Richmond's Next Mayor: Debating Baseball, Homelessness and Transit

If the Times-Dispatch has it right, last night's mayoral debate at Thomas Jefferson High School meandered slightly closer into an engagement around issues facing Richmond. It's arguable whether the issues addressed rank high in voters minds, but it's a start.

All of the candidates said they expect Richmond to get a baseball team to replace the Class AAA Richmond Braves, but they differed on the type of team that could be coming.

Jones suggested the city aspire to get a major-league team, but Grey said that's unrealistic, given the proximity of teams in Washington and Baltimore.

Pantele expects a Class AA team and said that the next mayor will need to repair damage to the city's reputation from the loss of the R-Braves. Goldman and Williams said the city should prioritize schools over baseball.

On addressing homelessness in the city, Jones said the city needs to conduct an audit of current services to see what else needs to be done. Pantele said the community already knows what's being done and is needed and he suggested the city start a pool of day laborers and pay a living wage.

To improve regional transportation, Williams suggested making the expansion of bus service into the counties part of talks about the new baseball team for the area.

Grey chided Pantele for the City Council not providing more money to operate the GRTC Transit System. Pantele countered that the council increased the system's spending by $1.7 million.

Maybe City Council could start holding its meetings on GRTC buses, driven by players from Richmond's new major league baseball franchise. And funded by CenterStage.

Missing, at least from the coverage, was serious debate about the state of Richmond's schools; our decaying public infrastructure; affordable housing and poverty; Richmond's role in regional issues.

Comments

[Scott Burger]

Actually, Goldman said said that schools should come before a baseball stadium, but of course, you won't read that in the Times Disgrace. Goldman also said that the City has got to 'get with it', and understand that with state and federal budgets collapsing, the City is going to have a very difficult time paying for the services and programs it has now, let alone add new ones like other mayoral candidates suggest. But hey, won't be reading that in the local corporate media either. Yes, I agree with Goldman, and I think people need to recognize that he may be the only candidate who 'gets it' and has the ability to lead us through some trying times ahead.

[Parker]

For an interesting (and I think extremely valid) viewpoint on how "professional" sports doesn't really help local economy or create a positive impact check out economist Andrew Zimbalist's conversation on sports and economics -- May the Best Team Win: Baseball Economics and Public Policy -- which discusses baseball's faltering appeal and economic value. Maybe someone should purchase a copy and go smack Pantele with it then tie him up and force him read it.

[watch]

Whether you support Baseball or not, Diamond or not, my question is what business does the RMA have owning a sports venue? The RMA was created by an act of the Virginia General Assembly in 1966 originally tasked with building and maintaining a toll expressway system for the Richmond area. So why are they in the baseball business?

[Jeffon T. Neal]

While Mr. Goldman's presentation was not as polished (during last night’s debate) as some of the others the content of his statements were right on the mark. As a leader in this community which I truly love I find it to be unacceptable to allow the status quo to continue. The implications of a failed education system are much too great for our leadership to put political power play before our children, our employment base, and our future. Furthermore I consider it a lack of insight when an individual wanting to govern fails to provide a viable resolution, not to mention an inability to identify the problem.

[Jeff E.]

I want to hear candidates talk about increasing tax revenue by making downtown more appealing to suburbanites and tourists. The conditions of the roads and sidewalks is reprehensible yet I hear none of the candidates talking about boosting the small business and arts community through infrastructure/streetscape improvements. All this talk about new programs is great but no one talks about where they are going to get the money to pay for them. Cut waste/boost tax revenue... seems an obvious thing to do IMO.