Goldman for Mayor - 30 June 2008 - For Immediate Release - Contact, 804-833-6313
7th District School Board member Keith West says "Goldman is the only candidate willing to challenge the failed status quo and call for a badly needed citywide School Uniform policy. He will be the Education Mayor."
West will join Goldman at 11AM press conference at Bellevue Elementary School, 2301 East Grace Street. .
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said today" he was proud to stand with school reformer Keith West, who has been far ahead of the rest of us in realizing that a citywide School Uniform policy is something we need do at the start of the new school year. It doesn't require millions more dollars, indeed it will save parents money. It can begin to change the culture of our schools, and teach our children to "dress for success" and compete for better grades, not for who has the "coolest" sneakers, clothing and jewelry."
Mr. West, who represents the 7th district on the School Board said that "Paul Goldman offers change we can believe in. The RTD said Paul was the "Idea Man", the only candidate running with real credibility as a champion of the average Richmonder fed-up with a failed status quo. Style Magazine called Paul the "man who Got Things Done."
"So when Paul says he will roll up his sleeves and work with others to make the changes we need in education, it isn't just campaign rhetoric, he is the only candidate with a proven record of bringing people together to make such changes, his "City of the Future" plan to modernize our schools just one example of why he will be the Education Mayor."
Mr. West and Mr. Goldman will be discussing the need for a citywide school uniform policy at the their Press Conference today, 11 AM in front of the Bellevue Elementary School on 2301 East Grace Street."
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Monday, June 30, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Goldman Says Time to Turn the Page on the Old Politics of Richmond
For immediate release, 7 March 2008 - Goldman for Mayor: Contact, 804-833-6313
Statement of Paul Goldman:
" "As the candidate of change and unity in this election, recognized by Style Weekly as the "Man Who Got Things Done" by taking the lead to work with others, the new budget proposals from City Hall amount to an "Old Politics" budget that fails the city's middle class, it's kids especially those in city schools, the private sector and business community we need to produce the jobs, and most importantly, it fails the city's future.
We need to turn the page on not just the type of rhetoric the Richmond Times Dispatch and columnist Michael Paul Williams rightly say today has no place coming from a Mayor of Richmond, but also on a budget that unfairly punishes hard-working taxpayers in order to pay for a wasteful government, indeed the continued refusal of the Executive and Legislative branches of city government to practice what they so self-righteously preach down to the rest of us.
This "Old Politics" budget has record high taxes, record high spending, record high perks and salaries for the few at the expensive of struggling families that work hard, and record high waste if you believe the City Auditor and other reports.
This is not what those of us who worked so hard to get the Elected Mayor referendum on the ballot wanted in 2003.
This is one reason my campaign has proposed the "Richmond Unity Council" so that we can turn the page, and get a bold new "It's a We thing, not a Me thing" mayoral leadership to make Richmond all it can be working together."
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Statement of Paul Goldman:
" "As the candidate of change and unity in this election, recognized by Style Weekly as the "Man Who Got Things Done" by taking the lead to work with others, the new budget proposals from City Hall amount to an "Old Politics" budget that fails the city's middle class, it's kids especially those in city schools, the private sector and business community we need to produce the jobs, and most importantly, it fails the city's future.
We need to turn the page on not just the type of rhetoric the Richmond Times Dispatch and columnist Michael Paul Williams rightly say today has no place coming from a Mayor of Richmond, but also on a budget that unfairly punishes hard-working taxpayers in order to pay for a wasteful government, indeed the continued refusal of the Executive and Legislative branches of city government to practice what they so self-righteously preach down to the rest of us.
This "Old Politics" budget has record high taxes, record high spending, record high perks and salaries for the few at the expensive of struggling families that work hard, and record high waste if you believe the City Auditor and other reports.
This is not what those of us who worked so hard to get the Elected Mayor referendum on the ballot wanted in 2003.
This is one reason my campaign has proposed the "Richmond Unity Council" so that we can turn the page, and get a bold new "It's a We thing, not a Me thing" mayoral leadership to make Richmond all it can be working together."
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Goldman says City Hall and City Council being fiscally irresponsible
Press release - Goldman for Mayor - March 11, 2008 - Contact: 804-833-6313
Goldman calls on Mayor, Council to make immediate spending cuts
"Since money is tight, as they concede, then why aren't the Mayor and City Council developing new plans for immediate spending cuts right now, as opposed to arguing about how large a tax increase, and how large an increase in record bureaucratic spending, they want to impose on Richmonders in the new budget staring July 1 of this year?"
(Richmond) - Calling on the Mayor and City Council to "stop arguing about how much they want to raise taxes and start acting to cut wasteful spending", Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, called on the city's elected leaders "take immediate action to cut spending since there potentially millions to save, by their own admission, during the last 3 1/2 months of this budget year."
Statement by Paul Goldman:
" Right now, City Council and the Mayor are arguing over how high to raise taxes on the public, how high to raise the salaries, perks and retirement benefits of their top aides, and how high to raise bureaucratic spending in next year's budget which starts on July 1, 2008.
But what is really needed by the people right now, as the economic crunch on Richmonders grows worse, is for the Mayor and City Council to stop bickering about how high they want to tax and spend, and start working together to make immediate reductions in the political lard of wasteful bureaucratic spending that is part of the current budget, as they have been forced to now concede given state reports, audits by the city officials, investigations by newspaper reporters and the findings of fiscally responsible citizens.
If the Mayor and City Council were serious about finally making an effort to reduce the record high wasteful administrative spending in the current city budget they passed last year, they could work together to save millions of dollars during the remainder of March, through April, May, and June. This period encompasses over a quarter of the current budget.
Since money is tight, as they concede, then why aren't the Mayor and City Council developing new plans for immediate spending cuts right now, as opposed to arguing about how large a tax increase, and how large an increase in record bureaucratic spending, they want to impose on Richmonders in the new budget staring July 1 of this year?"
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Goldman calls on Mayor, Council to make immediate spending cuts
"Since money is tight, as they concede, then why aren't the Mayor and City Council developing new plans for immediate spending cuts right now, as opposed to arguing about how large a tax increase, and how large an increase in record bureaucratic spending, they want to impose on Richmonders in the new budget staring July 1 of this year?"
(Richmond) - Calling on the Mayor and City Council to "stop arguing about how much they want to raise taxes and start acting to cut wasteful spending", Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, called on the city's elected leaders "take immediate action to cut spending since there potentially millions to save, by their own admission, during the last 3 1/2 months of this budget year."
Statement by Paul Goldman:
" Right now, City Council and the Mayor are arguing over how high to raise taxes on the public, how high to raise the salaries, perks and retirement benefits of their top aides, and how high to raise bureaucratic spending in next year's budget which starts on July 1, 2008.
But what is really needed by the people right now, as the economic crunch on Richmonders grows worse, is for the Mayor and City Council to stop bickering about how high they want to tax and spend, and start working together to make immediate reductions in the political lard of wasteful bureaucratic spending that is part of the current budget, as they have been forced to now concede given state reports, audits by the city officials, investigations by newspaper reporters and the findings of fiscally responsible citizens.
If the Mayor and City Council were serious about finally making an effort to reduce the record high wasteful administrative spending in the current city budget they passed last year, they could work together to save millions of dollars during the remainder of March, through April, May, and June. This period encompasses over a quarter of the current budget.
Since money is tight, as they concede, then why aren't the Mayor and City Council developing new plans for immediate spending cuts right now, as opposed to arguing about how large a tax increase, and how large an increase in record bureaucratic spending, they want to impose on Richmonders in the new budget staring July 1 of this year?"
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Goldman takes lead in challenging flawed fiscal policies of City Hall and City Council
Goldman for Mayor - 23, April 2008 - For Immediate Release
Goldman wants a "new budget process" and "new fiscal responsibility" at City Hall and City Council. .
"For reasons discussed below, the higher taxes and fees demanded by City Hall and City Council of Richmonders has not been justified
(Richmond) - Mayoral candidate Paul Goldman, who fronted the money and led the petition drive to get Richmonders the right to elect their Mayor by 2004, called for a new budget process and new fiscal thinking at City Hall and City Council. "The new form of government, which flows from the Elected Mayor law and charter changes that I was instrumental in getting enacted in to law, was intended by myself and others to be a way to significantly reduce the bureaucracy and cut wasteful spending: instead, it is now being used to do the opposite."
Goldman continued:
"Sadly, despite my work and that of others, City Hall and City Council, while praising and passing many of my reforms and ideas, has come-up short on the implementation side, as has been demonstrated in news accounts by reporters for the Richmond Times Dispatch, the Richmond Free Press, Style Weekly, and television news journalists such as Mark Holmberg and others working for WTRV, WRIC, and WWBT.
