36 Responses to “Wilder has McQuinn booted from EDI”

1. posted by bill at July 3, 2007 10:45 am :
   

   WOW, now that this is taken care of, all of the problems in the city have been solved. time for a parade!!!

2. posted by GRRRR at July 3, 2007 11:18 am :
   

   Parade? Only if it as big as last years “back to school” parade. That was fabulous. I remember sitting on my porch and watching it go by. About 8 kids walking and 1 man in a motorized wheel chair with a flag attached to the back. The wheel chair guy put on a show doing do nuts and other spin maneuvers in the crosswalks.

3. posted by Levi at July 3, 2007 11:19 am :
   

   I know where we can get a goose for the celibratory feast.

4. posted by tiny at July 3, 2007 11:37 am :
   

   Ha ha, Levi!

   There really isn’t anything else to do but make jokes. Nothing has really changed with our local government.

5. posted by Just411ice at July 3, 2007 12:55 pm :
   

   Could it be any clearer that the new and the old Richmond government is absolutely the pits? Wilder and McQuinn deserve each other. And what do the people deserve? More of the same if we keep sending these selfish egomaniacs to lead on our behalf.

6. posted by john_m at July 4, 2007 8:29 am :
   

   wrtvr has something on this.

7. posted by Ex East Team Board Memeber at July 4, 2007 5:54 pm :
   

   The office space in question used to be the East Team Board’s room. The furniture in the room was purchase for the community board with funds from the Urban Mental Health initiative (Annie E Casey). One day the board came to have a board meeting and guess what, they were LOCKED OUT AND TOLD THE ROOM WAS NOW THE COUNCILPERSON OFFICE !!! Funny how things work out

8. posted by bill at July 5, 2007 6:01 am :
   

   if the furniture at the edi was stolen from the annie casey community group, and later taken by the city to city hall, is the city liable for receiving stolen property?

9. posted by john_m at July 5, 2007 6:41 am :
   

   From the RTD’s McQuinn loses her satellite office (7/5):

   [...]

   “The community I serve has challenges,” McQuinn said. “Many of the constituents I serve don’t even have cars. Citizens need access to their elected officials.”

   McQuinn’s former office will be used to expand programs for the city’s Department of Human Services, which is currently occupying very cramped quarters, according to Saphira Baker, deputy chief administrative officer for human services.

   [...]

   McQuinn said other council members used her East District office to meet with constituents. She said she told Baker about the importance of the office to the community, suggested other spaces in city-owned buildings that could be used by human services and offered to give up her office and move into a smaller one in the same building. The meeting didn’t resolve anything, she said.

   “She looked at me with a blank look like there was another agenda. I clearly understood there was another agenda here.”

   [...]

10. posted by tiny at July 5, 2007 8:51 am :
    

    Ex East Team Board Member:

    When did that happen?

11. posted by Levi at July 5, 2007 10:34 am :
    

    So, was this what the fireworks last night were about? Celebrating McQuinns ousting?

12. posted by jc at July 6, 2007 8:52 am :
    

    The blog River City Rapids has a story on this today.

13. posted by ann at July 6, 2007 12:58 pm :
    

    Right on, River City Rapids!

14. posted by Mary at July 10, 2007 10:55 am :
    

    Shame on anyone who takes part in this “tar and feathering” of a woman who is simply trying to keep in touch with the needs of her constituency. I have been in the office in question…it is an ideal location for the district 7 coucilperson and that is probably why it was selected years ago. I have also had the pleasure of working with Reverand McQuinn a bit, and find her supportive and dedicated to a job that is thankless at best.

    I have recently moved to this fine city and enjoy the community in Church Hill. What I do not enjoy, is the childish pandering such as is evidenced often on this site…and by the Mayor, who seems too caught up in his own ego and his vendettas to recognize the real needs of people who are dealing with the consequenses (negative and postitive) of growth.

    My life has been one of frequent change and navigation of the the associated chaos. That experience has taught me to observe behaviors cautiously and look for the motivation behind them. Therefore, I have waited some time to draw my conclusions. However, the data from every quarter is pointing to an atmosphere in city government that is both immature and emotionally driven. And there is no room for this at a crucial time in Richmond’s history.

