state my public, principled opposition to Echo Harbour, and thereby protect the Riverfront for future generations, I believe the public is on my side.
It is time to say No, once and for all, to Echo Harbour.”