Richmond could be better. The whole state of Virginia could be better for that matter. The problem with this state is the people who run it. Tim Kaine has ruined the budget but hey what do you expect? Liberals seem to have a bad habit of spending money in all the wrong places. The places that never seem to actually create any kind of return. They like to flush money down the toilet of programs that basically are designed to create perpetual poverty and government dependancy. Go, ahead…get on here and spew all the same old crap like, “oh you’re just a dumb racist right wing wacko.” It’s so hilarious now adays. Conservatives get drug through the mud because we don’t embrace retarded leftist, go nowhere social ideology. But, you know what? Just for one second, take a completely and totally OBJECTIVE stance on the differences between the two views and you know what you will find? I’ll tell you what you’ll find. Common sense runs a conservative mind. So go ahead. Keep up the “hope” and “change”. Follow our leaders that can’t seem to pay their own taxes, yet seek to publically ruin those who are just like them. Go ahead and follow this racist Judge Sotomayor. And most importantly, keep following this completely unworthy president who, in all of his infinite wisdom, somehow came to the conclusion that spending more than has ever been spent in the history of the United States at one time is the way to get OUT of debt. Keep following your stupid, insane liberal leftist news media brainwashing channels. LIBERALS MAKE ME SICK.

Scott Burger says:
“- Richmond is going to have to embrace green building as it grows and resources become more scarce.”

One can only hope. IMHO – Higher gas prices are a city’s best friend. Increased gas taxes could and should help fund a new “green” infrastructure. Let those who use scarces resources fund viable alternatives.

I personally would like to see a nice green roof garden on top of the Richmond Public Library. It would certainly improve the view from MY living room.

Mr. So Very Anonymous Says:
“The city has its perks, and it’s far better now than 10-20 years ago, right? I think the trick is to lower your expectations. It’s not suddenly going to become as progressive as San Francisco”

If we ever get as progressive as San Francisco, I’m moving to Maine, Nova Scotia or someplace less “progressive”. News Item – SF Mayor proposes tax on sugary soft drinks to offset increased health care costs.

Lynn Says:
June 30, 2007 at 11:35 pm

“I despise City Council – total good for nothings. ”

Well, I strongly dislike (not quite despise) Doug Wilder, so between the two of us we we’ve got city government covered. BTW, What did Bill Pantele ever do to you?

Ross says:
July 2, 2007 at 8:53 am
“If we can’t take the time to have serious conversations about the race/class issues (that have plagued our city for the last 400 years) we aren’t going to get anywhere.”

Sometimes the best way to get beyond something is just to move on. Constanly reopening old wounds never allows them to heal. Also “serious” conversations about race are usually hijacked by those who know how to press the hot buttons, witness Doug Wilder’s most recent contributions.

ambivalentrichmonder Says:
July 3, 2007 at 11:51 am
“I don’t think many folks here want to turn Richmond into Charlotte,”

and neither do I, BUT we could learn a lot from Charlotte and other cities that have benefitted from better cooperation between City and County and are not saddled by the Dillon Rule.

Jeff E. Says:
August 27, 2007 at 7:49 am
“Richmond’s core is really coming together to become a destination not only to Richmond-area residents but visitors alike”

I agree to an extent. I can list dozens of projects in the urban core and see great reason for hope, but on the flip side Shockoe Bottom itself is barely better off that it was when I moved here 7 years ago, full of half empty store fronts and a market that is woefully under exploited. I have spoken to longtime Richmonders who couldn’t find it with a roadmap let alone out of town visitors. We desperately need a tourist friendly trolley system connecting Carytown, Downtown, Shockoe Bottom and Churchhill. The pieces are all in place. Now we just have to connect the dots.

Take a walk down 14th Street and you can really notice the change, whether it’s the restored buildings on the corner of 14th and Main, the new furniture store, the new deli across the street, the new 1500 person music venue, or the attractive condominium tower on the canal.

Richmond’s core is really coming together to become a destination not only to Richmond-area residents but visitors alike. I too would like to see things moving faster but honestly I think in these days of instant gratification we expect too much to happen in a short period of time. Richmond is heading in the right direction and has a very bright future. Now if we could only get a council with vision that will help move the city forward instead of doing its best to put the brakes on. Put the right people in power and perhaps we’ll see our beautiful parks get the money and attention they deserve, our streets and sidewalks repaired, and the days of cronyism and corruption put long behind us.

I think a lot of our veneration of the past comes from a desire to remember ourselves (meaning our region) when we were signficant. But we do so often by whitewashing (pun intended) the past and ignoring the hurt that was inflicted on others during our glory days. If we’re to address the social ills we face today, and the psychological barriers that keep the problems from being solved, we must tell our collective story honestly.

Did any of y’all see the Roots perform at Richmond’s 400th party? I thought that was a nice example of celebration combined with truth-telling. Basically, ?uestlove talked honestly about the history of this country and its painful past, then played Bob Dylan’s Masters of War in order to celebrate an American icon who wasn’t afraid to be a prophet. I was damn impressed with our region that we could pull off an event like that!