A dissenting voice on Rosen
Court Rosen
In reporting today’s profile of Court Rosen and his path from barely getting elected to Roanoke City Council in 2008 to winning the post of vice mayor as the top vote-getter this year, I heard time and again how he has built support by showing up at neighborhood and community events.
However, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point readers to at least one person who disagrees: Valerie Garner.
Since Garner’s a journalist for another newspaper, I don’t generally contact her as a source except in her capacity as president of the Countryside Neighborhood Alliance. But with a blog, there’s no reason I can’t link this post on her page, in which she criticized Rosen for one of the reasons he was praised by others — showing up for neighborhood meetings. In this case, she wrote, he was uninvited and unwelcome.
Garner and Rosen were both candidates in the 2008 council race — she as an independent and he as a Democrat. This year she didn’t run but instead covered the race — including this story in which she suggested Rosen was supporting Republican Mark Lucas for mayor over Democrat David Bowers.
For what it’s worth, I saw Rosen at some of Bowers’ events — including a campaign announcement where Rosen and the rest of council endorsed Bowers — but never saw him at a Lucas event.
In reporting today’s story, I asked Bowers about that, and this is what he said: “As an old warhorse, I’ve certainly had to live with and deal with a lot of rumors over my career. My reaction is, it just comes with the territory. People are going to speculate and think about things.”
So take that for what it’s worth.
What are your thoughts on Court Rosen as a member of Roanoke City Council?
– Mason Adams
August 12, 2012 - 1:12 PM
Rosen has got the times buffaloed. Another not from here joke who has conned the times(not hard to do as a Dem) into a kiss butt article. He hasnt a clue of working peoples plight. Nor does he care. This article is a farce. He needs to go back where he came from. Terrible rep of the poor people of Roanoke. Caters to the rich, lip service to the rest. The neighborhood groups he visits are schills for the City and in NO way represent the neighborhoods. They are who the “City” approves of. Basically concerned with ratting on neighbors for high grass and expired stickers.
Val has this boy pegged!!!He is a pompous you know what. Go home Rosen.. and not to Roanoke!
Jack Mcguire…you must have way too much time on your hands, friend. I don’t need to weigh in on Court Rosen but I will say that he is very dedicated in terms of his willingness to be a part of the community…he makes an effort to show up, there’s no doubt.
But I’d like to address you: Why not get off the soapbox and take the time to engage in neighborhood efforts…or spend some time with a local charity.
I head the Southeast Action Forum neighborhood group and I can assure you that we are engaged in some very meaningful work on a regular basis, including recent efforts to engage with the Rescue Mission and numerous neighborhood partners in an effort to improve the quality of life and reduce crime in the Belmont neighborhood. I also head a nonprofit (Roanoke Community Garden Association) that creates community gardens and teaches people about diet, nutrition and organic gardening. I would welcome you to be part of either of these organizations…I am sure that we can find some valuable work for you to do that matches our needs and your skill sets.
Because it’s a presidential election year, I suspect that this will somehow descend into a matter of Ds and Rs. I’ve already received a text from an elected official asking when he gets his “fluff piece.”
We try to do profiles like this after elections. We don’t do them just before elections. Rosen was re-elected on May 1 and his vote totals jumped noticeably, so that was the spark for the story.
I’ve covered Roanoke City Council since 2007, and there hasn’t been a Republican on the board during that time.
However, I did profile Virginia Sen. Ralph Smith during his first year in the General Assembly. I haven’t covered Richmond since the 2009 session but Mike Sluss swung back for another profile on Smith earlier this year.
As for the Roanoke Valley’s congressional delegation, I wrote a profile of Bob Goodlatte shortly after the 2010 mid-terms when it became apparent that his star would rise with the GOP re-taking the House. And Mike wrote a profile of freshman Congressman Morgan Griffith last fall; it ran during the heat of the General Assembly races.
We’ve written profiles of Democrats during that time too, including Sluss’s recent profile on U.S. Sen. Mark Warner a few weeks ago and my profile of Roanoke City Councilman (and vice mayor prior to May’s election) David Trinkle last November.
– Mason Adams
I think it’s a good idea for any council member to visit more neighborhood meetings and community events, regardless of the D or R beside their name, if they have ulterior motives, or even if they are just trying to look good for the camera. Visiting once may not say a whole lot or may be done to feign concern, but repeated visits to all events on a continuous basis show a sense of dedication that not all elected officials demonstrate. It at least shows an effort and I would think most citizens would appreciate that much since people want their voice heard by the powers that be.
