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Newbille describes new 7th District team, 2010 budget predictions
12/13/2009 9:15 AM by John M
A full house turned out for Cynthia Newbille’s first 7th District meeting yesterday at EDI. The standing-room-only audience was treated to a detail-oriented 2-hour meeting that covered budget predictions for 2010, the process for building new schools, the forming of a new 7th District team, info on H1N1, and more…
Silver Persinger of the Richmond City Council Reporter and Telegraph was at the meeting with his video camera. I’ll post links as he uploads the video.
- Ms.Newbille urged the public to actively support the City Council’s Legislative Agenda being sent to the General Assembly. (I’ll post a link to that here later today – JM)
- 2010 budget: lower than projected revenue to the tune of $10.3 million. In addition, changes to the Composite Index will cost Richmond $9,000,000/year through 2012. Via VDOE: “The composite index of local ability-to-pay is the measure used to determine the state and local shares of education costs, and it is based on local sources of revenue”; various factors that determine the CI make Richmond appear more affluent than we are, apparently.
- Newbille will be pulling together a new 7th team of civic associations, business leaders, tenant orgs, other groups. To meet in January, more info TBA.
- Dr.Danny Avala, Oakwood Ave resident and Deputy Director from VA Dept of Health spoke on H1N1. Short version: it’s better than last month, but we’re not even into the regular flu season yet. At this point anyone that would like to be vaccinated should be able to do so.
- 6th Districts School Board representative Chandra Smith gave an update on the process for building new schools. There is still one more public input meeting left on this and everyone is encouraged to attend. (Keep an eye out for Silver’s video. Ms.Smith had a lot to say & said it well.)
- An audience member pointed out that there is a petition circulating to get the after school activities back into Chimborazo Elementary that were cancelled after last spring’s shooting. The 1st Precinct’s Captain Johnson said that the activities will be back up, that different interested groups have been organizing to ensure that the environment will be safe. No date was set, but it sounds like this will likely be back before the end of this school year.
- Dexter C. White, Director of the City of Richmond’s Department of Public Works, spoke on working to make solid waste pickup in the city more efficient. There are changes coming to trash pickup: DPW will be getting new bigger trucks, which will allow for fewer routes that require fewer staff, thus saving money. Bulk pickup will move to same day pickup as regular. Probably recycling, too. Some folks pick-up will move to Wednesday. Leaf collection begins Jan 4.
- Update on Union Hill Home Fund: ACORN is taking donations for this, nonprofit to help low income folks in the O&H.
silver, just a request:
could you avoid repeatedly video taping the audience at these informal gatherings? your frequent panning of the audience yesterday creeped me out.
honestly, a gal (or a guy) should be able to roll out of bed on a saturday morning, not have to fix hair or makeup, and wear paint-spattered dungarees to an informal neighborhood meeting WITHOUT having to worry about showing up on the internet.
and folks wonder why more citizens don’t attend informal governmental meetings? because what used to be a neighborhood meeting with our council person is now a reality-tv-show.
having a video cam recording the audience makes me nervous. if i ask a question, why should my stutter or stammer live forever on the internet?
now i understand why cameras aren’t always allowed in courtrooms. an etch-a-sketch, however, would be more suitable.
I see a definite value to having a video recording of the area meetings, especially since turnout is usually much lower than it was yesterday. It seems like a good way to get information out to folks that can not or do not get to the meetings.
With that said, I understand your reluctance to be recorded. When I have done video for 7th District meetings in the past, I have kept the camera on the public speakers (for example). My take is that gov’t representatives and the like have signed on for a more public role, while the audience has not (even though it is a public meeting, informal or not).
Even my approach, though, will pick up the voices of the audience when they ask questions or put forth comments. How does this strike you? I’m interested in what folks might have to say here.
I’ve urged the local civic associations to consider stating their stance on recording during meetings. Things that happen at CHA or Union Hill meetings etc are sometimes locally newsworthy and sometimes grab attention city-wide. Any organization holding a public meeting should be able to articulate a policy on the recording of meetings that applies equally to any local tv stations, newspaper reporters, citizen journalists, or other folks with a camera and an interest.
