Comments on: Yost gets another $80K for 12th House District race

By: Jane

Jane — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 17:26:58 +0000

I am always suspicious of a candidate that can’t raise money in an important campaign. The Democrats are pumping money into candidates in surrounding districts but avoiding Dan Langrehr like he does not exist. If his own party won’t support him, should we? http://www.vpap.org/candidates/large_pre?view=summary

By: b.o.h.i.c.a.

b.o.h.i.c.a. — Sat, 05 Nov 2011 18:09:01 +0000

Don let a developer and investors clean up a rat-infested area and eyesore at their cost. Then he underhandedly found out they might change the plans, which happens sometimes when developing an area. The developer offers up proffers to the Town to help with the cost of undating the water, sewer and roads in that area. How can anyone make an argument that Walmart would cost the Town more. They would be adding to the tax base, paying fees for services provided by the Town. So, Don thinks that once a business comes to the area, he could care less if they make a profit! With that mindset, the business would move out. They harassed Sonic so bad, they decided Blacksburg was not the place for them. Thanks again, don.

By: dan s

dan s — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:51:30 +0000

That First and Main is not successful is entirely the fault of the developers and greedy, dishonest investors. First and Main was a bad idea. Thats not the towns fault. That’s the developer’s fault. Dont make the ridiculous argument that it would have been successful if only local taxpayers had spent even more. Its not the responsibility of the town to make sure that developers are profitable.

The developers lied to the town about their intentions. Thats a fact. If the developers had been honest from the beginning, they would have had a successful development. But their lies and dishonesty ruined their plans.

Its also a fact that Don and other good people on the town council held the developers accountable for their lies.

By: dan s

dan s — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:45:01 +0000

The WalMart developers lied to the town of Blacksburg. They concealed their intention to build a big box store. On the plans they submitted, they dishonestly indicated they intended to build apartments where they actually planned to build a walmart. This was the basis for the original approval. When the truth came out, and the lying scumbag developers admitted their true intentions, they sued. Don helped protect the town of blacksburg from the lying developers.

I was there. I know what happened. Don demanded accountability and honesty from the developers.

The Walmart would have cost taxpayers money due to water/sewer/electric/road hookups. And the jobs Walmart brings are low wage, crappy jobs. In many communities, WalMart costs taxpayers MORE in services than the community gains in revenue. And there was every indication this was going to be the case in Blacksburg.

By: SDinBlacksburg

SDinBlacksburg — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 02:19:52 +0000

There is a Walmart in Christiansburg, Pulaski, Giles county (which are all part of the 12th district). People who live in this area know that.

The town did not want another Walmart (which would be next to an elementary school and a bit of a drive to a major freeway. Christiansburg is five minutes away from Blacksburg and right off the freeway. The parents in Blacksburg did not want a Walmart next to an elementary school. The developers tricked the town into believing it would be a mix of shops, restaurants and housing for the 1st and Main site where the Walmart would have been.

Blacksburg has some great shops plus it is home to Virginia Tech. We have
unique shops (childrens boutique, art supply store, chocolate store) and ethnic restaurants (Ethiopian, Vietnamese-Thai, French bakery). I am just waiting for a decent grocery to open up.

If you want the usual, big box stores of Target, Walmart and the mall are five minutes away in Christiansburg.

By: b.o.h.i.c.a.

b.o.h.i.c.a. — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 17:00:18 +0000

Dan, I am not lying and I am not being paid by ANYONE! What scam are you talking about? How would the tax revenue brought in by Walmart and the extra jobs hurt Blacksburg? How many Walmarts are in the 12th? Are you saying that these localities were scammed? The money that the Town invested, water, sewer and roads will be wasted thanks to don. That area is slowly dying. Are you being paid by the Dems(don) to spread their (his) lies?

By: dan s

dan s — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 16:03:35 +0000

Don did the right thing in the WalMart scandal. Walmart and their developers lied to the town of blacksburg about their plans. And Walmart would have cost local taxpayers money. This didnt happen because Don worked for local citizens.

Don did the right thing-he protected local taxpayers from the WalMart scam.

These other posters on here are LYING, and are probably paid by the VA republican party to spread their lies.

By: b.o.h.i.c.a.

b.o.h.i.c.a. — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 23:55:22 +0000

Most debates are the same old, same old. They only repeat what they have said before. If you have ever watched don at a TC meeting, you would see, he never listens to anyone. He only wants what he wants. He said in his anti-walmart speech, he could buy his socks at the local Family Dollar. Wonder if he knows that Blacksburg no longer has one. He states he is underpaid as a professor. Is this a hint that he wants more money from tax payers?

By: jen

jen — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 22:18:18 +0000

If a candidate wishes for votes, they should be willing to debate along with other candidates in front of the voters. They owe constituents the opportunity to see them debate other politicians. Meeting them door-to-door is a nice touch, but it doesn’t give voters the chance to see all their sides. I’m sure they don’t interact with folks in Richmond the same way they do with their constituents when they’re standing at the front porch shooting the breeze.

By: AA OO DON'S GOT 2 GO

AA OO DON'S GOT 2 GO — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 21:32:26 +0000

@Warren: Why is Don building his campaign on nasty negative tactics? Do we really want a tool representing us? Don needs to man-up and stop complaining about outside money since he just took $28K from his party. Just like a liberal to be a tool. I think that explains the most.