Week’s End
WEEK'S END
Even when endorsing Gov. Tim Kaine's painful budget cuts, Republicans cannot resist blasting his administration's botched forecasts. They may have a point. While predicting the economic future may be more art than science, the serial revisions in the state's numbers do not inspire confidence. On the other hand . . .. . . When Kaine first reported bad news, Republicans in the General Assembly disputed him. They originally resisted his proposal to draw on the rainy day fund. George Bush remained in the White House, you see, and the party line held that the economy was A-OK -- until even Washington's partisans had to concede deteriorating conditions.
Frequent travelers on Amtrak enjoy getting to know the conductors and the crews. William "Willie" Bates often works the Richmond-to-Washington route on the Northeast Regional (our preferred run). Last year we noted that Bates had become the first African-American to serve as the United Transportation Union's legislative director for the District of Columbia. A resident of Richmond, Bates is a worthy inheritor of the tradition of A. Philip Randolph, the legendary leader of the Sleeping Car Porters and a champion of civil rights. This month Amtrak announced it was recognizing Bates as a winner in its 2009 President's Service and Safety Awards. Bates' many friends join in the salute.
Fort Lee made the right call regarding public comment on a proposed on-base 1,000-room hotel. The period that was to expire on Monday has been extended to Oct. 7. The time will allow the community to assess the hotel's potential impact on local businesses. The fort's neighbors want to cooperate with the base -- not compete with it.
File this under "Football: Ouch." After the college season's opening games The New York Times reported: "No league had a worse weekend than the Atlantic Coast Conference, which has lacked relevance since raiding the Big East and expanding in 2004. The ACC went 0-4 against opponents from other Bowl Championship Series conferences, with North Carolina State, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, and Maryland losing." The item also cited Duke's loss to Richmond (rah!) and Virginia's loss to William and Mary (we remained neutral). And why did the ACC expand? Greed.
Reader Reactions
RE Kaine’s budget cuts and stimulus funds that require TD investigation - interesting that the Obama stimulus money offsets cuts to higher education and Governor keeps higher ed cuts out of the recent discussion on state budget cuts. Could the fact that students/faculty on college campuses were instrumental in the grassroots effort to elect President Obama??? Higher education, while a valuable part of our community, is NOT as vital as transportation, K-12 education, public safety, & health services. I am astonished why higher ed isn’t cut more? Why are adjunct and collateral professors paid upwards of $100,000 total benefit package? Basic K-12 schools in our region are in dire need of construction while VCU builds massive structures. Yes, VCU is a very positive force in Richmond but more important than K-12 facilities and roads?? Absolutely not - unless you have “friends” in high places. Please, TD, look into this.
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