Civil Conversation About Jobs Worked for Everyone

Job one at the Public Square is to demonstrate meaningful dialogue.

That certainly happened Tuesday night, when nearly 100 people participated in our 28th program in the community initiative to hold civil, public conversations on issues important to our region.

Before the event, we published stories and commentary to deepen understanding. We broadcast the steady stream of comments live on TimesDispatch.com. And we reported what people were saying in a breaking-news update posted online at 9:32 p.m. A revised story appeared in the next day's newspaper and on our Web site. Coverage concludes today with the edited transcript of the many comments, in the section you're now reading.

In a Public Square first, we added a social media component as Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling received ideas and questions about how and where Virginia can create more jobs. Working with our digital special project manager, Nicole McMullin, three local business owners agreed to highlight on Twitter what was being said in our downtown auditorium.

The Public Square is all about in-person dialogue, but we paused at one point to hear a capsule of the Twitter exchanges. Not surprisingly, the bursts of commentary added new angles to our growing list of suggestions. So, a special round of applause to Mary Fender of Frame Nation, Monica Horsley of By Invitation Only, and Sarah Paxton of La Difference for lending their Twitter expertise. Thank you. You can read what they collected by clicking the link that's packaged with the Public Square story on TimesDispatch.com.

Our Wednesday article in the newspaper reported the Public Square was a 90-minute question-and-answer session. At 8:30 p.m., the normal ending time, both microphones still had long lines. Our reporters probably had to leave to file their report before deadline because the Square actually lasted nearly 130 minutes, thanks to the lieutenant governor agreeing to stay longer. Going into overtime allowed everyone with something to say the time to say it.

Two facts made this particular discussion one of our best. First, those who showed up to speak were prepared and focused on delivering an effective message. Translation: They used research to back up their thoughts and really thought about how they would present their information. That's an important ingredient for a public forum to work. And the speakers recognized that this Public Square's overall goal was to get as many ideas in play so the state could consider a deeper set of options. Well done, folks.

Second, give Bolling a lot of credit for earnest engagement. He opened with a succinct 10-minute overview that hit the high points about his new charge as job-creating chief. (Please don't use the term "czar" around him. That's so federal.) He acknowledged what was in place and what lessons he wanted to learn. He talked without notes.

For everyone who took his or her turn at the microphone, Bolling gave each speaker his full attention. He listened intently and responded in kind to every question. His answers took the form of describing a solution, an experience, or a desired action. He also mixed in his own political preference, but he did it to be clear on where he stood and not to obliterate an opposing view. For the most part, no one interrupted each other. Amazing.

Many of our speakers usually bring documents, letters, books, and articles to support their views. That again was the case Tuesday night. Bolling collected the information, handing off the material to his chief of staff, Randy Marcus, who spent the program taking pages of notes and following up with speakers. Bolling could have bolted at 8:30 because that was the extent of the commitment. With his wife, Jean Ann, in the audience and after a long day with the General Assembly in session, Bolling nodded to continue because he wanted to hear more.

And so, no one was turned away. Again, we appreciated this result.

One of the Public Square suggestions was to put more Virginians to work filling the healthy crop of potholes that abound in our region. That also was the subject of last week's commentary, which prompted enough responses to fill one of those healthy craters that test our driving skills.

One of the more creative suggestions came from retired Times-Dispatch Metro Editor Andy Taylor. He pitched a way to turn a big problem into a money-making event -- the Central Virginia Pothole Winter Olympics. Andy listed several possible events that no doubt would fill the stands with ticket-paying spectators and drive up TV ratings that could attract lots of commercials from automakers, tire stores, and repair shops:

•The I-95 Slalom Run: Make sharp, high-speed turns to avoid three-foot-deep ruts, while staying within the lines of your driving lane. •Interstate Half Pipe: Dive down into deep potholes and try to come out of them without completing a 540, 720, or an even more spectacular 900. •Highway Ski Jump: Some potholes are deep enough that if you go into them at high speed, and are fortunate enough to not break a rim, you could make an exit that sends you airborne for several feet. •Hubcap Curling: After slamming into a pothole and throwing a hubcap from your car you can watch it slide to a stop on the highway or the shoulder. Thanks, Andy. We'll pass your suggestion to Lt. Gov. Bolling as well. Just think about all the jobs that could be created. Mind-boggling.

Tom Silvestri is moderator of the Public Square, which represents the commitment of many staffers at the Richmond Times-Dispatch to better serve our community. He thanks the planning team, the facilities crew, the welcoming group, the technical experts, and our journalists and marketers for their spirited efforts to advance the Public Square. You can contact him at tsilvestri@timesdispatch.com or at (804) 649-6121. As always, your ideas about the Public Square are welcomed.