Paul Spangler was synonymous with Bristol Virginia city government. As city manager, he held the reins for 18 years - a remarkable tenure in his line of work. Plenty of city managers leave after a few years.
Spangler was sometimes a controversial figure and was known for running a tight ship. Some loathed him; some loved him. Regardless, his departure brings uncertainty, although the change could be good.
Much of what I could say about the Andrea Petrosky case was encapsulated in today’s editorial on the subject.
The plea agreement strikes me as the best resolution of a horrible case. What good would be served by executing Andrea Petrosky? Ending her life won’t bring back her son.
The Bristol Virginia City Council’s decision to urge reconsideration of a controversial affordable housing project is hardly a surprise. It is disappointing, but not surprising. City leaders are pandering to a small segment of the population who oppose this project based on unfounded fears. It’s government reduced to popularity contest.
I urge everyone to read this guest column by Ben Talley, an award-winning elementary school science teacher at the very school that project opponents claim will be overcrowded and ruined by the arrival of apartment residents. Talley says the claims aren’t valid and makes a compelling moral argument in support of the project to boot.
What happens next is anyone’s guess? But after all the posturing, the city should do the right thing and let this project move forward. That’s our view.
If you are opposed to the project or sitting on the fence, what would help alleviate your fears?
- Andrea Hopkins
Conventional wisdom says that now, with Labor Day behind us, we’re all focusing on the upcoming midterm elections. We have eight weeks to weigh the pros and cons and make a decision.
There’s plenty on the ballot to capture one’s attention. There’s the Boucher-Carrico race and the Allen-Webb race in Virginia. In Tennessee, we have the Davis-Trent race (for Bill Jenkin’s seat) and the Corker-Ford race (to replace Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist).
Both states also have the so-called “marriage amendments” on the ballot.
Over the weekend, I took my children on a walking tour to visit the six new street sculptures gracing downtown Bristol. I recommend that everyone do this. Their reactions were interesting. By that I mean, that each of them had a different favorite and different thoughts about each of the pieces. They do not mirror my views or my husband’s views that I outlined in my column on Sunday.
Even the 5-year-old had a favorite, and he had clear reasons for his choice. (Actually, his favorite statues are the bronze depictions of soldiers and sailors at the city’s war memorial, but that wasn’t one of the six choices).
The latest Bristol controversy revolves around an affordable housing development in the Exit 7 area. The residents of a nearby subdivision are hopping mad. They include a lady who left a voice mail this morning suggesting that the Herald Courier ought not have an opinion ... on anything. We have no leadership role in the community, according to this woman.
I suspect what she really means is that the newspaper shouldn’t have an opinion unless it compliments hers. We’ve been down this road before. Does anyone recall Viking Hall?
This letter writer takes exception with the editorial board’s stance on the beer permit for the Mad Greek. For those unfamiliar with Bristol, this is a locally owned pizza parlor on Volunteer Parkway. Its closest neighbors include a church, a day care center, an elementary school, offices for a medical testing company and a go-kart track. Bristol Motor Speedway is a mile or so away.
I do not understand the uproar about beer sales here. There are convenience stores very close by that sell unlimited amounts. Joe Six-pack is much more likely to grab a beer at the convenience store than at the pizza place, where eating is the primary goal.
A task force studying the formation of a metro school district in Sullivan County plans to hold those discussions behind closed doors. No press. No public. No way for you to find out what’s being said about the hottest topic in the county and its cities these days.
Are you angry? Do you care? Is this merely another example of business as usual in our region?
If you could make one argument against secrecy in this case, what would it be? What would you say to the government officials involved?
By the end of the week, almost all of the region’s schools will be back in session. It still bothers me that school starts so early. August is still summer, after all. Last week, the kids and I crammed in all the vacation activities we’d been meaning to do, but just hadn’t gotten around to - Bays Mountain Park, Steele Creek Park, Putt-Putt, the mall, Wetlands Water Park and a trip to the Coomes Center to swim.
But now, thoughts turn to school. My middle one starts kindergarten. This is a big change.
What changes are you all seeing as your kids (or you, if you are younger) head back to school this year. More p.e.? Bans on sodas? Stricter dress codes? Less recess? Let us know what is going on in your school. If there’s something that you think we should be writing about, we want to know about it. Your chance to sound off starts now.
- Andrea Hopkins
My apologies to regular blog followers (both of you) for the prolonged silence. Of late, the election has demanded most of my attention. With just days to go, I thought I would shift topics to the sales tax holiday.
I’ve read the research - real benefit for working- and middle-class families vs. political gimmick. At this point, I’m prepared to side with the first school of thought. I have two kids headed to school this year (4th grade and kindergarten) and this will help. I’m not so sure it will help the businesses, since it just means I’ll buy all the stuff at once this year. I do buy the argument that it will help Tennessee businesses because I’ll shop closer to home instead of heading to Exit 7 to avoid the state’s outrageous sales tax rate.
What about you? Are you planning to take advantage of the sales tax holiday?
- Andrea Hopkins
Annexation has been a dirty word in Sullivan County in the past. In fact, the city of Bristol Tennessee and the county fought it out in court more than once. The advent of the smart growth law might have changed the landscape. I’m not sure how to gauge public opinion on the issue, because it hasn’t come up much lately.
I make those statements as a prelude to discussion of Bristol Tennessee’s plan to acquire about 700 acres of land, possibly for a new industrial park. The city also has outlined thousands of acres of property that could eventually be part of the city. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Cities must grow to survive. An inability to grow is part of Bristol Virginia’s financial problem.
