Letter to Norfolk City Council

Most Honorable and Esteemed Norfolk City Council Members:

This e-mail is prompted by the most interesting story in this morning's (Sunday) Virginian-Pilot related to the televising of Norfolk City Council meetings.

I'm not quite sure how "in touch" the opposing council members are, opposed to televised council meetings, that is. I am particularly amused and perturbed that Randy Wright stated (maybe he was grossly misquoted?) that he has not heard a lot of demand for televised meetings. I have seen several letters to the editor, have talked to people in my civic league and have written two letters to the editor and at least as many to council on that topic of televised city council meetings.

Where, oh member Wright, hast thou been keeping thy head? You seem to hear very well the much smaller but wealthier voices of developers over the voices of your own constituents. I am getting to the point that your "service" on council is becoming repugnant to me; it appears more and more to be self-serving to your interests, and to the interests of those with whom you curry favor, certainly not serving to the citizens of your ward nor the citizens of Norfolk at large.

Mayor Fraim, you, too, seem to have deaf ears when it comes to what is prudent in the operation of a city, particularly in the realm of communicating with your citizens, those who elected you and who pay you and who have demanded better interface between city officials and citizens. The only times you have ever communicated with me were the times you were running for re-election. You are the council member for my ward, and I can proudly state I have never voted for you. You have done much to bring Norfolk into the positive national spotlight with respect to growth, pride and recognition, now do the same for intra-city communication between Council and Norfolk citizens.

Get with it, Council. The monies mentioned in the article that are needed to televise council meetings are miniscule compared to boondoggles the Wright faction has recommended in the not all too distant past. And, as for you, Mr. Wright, stick to the printing industry. Your self-centered attitude will serve us much better when you re-establish your sole business interests to be in the private sector. In summary, get those council meeting televised as soon as technically possible, at least within the next 6 months; it can be done. Do it.

Archie R. Whitehill