As Councilman Bruce Tyler has pointed out, complacency when it comes to such bloated and unnecessary spending is a "close second cousin to corruption" in terms of it's ultimate wasting of public dollars.
In that regard, City Hall and City Council have used the new form of government to justify increased wasteful and unnecessary spending, not reduce it.
We have the oldest schools in the state and the newest, most bloated bureaucratic government spending.
So until we get a real anti-spending plan, containing the kinds of tough, fiscal policies I have championed over the years to cut out this kind of unjustified spending, the new tax and fee increases proposed by City Hall and City Council cannot be justified based on my knowledge and educational training in public finance and administration."
Goldman wants a "new budget process" and "new fiscal responsibility" at City Hall and City Council. .
"For reasons discussed below, the higher taxes and fees demanded by City Hall and City Council of Richmonders has not been justified
(Richmond) - Mayoral candidate Paul Goldman, who fronted the money and led the petition drive to get Richmonders the right to elect their Mayor by 2004, called for a new budget process and new fiscal thinking at City Hall and City Council. "The new form of government, which flows from the Elected Mayor law and charter changes that I was instrumental in getting enacted in to law, was intended by myself and others to be a way to significantly reduce the bureaucracy and cut wasteful spending: instead, it is now being used to do the opposite."
Goldman continued:
"Sadly, despite my work and that of others, City Hall and City Council, while praising and passing many of my reforms and ideas, has come-up short on the implementation side, as has been demonstrated in news accounts by reporters for the Richmond Times Dispatch, the Richmond Free Press, Style Weekly, and television news journalists such as Mark Holmberg and others working for WTRV, WRIC, and WWBT.
As Councilman Bruce Tyler has pointed out, complacency when it comes to such bloated and unnecessary spending is a "close second cousin to corruption" in terms of it's ultimate wasting of public dollars.
In that regard, City Hall and City Council have used the new form of government to justify increased wasteful and unnecessary spending, not reduce it.
We have the oldest schools in the state and the newest, most bloated bureaucratic government spending.
So until we get a real anti-spending plan, containing the kinds of tough, fiscal policies I have championed over the years to cut out this kind of unjustified spending, the new tax and fee increases proposed by City Hall and City Council cannot be justified based on my knowledge and educational training in public finance and administration."
City Council ducking responsibility to require full accounting of upwards of $1 million dollars
Goldman for Mayor - 6 May 2008 - For Immediate Release
After months of tough talk, City Council still refusing to meet it's responsibilities under section § 4.16 of the City Charter despite finding that nearly $ 1 Million dollars in public money has been wasted, if not illegal spent
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor and author of the original Elected Mayor law ballot referendum, said today the report of the Council's investigatory committee into what it concedes is the waste of nearly $ 1 million dollars continues a pattern of months of tough talk from City Council, yet a continued "refusal by Council to meet it's responsibilities under the City Charter, offering again more proof that Council's failed oversight is encouraging waste in city government."
"Whoever said talk is cheap wasn't living in Richmond at the time" said Mr. Goldman. " The people of Richmond once again see that the cost of lip service, that the cost of City Council talking tough but failing to meet the responsibilities given it - not once but twice - under the new form of government has contributed to what Council Bruce Tyler concedes is a culture of city government complacency, which he himself said was a close second cousin to corruption."
In a statement, Mr. Goldman continued:
" The people are paying millions for this culture of complacency. The original Elected Mayor law enacted in 2004 included City Charter section § 4.16, a provision that includes the basic checks and balances long regarded as necessary to prevent millions of dollars of wasteful spending by city government. This provision, entitled "Powers of investigation" has long been approved by the General Assembly of Virginia.
Then again, in 2006, this same City Charter section § 4.16, entitled "Powers of investigation", was re-enacted with a few minor technical corrections.
Mayor Wilder supported it, City Council supported it, the General Assembly of Virginia passed it, and Governor Kaine signed it.
They knew section § 4.16 was necessary to protect the public treasury and to make it clear to the people of Richmond that their tax dollars would be protected, not only because such specific instances like "Fiasco Friday" might involve hugely wasteful, if not illegal expenditures, but in addition, a failure of oversight on part of City Council or City Hall would encourage the very culture of governmental complacency that leads to more and more wasting of the people's money.
As the head of the Council's investigatory committee concedes, the Council still has failed to meet it's responsibilities under section § 4.16.
We need to end the culture of complacency not only in city government, but likewise the one apparently operating on City Council because once again, we have proof that it is costing the people of Richmond millions of dollars.
Talk is not, and has not, been cheap in Richmond: it is time for City Council to meet it's responsibilities as envisioned by the people, the General Assembly and the Governor when section § 4.16 was enacted."
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After months of tough talk, City Council still refusing to meet it's responsibilities under section § 4.16 of the City Charter despite finding that nearly $ 1 Million dollars in public money has been wasted, if not illegal spent
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor and author of the original Elected Mayor law ballot referendum, said today the report of the Council's investigatory committee into what it concedes is the waste of nearly $ 1 million dollars continues a pattern of months of tough talk from City Council, yet a continued "refusal by Council to meet it's responsibilities under the City Charter, offering again more proof that Council's failed oversight is encouraging waste in city government."
"Whoever said talk is cheap wasn't living in Richmond at the time" said Mr. Goldman. " The people of Richmond once again see that the cost of lip service, that the cost of City Council talking tough but failing to meet the responsibilities given it - not once but twice - under the new form of government has contributed to what Council Bruce Tyler concedes is a culture of city government complacency, which he himself said was a close second cousin to corruption."
In a statement, Mr. Goldman continued:
" The people are paying millions for this culture of complacency. The original Elected Mayor law enacted in 2004 included City Charter section § 4.16, a provision that includes the basic checks and balances long regarded as necessary to prevent millions of dollars of wasteful spending by city government. This provision, entitled "Powers of investigation" has long been approved by the General Assembly of Virginia.
Then again, in 2006, this same City Charter section § 4.16, entitled "Powers of investigation", was re-enacted with a few minor technical corrections.
Mayor Wilder supported it, City Council supported it, the General Assembly of Virginia passed it, and Governor Kaine signed it.
They knew section § 4.16 was necessary to protect the public treasury and to make it clear to the people of Richmond that their tax dollars would be protected, not only because such specific instances like "Fiasco Friday" might involve hugely wasteful, if not illegal expenditures, but in addition, a failure of oversight on part of City Council or City Hall would encourage the very culture of governmental complacency that leads to more and more wasting of the people's money.
As the head of the Council's investigatory committee concedes, the Council still has failed to meet it's responsibilities under section § 4.16.
We need to end the culture of complacency not only in city government, but likewise the one apparently operating on City Council because once again, we have proof that it is costing the people of Richmond millions of dollars.
Talk is not, and has not, been cheap in Richmond: it is time for City Council to meet it's responsibilities as envisioned by the people, the General Assembly and the Governor when section § 4.16 was enacted."
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Green "DNA" must be part of new City Building Code
Goldman for Mayor - 7 May 2008 - For Immediate Release
"A green DNA must be part of the City's future building code"
-
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said today that "one of the 10 fundamental changes the next Mayor has work with others in the community to achieve is make a green DNA part of the City's future building code, for it will have tremendous economic and environmental benefits for our city during the 21st century."
"If we turn the page on the failed politics of the past and embrace the cooperative leadership style that my new "Richmond Unity Council" proposal will bring to our town, then we can give our citizens and their children the enhanced quality of life, both now and in the future, that they deserve."
" This is one reason I have worked so hard with others to give Richmonder's a new way to modernize what has become a Separate and Unequal system of educational opportunities due to the fact that our city has the oldest such school facilities in Virginia according to a recent state study."
" Modernizing old facilities is not only mandatory in terms of education, but such modernization, if done right, is most environmentally friendly and cost-effective as a recent newspaper article points out."
"As the adage goes, the "future is now" and given the growing realities in terms of comparative economics and developing environmental markers, Richmond needs to accept the challenge of being a leader in the 21st century."
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"A green DNA must be part of the City's future building code"
-
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said today that "one of the 10 fundamental changes the next Mayor has work with others in the community to achieve is make a green DNA part of the City's future building code, for it will have tremendous economic and environmental benefits for our city during the 21st century."
"If we turn the page on the failed politics of the past and embrace the cooperative leadership style that my new "Richmond Unity Council" proposal will bring to our town, then we can give our citizens and their children the enhanced quality of life, both now and in the future, that they deserve."
" This is one reason I have worked so hard with others to give Richmonder's a new way to modernize what has become a Separate and Unequal system of educational opportunities due to the fact that our city has the oldest such school facilities in Virginia according to a recent state study."
" Modernizing old facilities is not only mandatory in terms of education, but such modernization, if done right, is most environmentally friendly and cost-effective as a recent newspaper article points out."
