Sure, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg might have his own global news service, but he ain’t got shit on Charlottesville Mayor Dave Norris, who not only writes a blog, he also hosts a public-access T.V. show.
The latest episode of Norris’s show, "Postcards from Charlottesville," features two activists, Elena Day and Stratton Salidis, who make his job very, very easy, as each of them has the ability to fill vast swatches of airtime with seemingly endless screeds against Dominion Power and the Meadowcreek Parkway (MCP), among others. But they’re activists, so you knew that already.
Dave Norris
Norris, in my view, is doing a bang up job as mayor. And really, there’s only one criterion I use to judge that: the willingness of said mayor to cut people off at city council meetings when their three minutes of public-comment time has elapsed. Norris uses a subtle, yet forceful index-finger point to the sand-filled timepiece in front of him. Magnificent technique.
Anyhow, if you’re interested in the MCP, Dominion’s plans to build a coal-fired power plant in Wise County and another nuclear reactor at Lake Anna, then check out the show. It streams on Charlottesville’s website.
Salidis, a longtime transportation activist and MCP hater, makes some very good points (especially about the segmentation of the project), takes some shots at the media (deserved, in most cases) and says the MCP is a step in "exactly the wrong direction."
One thing that doesn’t get a lot of play, though, is the fact that the MCP was supposed to be one of three roads in a city-county network. The two county roads of this network? Yeah, well, those aren’t happening any time soon.
Norris has been a vocal opponent of the MCP, though he voted for an easement that would allow its construction. The fact that the show’s host is also the mayor makes for some great moments, like this one concerning the MCP:
Norris: "So where are we right now … well I know where we are right now, but … for the viewers."
His honor mostly plays it straight, not weighing in with his opinions (and not asking a damn follow-up questions to break up five- and six-minute rants). But he does tip his hand at the end.
Salidis argues that the MCP will essentially serve as a cut through for county residents, increasing city traffic.
"That’s exactly right," says Norris.