• About Me
• Contact

Council Forum A Flop

Posted by Chris Berry on April 17, 2008 in Elections and Voting, Local Politics

On Tuesday evening, I attended a forum with all of the candidates for Roanoke City Council and Mayor. Actually, all of the candidates save one were in attendance. Brian Wishneff’s decision not to participate was probably related to the fact that he had publicly referred to his fellow council members as slimy democracy hating thugs earlier in the week. His presence would have turned a jovial affair into something slightly awkward at best. It might also have resulted in a meaningful debate, rather than the insipid me-too fest that took place without him.

The responses provided by the candidates to pre-screened questions do not bode well for the city, at least not if we are hoping for any sort of departure from business as usual. From what I could tell, there were no significant differences in the positions of any of the candidates on any of the issues discussed. Some were simply more articulate in their agreement than others.

In one instance, every candidate was asked whether the city had an obligation to support the troubled Virginia Museum of Transportation. The candidates support for the VMT was unanimous and unqualified. Most of the speakers went further and indicated that the council had an obligation to support all of the non-profit cultural institutions in the city.

The reason we elect leaders in the first place is to establish priorities and make difficult decisions. The primary responsibility of the city council is to spend our tax dollars in a wise and responsible fashion that will produce the greatest benefit for the citizens of Roanoke. Pledging unqualified support for every impoverished organization that comes begging at the public trough is not leadership.

Roanoke already has a host of struggling institutions that do not generate enough support from their patrons to justify their continued existence. Thanks to our current council, we’re getting ready to have a new amphitheater that will only create a larger drain on our limited resources. There is only so much cultural activity that any city can support. At some point, our elected leaders must have the courage to decide which of these institutions provide a worthwhile return on our public investment. The Virginia Museum of Transportation is so far beyond repair that further injections of public money would be foolish and irresponsible.

At least once a week, a letter will appear in the Roanoke Times stating that “if the city can build an art museum, then we ought to be able to support (name your favorite cause).” Well folks, an art museum is being built in the city, but the city damn sure isn’t building it. The art museum is being built because supporters believed it was important enough to make over $50 million in private donations. The city is picking up about 7% of the tab.

Center in the Square has recently asked the city to provide $4 million to go toward a planned $26 million renovation. Once again, private contributions would make up the bulk of the funding required to execute this plan. Since opening in 1983, Center in the Square has contributed more to the transformation of downtown Roanoke than any other institution. Our public investments have produced a handsome return.

On the other hand, Councilman and VMT Executive Director Bev Fitzpatrick has argued that if the city gives the art museum $5 million dollars, it somehow owes the VMT $5 million as well. He apparently feels no obligation to seek private support, and sees no conflict of interest in his dual role. Any comparison between the Art Museum and the VMT is absurd. It can be argued that they are both tourist attractions, but only in the sense that the Grand Canyon and the World’s Largest Ball of String are both tourist attractions.

Hopefully when our newly composed council is seated, they will show more courage than the group of candidates I witnessed on Tuesday. We can either choose to invest wisely in those institutions whose presence in the city produces a direct and measurable payoff, or we can squander our limited resources on failed institutions like the VMT. I would love to have heard Wishneff’s take on the issue.

Print this Article
Return Home