Zack Miller Re-invents Norfolk and other News and Gossip

The Zackster 

Looking for a good read, or at least an interesting read, for the summer?

Zack Miller, the head honcho of Hatch Norfolk, promises to tell us something exciting in his new book, Start This, Re-engineering how your city works, Start-Up style.

You can pre-order the book, costing $20.00, at http://startupnerd.co/pre-order-start-this/

Here’s an excerpt from his web site, promoting his book.

Zack Miller, has been leading the charge in Norfolk, Virginia, historically known as the world’s largest navy town into one of the hottest up-and-coming technology hotbeds. Miller will share the stories of how he and other entrepreneurs re-invented Norfolk and how you can help lead the next generation of your city!

But I don’t know if his masterpiece is written yet.

And I’m not sure if Norfolk is re-invented yet, though it could certainly welcome more guns, buns and beer.

Nor am I certain how others who have struggled and sweated in Bi-Polar on the Bay for years to get things done feel about Miller’s boast that he and other entrepreneurs “re-invented” Norfolk.

 Norfolk as a tech hotbed…I’m dazzled by the hyperbole.

But where’s the money? Where are the venture capitalists? The angels?

 Va. Beach goes deeper in debt

Actually, the city’s development authority plans to issue $19.2 million in tax-free bonds next Wednesday, June 5, according to an official statement.

Proceeds of the bonds will finance projects outlined in the city’s six-year improvement program.

The city’s capital projects total $256 million. The development authority will issue up to $80.5 million, and this is the first issue.

The authority is an arm of the city. But when it issues debt, it isn’t booked on the city’s debt side of the balance sheet.

Resignations highlight flaws in Port restructuring

Three directors of Virginia International Terminals Inc., which operates the state-owned marine terminals for the Virginia Port Authority, resigned earlier this week.

The directors – Grace, Holloman and Jones – opposed the merger of VIT with the Port Authority, according to people familiar with the situation.

The directors felt that VIT should remain a separate commercial entity, divorced from state politics and the possibility that a campaign donation could sway preferential treatment at the port.

The re-structuring will shift VIT from a non-stock, non-profit company to a limited liability company with the port Authority as the sole member.

The re-structuring also eliminates the VIT board of directors. Instead, an advisory panel will be created.

Members of the port community felt that the port will become “more politicized.”

“We have squandered our leadership role,” said one individual. “We are not setting the standard anymore; we are following.”

Please, someone offer Jesse Scaccia a job.

Published by Indie News Network LLC