    It may just be time for this city council to have a meeting at St. John’s Church.

15. posted by Gadfly at July 10, 2007 1:00 pm :
    

    Ironically, somewhere at VCU there are two unused offices dedicated to Mr. Wilder and his assistant, Ruth Jones. These offices are left over from the days when the mayor taught the occasional class and ran for mayor. And as Mr. Wilder is still a handsomely paid university employee (and still “teaches” the occasional class), it appears that River City Rapids has it backwards: Mr. Wilder — unlike his political predecessors in Richmond — does not dispense patronage as much as he is a recipient of it. But, as they say, nice work if you can get it.

16. posted by GRRRR at July 10, 2007 1:18 pm :
    

    The university markets the Wilder School of Government and therefore keeps offices for him. This is a common practice in schools. To hire a big name that rarely sees a classroom. That is why education costs are so high.

    McQuinn, wherever she is located, is a waste of space as a leader. Yes, she solves community problems, but anyone, even a blind monkey, could do this. It is standard fare for any elected official and does not in any way make her special. And, it appears that the rest of city council is able to do this without satellite offices. Still I do not care where she is located as long as she spends only the budget that is alloted for her offices and does not maintain duplicate offices.

    I once again ask anyone to name a positive initiative that our esteemed Council Person has fought for. (for obvious reasons, spending $30,000 for a back to school parade does not count). Usually she is an obstructionist.

    Since she represents a transitional neighborhood, she should be leading the fight for zoning revisions to allow new development and for tax relief for the long time residents of our neighborhood to prevent them from being forced out.

17. posted by tiny at July 10, 2007 1:19 pm :
    

    Bravo, Mary.

18. posted by john_m at July 10, 2007 1:22 pm :
    

    And, it appears that the rest of city council is able to do this without satellite offices.

    I think that McQuinn having an office at EDI is a great idea. It seems that all of the reps should have offices in their districts, really. Also, it has been my experience that we have a fairly high percentage of folks up here w/out cars.

19. posted by ann at July 10, 2007 4:32 pm :
    

    Our taxes are high enough without having to support 2 sets of offices for each council member. A less costly way would be for council liasons to transport those without cars to scheduled meetings with council members…or to supply bus money. I frequently bus to city hall from Union Hill. And if a constituent needs to meet with a council person, what could be better than the council person traveling to the consitutent in cases where transportation is a problem. I know you can’t just ‘drop in’ to see the council person…it was difficult enough to ‘drop in’ to see the council person’s liason, and over the years I’ve done that, a total waste of time. Perhaps the council person would be better at keeping appointments with consituents than council liason, who not only never kept an appointment with me but never contacted me to cancel, either. There are more pro-active ways for constituents and council persons to meet than maintenance of office space.

20. posted by tiny at July 10, 2007 4:35 pm :
    

    What is the cost anyway?

21. posted by Life long Richmonder at July 10, 2007 4:36 pm :
    

    “Henry Marsh, whose power and patronage are among the great unspoken reasons why Richmond’s government is as inefficient as it is. The Marsh era and patronage are characterized by back room deals and closed government in the dark.” That statement came out of the blog River City Rapids. It’s one of the most truthful statement I seen in a very long time. Marsh and McQuinn need to let go and stop trying to hold a community down let progress happen

22. posted by GRRR at July 11, 2007 10:16 am :
    

    And a good deal of constituent service business can be handled effectively over the phone.

23. posted by tiny at July 11, 2007 11:42 am :
    

    So no one knows the cost?

24. posted by ann at July 12, 2007 6:55 am :
    

    tiny, i don’t know the cost even if the city does break it out in budget…but I think contacting the Office of Budget and Strategic Planning at City Hall (http://www.ci.richmond.va.us/departments/budget/director.aspx) would be the place to start.

25. posted by archie bunker at July 12, 2007 10:04 am :
    

    Rev. McQuinn looked me straight in the face and tried to conceal the fact that she and the council had been meeting with the developers of the propsoed baseball stadium by saying “the Council” had not met with them”. Upon further questioning by me, she revealed that she and each of the council members had indeed met with the developers, but in small enough groups so that it would not constitute a “meeting” of the council.