My question is this: Have we reached the point where annexation is a less contentious issue in Sullivan County?
- Andrea Hopkins
Calling all Bristol Virginia residents (or interested bystanders) who read this blog. Who do you blame for the current city budget standoff?
Is City Council being unreasonable to suggest the school system must share the pain and trim its budget? Is the school system at fault for digging in its heels and seeming to eschew compromise? Are you angry about City Manager Paul Spangler’s remark that the school system is “a drain” on the city budget?
Beyond the blame game, should the city raise taxes or make more cuts? What should be cut?
- Andrea Hopkins
Show of hands: Is there anyone who isn’t annoyed by those booming car stereos that seem to be the automotive accessory of choice for today’s angry young man?
I grit my teeth whenever one pulls alongside my car at a traffic light. Forget about carrying on a conversation or listening to talk radio, the news or one’s own choice of music when these inconsiderate boors are about. The ones that can shake the windows in my home (which sits back from the street) are even worse. This appears to be the entire point ... since it certainly isn’t about listening to the music.
Bristol Virginia city leaders are in a difficult spot. The city budget is $1.9 million out of whack. Three broad options exist: Raise taxes, cut services or do a combination of the two. No matter what they choose, someone’s going to be unhappy.
Not to kick city leaders while they are down, but ... profligate spending in past years (remember the Red Lobster deal?) and an addiction to bonded indebtedness as a method of covering routine expenses (like replacing police cars) are partially to blame for this pickle. Throw in skyrocketing health insurance costs, increased contributions to the state retirement system and fuel costs for good measure.
Bristol Tennessee leaders are pursuing an ambitious school construction and renovation plan that will prepare the district for the next decades. Total cost is projected to be $78.8 million over 40 years.
The plan calls for replacement of Fairmount Elementary (the city’s oldest) and Central Elementary with a single consolidated school on the Fairmount site. Vance Middle School would be renovated as well.
We’ve editorialized in support of the plan and I discussed pros and cons in a column on Sunday. The city is beginning a series of public meetings on the plan tonight. But so far, I’ve heard nothing in response. What do you think?
- Andrea Hopkins
This doesn’t refer to what your kids do all day, but rather Bristol Tennessee’s ambitious plan for school building improvements and/or new construction. City and school leaders have in hand a study that details the conditions of the city’s schools and needed improvements.
Joe Geraghty hit some of the high points of the lengthy study in an article in today’s newspaper. Meanwhile, the first public meeting on the study happens tonight at 7 p.m. at the city hall annex.
Bristol Tennessee leaders are preparing to relax the city’s beer rules to allow a downtown pizzeria to serve beer near Serving Christ, a Christian ministry that feeds the homeless on Saturday and holds a more formal church service on Sundays. The city’s zoning rules say churches aren’t allowed downtown, but the church will be allowed to stay. Which is fine.
But the church shouldn’t be allowed to stop the natural progression of development in downtown. A pizzeria will be a fine addition to downtown. We’ll take a more in depth look at this tomorrow on the editorial page.
What do you think? Share your thoughts either before or after tomorrow’s editorial.
- Andrea Hopkins
In less than a month, Virginia and Tennessee voters will make important decisions in some local races. While these elections don’t make the splash of the presidential or congressional contests, they are equally (or more) important.
The people who sit on City Council or School Board or serve as county mayor or judge are more likely to make decisions that directly impact your lives. So go vote. To help voters, we have posted the candidates questionnaires and a wealth of other information on our Web site. Search for the keyword: election.
In the coming days, the newspaper’s editorial board (of which I am a member) will be sharing its thoughts on the candidates. We’ve met with 19 candidates in three weeks time. It’s been a whirlwind of activity (thus the lack of activity on this blog).
We will make recommendations in a number of races. Many of the choices are close, as there are a number of good candidates out there. Candidates who are not recommended will get the opportunity to respond in writing, if they choose. Newspaper readers also may weigh in; just send me a letter to the editor. However, we will not run letters that are strictly endorsements. Letters must deal with the issues.
We’re not telling people how to vote; we’re just offering our thoughts on those best qualified to lead.
Andrea Hopkins
The Bristol tree debate continues. In response to my Sunday musings about the downtown trees, two different opinions about the species of tree have emerged.
Dr. Don Ellis, a local dentist who has headed the Bristol Tennessee Tree City effort for years, says the trees are aristocrat pears, not Bradford pears. And, as such, they are not fragile or prone to breakage of disease. He says he knows because he was involved when they were planted.
With equal authority, Bill Dennison, Bristol Virginia’s deputy city manager, says the trees are Bradford pears, because that is what the city ordered and paid for as part of a 1982 urban renewal project.
Perhaps a third opinion is needed.
This time of year, Bristol’s State Street is beautiful, as the Bradford pear trees are covered in white blossoms. In the summer, the leafy trees give shade from the sun and the white lights wrapped through their branches are beautiful at night. I cannot imagine State Street without them.
Some downtown business owners don’t share my opinion, and city leaders are toying with the idea of chopping them down, although they acknowledge such a move could be “controversial.” For good reason, the trees make downtown a prettier place. Not all of the buildings are that attractive. Speaking only for myself at this moment (and not the editorial board, since we haven’t discussed it), this idea should be a non-starter.
Andrea Hopkins