Norfolk city official quits after buying cell phone for a criminal – http://pilotonline.com/2010/09/city-official-who-bought-cell-phone-teen-quits

Norfolk Commissioner of Revenue misuses city credit card – http://pilotonline.com/2010/09/chastened-commissioner-revenue-i-must-do-better

Norfolk Community Services Board pays absent worker for 12 years – http://pilotonline.com/2010/09/fbi-others-join-inquiry-noshow-norfolk-employee

If it was your intent in fact to raise viewership over WVEC by firing Jon Cash, it failed on at least one household.

I have been a loyal WAVY viewer for many years. I have tolerated Don Slater’s huffing and puffing his way through a weathercast for years but have always enjoyed Jon Cash’s style and delivery. Wheeler is just annoying and I haven’t seen too much of the new guy/girl Sagay Galindo. In fact, I haven’t seen that person at all.

I guess WVEC gets a new viewer.

And I had little to nothing to do with it.

I was driving on I-64 EB near Robin Hood Rd enjoying some of VDOT’s wonderful wizardry. We were poking along at a mind numbing 5 miles per hour… or so.

Next to me, was a young woman driving an SUV, just texting away on her phone. Several times she drifted over near our lane separator, once crossing over. When I got up beside her I cut loose with my newly installed loud as a train horn, which promptly startled her. I told her texting while driving was dangerous. She rolled up her window.

As we progressed (really, progressing was not what we were doing), she continued to text away on her phone. As we approached the exit for I-264 (another VDOT marvel), she was one or two car lengths behind me and to the right one lane.

And then I heard it. No, not tires squealing in protest to being stopped rapidly. Quite the opposite. The crunching sound of metal upon metal impact. The tinkling of broken glass. The cursing of an unsuspecting driver rear ended by Txt Grl.

If I hadn’t been so tired and traffic so bad, I would have pulled over and waited for the State Police to get there to relay what I had seen just moments before. But I didn’t actually see the accident and except for the poor guy who got hit, smiled inside as I rode away.

Life’s little victories.

I was talking with Denise this morning. We were watching the local news and the primary stories were a couple of homicides, traffic problems, road construction and heat and humidity.

Denise, a native New Yorker, said, “What’s new?”

Pretty sad commentary for Hampton Roads actually.

Just my thoughts on a Monday morning.

I will leave this up as long as I can. Before someone gets upset about the music that is.

Let me start off by saying that I support Elizabeth for Mayor of Portsmouth without reservation.

I just left her campaign kickoff at Montgomery Grill in Olde Towne Portsmouth where about 100 people (estimate) were present including sitting Council Members Doug Smith and Steve Heretick.  EDIT:  I messed up.  I forgot that Doug Smith was unseated in the last election.  He is NOT a sitting Council Member.  Thanks Vivian!!!

Several notable members of the community were present as well as active and retired police officers I know.

Opening remarks by Councilman Doug Smith set the tone of the gathering as one of an aggressive campaign and touting Elizabeth as the only viable candidate for Mayor.  I agree.  I have known Elizabeth casually, professionally as a travel agent and professionally as a City Council Member while I worked as a police officer for the City of Portsmouth.  She is a successful small business owner within the community she serves and has been successful due to her determination to make it better.

From a public safety standpoint, I don’t think Portsmouth has seen such support in the past.  She is a true friend to public safety and a staunch advocate.  The safety of Portsmouth citizens and the public safety personnel who serve are one of her heart strings.  She supports public safety completely and fully.

After Portsmouth lost two public safety officers in the line of duty in 2005 and 2006, Elizabeth braved incredible heat to attend a dedication of two signs marking the locations of these hero’s deaths.  The Portsmouth Blvd on ramp to I-264E.  She has been on numerous ride-a-longs with the police department and has seen first hand what the officers and citizens contend with and has spearheaded the fight to make it incredibly difficult for criminals to operate in our housing communities while making it safer for public safety to do their jobs.

This election has 8 candidates for Mayor.  Two of them I consider friends.  Lee Cherry and Elizabeth Psimas.  While Lee was one heck of a law enforcement officer, and what I consider a close friend, I don’t believe he has the background to be Mayor.  Elizabeth is a leader and always has been.  She does have the experience, in both business and public service to fill the position and take Portsmouth into the future.

I urge you to support Elizabeth in her effort to lead the City of Portsmouth into the future.  I do.

Please note that the placement of these memorial signs was facilitated by Sheriff William Watson, Sheriff of the City of Portsmouth

Please see this blog post about Elizabeth’s honesty and integrity.

More HERE