John, i’m ok with recording the audio from audience questions at meetings like this (that means i can still dress like a slob and attend a meeting.)
BUT i do think video recording of routine Civic Assoc. mtgs would have a chilling effect on neighborhood advocacy and citizen involvement.
i dunno about you, but i don’t want to be part of a reality tv show–with video cams recording every meeting with me & my neighbors.
yes, some things do become newsworthy beyond our ‘hood after weeks/months of brewing at a neighborhood level (remember, we’re all volunteers in this thing, with day jobs and other lives.)
but that’s the beauty of the neighborhood civic association, we hash it out at a grassroots level: it’s sometimes awkward or a little sloppy, but we eventually shore it up and take it to the next level.
folks need to be able to honestly argue & debate with their neighbors without worrying their discussion is being recorded and broadcast.
sometimes folks get emotional, they might say something in a meeting in a heated way, then a couple days later, when cooler heads prevail, they clear it up with anyone who might have taken offense. it’s a natural course of dialogue and imo, it doesn’t deserve to be video-recorded and broadcast.
that said, by the time a major neighborhood initiative gets to the School Board, Planning Commission or City Council level, then folks are ready to be media fodder.
John, please note that I’m not complaining about your coverage–it’s great–it’s just we’ve seen that the local richmond media love drama, and that’s really all they’re looking for when they come up to the hill: drama. not news.
In my experience, audience members are photographed/recorded once they ask a question or there is a crowd shot if the meeting is exceptionally packed. If the meeting is in a private space, a ban or recording can be made. Regardless, the right not to be photographed by any entity ends the second someone steps out of their door and into view a public space (including their yards). It’s a little more complicated than that (e.g. happening to walk past someone shooting a TV show) but, in general, especially with today’s technology, you are being recorded.
Given that, did anyone get a sense of why that reporter from Style was at the meeting yesterday, or catch her name?
I’m confused; I thought this was a Seventh District meeting, not a Church Hill meeting. Does Silver (or anyone else) routinely tape and smallcast regular civic association meetings?
We’re concerned that Style Weekly is ginning up division over the O&H issue for Union Hill. They’ve had one or two reporters poking around for the past two weeks and so we’re just bracing for another attack from that magazine and I saw that reporter on Saturday pulling folks aside to ask more questions about it and the Home Fund.
I know Style Weekly used to be a responsible news outlet, I’m just having trouble remembering when.
Controversy generates readers. All news outlets understand that and act accordingly. It’s a shame they feel like they have to generate that controversy themselves.
i can understand why people are reluctant to be immortalized on video especially when they are spouting off about hysterical preservation. media is interested as to why legimate opposition to city o&h was minimalized. why were lies about the amount of vacant properties on union hill allowed to pass unchallenged by councilperson newbille at council meetings. the o&h process is a flawed mess that in no way represented the true will of the neighborhood. it aint over till its over. who cares about the astroturf uhca?the two years of sweat and toil matter not one whit when one understands that o&h is a gentrication accellerator that unfairly targets low income residents. by the way according to o&H SUPPORTERS the designation would have no adverse impacts. why then the creation of a building fund? more lies from the liars that brought union hill to this divisive crossroads.maybe if somebody had been keeping a cynical eye on the oligarchs that perpetuate the myth thato&h city districts dont have an effect on longtime residents we wouldnt have the media sticking a mike up everybodys collective keister.that said why no mention that prominent uhca members have thir houses up for sale while lobbying for o&H?the truth WILL SET YOU FREE!buddycorbett
I like to film the audience because it is a record of those in attendance.
I think it is important to show. Without audience shots, it’s impossible to know whether the person is speaking to 5 or 50 people. It’s important historical documentation.
I don’t care about people rolling out of bed. I just rolled of bed myself.
I submit that public meetings are public. I don’t want to chill others’ participation. I am an advocate of increasing participation.
All that being said, I may be more sensitive in the future. These shots are fleeting and aren’t that incriminating.
My apologies for not posting the video yet. When it rains I lose my internet connection.
