Creigh Deeds, Virginia Senator, was the guest-speaker at the monthly Montgomery Democratic Party meeting on Thursday night.
Deeds is one of the contenders for the Democratic nomination for the Governor of Virginia race. He explained why he thought that he would be a good candidate, in that, while representing Bath County and other non-metropolitan areas, he was familiar with metro situations. He said that he had a good working-relationship with Senators and others from Tidewater and similar areas. He said his children attend JMU, UVA, and William and Mary; "that surely gives me some interesting perspectives," said Deeds. He said they were all enjoying their college experience, even though some had found that their academic background was different from Fairfax County, for example. He said that schools need to rise to the level that some of the NOVA districts have had for years. Deeds said that we need to use more of our existing schools, including community colleges, to produce more tech-savvy graduates.
One "common ground" of consideration that he thought would benefit everyone, was transportation upgrades. While airports receive 95% of funding for upgrades from the Federal Government, he reminded the crowd that "that still wouldn't help some mountainous, often fogged-in areas. "
The energy issue could be addressed with more solar and alternative sources, while
Vinod Chachra said that it would be good if the USA could get high-speed rail service, as many Europeans have. One audience member said "it would be nice just to have some "slow" (passenger) service.
Deeds said that, coincidentally, he had just met with some Norfolk-Southern officials, and that passenger rail-service was "on the table." High-speed service, while costly and not coming soon, is a goal worthy of pursuing," said Deeds.
When asked about unfair trade and consideration of a VAT (value added tax), meaning that foreign child and slave labor could not be competed with in the USA, and is detrimental to the economy and environment, Deeds commented that he didn't support tariffs. Some audience members commented that some standards for fairness should be set, let alone the consideration of human-rights.
Penny Franklin stated that Virginia's Worker's Compensation system needed revamping, and that she was tired of seeing so many not being treated fairly. Deeds, while not taking a stance of revamping the system, replied that the insurance industry was a force to be reckoned with, that he and many other attorneys had quit that realm of business, due to many complications.
Adam Gibbs, a Barack Obama "neighbor-to-neighbor" Virginia coordinator, spoke about some of Obama's goals and campaign strategies. He invited the public to the grand-opening of their headquarters for this area, in Kent Square, Main St., Blacksburg, from 10 AM to 2 PM, this Saturday.
After Chairman Steve Cochran happily displayed the trophy for "best in parade" from the Blacksburg Indpendence Day Parade, the meeting ended with technical detail info, including the July 26 picnic with Congressman Boucher and other government representatives, and the Setember 26 MC Democrat dinner.Photos by Larry Middleton
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I would like to see an immediate implementation of one easily accessible asset, WITHIN A MONTH!: passenger rail service. Tracks are in-place; coal/other shipments do not use all of the rails. The last statistics I read showed over 1/3 of rail availability was not being utilized.
How about monorails? Springfield, VA. has one. They are rather envrionment-friendly, can be located on right-of-ways that are not near many houses or roads (except for destinations), and are not costly, compared to high-speed rail and certain road improvements. "Stucture-up" is quick.
I would love to have access from the Blue Ridge Parkway, to points of the NRV, perhaps in a "figure 8" configuration via monrail. Tourism (environmentally friendly economic growth!) would burgeon.
As far as NOVA and Tidewater areas, it's not much different from here. Why do local governments "put the wagon before the horse?"..overbuilding is allowed BEFORE infrastructure is considered. I relegate my argument to the intersection @North Franklin and Cambria St., Christiansburg, whereas 500 or so housing units with, initially, ONE egress-ingress, was allowed. Gas and time are wasted.
Let's get real; some problems are being brought upon the public because of poor planning (often by some relatively rich politicians that are getting richer).