"As the adage goes, the "future is now" and given the growing realities in terms of comparative economics and developing environmental markers, Richmond needs to accept the challenge of being a leader in the 21st century."
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Turn City Treasurer Into Money-saving Fiscal Watchdog
Goldman Proposes bold change for Office of City Treasurer to save millions
"When it comes to trusting the people vs the politicians, I trust the people"
(Richmond) - Saying that the "City Council, by admitting the current city budget wastes millions of dollars" has made the case for the need to a truly independent city auditor, Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said today. The only way to ensure that "millions more of public money isn't wasted" is to create a "truly independent city auditor not tied to the failed politics of the past."
"City Council concedes there continues to be many millions in wasteful if not worse spending" said Goldman "and yet, while blaming the Executive Branch, they fail to accept responsibility for having voted for the very budget they say wastes all this public money!"
"We need to turn the page on the old blame game and take a new bold approach."
In a statement, Paul Goldman continued:
" In 2003, those of us willing to lead the effort for change created a new form of government for the purpose of bringing needed accountability to City Hall and City Council to end the waste of millions of the people's money.
Based on recent news reports, even City Hall and City Council concede this has not happened almost 5 years later.
Accordingly, we need a truly independent auditor, someone who never has to worry about whether he or she might lose their job due to pressure from the politicians on City Council or in City Hall on account of any audit project.
Therefore, I propose that the City Treasurer be given the city auditor function, thus transferring that legal responsibility to an independently elected official accountable to the people. When it comes to a choice between trusting the people vs the politicians on protecting the public's money, my vote goes to the people of Richmond.
There are no perfect solutions. But Article VII, Section 4 of the State Constitution allows the General Assembly to amend the City Charter to reshape the office of Richmond City Treasurer into a position that includes a truly independent audit function, allowing it to be fearless in doing the type of audits and making the necessary proposals needed to finally stop all this many millions in wasteful spending.
Unfortunately,City Hall and City Council remain stuck in the old politics on this issue, again debating creating yet another old-style bureaucratic entity tonight.
We need to turn the page from this old politics.
The General Assembly has the power to free Richmond from the failed politics of the past and save us millions. During my campaign for Mayor, I will be seeking the support of the people to do just that. If elected, I am confident the new City Council will work with me to make this needed change."
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"When it comes to trusting the people vs the politicians, I trust the people"
(Richmond) - Saying that the "City Council, by admitting the current city budget wastes millions of dollars" has made the case for the need to a truly independent city auditor, Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said today. The only way to ensure that "millions more of public money isn't wasted" is to create a "truly independent city auditor not tied to the failed politics of the past."
"City Council concedes there continues to be many millions in wasteful if not worse spending" said Goldman "and yet, while blaming the Executive Branch, they fail to accept responsibility for having voted for the very budget they say wastes all this public money!"
"We need to turn the page on the old blame game and take a new bold approach."
In a statement, Paul Goldman continued:
" In 2003, those of us willing to lead the effort for change created a new form of government for the purpose of bringing needed accountability to City Hall and City Council to end the waste of millions of the people's money.
Based on recent news reports, even City Hall and City Council concede this has not happened almost 5 years later.
Accordingly, we need a truly independent auditor, someone who never has to worry about whether he or she might lose their job due to pressure from the politicians on City Council or in City Hall on account of any audit project.
Therefore, I propose that the City Treasurer be given the city auditor function, thus transferring that legal responsibility to an independently elected official accountable to the people. When it comes to a choice between trusting the people vs the politicians on protecting the public's money, my vote goes to the people of Richmond.
There are no perfect solutions. But Article VII, Section 4 of the State Constitution allows the General Assembly to amend the City Charter to reshape the office of Richmond City Treasurer into a position that includes a truly independent audit function, allowing it to be fearless in doing the type of audits and making the necessary proposals needed to finally stop all this many millions in wasteful spending.
Unfortunately,City Hall and City Council remain stuck in the old politics on this issue, again debating creating yet another old-style bureaucratic entity tonight.
We need to turn the page from this old politics.
The General Assembly has the power to free Richmond from the failed politics of the past and save us millions. During my campaign for Mayor, I will be seeking the support of the people to do just that. If elected, I am confident the new City Council will work with me to make this needed change."
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Goldman proposes First-in-the-nation "Richmond Unity Council"
Goldman for Mayor - 14 May 2008 - For Immediate Release
Goldman: "While it would admittedly be unique, I predict that whether I win or lose, a Richmond Unity Council will be created next year by the next Mayor"
This Citizen-dominated panel "will turn the page on the old politics of division, and forge the unity we need to make Richmond all it can and should be."
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said that the creation of a "Richmond Unity Council" is an idea whose "time has come" here in Richmond "based on the overwhelmingly positive reaction to this forward-looking, admittedly unprecedented plan, that I am getting from citizens going door to door collecting petitions."
"Admittedly it is unique, as best I can tell from my studies of public administration. But the people of Richmond are telling me they are ready for it" Goldman continued.
In a statement, Mr. Goldman said:
"With the leaders of City Hall and City Council continuing to blame each for the constant and hugely expensive bickering, record taxes and fees, many millions in wasteful if not seemingly at times illegal spending, and a laundry list of failed promises, it has become clear we need to turn the page on this old, failed politics.
And we can.
The Richmond Unity Council will consist of 10 citizens chosen on the basis of their work in the private, non-for-profit, business, community, education, environmental, financial, housing, public safety and related sectors, along with 8 of city's top elected or appointed government officials. It will be chaired by the next Mayor. The membership will also consist of the 17 other individuals as listed below, making a total of 18, the same number as the state Council on Virginia's Future.
The Richmond Unity Council will meet every three weeks, at the same time and place, with all meetings open to the public, and in its advisory capacity, review the current policy, plans and operational performance of city government, with the goal of developing better ways for all of us to work together to improve our city. The public will be able to ask the group questions and every such inquiry will be answered either then or not later than the next meeting.
Having now been able to discuss this idea with citizens over the past many weeks, I have taken into consideration their advice and made some revisions in the membership since first announcing the plan this past winter."
The Members of the Richmond Unity Council will be:
Mayor
Chief Administrative Officer
City Council President,
City Council Vice-President
School Board Chair
Superintendent of Richmond Public Schools
A member of Richmond's delegation to the General Assembly appointed by the delegation
The Police Chief/Fire Chief [given their duties, one or the other will attend each meeting]
A citizen representing the Richmond business community appointed by the Mayor
A citizen representing the Richmond small business community appointed by City Council
A citizen representing Richmond higher education community appointed by the Mayor
A citizen with a record of doing volunteer work in our public schools appointed by City Council
A citizen with a background in vocational education appointed by the Unity Council
A citizen representing neighborhood associations appointed by City Council
A citizen with a record of community involvement in affordable housing chosen by the Mayor
A citizen with a record of community involvement in public safety issues chosen by the Richmond Unity Council
A citizen with a record of involvement in "green issues" appointed by the Mayor
A citizen with a record of improving the delivery, and reducing the cost, of government services appointed by the Richmond Unity Council
Goldman: "While it would admittedly be unique, I predict that whether I win or lose, a Richmond Unity Council will be created next year by the next Mayor"
This Citizen-dominated panel "will turn the page on the old politics of division, and forge the unity we need to make Richmond all it can and should be."
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said that the creation of a "Richmond Unity Council" is an idea whose "time has come" here in Richmond "based on the overwhelmingly positive reaction to this forward-looking, admittedly unprecedented plan, that I am getting from citizens going door to door collecting petitions."
"Admittedly it is unique, as best I can tell from my studies of public administration. But the people of Richmond are telling me they are ready for it" Goldman continued.
In a statement, Mr. Goldman said:
"With the leaders of City Hall and City Council continuing to blame each for the constant and hugely expensive bickering, record taxes and fees, many millions in wasteful if not seemingly at times illegal spending, and a laundry list of failed promises, it has become clear we need to turn the page on this old, failed politics.
And we can.
The Richmond Unity Council will consist of 10 citizens chosen on the basis of their work in the private, non-for-profit, business, community, education, environmental, financial, housing, public safety and related sectors, along with 8 of city's top elected or appointed government officials. It will be chaired by the next Mayor. The membership will also consist of the 17 other individuals as listed below, making a total of 18, the same number as the state Council on Virginia's Future.
The Richmond Unity Council will meet every three weeks, at the same time and place, with all meetings open to the public, and in its advisory capacity, review the current policy, plans and operational performance of city government, with the goal of developing better ways for all of us to work together to improve our city. The public will be able to ask the group questions and every such inquiry will be answered either then or not later than the next meeting.
