5 Responses to “Graziano opines on the mayor”

1. posted by Don at October 15, 2007 4:51 pm :
   

   Clear things up? Hardly. Ms. Graziano’s vote on CenterStage and her yes vote on handing $80+ million to the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation without taxpayer oversight makes no sense in light of this editorial.

   When she voted to approve the mayor’s “deal” with VAPAF, she said she didn’t believe that council should step in and negotiate when the Mayor had already made the decisions and ironed out the details.

   Here, in this editorial, she seems to be saying totally different about the mayor’s so-called “absolute” power.

   I guess it all depends on which political wind is blowing at the time, or which bigwig contributor is calling.

2. posted by Scott Burger at October 15, 2007 7:16 pm :
   

   Yep. Don’s right.

   Forget about the tiresome back and forth, its about priorities.
   Council and the Mayor care more about their bigwigs’ opera house for the rich than public schools.

3. posted by Noah at October 15, 2007 9:28 pm :
   

   I wanted to voice my support for Mrs. Graziano and her comments - I also voted for a directly elected mayor and hoped that it would be good for the city - I voted for Wilder hoping he would bring change to city government - obviously the change we have gotten is not the change I wanted - I think anyone who is familiar with city politics knows that the the author’s of the previous two posts don’t live in the 4th District and haven’t had the opportunity to be represented by Mrs. Graziano - Scott should concentrate on getting steamrolled by VCU!

4. posted by Don at October 16, 2007 3:21 am :
   

   Noah: With all due respect, Ms. Graziano’s votes affect everyone in Richmond, not just the people in her district. And her editorial was on a contentious citywide issue — which CenterStage also was. If you are happy with her representation, good on ya’! But I hope you aren’t saying that only city residents in the 4th district who have had “the opportunity” to be represented by Ms. Graziano can criticize Ms. Graziano - that would be a new one.

   I’m not even criticizing the content of her T-D editorial. Taken as a stand-alone document, I absolutely agree with her point of view and her position on Wilder’s power grab. I just wonder why she displays a shifting view on Mayoral powers when it seems convenient.

   So maybe you know — which is it? The view expressed in this extremely reasonable and thoughtful editorial… or the one she expressed when a $80+ million, 40-year giveaway to a private foundation was on the docket and she had the power to amend the deal to protect taxpayers and assure oversight and she did nothing. Her reason for doing nothing: She didn’t believe that council had the power to “negotiate” or serve as a check and/or balance to the Mayor’s deal with the Virginia Performing Arts Foundation.

   As the man says: “Wha….?”

   By the way, two months have gone by and we still haven’t seen the economic data and studies that VAPAF and the Mayor’s office cited (but couldn’t produce) in order to justify that huge unregulated payout. And thanks to this City Council — including Ms. Graziano — we probably never will.

5. posted by Don at October 16, 2007 3:29 am :
   

   Sorry, it’s late. One month has gone by, not two months.

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