2009.11.04
Video: Roanoke Republicans react to McDonnell win
Roanoke Valley Republicans gathered at the Holiday Inn in Southwest Roanoke County to celebrate party wins Tuesday night -- including that of Governor-Elect Bob McDonnell.
-- Video by Chris Zaluski
Congratulations to Bob McDonnell on his victory, but "Divine Providence" it was not.
Comment by Jill Elswick — November 5, 2009 @ 11:16 am
What forms of revenue is McDonnell considering to avoid new and/or increased taxes (and any financial extortions going by names other than taxes)? How can areas like Roanoke survive without growing its population, particularly through transportation? Some say build it and people will come. Well, we have the Taubman Museum of Art. We are getting the Carilion Teaching Hospital. Center in the Square will be renovated next year. The Market Building is going through plans, too. How will people come if there are no roads leading to all this?
I wish McDonnell luck, because intentions are not enough. People react to voting and politics like it was a VT football game. Winning definitely is not enough. We need commerce and transportation coming into Roanoke to support all other ideas, like that of off-shore drilling. Even if gas prices come down (a fantasy) but unemployment remains high, we still can't buy the gas. We need to grow this town ASAP. That horrifies a lot of big people here. However, we cannot remain an island and expect to pay for the increased expenses of NPO's and civic services. There are not enough residents to support them all.
Cutting budgets is only a bandaid. It doesn't create growth. What are we doing for growth? What exactly is the plan? And what will be the action? And why didn't this already happen years ago? And what guarantees us that it will this time? What are we waiting for? Another election? I hope not.
Comment by Ron Bergeron — November 12, 2009 @ 5:12 pm