Everyone's been making a big deal about the new level of openness in Richmond's City Hall since the transition from Mayor Doug Wilder to Mayor Dwight Jones -- NBC-12's Rachel DePompa started with an observation on her blog way back in April, and the Times-Dispatch's Will Jones provided an in-depth look at the changed tone last week.
The good news for Richmonders is that the Mayor and his department heads actually speak to members of City Council and the media now. I remember ending up in line behind a certain department head to pay respects to Oliver Hill as he lay in state at the Capital. A City Council representative happened by, and the two of them had a impromtu meeting on the street corner. When they wrapped up, it was explained to me that Wilder had issued an edict forbidding his staff from talking to Council.
But as Style Weekly's Jason Roop told Will Jones, the bar was set pretty damned low by Wilder:
"We've seen a positive, dramatic contrast to the previous administration as far as openness and response time, but Wilder certainly set a low bar," said Jason Roop, editor-in-chief of Style Weekly.
Roop added, however, that "we've been most disappointed that his administration continues to withhold transition reports that we and our attorneys believe to be public records."
Now that everyone's on such good terms, it might be interesting for the reporters covering City Hall to dig into meatier news. I'd be interested in the real reason Mayor Jones hasn't found a new chief administrative officer. I'm all for due diligence, but when a Mayor who looks like a perfect date on paper hasn't found someone to take to the dance, you've got to wonder what's really holding things up.
I know Wilder sent most people fleeing for cover with his daredevil approach to politics, but I'm afraid I'm going to doze off during the Jones administration if something exciting doesn't happen soon...