Having now been able to discuss this idea with citizens over the past many weeks, I have taken into consideration their advice and made some revisions in the membership since first announcing the plan this past winter."
The Members of the Richmond Unity Council will be:
Mayor
Chief Administrative Officer
City Council President,
City Council Vice-President
School Board Chair
Superintendent of Richmond Public Schools
A member of Richmond's delegation to the General Assembly appointed by the delegation
The Police Chief/Fire Chief [given their duties, one or the other will attend each meeting]
A citizen representing the Richmond business community appointed by the Mayor
A citizen representing the Richmond small business community appointed by City Council
A citizen representing Richmond higher education community appointed by the Mayor
A citizen with a record of doing volunteer work in our public schools appointed by City Council
A citizen with a background in vocational education appointed by the Unity Council
A citizen representing neighborhood associations appointed by City Council
A citizen with a record of community involvement in affordable housing chosen by the Mayor
A citizen with a record of community involvement in public safety issues chosen by the Richmond Unity Council
A citizen with a record of involvement in "green issues" appointed by the Mayor
A citizen with a record of improving the delivery, and reducing the cost, of government services appointed by the Richmond Unity Council
Goldman Only Candidate Opposed to Record Taxes and Spending in City Council budget
Goldman for Mayor - 20 May 2008 - For Immediate Release: Contact, 804-833-6313
Goldman: "Last month, a leader of City Council was criticizing City Hall for wanting record high taxes and wasteful spending even though City Hall said money was tight. Yet, while Council now concedes money is tight, they have too have now proposed record high real estate taxes and city government spending on citizens and businesses."
(Richmond) Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, says that while he is "pleased City Council adopted my proposal of abolishing those undocumented and wasteful car allowances given to as perks to a handful of high-level government employees" he gives the proposed Council budget an "overall failing F grade due the fact that it is out of touch with the economic squeeze being faced by many in Richmond's business community and far too many of our citizens."
"There is an economic squeeze being felt right now in the private sector, affecting so many businesses and Richmond workers and their families. But City Council either doesn't see it, or refuses to see it and this can be shown in part by their refusal to make sure as much of the wasteful spending of city government that could be cut will be cut. This can be seen not only on my own analysis of the bloated city government structure, but also on the findings, reported for all citizens to read in the newspapers, of the audits conducted by City Council's own appointed city auditor" Goldman said.
"Last month, "Goldman continued " a leader of city council was criticizing the Mayor for saying money was tight yet asking for record high spending and taxes.
"Yet now, while City Council concedes that money is tight, they too want record high real estate taxes and wasteful spending.
"We need to stop this same ole, same old budget game. We need a real change in the city's budget process and I have already detailed a plan for how this is going to happen in a Goldman Administration, saving many millions of dollars for citizens while reshaping a bloated administrative structure so that we can get a better, less costly and far more efficient delivery of services to the people."
_______________________________ 30 ________________________________
Goldman: "Last month, a leader of City Council was criticizing City Hall for wanting record high taxes and wasteful spending even though City Hall said money was tight. Yet, while Council now concedes money is tight, they have too have now proposed record high real estate taxes and city government spending on citizens and businesses."
(Richmond) Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, says that while he is "pleased City Council adopted my proposal of abolishing those undocumented and wasteful car allowances given to as perks to a handful of high-level government employees" he gives the proposed Council budget an "overall failing F grade due the fact that it is out of touch with the economic squeeze being faced by many in Richmond's business community and far too many of our citizens."
"There is an economic squeeze being felt right now in the private sector, affecting so many businesses and Richmond workers and their families. But City Council either doesn't see it, or refuses to see it and this can be shown in part by their refusal to make sure as much of the wasteful spending of city government that could be cut will be cut. This can be seen not only on my own analysis of the bloated city government structure, but also on the findings, reported for all citizens to read in the newspapers, of the audits conducted by City Council's own appointed city auditor" Goldman said.
"Last month, "Goldman continued " a leader of city council was criticizing the Mayor for saying money was tight yet asking for record high spending and taxes.
"Yet now, while City Council concedes that money is tight, they too want record high real estate taxes and wasteful spending.
"We need to stop this same ole, same old budget game. We need a real change in the city's budget process and I have already detailed a plan for how this is going to happen in a Goldman Administration, saving many millions of dollars for citizens while reshaping a bloated administrative structure so that we can get a better, less costly and far more efficient delivery of services to the people."
_______________________________ 30 ________________________________
Goldman 12 point "Success for Life Education Plan"
Goldman for Mayor - 27 May 2008 - For Release at 11:15 AM, Contact: 804-833-6313
12 Point "Success for Life Education Plan" announced
Backs school uniform standards, merit pay, Green school construction, "Zero-to-Five" care and education initiative, mandatory health examinations, mandatory improvement in teacher credentials for teaching math and science, new advisory boards to help schools improve, better use of new City Charter authority to make school spending more cost-efficient, and a new success-pay initiative that will apply to the new School Superintendent, top RPS officials and the School Board.
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said today that " as Richmond begins the search for a new School Superintendent, I believe it is incumbent on a candidate for Mayor to lay out the new ideas and new vision he would hope the new Superintendent would be willing to seriously consider, if not already share."
"My "Success for Life Education Plan" is so entitled because I believe what Senator Barack Obama had to say last November 10th was absolutely right, and so I have endeavored to bring together proposals expressed in his campaign platform, along with those of Senators Clinton and McCain, educational leaders along with adding my own ideas for a broad, non-partisan approach that can achieve real and successful change."
"Over the next few months, I will be adding other ideas and proposals, as we have our discussion on education, public safety, and the other issues facing our City."
In a statement, Goldman continued:
"In order to make sure we all work together to make all the progress we can, the Goldman Administration will enact the "Richmond Unity Council", so that the Mayor and the new School Superintendent, along with 6 other top city officials and 10 independent citizens, can work together on a regular basis to improve education, public safety and other areas.
In recent years, the Richmond Public School system has made progress. I applaud the efforts of all those responsible.
But any objective analysis of all the results has to conclude that given the per-pupil cost, the dropout rate, the SOL and SAT scores, disruption incidents and other relevant statistics, we continue to risk doing what Senator Obama rightly says our community must not permit.
We need to reject the same ole, same ole, and embrace fundamental changes for the good of our children and our community.
"Success for Life Education" Plan, part one:
* Support the use of school uniform standards, the precise definition I of course leave to the School Board and School Superintendent.
* Support the use of merit pay, on a system wide basis, as part of a comprehensive
plan to address compensation issues .
* Support the implementation of the my historic phase 1 "Construction Initiative" -
there have now beenseveral years of delay - which is the educational component
to my original "City
of the Future" plan. We should already be working on plans for phase 2. The delays
has already cost taxpayers many millions of dollars besides denying our children 21st
century "Green facilities", giving Richmond the unacceptable
distinction, at least to me, of having the oldest city schools in the state.
* Support a "Zero to Five" plan, aimed at providing needed assistance to young children
and parents at the earliest possible time.
* Support doubling the availability of after-school programs.
* Support implementation of my "Mobile Health Van" initiative which will provide free, and
mandatory health examinations [unless the parents provide proof that the child has already
received a health care exam ] to students to make sure we start attacking the root causes
of many physical and psychological issues facing youngsters at an early stage when
they are best addressed. We mandate health exams as a requirement to participate
in school sports. I would hope the School Superintendent and School Board would follow
the lead of other jurisdictions in making periodic health exams [3rd grade, 6th grade,
9th grade etc] likewise a requirement for all students to attend that grade.
* Support a "Math and Science Education" instructional priority by
addressing the need to greatly improve - in a mandatory way - the math and science
credentials of those teaching these subjects in city public schools both currently
and in the future.
* Support a "21st century Teacher Recruitment and Retention" initiative that will ask
local business leaders the area's educational community, and state government officials
to join the new Mayor in developing a public/private package of housing assistance, debt
repayment, residency scholarship and grant funds, and graduate degree advancement
incentives to keep and attract top college graduates as a way to encourage them to make
a career teaching in Richmond's public schools especially those
schools with the greatest educational needs.
* Support new approaches to address what national political and educational leaders
have admitted is a "dropout crisis" affecting not only Richmond but many inner city
school districts.
*Call on the School Board to adopt my "Advisory School Board" patterned after the
successful effort at Richmond Community High School, an idea I presented last month as
an initiative for George Wythe High School as a start.
*Pledge to far better use the budget authority that I worked to help get added to the City
Charter in order to better protect taxpayer dollars going for education, reduce wasteful
administrative costs in the Richmond Public School system, and thus provide a more
cost- efficient use of school dollars at great benefit to students and great savings to taxpayers.
