Addiction, Our Economy, Chavez and More

 Addiction

Recent headlines and published financial reports seem to say it all about the region’s economy.

We are addicted to federal dollars.

Yet at the same time some of our largest and most successful companies have thrived on selling and grown rich on catering to the bottom rung of the economic ladder.

Bill would provide funding for Navy ship repairs, carrier refueling
 
Dollar Tree profit climbs almost 27 percent in 2012

Huntington Ingalls' profit drops 25% in fourth quarter

Portfolio Recovery Associates, which now calls itself a financial and business services company instead of a debt collector, saw its net income jump 26 percent, from $100.8 million in 2011 to $126 million while revenues were $592.8 million in 2012, up from $458.9 million in 2011.

Amerigroup, which manages healthcare for Medicaid recipients, has been absorbed by Wellpoint Inc., in a deal that is sure to change the competitive landscape of the industry in delivering managed care to the impoverished, the elderly, the blind and disabled.

Amerigroup’s financial status will not be available to the public any longer, ending a fascinating journey begun by Virginia legislator Jeff McWaters who created the company.

Wellpoint’s purchase of Amerigroup was precipitated, in large part, by the Affordable Care Act, which will take effect next year.

The General in His Labyrinth
Sometimes a global event is good for the soul and shows us that we don't live in isolation.

The death of Hugo Chavez, the left wing leader of Venezuela and a self-styled doppelganger of Fidel Castro, who is still alive, will change the politics of the southern hemisphere.

Chavez thumbed his nose (and his finger) at the United States gained notoriety when he delivered fuel oil to freezing residents of New York City.

His gesture was meant to show the world that the great and wise and rich America can’t take care of its most needy citizens.

One more thing – this may change the price of gasoline at the pump.

CITGO, which is owned by the Venezuelan government, sells millions of gallons of gasoline in the United States. 


Don’t Kill the Animals
Just out this week.

A coalition has formed No-Kill Hampton Roads, a group whose mission is to end the euthanasia of healthy, treatable animals in Hampton Roads shelters.

The No-Kill equation is a proven, cost-effective method that has successfully ended shelter killing in other cities nationwide, the group said.

No-Kill Hampton Roads is dedicated to a future where no healthy or treatable animal shall be killed for lack of space or resources, the group said.

More information can be found at www.NOkillHR.org.

Street Lights
…Are still out on Westover Street, between Mowbry Arch and Botetourt St. in Norfolk.

A Dominion Power notice on the poles says an underground cable was damaged, as the reason for the outage.

That section of Westover was torn up in past weeks to install new sewer lines, replacing the old ones that were deteriorating.

The question is: who is responsible for the damaged cable? The contractor? The city?

Regardless, nothing has been done to fix the damaged cable. Yet.

Maybe negotiations are underway at City Hall to fix the problem. Or perhaps this indiscretion might see a resolution in court.

Meanwhile, the street is dark and ripe for muggers.

Boxes
Landscape work on 21st Street reveals an ugly truth.

Total Wine’s storefront is stacked with empty boxes – to some an eyesore, to others nothing of consequence.

To the Ghentiles, this is totally unacceptable.

Unintended Consequences

While restricting trucks on Hampton Boulevard to certain times appears politically expedient, it has produced something unintended.

Instead of 100 trucks traveling down Hampton Boulevard within 24-hours, now those 100 trucks are jammed into an eight hour timeframe, adding to congestion at the tunnels.