The Franklin's are Back & Other News

Don’t miss this one 

The Franklin Johnston Group Management & Development LLC, whose principals split from S.L. Nusbaum Realty Co. earlier this year, wants the city of Norfolk to sell them 9.3 acres at 1050 Berkley Avenue, the former Berkley Lumber Yard, to develop a 150 unit apartment complex and 25 single family home sites. The property is assessed at $2.95 million. The city manager recommends that City Council hold a public hearing on the sell.

People want mass transit

That’s according to a survey by the Hampton Roads Transportation Planning Organization, published Sept. 19. Reducing highway congestion was the top priority among respondents, the survey found.

Traffic congestion was the most pressing issue, respondents said. Respondents said the most effective way to reduce traffic congestion was expanding the mass transit system (bus, light, rail, ferry). The second highest priority was the expansion of passenger rail between metropolitan regions. Respondents preferred that tax dollars be spent on light rail, as well as highway construction, in that order (which appears counter productive, really). Respondents were asked what they envision for 2040. In order, it was, first, transit, access/mobility, second, and third, light rail.

National Recognition for Norfolk Neighborhood

West Freemason Neighborhood is one of 10 Great Neighborhoods for 2013, according ot the American Planning Association.

Each year APA’s Great Places in America program names 30 exemplary neighborhoods, streets and public spaces to highlight the role planning and planners play in adding value to communities, including fostering economic growth and jobs.

APA singled out West Freemason for its historic Colonial architecture, community activism that prevented a proposed freeway through the neighborhood, planning efforts to protect the neighborhood’s character and identity, and ongoing revitalization efforts that increased property values in the neighborhood to more than $2 billion since 1990.

In case you missed it, here's the interview with Robert Sarvis, Libertarian candidate for VA governor 

Robert Sarvis, the Libertarian candidate for Virginia governor, is a voice whose message is beginning to resonate among Virginians, who are weary of the dreary dynamic duo of Terry McAuliffe, a democrat, and Ken Cuccinelli, a republican. Many of you may not agree with some of Sarvis’ views. But how many of you agree or support McAuliffe or Cuccinelli? Sarvis is the outlier, the wild card. If you’re fed up with the bleats of McAuliffe and Cuccinelli, please take a moment and read the following interview with Sarvis.

TDN: In general, what is the role of government?

The first role of government is to protect our individual rights and ensure freedom under the rule of law.

TDN: What is the role of government in social issues?

We should be left free to live our lives as we see fit, without government interference, as long as we aren't hurting others.

TDN: What is the role of government in commercial and business affairs?

We should be left free to run our businesses as we see fit, as long as we aren't hurting others. Government has a role in punishing force and fraud and should focus on ensuring that markets remain open and competitive. No industry or company should get special treatment.

TDN: How would you fix Virginia's fractious transportation policy?

Do you believe it's efficient or broke? Give me an example of how it's broken.

Virginia's transportation policy is inefficient, politicized, and overly centralized and bureaucratic. We should be moving closer to a user-pays system, instead we moved away from it toward a regressive tax unrelated to road use. We should decentralize decision-making and empower local jurisdictions, where authorities are more accountable and have better local knowledge about the relative merits of various projects.

TDN: Would you continue to entice companies to relocate or stay in Virginia with tax payer dollars, ie, the Governor's Opportunity Fund?

No. The Opportunity Fund has become a slush fund for political patronage. It's another reason why so much money is wasted on lobbying and provides the environment in which graft and gift-giving become epidemic. We should return the money to taxpayers. Entice companies to Virginia with an improved tax and regulatory regime, a return to the rule of law, and open and competitive markets.

TDN: Would you accept provisions of the Affordable Care Act, namely the acceptance of Medicaid $$$ from the feds to provide healthcare for 400,000 Virginians?

No. It is naive to accept at face value the claims that Medicaid expansion will provide healthcare for 400,000 Virginians. Federal funding is not likely to be maintained at the promised levels, doctors may stop seeing Medicaid patients, increased demand for healthcare services will increase prices if supply is kept constrained. Before accepting federal funds, we need to get policy freedom to construct a more efficient program focused on catastrophic insurance, mental health, and cash subsidies, and we need to free the health care supply by liberalizing restrictions on doctors and especially nurses.

TDN: If you could, what would you change about Virginia's constitution? Just one change, for example.

Repeal the 2006 ban on treating same-sex relationships equally.

TDN: Would you try to repeal McDonnell's tax initiative, which eliminated the

gas tax and boosted the sales tax?

I would like to see a revision of the revenue scheme. The move from a gas tax to an increased sales tax was a regressive move that undermines the connection between revenue and road usage. We need a more rational transportation system that moves closer to user-pays and decentralizes decision-making. Also, we need to prioritize spending so that increased transportation funding doesn't require huge tax increases.

TDN: In many ways, you represent the diversity of America, since your mother is Chinese and you are in an interracial marriage. Do you feel America's future rests

in its diversity, in families such as yours?

America's future rests in its young people, regardless of origin or ethnic background. I celebrate diversity and believe Virginia and America should be welcoming to all. An open society with freedom and the rule of law is a society that will treat people equally, generate great prosperity broadly shared, and produce rich cultural values.

TDN : Are you the future of the political landscape?

Certainly, as Virginia and America become more diverse, candidates will come to represent that diversity. Whether politicians stand up for freedom, equality, and the rule of law, however, is a different, and more important, question. I certainly hope I am the future in that regard.