*Support unprecedented success-pay initiative for School Superintendent, top RPS officials
and the School Board that will provide financial incentives for meeting tough,
new performance results
12 Point "Success for Life Education Plan" announced
Backs school uniform standards, merit pay, Green school construction, "Zero-to-Five" care and education initiative, mandatory health examinations, mandatory improvement in teacher credentials for teaching math and science, new advisory boards to help schools improve, better use of new City Charter authority to make school spending more cost-efficient, and a new success-pay initiative that will apply to the new School Superintendent, top RPS officials and the School Board.
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said today that " as Richmond begins the search for a new School Superintendent, I believe it is incumbent on a candidate for Mayor to lay out the new ideas and new vision he would hope the new Superintendent would be willing to seriously consider, if not already share."
"My "Success for Life Education Plan" is so entitled because I believe what Senator Barack Obama had to say last November 10th was absolutely right, and so I have endeavored to bring together proposals expressed in his campaign platform, along with those of Senators Clinton and McCain, educational leaders along with adding my own ideas for a broad, non-partisan approach that can achieve real and successful change."
"Over the next few months, I will be adding other ideas and proposals, as we have our discussion on education, public safety, and the other issues facing our City."
In a statement, Goldman continued:
"In order to make sure we all work together to make all the progress we can, the Goldman Administration will enact the "Richmond Unity Council", so that the Mayor and the new School Superintendent, along with 6 other top city officials and 10 independent citizens, can work together on a regular basis to improve education, public safety and other areas.
In recent years, the Richmond Public School system has made progress. I applaud the efforts of all those responsible.
But any objective analysis of all the results has to conclude that given the per-pupil cost, the dropout rate, the SOL and SAT scores, disruption incidents and other relevant statistics, we continue to risk doing what Senator Obama rightly says our community must not permit.
We need to reject the same ole, same ole, and embrace fundamental changes for the good of our children and our community.
"Success for Life Education" Plan, part one:
* Support the use of school uniform standards, the precise definition I of course leave to the School Board and School Superintendent.
* Support the use of merit pay, on a system wide basis, as part of a comprehensive
plan to address compensation issues .
* Support the implementation of the my historic phase 1 "Construction Initiative" -
there have now beenseveral years of delay - which is the educational component
to my original "City
of the Future" plan. We should already be working on plans for phase 2. The delays
has already cost taxpayers many millions of dollars besides denying our children 21st
century "Green facilities", giving Richmond the unacceptable
distinction, at least to me, of having the oldest city schools in the state.
* Support a "Zero to Five" plan, aimed at providing needed assistance to young children
and parents at the earliest possible time.
* Support doubling the availability of after-school programs.
* Support implementation of my "Mobile Health Van" initiative which will provide free, and
mandatory health examinations [unless the parents provide proof that the child has already
received a health care exam ] to students to make sure we start attacking the root causes
of many physical and psychological issues facing youngsters at an early stage when
they are best addressed. We mandate health exams as a requirement to participate
in school sports. I would hope the School Superintendent and School Board would follow
the lead of other jurisdictions in making periodic health exams [3rd grade, 6th grade,
9th grade etc] likewise a requirement for all students to attend that grade.
* Support a "Math and Science Education" instructional priority by
addressing the need to greatly improve - in a mandatory way - the math and science
credentials of those teaching these subjects in city public schools both currently
and in the future.
* Support a "21st century Teacher Recruitment and Retention" initiative that will ask
local business leaders the area's educational community, and state government officials
to join the new Mayor in developing a public/private package of housing assistance, debt
repayment, residency scholarship and grant funds, and graduate degree advancement
incentives to keep and attract top college graduates as a way to encourage them to make
a career teaching in Richmond's public schools especially those
schools with the greatest educational needs.
* Support new approaches to address what national political and educational leaders
have admitted is a "dropout crisis" affecting not only Richmond but many inner city
school districts.
*Call on the School Board to adopt my "Advisory School Board" patterned after the
successful effort at Richmond Community High School, an idea I presented last month as
an initiative for George Wythe High School as a start.
*Pledge to far better use the budget authority that I worked to help get added to the City
Charter in order to better protect taxpayer dollars going for education, reduce wasteful
administrative costs in the Richmond Public School system, and thus provide a more
cost- efficient use of school dollars at great benefit to students and great savings to taxpayers.
*Support unprecedented success-pay initiative for School Superintendent, top RPS officials
and the School Board that will provide financial incentives for meeting tough,
new performance results
Goldman Only Candidate Opposed to City Hall and City Council's failed tree policy
Bruce,
Your meeting last night was very informative and I thank you for holding it. However, it would be remiss not to point out that back in November of last year, the Richmond Times Dispatch put City Council on notice about the tree policy you said last night needed to be changed. In an article entitled "City chops down 5 times as many trees as it plants", reporter Michael Martz had already exposed the situation in time, meaning City Council has actually at 6 MONTHS of full public notice to take the actions you said last night needed to be taken.
Accordingly, the actual situation relative to trees chopped down vs new trees planted appears to be far worse than you discussed although perhaps the RTD and you were using different parameters for analysis. While this is an important numerical matter to resolve, it doesn't change the following:
To wit, City Council has been on notice for more than sufficient time to resolve many of the things you correctly pointed out last night needed to be resolved relative to trees.
We need a new and better policy on trees ASAP, it is long overdue, and based on my analysis, I believe you and Council can make it happen in 2008.
I wish you success. But rest assured that on my first day, if elected, as Richmond's new Mayor, you are invited to my office to help develop, along with others, a plan of action that will start the process of putting in place whatever ordinances and management policies are required to fix whatever may still need fixing in terms of city trees.
Again, enjoyed the meeting.
Sincerely,
Paul Goldman
Your meeting last night was very informative and I thank you for holding it. However, it would be remiss not to point out that back in November of last year, the Richmond Times Dispatch put City Council on notice about the tree policy you said last night needed to be changed. In an article entitled "City chops down 5 times as many trees as it plants", reporter Michael Martz had already exposed the situation in time, meaning City Council has actually at 6 MONTHS of full public notice to take the actions you said last night needed to be taken.
Accordingly, the actual situation relative to trees chopped down vs new trees planted appears to be far worse than you discussed although perhaps the RTD and you were using different parameters for analysis. While this is an important numerical matter to resolve, it doesn't change the following:
To wit, City Council has been on notice for more than sufficient time to resolve many of the things you correctly pointed out last night needed to be resolved relative to trees.
We need a new and better policy on trees ASAP, it is long overdue, and based on my analysis, I believe you and Council can make it happen in 2008.
I wish you success. But rest assured that on my first day, if elected, as Richmond's new Mayor, you are invited to my office to help develop, along with others, a plan of action that will start the process of putting in place whatever ordinances and management policies are required to fix whatever may still need fixing in terms of city trees.
Again, enjoyed the meeting.
Sincerely,
Paul Goldman
"Fishy" 18 Million dollar City Contract Needs to be Investigated
Goldman for Mayor - 8 June 2008 - For Immediate Release: Contact, 804-833-6313
Independent Investigatory Commission into "fishy" $18 million city contract, indeed the entire operation of the City Finance Department, now needed. .
Council's failure to do it all it could do to get to the bottom on the costly Fiasco Friday school episode "demonstrates that they are still too tied to the old failed accountability system to be trusted to getting to the bottom of what could be one of the most high-profile influence-peddling scandals in city history."
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said today "that when I led the effort to get the Elected Mayor law on the 2003 referendum ballot, it was to help rid city government of the influence-peddling and special interest power-brokering that had too long been part of the way City Council and City Hall operated."
"I said at the time that City Council and City Hall were either incapable or unwilling to do what needed to be done in terms of preventing such abuse of the public treasury. So we needed a new broom, one I took to City Hall when I became the first person to ever demand a full, public accounting of the millions in public money spent on another project, my suspicions later proven true in an investigation by the City Auditor."
"Now, in a front-page RTD story, we discover that a contract for $18.4 has been awarded to an out-of-state company for "work that most local governments handle themselves" according to reporter David Ress."
"As the only person running for Mayor with a Masters in Public Administration, I am greatly concerned about what has now been revealed by Mr. Ress."
In a statement, Mr. Goldman continued:
One member of Council said the work "could easily be handled in-house" according Mr. Ress' story, adding that Councilman Bruce Tyler, an architect, said "the proposed cost of the contract is far above what's normal for project management".
In commenting on the fees at issue, the "amount was just ridiculous," said Council President William J. Pantele as quoted by Mr. Ress."
So my MPA training makes me ask: What is really going on here?
We all also discovered this morning that the City Finance Office concedes it was "also trying to basically use this as a model for how the city may do all of its business down the road" leaving open the question as to what other public operations have been conducted in this manner by City Hall in conjunction with other people who have similar kinds of connections as mentioned in the Ress story.