    If she were working for me (as a constituent), she’d just tell me the truth. As it is, every word that comes out of her mouth is suspect.

26. posted by william at July 12, 2007 3:30 pm :
    

    Let’s get rid of her!

27. posted by bill at July 12, 2007 5:06 pm :
    

    example of the culture of elected officials in richmond:

    dear mr/ms elected official, how is the weather?

    elected official: the weather is fine, the sky is clear with the sun out!!

    better get your umbrella

    of course the weather was fine, the sky clear with the sun out, in argentina

    but it is raining like hell in richmond

28. posted by what else at July 13, 2007 10:42 am :
    

    Of course, at the time of the election, McQuinn’s only opposition was Reggie Malone who made it clear he would be a strong supporter of Wilder. By that time, I had already had enough of Wilder and did not want to support him in anyway.

29. posted by Levi at July 13, 2007 11:10 am :
    

    Admittedly, Wilder comes across as an egomaniac. But I trust him and believe that he at least intends to improve Richmond. I think his intent is noble and honest. That is more than I can say about many of the members of city council, who seem to have an agenda of obstructionism and pandering to the people, without really trying to lead or accomplish anything.

30. posted by what else at July 13, 2007 12:17 pm :
    

    Respectfully, Levi, I completely disagree with you about Wilder. And I think he has the “agenda of obstructionism and pandering”.

31. posted by bill at July 13, 2007 3:28 pm :
    

    “what else” demonstrates the richmond dilemma. politics of policy or points of view has been transformed into politics of personality. local politics is not about your approach in trying to improve the community, only about your circle of friends. the small town mindset is not always bad. the small brain activity causes this dilemma.

32. posted by Lu Motley at July 14, 2007 11:08 am :
    

    BRAVO BILL! I couldn’t have said it better, though I might have used the term minute for “small brain”.

    L. Motley

33. posted by what else at July 17, 2007 8:48 am :
    

    I think the issue comes down to whether or not you trust Wilder and whether or not the changes he proposes have a positive impact on you. I have noticed that most the commenters fall on opposite sides of the issue than I do. I do not have a small brain, nor do I demonstrate the Richmond dilemma. I do illustrate the difference between two sides of Church Hill.

    There are those of us who have no children, large disposal incomes, and little need for additional city services. There are those of us who have children that attend public school, have tight budgets, and need to make use of city services. I have respectfully tried to put my point view out there, hoping someone might see a new facet to this argument.

    Instead, I was insulted. I feel like many of the commenters are really blind to situations that are outside of their own experience.

34. posted by hmmm at July 17, 2007 10:14 am :
    

    Regardless of income, children or no children, we all need and should received adequate city services.

    We don’t have children, and we don’t have a high disposable income. We struggle from month to month, like many others up here.

    We moved here because it was one of the few places in the city that we could afford. that was a long time ago. We also moved here because we like it.

    I don’t think anyone is intending to insult one another, and I don’t think that people up here are blind to situations outside their own experience.

    I find this area to have residents that are very conscience of the issues and challenges that we all face in this community. Whether or not you like the politics or politicians du jour, that’s not going to change.

35. posted by what else at July 17, 2007 11:10 am :
    

    I want to agree with you, hmmm. But, I do not have a small brain because I vehemently disagree with Wilder’s agenda. I have problems with many of his iniatives that impact my community directly. I also find his confrontational style an embarassment.

    I try to listen to all sides, and even researched some of the comments made on this site before offering my point of view.

    I am a true advocate for the city, and I do not appreciate being insulted. I do not intend to insult anyone else, and I apologize if I have. However, I probably do have different concerns from some of the regular commenters, and thus a different viewpoint. This reflects the diversity in our neighborhood.

36. posted by Levi at July 17, 2007 11:12 am :
    

    And I think that ALL of the politicians are ignoring the biggest issue facing Church Hill today,….GEESE POOP REMOVAL, yes, the tons of geese poop being left randomly in the sidewalk posts a heath threat to us all, potentially transmitting diseases like the GOOSE POX and the Dreaded 7 Week Molt.

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