Buddy Corbett represents a long and storied line of Church Hill motivational speakers, going all the way back to Patrick Henry and his “give me liberty or give me death.” Fortunately, Silver Persinger was documenting this public meeting at the Delta fraternity house a few years back, and was able to capture one of Buddy’s rousing and inspiring speeches for posterity:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MsmybQKpmTw
Buddy is our neighbor and that status brings with it certain rights, privileges and responsibilities, owing both directions. Among those is the right not to be criticized anonymously on this site.
Tomorrow our little corner of the city will be featured, yet again, by Style Weekly. Whether such coverage is deserved or not, I hope we will move on quickly and show the rest of Richmond we mean business not only about historic preservation, but also about preserving the mixed-income and integrated character of our neighborhood. The two are not mutually exclusive and we look forward to proving it.
I also hope that neighbors on both sides of this issue will take time out to enjoy our 3rd Annual Progressive Dessert this Friday. Here is the link to the invitation: http://bit.ly/6OtTqn
A century ago it was the custom of our neighborhood to open our homes during the Christmas season and to share desserts and fellowship with neighbors and friends. Two years ago the modern day neighbors of Union Hill took up that tradition with the first Union Hill Progressive Dessert. Please join us (and spread the word), as Union Hill celebrates the Season by progressing through four homes on December 18th! We have much to celebrate and be thankful for!!
Routinely, no. I believe that Silver attempted to record an association meeting in Northside earlier this year and had some difficulties.
I wasn’t at this meeting, have gone to other 7th District mtgs, but not this one, so I’ve hesitated to post anything. I do sympathize with CapitalGal in #1, but I also support what Silver does, totally. And I think he’s got a really good point in saying that it matters whether the speaker is speaking to 5 or 50 people, so at least a scan of the audience is okay.
Silver is the only person that I’m aware of who does video of meetings, and I find it really helpful particularly when I can’t attend the meetings. His council vids have been really good. I look forward to seeing the vid of this particular meeting, and thanks, Silver, for what you do. It takes time and effort that could be put to use elsewhere, so please know that at least on person appreciates it (though I won’t roll out of bed and show up like I do for other Saturday errands, wearing a hat and trying to hide!)
Silver has posted video from Saturday’s meeting.
anybody that would like me to speak to their church or civic association can reach me thru my agent mr. freeatlast unless he is busy at his other job tongue cleaning my taint. merry christmas!buddycorbett
ahhh, the sweet taste of the truth…
I can only assume that fol,fol is using a different definition of taint when he/she speaks of the of the sweet taste?? Or perhaps it is an acquired taste?
we need a remake of animal house. kathy graziano was channeling dean vernon wermer at the recent city council meeting when the hapless uhca was begging to be allowed to join the citys elite O&H districts. ther was enuf asssucking to make niedameyer and marmalard proud . seriously watching charles samuels clueless self voting on an ordinance he hadnt even looked at was worthy of double secret probation. any more casting suggestions?i of course will play bluto blutarski as a sop to typecasting.buddycorbett
what is “taint”?
Pardon me for being crude, but I believe it is that spot between your genitals and your anus. ‘taint your genitals and ‘taint your anus.
buddy suggests “tongue cleaning” it and folfol replies with “the sweet taste of the truth” Does anyone else find this just hilarious? I am dying here. The English langage is just better than SNL or a remake of Animal House for that matter.
I’m howling! Read some of the last few comments to my husband and he asked, “What is that thread on?”
Taint (slang)
Taint is a term used to refer to the perineum (the region of the human body between the testicles or vagina and the anus ). This term has no basis in medical terminology and is most often considered lewd and mildly obscene. The word taint is derived from the combination of the words “it” and “ain’t” run together to form the ”taint.” The joke commonly being: “I t ain’t your balls (or poontang) and i t ain’t your ass.”
but it taint unpleasant.
LOL oh my Bill where the heck did you get that definition? A dictionary of slang that I’ve never heard of? I’m serious, in spite of the laughter I’m having, as to the source!!!!!!!!!!!
I know of it as ” ‘t’aint pussy and ‘t’aint ass.” I was hesitant to tell #20 that, but now that Bill has taken us all back to laughter and serious definitions…guess I’ve lost my hesitation!
Gray, I share your laughter with your husband!!!!
BTW what on earth was the original topic of this thread? Oh yea….never mind!
sheesh…sorry I asked…