It is now also clear our school children have suffered do to the failure of City Hall and City Council to clean-up the mess they have created over the years.
While City Hall and City Council will likely engage once again in another round of finger-pointing over this latest revelation, the fact is we have a "fishy", unprecedented contract raising serious questions about influence-peddling and special interest power-brokering in the spending of millions of public dollars that neither has saw fit to fully investigate to date.
Sadly, it is therefore necessary to conclude that we need to create as soon as possible a Independent Investigatory Commission mandated to get to the bottom of this $18 million contract and the operations of the City Finance Office. If our current elected leaders are unwilling to create one, then I promise the following to the people of Richmond: If elected Mayor, I will use my authority under the Elected Mayor law that I wrote to authorize such an investigation, giving it's members full access to all City Hall documents, and mandating them to write a report that let's their investigative chips fall wherever they may.
--------------------------------30---------------------------
Independent Investigatory Commission into "fishy" $18 million city contract, indeed the entire operation of the City Finance Department, now needed. .
Council's failure to do it all it could do to get to the bottom on the costly Fiasco Friday school episode "demonstrates that they are still too tied to the old failed accountability system to be trusted to getting to the bottom of what could be one of the most high-profile influence-peddling scandals in city history."
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said today "that when I led the effort to get the Elected Mayor law on the 2003 referendum ballot, it was to help rid city government of the influence-peddling and special interest power-brokering that had too long been part of the way City Council and City Hall operated."
"I said at the time that City Council and City Hall were either incapable or unwilling to do what needed to be done in terms of preventing such abuse of the public treasury. So we needed a new broom, one I took to City Hall when I became the first person to ever demand a full, public accounting of the millions in public money spent on another project, my suspicions later proven true in an investigation by the City Auditor."
"Now, in a front-page RTD story, we discover that a contract for $18.4 has been awarded to an out-of-state company for "work that most local governments handle themselves" according to reporter David Ress."
"As the only person running for Mayor with a Masters in Public Administration, I am greatly concerned about what has now been revealed by Mr. Ress."
In a statement, Mr. Goldman continued:
One member of Council said the work "could easily be handled in-house" according Mr. Ress' story, adding that Councilman Bruce Tyler, an architect, said "the proposed cost of the contract is far above what's normal for project management".
In commenting on the fees at issue, the "amount was just ridiculous," said Council President William J. Pantele as quoted by Mr. Ress."
So my MPA training makes me ask: What is really going on here?
We all also discovered this morning that the City Finance Office concedes it was "also trying to basically use this as a model for how the city may do all of its business down the road" leaving open the question as to what other public operations have been conducted in this manner by City Hall in conjunction with other people who have similar kinds of connections as mentioned in the Ress story.
It is now also clear our school children have suffered do to the failure of City Hall and City Council to clean-up the mess they have created over the years.
While City Hall and City Council will likely engage once again in another round of finger-pointing over this latest revelation, the fact is we have a "fishy", unprecedented contract raising serious questions about influence-peddling and special interest power-brokering in the spending of millions of public dollars that neither has saw fit to fully investigate to date.
Sadly, it is therefore necessary to conclude that we need to create as soon as possible a Independent Investigatory Commission mandated to get to the bottom of this $18 million contract and the operations of the City Finance Office. If our current elected leaders are unwilling to create one, then I promise the following to the people of Richmond: If elected Mayor, I will use my authority under the Elected Mayor law that I wrote to authorize such an investigation, giving it's members full access to all City Hall documents, and mandating them to write a report that let's their investigative chips fall wherever they may.
--------------------------------30---------------------------
Goldman Wants Full Public Accounting of Tens of Millions in Public Funds
Goldman for Mayor - 28 May 2008- For Immediate Release
Goldman wants full accounting of all public monies connected to the failed $100 Million Downtown Arts Center project, the new Arts Center project, and a review of the operating subsidy agreed-to by the City Council and City Hall.
"Given that Mr. Pantele just voted for record taxes and wasteful spending despite the economic squeeze facing Richmond citizens, and Mr. Grey supported City Hall's budget that had would have imposed even higher record taxes and wasteful spending on the public, I think a full accounting and review of all the public monies involved and expended on these Arts Center projects is required before the new city budget is finalized."
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said today that with Bill Pantele and Robert Grey "getting ready to announce their candidacies" the time has come for full-accountability on all the public monies involved with the failed $100 Million Downtown Arts Center project, the new Arts Center project, and of course the operating subsidy deal agreed-to by the City Council and City Hall."
"Bill and Robert were major supporters of the failed $100 Million Downtown Arts Center project, and backed the unprecedented move of raising a general public tax to directly benefit a private development project without requiring even the most basic of financial oversight. Moreover, supporters of the project promised the public they would not ask, nor need, a public operating subsidy.
Those lobbying for imposing higher taxes and higher wasteful spending on the people of Richmond, for public and private projects, already have powerful allies at City Hall and in City Council.
The next Mayor has to be someone who can be an independent voice for the people, willing to champion the public interest, willing to protect the public treasury: for if the Mayor cannot do it, then it will not be done.
As Bill and Robert know, it took my "City of the Future" plan to finally provide a fiscally responsible path to actually get the Carpenter Center modernized. So my support of the arts is well-known in objective circles.
But there is a difference between fiscally responsible support, and a fiscally irresponsible waste of public money on a fiscally irresponsible $100 Million project.
The Elected Mayor law that I wrote was intended to create an independent Mayor, answerable only to the people, not another cheer-leader for the High Tax and Spend Lobby, especially with the economic squeeze facing the citizens of Richmond."
------------------------------30-----------------------------
Goldman wants full accounting of all public monies connected to the failed $100 Million Downtown Arts Center project, the new Arts Center project, and a review of the operating subsidy agreed-to by the City Council and City Hall.
"Given that Mr. Pantele just voted for record taxes and wasteful spending despite the economic squeeze facing Richmond citizens, and Mr. Grey supported City Hall's budget that had would have imposed even higher record taxes and wasteful spending on the public, I think a full accounting and review of all the public monies involved and expended on these Arts Center projects is required before the new city budget is finalized."
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said today that with Bill Pantele and Robert Grey "getting ready to announce their candidacies" the time has come for full-accountability on all the public monies involved with the failed $100 Million Downtown Arts Center project, the new Arts Center project, and of course the operating subsidy deal agreed-to by the City Council and City Hall."
"Bill and Robert were major supporters of the failed $100 Million Downtown Arts Center project, and backed the unprecedented move of raising a general public tax to directly benefit a private development project without requiring even the most basic of financial oversight. Moreover, supporters of the project promised the public they would not ask, nor need, a public operating subsidy.
Those lobbying for imposing higher taxes and higher wasteful spending on the people of Richmond, for public and private projects, already have powerful allies at City Hall and in City Council.
The next Mayor has to be someone who can be an independent voice for the people, willing to champion the public interest, willing to protect the public treasury: for if the Mayor cannot do it, then it will not be done.
As Bill and Robert know, it took my "City of the Future" plan to finally provide a fiscally responsible path to actually get the Carpenter Center modernized. So my support of the arts is well-known in objective circles.
But there is a difference between fiscally responsible support, and a fiscally irresponsible waste of public money on a fiscally irresponsible $100 Million project.
The Elected Mayor law that I wrote was intended to create an independent Mayor, answerable only to the people, not another cheer-leader for the High Tax and Spend Lobby, especially with the economic squeeze facing the citizens of Richmond."
------------------------------30-----------------------------
New study says Richmond School Administration significantly overstating the High School graduation rate
Goldman for Mayor - 20 June 2008 - For Immediate Release: Contact, 804-833-6313
New study funded in part by the Gates Foundation and published on the highly respected "Education Week" magazine's online site analyzes data from around the country
"Given the results of what is surely the most comprehensive study of graduation rates not just in Virginia but every Congressional district in America, it appears the graduation rate claimed by the Richmond Public School Administration is considered significantly inflated by objective, national education experts."
"We can't move Richmond forward when you have to go back and back again to recheck the basic numbers claimed by the School Administration, City Hall and City Council"
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said today that "it is time the School Administration, along with City Hall and City Council, are all taught the most basic lesson of all: inflating things to make yourself look good only makes matters worse for citizens you are expected to serve."
In a statement Goldman continued:
"How can we move Richmond forward when we constantly have to go back and back to check on the basic things claimed by those responsible in government?
Let me quote from this new report:
"Analyses conducted for Diplomas Count by the EPE Research Center also continue to show wide disparities between state-reported graduation rates and the center’s estimates"
First, we learn that the basic formula used in Virginia - so this is not just a Richmond problem, but actually one shared by 32 states - significantly - and knowingly - overstates graduation rates.
Second, we learn that this "wide disparity" may actually be wider still for Richmond although this can not be definitively determined by the statistics in this new study.