I don’t know Court Rosen’s motives or aspirations, but showing up to all those events shows more concern for the city’s well being than I previously knew of him.
Valerie Garner is certainly not a journalist nor is that piece of fish-wrapper a newspaper by any stretch of the imagination. She’s just a whining blogger wannabee who wants her little public meetings closed to anyone, but her inner circle so they can operate their little tea party minds without anyone taking notice of their secret agendas. Do not give them any publicity in your articles so she and her little group can crawl back behind the wall.
Jack McGuire seems to be constantly complaining that he gets in trouble for not mowing his lawn, having expired stickers, and leaving trash and junk in inappropriate places. Maybe if he tried to obey the laws for a change he wouldn’t be having these constant problems. Being the eyesore of the neighborhood is not exactly calculated to make friends with the neighbors.
“I head the Southeast Action Forum neighborhood group and I can assure you that we are engaged in some very meaningful work on a regular basis”
A friend of mine described SAF in the best terms Ive ever heard. “A bunch of busybodies” Typically the “heads” of these “groups” are not even from Roanoke, do nadda for the community but cause trouble for residents. My job is to stop organizations like yours, and I will do my best to do so. Get a hobby besides bothering the long time folks, like me of SE. SE has made a lot of gains in spite of the City and organizations like yours, not because of them.
#7 Jack is indeed a delightful fellow. I’m sure folks in Southeast love the guy.
#8 “Typically the “heads” of these “groups” are not even from Roanoke, ”
Your evidence of this is? Leaders of my neighborhood group have ALWAYS lived in the neighborhood. It’s a requirement.
“My job is to stop organizations like yours, and I will do my best to do so.”
What job is that? Who pays you?
The article on Rosen gives Countryside residents the opportunity to thank Rosen for attending and listening to Miller Court residents. Now I know who to thank for the City mowing the 12 acre property the City switched with the Airport. (Oh, and one correction, it was not part of the Countryside Golf Course.)
@7
Never been cited in the over 30 years ive been in SE. But I know those who have on some pretty rediculous things. And Im very good friends with my neighbors some, have been in here for as long as 73 yrs. They are not the interlopers.They are not the trouble makers. The trouble makers are people that join these to groups for no other reason than to harrass neighbors. And often use the City and these neighborhood groups to do their dirty work. The fact is that the Codes are very broad and often left to minimal 28,000 a year employees to enforce. Ever took a gander at the Codebook. It is so broad that every home in roanoke could be cited. As usual Dave, you dont know what your talking about. And Rosen doesnt know a thing about Roanoke to really even have an opinion that matters. Typical new in town, gets elected but hasnt a clue about the City. Just enough money to get elected by an apathetec public.
“Leaders of my neighborhood group have ALWAYS lived in the neighborhood. It’s a requirement.”
Read more carefully. I said arent from Roanoke. Not dont live in the area. Please read before you comment. And im privy to Raleigh court groups as well. Same thing. “Busybodies”.. period.
#13 Jack, I seriously doubt you’re “privy” to much of anything.
I’ve been involved in the RC group and I was born and raised here. Those I know in the group who are not from here are generally great people, with the occasional exception, just like with any group. And I don’t see any of the RC people causing “trouble.” Of course if you know different you’re welcome to give me some real examples rather than your generalities.
#9, I’d love a neighbor that doesn’t mow his lawn and keeps cars up on blocks in the front yard.
Doesn’t Rosen know that young, ambitious, successful professionals like him shouldn’t move to Roanoke? And, if they still do, they need to keep quiet and let the same old guard keep running things in their neighborhoods and the city! (tic)
“And I don’t see any of the RC people causing “trouble.”
You dont see much of anything. My connections go to all these meetings. And they are all about stickers and such. Waste of time for all. AQnd in NO WAy represent the area. Just like you dont.
#17 Jack, Jack, Jack. I’m a Roanoker. Born and raised and lived here almost all of my life. Don’t like it? Tough luck. I know you think people who don’t keep refrigerators on their front porch are snobs, but, hey, that’s the way it is.
And your “connections” (snicker, snicker) are either lying to you or don’t exist, at least as far as the RC meetings go. “Stickers”? What the heck are you talking about?
JackM, you didn’t really drop the “my connections” card.
“Stickers”? What the heck are you talking about?”
Tag and inspection…look up the codes.