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Echo Harbor developers generous to local politicians
The Norfolk’s Examiner connects some dots on the Echo Harbor project and campaign contributions:
The decision on the controversial Echo Harbour development on the James River, has also proved rewarding for some past and present members of Richmond’s City Council, as their campaign accounts have benefited from donations. Thousands of dollars, as documented on the campaign watchdog website VPAP.org, have swelled the coffers of select members of the City Council who will be making the final decision on the hotly debated project.
UPDATE: The site is examiner.com. At first it was showing as Norfolk, though now it seems to have picked up that I’m in Richmond and is branding that way. Either way, the author of the post Isaac Graves is writing from Richmond.
TAGGED: Echo Harbor
Does the Examiner know that we have a councilman and a planning commissioner supporting this thing who are both principals at the architecture firm designing it? Are they aware that the councilman wants to fire our planning director for obstructing his firm’s business that he wants to legislate? Not sure how much more rewarding things can get when you have the power to legislate business for your firm.
Norfolk is looking down on Richmond’s corruption.
Shame, shame shame.
Pardon me for being legalistic, but where’s the corruption here? As far as we know, all contributions were reported and are part of the public record. There is no allegation yet of unreported payments. Mr. Tyler has not participated in any discussions of the special use permit for Echo Harbour because there have been no council discussions. If fact, while there have been numerous filings with the Planning staff, no proposed ordinance has been introduced yet. You might argue the good judgement of various people taking various positions, but that’s different than “corruption.” Just as an aside, is it equally corrupt for an official of a group involved in preservation or planning to take a position oppsing Echo Harbour?
EH is a bad project, unsuited for the location, and it has sucked the air from riverfront development for 3 years. It ought to be voted down. But that’s my opinion, and I don’t have to ascribe evil motives to others who disagree, one of whom is a close friend.
You are incorrect, Stuart.
Baskervill does NOT have an employee on the Planning Commission.
Councilman Bruce Tyler is a duly elected member of City Council and is employed by the architecture firm you mention, Baskervill. He represents the First District, although he lived on Grace Street in Church Hill for many years.
Bruce is my partner and I know that he spends a significant amount of time consulting with the City Attorney as to when his vote might be a conflict of interest.
Hey, just because it is reported does not make it right.
Just because it is reported also does not make it wrong.
I would think if councilman Tyler was so vitally concerned about the legal issues of conflict of interest, he would simply recuse himself from any vote having a hint of conflict with his profession. The knowledge that he is spending those hours and hours checking with the City Attorney seeing what he can get away with is cold comfort indeed.
But it is wrong. And as Richmonders, we are all too familiar with these tactics. Can’t get enough grassroots support? Then go make some political contributions. We saw this before when Donimion Power wanted their SUP for their riverfront high rise in front of Oregon Hill. Again, this Examiner article makes Echo Harbor as clear as day-
Shame, shame , shame.
Scott,
“Wrong” is totally subjective. The standard is what is lawful. As far as we know, these activities are lawful. If there are activities that are not lawful, please report them to the Commonwealth’s Attorney.
I believe Stuart was referring to Bob Mills (Chairman of the City of Richmond’s Planning Commission) of Commonwealth Architects in the Bottom.
With yesterday’s announcement that Dwight Jones has restructured the Economic and Community Development Departments, in effect silencing Rachel Flynn, it appears that the die is being cast for the project to move forward. Jewell, Tyler, Connor and Trammell all but called for her head in May of this year because of her stance against amendments to the Downtown Master Plan. It seems to me that they were served that on a plate yesterday.
Sundagger, ‘lawful’ is a very low standard. Richmond citizens should set OUR standards higher. I say it again- SHAME ON ECHO HARBOR
Lawful is the proper standard. If we go to “wrong”, we go to the Taliban.
If the choice is being compared to the Taliban and watching our riverfront and historic river views go bye-bye, I will choose being compared to the Taliban (and considering who Rush and his corporate attack dog ilk are comparing to the Taliban these days, I will not be in bad company).
Again: SHAME on Echo Harbor for their attempts to ‘legislate’ around the citizens of Richmond.
Take a long look at your City Council, folks….the connected dots create an ugly picture….
(and no, I did not post the following myself, so don’t sue me)
http://onewayrichmond.blogspot.com/2009/09/exit-strategy-of-trust.html
I don’t see anything about City Council. I just see a reference to Marty Jewell. I think the record will show that MJ is the least effective member of council over the past four years. Show me one piece of legislation bearing his name. Whethr MJ is or is not on the take, he certainly is ineffective. His onl;y current claim to fame is that he and Tyler have become a voting bloc.
There’s an article in today’s online Washington Post about the Moonie church; appears they are having some problems both with feuding sons of Rev. Moon over who controls what, and real financial problems. The article focuses on the Wash Times newspaper and other financial areas, but I gotta wonder if Echo Harbor wouldn’t also be affected by their declining fortunes….
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/22/AR2009112202363.html?hpid=artslot