Greater Richmond Partnership(GRP) Highly Paid to ‘Trash’ the City
The mayor:The City of Richmond has paid more than $3.6 million to the Greater Richmond Partnership since 1997 to bring new businesses to our City – and what do we have to show for it? GRP Director Gregory Wingfield in January blamed violent crime as the reason why the Partnership has produced little if anything for the City – and yet under Police Chief Rodney Monroe’s leadership, crime is steadily going down. So what are we getting for our money? GRP dare not take credit for any jobs resulting from the Virginia Biotech Park, the new Philip Morris research facility, or the Hilton Hotel project in Downtown. We know who is responsible for all of that, don't we?
My Rebuttal:
It just takes one mass murder to destroy the image of safety you are trying promote. Particularly heinous ones, like the Harvey’s, do incalculable damage. Murders in Richmond’s East End and other crime ridden areas are so common place they don’t even make the front page of the Metro section and barely rate a blurb on the evening news. On the other end, vagrancy and homelessness are so pervasive that that the quality of life is dramatically lowered even in some of Richmond’s nicer neighborhoods, not to mention downtown. It’s easy to throw the blame elsewhere, but all other things being equal, most business will continue to avoid locating in Richmond if for no other reason than to placate their employees, most of whom would prefer not to deal with the dirt, noise, expense and hassle of working downtown.
The mayor:
GRP dare not take credit for any jobs resulting from the Virginia Biotech Park, the new Philip Morris research facility, or the Hilton Hotel project in Downtown. We know who is responsible for all of that, don't we?
My Rebuttal:
Do we? As far as I know almost all these projects have their roots in “previous administrations”, as well as other projects like the Canal Walk, Brown’s Island, Riverside by the James. In the past couple years more projects have either fallen through or been put on hold than put into action.
Your administration is as subject to legitimate criticism as any other. This should not subject the source of this criticism to retribution on the part of the City. Many people who disagree with you personally are nevertheless dedicated to building a better and greater Richmond. Many of these same people have been recipients of personal remarks and disparagement. Investors and boosters of the City of Richmond do not deserve the contempt and vitriol you have shown them. It’s not about you, it’s about the future of our City.
0 comments:
Post a Comment