Governor Elect Bob McDonnell will be sworn in as Virginia’s 71st governor on Saturday, January 16, 2010 at the State Capitol Building. Click here for a list of events and the Inauguration Website.
What hopes do you have for the Commonwealth of Virginia under this new governor? We alr4eady know there will be a very tight budget. Will our state income tax go up by a point? Does it matter if it does? Would you rather have a larger sales tax or larger income tax? Can Governor-elect McDonnell run the state without increasing taxes? Was his no new tax campaign promise realistic? Does anyone plan on attending the festivities? Will the party faithful from Prince William County be attending?
My wish list is more local than state:
1. That every citizen gets engaged and connected at the local level. Get to know your neighbors. Join a group. Get involved in 2010. Help revitalize our communities. A participatory democracy is more than voting on election day. Let your state legislators know what you want, but also, figure out how you can make things happen at the local level.
2. That more people come forward to run for elected office or volunteer on a board, commission or committee. So far the three seats opening up on Manassas City Council are unchallenged and there are openings on four boards/commissions/committees.
3. That the city’s May elections get changed to November elections. That primaries are run more cost effectively (vote at central locations instead of opening up all precincts).
4. That every person is counted in the Census 2010. Help make that happen by getting accurate information out. Right now the news is the hiring and training for census taker jobs. Call 703-881-4650 for more information.
Top of the list for The Commonwealth: OPEN the Rest Areas.!!!!
I can’t explain how I felt the first time I drove by the boarded up Rest Areas on 66. I would guess it looks quite UN-welcoming to those visitors to The Commonwealth.
Those boarded-up rest areas were a slap in the face to some friends and relatives who were stuck on the highway for over l6 hours during the blizzard two weeks ago. There could not have been a clearer message sent that the governor could care less about public safety and well-being.
I’ll never forget that cold, windy but bright January day in 1990
when L. Douglas Wilder was sworn in as Governor of Virginia.
The grandson of slaves, working his way up past segregation and
proverty to become the highest ranking official in the
Commonwealth is a great and moving story.
Still remember my tears when he looked out to the audience and
declared “I am a son of Virginia”.
A powerful moment for our state and country.
PR, I am so glad that you brought up Doug Wilder’s inauguration. I felt exactly the same way as you did. I thought about it as I posted this thread, although I see very very similarities. Doug Wilder was a good governor and it was an historic moment.
Emma and Lafayette, I totally agree. It is just an embarrasment and a slap in the face. It also severaly punishes pet owners who might like to travel.
Cindy, I don’t know why a person would even want to run for public office. They are treated horribly before during and after an election. Jeanette Rishell comes to mind. Why would anyone want to subject themselves to that hidious treatment. All it takes is one person.
I don’t know, I was sort of surprised to hear it was Sean Connaoughton’s first priority as Transportation Tzar to open those rest stops. (I am only calling him a tzar because I can’t remember the actual title of his position, so all Glenn Beck tin-foil hat wearers, please save your feigned panic and alarm for Monday’s foolish reason to be panicked and alarmed.)
Seriously though, Connaughton was always a sensible leader, very non-partisan and put the county first before ego or ambition. He was the opposite of what we have now in other words. I just wonder if these rest stops should be at the top of the list of saves. What if we sold the property to gas stations and/or fast food restaurants? Then people would have a place to go to the bathroom, or gas up, or get a 7 layer burrito AND the state could earn some revenue not only from the land sale but the tax on property and sales.
Witness, not everyone wants to stop at gas stations and fast food joints to relieve themselves . Some of the Rest Areas were Welcoming Centers full of useful information/maps. The privatization of rest areas is about as appealling to me as the privatization of the VA ABC Package Stores. I do not think either of these things should/needs to be privatized, but that’s just my opinion.
I won’t even touch your Sir Sean comments.
Are fast-food restaurants and gas stations required to provide bathrooms to the public? Just wondering if you would find signs that say “no public bathrooms” or “customers only” so that you’d be forced into buying something in order to use the facilities off the highway.
Virginia cannot privatize those areas because of some federal regulation. They would have to get some sort of waiver. I don’t remember the details. Surely those more knowledgeable than I can fill in the details.
Lafayette, I won’t touch the Sir Sean comments either.
Witness,
For argument’s sake let’s say I was in favor of privatization of the Rest Areas. If privatization were to become a reality selling of real estate is NOT a good idea, especially with the current low property values. The Commonwealth should NOT sell off their land. They should offer a long-term lease to those businesses at the Rest Areas. The state already earns revenue from the gas stations and fast food joints. Why “South of The Border” up Virginia’s rest areas with chains and do away with Welcoming Centers with useful information for visitors? Keep that crap(places of businesses) off the exit ramps and not along our highways!!
I wish someone could come along with an update on the rest area situation.
I agree with you about long term lease, if possible.
Maryland’s rest areas put Virginia’s to shame. And those are privatized, I think.