It is not possible to make the best policy decisions regarding the future of education in Richmond by using bad statistics.
This new report points to several fundamental changes that can be made to help improve our ability to make the right decisions moving forward.
In that regard, it must also be noted that the report indicates that State Education officials have not done all they need to do, and should do, to assist local school districts in setting the necessary standards of measurement.
As Mayor, I pledge to work with school officials and state officials to get the job done, for to do less is to let down the students, their parents, and all the school teachers and officials who work so hard every day to achieve the full progress we all want for our children.
In addition, I should add that if City Hall and City Council had acted several years ago on my "City of the Future" plan's commitment to vocational education, and if city government and the School Administration will move quickly on my proposal for a first-in-the-nation charter school for Vocational Education, then we will be able to add hundreds and hundreds of students to the graduation honor roll."
-----------------------30-----------------------------------
New study funded in part by the Gates Foundation and published on the highly respected "Education Week" magazine's online site analyzes data from around the country
"Given the results of what is surely the most comprehensive study of graduation rates not just in Virginia but every Congressional district in America, it appears the graduation rate claimed by the Richmond Public School Administration is considered significantly inflated by objective, national education experts."
"We can't move Richmond forward when you have to go back and back again to recheck the basic numbers claimed by the School Administration, City Hall and City Council"
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said today that "it is time the School Administration, along with City Hall and City Council, are all taught the most basic lesson of all: inflating things to make yourself look good only makes matters worse for citizens you are expected to serve."
In a statement Goldman continued:
"How can we move Richmond forward when we constantly have to go back and back to check on the basic things claimed by those responsible in government?
Let me quote from this new report:
"Analyses conducted for Diplomas Count by the EPE Research Center also continue to show wide disparities between state-reported graduation rates and the center’s estimates"
First, we learn that the basic formula used in Virginia - so this is not just a Richmond problem, but actually one shared by 32 states - significantly - and knowingly - overstates graduation rates.
Second, we learn that this "wide disparity" may actually be wider still for Richmond although this can not be definitively determined by the statistics in this new study.
It is not possible to make the best policy decisions regarding the future of education in Richmond by using bad statistics.
This new report points to several fundamental changes that can be made to help improve our ability to make the right decisions moving forward.
In that regard, it must also be noted that the report indicates that State Education officials have not done all they need to do, and should do, to assist local school districts in setting the necessary standards of measurement.
As Mayor, I pledge to work with school officials and state officials to get the job done, for to do less is to let down the students, their parents, and all the school teachers and officials who work so hard every day to achieve the full progress we all want for our children.
In addition, I should add that if City Hall and City Council had acted several years ago on my "City of the Future" plan's commitment to vocational education, and if city government and the School Administration will move quickly on my proposal for a first-in-the-nation charter school for Vocational Education, then we will be able to add hundreds and hundreds of students to the graduation honor roll."
-----------------------30-----------------------------------
Goldman Wants Monument on Monument Avenue Honoring Richmond's historic women in time for 2020 celebration
Goldman for Mayor - 10 June 2008 - For Immediate Release - [Excerpts]
"What we need... is a Monument on Monument Avenue that honors the contributions of the women of Richmond whose achievements have been too long overlooked"
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said that "what is needed in Richmond is a monument on Monument Avenue to the contributions and achievements of the city's many historic women."
"Today's story about ...Jefferson Davis...highlights this historic void" Goldman added.
In a statement, he continued:
"The Tredegar Iron Works doesn't fall under the jurisdiction of the next Mayor and so unless asked, I don't think it is my place as a candidate for Mayor to be commenting on the news story...
But with the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment in the not too distant future, I do think it appropriate for a candidate for Mayor -given today's story - to point out that it highlights the need to fill what is surely a self-evident void, that is to say the lack of a monument on Monument Avenue to the contributions and achievements of Richmond's many historic women.
All the monuments are dedicated to men.
If given the honor to serve as Mayor, I will make it one of my priorities to set in motion a process for having such a monument constructed for dedication on Monument Avenue in time for the 1920 celebration of the 19th amendment to our Constitution."
----------------------------30 -------------------------
"What we need... is a Monument on Monument Avenue that honors the contributions of the women of Richmond whose achievements have been too long overlooked"
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said that "what is needed in Richmond is a monument on Monument Avenue to the contributions and achievements of the city's many historic women."
"Today's story about ...Jefferson Davis...highlights this historic void" Goldman added.
In a statement, he continued:
"The Tredegar Iron Works doesn't fall under the jurisdiction of the next Mayor and so unless asked, I don't think it is my place as a candidate for Mayor to be commenting on the news story...
But with the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment in the not too distant future, I do think it appropriate for a candidate for Mayor -given today's story - to point out that it highlights the need to fill what is surely a self-evident void, that is to say the lack of a monument on Monument Avenue to the contributions and achievements of Richmond's many historic women.
All the monuments are dedicated to men.
If given the honor to serve as Mayor, I will make it one of my priorities to set in motion a process for having such a monument constructed for dedication on Monument Avenue in time for the 1920 celebration of the 19th amendment to our Constitution."
----------------------------30 -------------------------
'Live-in Richmond" Initiative for Teachers, Police, Fire Fighters
Goldman for Mayor - 18 June 2008 - For Immediate Release - Contact 804-833-6313
Goldman Plan: First-in-the-Nation New Home Initiative for Teachers,
Police Officers, and Fire Fighters to turn current housing market to city's advantage
"Live In A Richmond Home Initiative" aimed at getting the best, and keeping the best, with
unprecedented financial incentives aimed at the American dream of home ownership
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said that "we need a new, unprecedented initiative to attract the best of the new generation entering the workforce and also make sure we keep, indeed attract those proven performers in education, law enforcement and fire fighting. At the same time, we also need to address the issue of the many homes in our town in need of being fixed-up so they add, not subtract, to the quality of life in our neighborhoods. And thirdly, given the current economic situation including the housing downturn expected to last for another year, there are many beautiful homes in our city that are not being sold despite the fact there is a willing seller prepared to make a very attractive deal with a willing buyer."
"So" Goldman continued, "I got to thinking: why can't we marry these three situations into one new and unprecedented approach to move Richmond forward?"
In a statement, Goldman continued:
"We can. My "Live In A Richmond Home Initiative" will create a win-win-win situation for taxpayers, teachers, and those on the front lines keeping us safe, neighborhoods with properties in need of fixing, and homeowners being hit by the current housing slump. There are opportunities being made available in the housing sector due to current economic and credit conditions.
But that can be a win-win-win for both buyer and seller, since the seller might not otherwise be able to sell his or her house despite having a need to do it.
Leaders don't give up during tough times, they figure out ways to move Richmond forward. .
The American dream of home ownership is a powerful incentive. I want to harness that dream, and that incentive, to make Richmond attract to those future teachers with the best credentials coming out of college and those current teachers with the best performances in educating our children. The same for police officers and fire fighters, those brave men and women on the front lines battling to keep us safe. We need them not only working in Richmond, but living in Richmond.
Accordingly, I believe we need to create a "Live In A Richmond Home Initiative" financial mechanism to make homes in need of repair, along with those homes that would normally sell in a short period of time but have not attracted a buyer due to current economic and credit conditions, available to those in public service with the talent and credentials we need to build a better Richmond.
I would urge the Mayor to act on this right now. If that is not the case, if elected, I will ask Richmond's top public and private finance experts to develop a financing mechanism whereby the city can lead the way in developing a plan to make these these homes available to qualifying teachers, police officers, and fire fighters as part of a compensation package aimed at attracting them to live and work in Richmond, or to keep them here, as the situation may be on a case by case basis.
For example, the best qualified new college graduate in the teaching profession might not have the credit rating to get a loan for a starter home. Yet he or she has the good job to pay the mortgage terms we can provide. Or a proven, experienced police officer whose family is in need of a bigger home might not have the cash for the down payment. But again, we know he or she can surely afford the mortgage payments in the financial arrangement the city can develop.
Or there could be any number of other financial wrinkles that would normally make it impossible for that individual to own his or her own home even though the city can develop a plan that we know is affordable due to their salary as a teacher, fire fighter or police officer. .
Accordingly, if the city uses it's financial status wisely and prudently, then there should be a practical and prudent way to make home ownership a dream for these individuals while at the same time, structuring an arrangement that will not only completely protect the city, but actually make the city money in the long run.
I know this can be done. Everyone wins when we do it right.
By giving a talented new teacher, a dedicated police officer, or a proven educator a chance for part of the American dream that she or he might not otherwise be able to attain, we will cement a bond between them and our community the value of which will pay big dividends to our children and our quality of life for years and years to come."
--------------------------------------30 -----------------------------------
Goldman Plan: First-in-the-Nation New Home Initiative for Teachers,
Police Officers, and Fire Fighters to turn current housing market to city's advantage
"Live In A Richmond Home Initiative" aimed at getting the best, and keeping the best, with
unprecedented financial incentives aimed at the American dream of home ownership
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said that "we need a new, unprecedented initiative to attract the best of the new generation entering the workforce and also make sure we keep, indeed attract those proven performers in education, law enforcement and fire fighting. At the same time, we also need to address the issue of the many homes in our town in need of being fixed-up so they add, not subtract, to the quality of life in our neighborhoods. And thirdly, given the current economic situation including the housing downturn expected to last for another year, there are many beautiful homes in our city that are not being sold despite the fact there is a willing seller prepared to make a very attractive deal with a willing buyer."
"So" Goldman continued, "I got to thinking: why can't we marry these three situations into one new and unprecedented approach to move Richmond forward?"
In a statement, Goldman continued:
"We can. My "Live In A Richmond Home Initiative" will create a win-win-win situation for taxpayers, teachers, and those on the front lines keeping us safe, neighborhoods with properties in need of fixing, and homeowners being hit by the current housing slump. There are opportunities being made available in the housing sector due to current economic and credit conditions.
But that can be a win-win-win for both buyer and seller, since the seller might not otherwise be able to sell his or her house despite having a need to do it.
Leaders don't give up during tough times, they figure out ways to move Richmond forward. .
The American dream of home ownership is a powerful incentive. I want to harness that dream, and that incentive, to make Richmond attract to those future teachers with the best credentials coming out of college and those current teachers with the best performances in educating our children. The same for police officers and fire fighters, those brave men and women on the front lines battling to keep us safe. We need them not only working in Richmond, but living in Richmond.
Accordingly, I believe we need to create a "Live In A Richmond Home Initiative" financial mechanism to make homes in need of repair, along with those homes that would normally sell in a short period of time but have not attracted a buyer due to current economic and credit conditions, available to those in public service with the talent and credentials we need to build a better Richmond.
I would urge the Mayor to act on this right now. If that is not the case, if elected, I will ask Richmond's top public and private finance experts to develop a financing mechanism whereby the city can lead the way in developing a plan to make these these homes available to qualifying teachers, police officers, and fire fighters as part of a compensation package aimed at attracting them to live and work in Richmond, or to keep them here, as the situation may be on a case by case basis.
For example, the best qualified new college graduate in the teaching profession might not have the credit rating to get a loan for a starter home. Yet he or she has the good job to pay the mortgage terms we can provide. Or a proven, experienced police officer whose family is in need of a bigger home might not have the cash for the down payment. But again, we know he or she can surely afford the mortgage payments in the financial arrangement the city can develop.
Or there could be any number of other financial wrinkles that would normally make it impossible for that individual to own his or her own home even though the city can develop a plan that we know is affordable due to their salary as a teacher, fire fighter or police officer. .
Accordingly, if the city uses it's financial status wisely and prudently, then there should be a practical and prudent way to make home ownership a dream for these individuals while at the same time, structuring an arrangement that will not only completely protect the city, but actually make the city money in the long run.
I know this can be done. Everyone wins when we do it right.
By giving a talented new teacher, a dedicated police officer, or a proven educator a chance for part of the American dream that she or he might not otherwise be able to attain, we will cement a bond between them and our community the value of which will pay big dividends to our children and our quality of life for years and years to come."
--------------------------------------30 -----------------------------------
Goldman Stands Alone in Protecting The Riverfront
Goldman for Mayor - 20 June 2008 - For Immediate Release -
Goldman Stood Alone Last Night Against the Those Who Want to "pave paradise and put up a parking lot" (copyright acknowledgement below)
As reported this morning by Will Jones, Paul Goldman was the only candidate last night who "called for land along the James River to be preserved."
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said today that "it is now clear that my vision for Richmond is the only one that can be trusted to protect the Riverfront for future generations."
"Once again, I am the only candidate opposed to Echo Harbour and the only future Mayor who can be trusted to be innovative, informed, and independent when it comes to siding with the public interest, not the special interests of the special interests."
------------------------------- 30 ------------------------
Big Yellow Taxi
by Joni Mitchell
Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you've got Till it's gone They paved paradise And put up a parking lotThey took all the trees Put 'em in a tree museum And they charged the people A dollar and a half just to see 'em Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you've got Till it's gone They paved paradise And put up a parking lot
Copyright © Siquomb Publishing Company
Goldman Stood Alone Last Night Against the Those Who Want to "pave paradise and put up a parking lot" (copyright acknowledgement below)
As reported this morning by Will Jones, Paul Goldman was the only candidate last night who "called for land along the James River to be preserved."
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said today that "it is now clear that my vision for Richmond is the only one that can be trusted to protect the Riverfront for future generations."
"Once again, I am the only candidate opposed to Echo Harbour and the only future Mayor who can be trusted to be innovative, informed, and independent when it comes to siding with the public interest, not the special interests of the special interests."
------------------------------- 30 ------------------------
Big Yellow Taxi
by Joni Mitchell
Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you've got Till it's gone They paved paradise And put up a parking lotThey took all the trees Put 'em in a tree museum And they charged the people A dollar and a half just to see 'em Don't it always seem to go That you don't know what you've got Till it's gone They paved paradise And put up a parking lot
Copyright © Siquomb Publishing Company
Goldman The Only Candidate Opposed to Echo Harbour
Goldman for Mayor - 13 June 08 - For Immediate Release 2
Goldman opposes Echo Harbor says "Grey/Jones/Pantele can run but they can't hide" as Joe Louis pointed out many years ago."
Goldman says that "as lawyers, my friends Mr. Grey and Mr. Pantele know that silence is considered acceptance" in these kinds of matters.
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said today that "it is telling that I remain the only leading candidate for Mayor willing to protect the Riverfront and all it means to the future of our City by stating my clear and principled opposition to the Echo Harbor project that continues to receive political aid and comfort from my opponent's continued refusal to join me in public opposition."
In a statement, Paul continued:
"Given the news in today's RTD concerning yet another twist and turn as regards City Hall and it's activities over time, the Echo Harbour proceeds apace.
Indeed, as the project's lawyer, James W. Theobald told the RTD today, the "the original plan" is the one they are still determined to build.
Clearly, the continued silence of Mr. Grey, Mr. Jones and Mr. Pantele is giving him and the Echo Harbour developers hope that should any of them get to be Mayor, then the sky is the limit to use a pun for this High Rise project that will destroy one of the great scenic treasures of Richmond.
So while I am the only candidate willing to do the right thing and state my public, principled opposition to Echo Harbour, and thereby protect the Riverfront for future generations, I believe the public is on my side.
It is time to say No, once and for all, to Echo Harbour."
---------------30---------
Goldman opposes Echo Harbor says "Grey/Jones/Pantele can run but they can't hide" as Joe Louis pointed out many years ago."
Goldman says that "as lawyers, my friends Mr. Grey and Mr. Pantele know that silence is considered acceptance" in these kinds of matters.
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, said today that "it is telling that I remain the only leading candidate for Mayor willing to protect the Riverfront and all it means to the future of our City by stating my clear and principled opposition to the Echo Harbor project that continues to receive political aid and comfort from my opponent's continued refusal to join me in public opposition."
In a statement, Paul continued:
"Given the news in today's RTD concerning yet another twist and turn as regards City Hall and it's activities over time, the Echo Harbour proceeds apace.
Indeed, as the project's lawyer, James W. Theobald told the RTD today, the "the original plan" is the one they are still determined to build.
Clearly, the continued silence of Mr. Grey, Mr. Jones and Mr. Pantele is giving him and the Echo Harbour developers hope that should any of them get to be Mayor, then the sky is the limit to use a pun for this High Rise project that will destroy one of the great scenic treasures of Richmond.
So while I am the only candidate willing to do the right thing and state my public, principled opposition to Echo Harbour, and thereby protect the Riverfront for future generations, I believe the public is on my side.
It is time to say No, once and for all, to Echo Harbour."
---------------30---------
Goldman "Economic Growth" Plan for Richmond
Goldman for Mayor - 23 June 08 - For Immediate Release - Contact, 804-833-6313 -
"We can not become a first tier city, we can not reduce the economic, social and governmental costs of poverty, while running last in job creation."
"My "Economic Growth" agenda - which will drive down taxes and the cost of government by giving families new hope by helping to lift them out of poverty - is centered on creating more jobs and more businesses in Richmond, not more Echo Harbour type projects."
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, announced today a comprehensive "Economic Growth" plan based on a basic economic premise:
"Richmond can not become a first tier city, Richmond can not reduce the economic, social and governmental costs of poverty, while running last in job creation."
Goldman continued. " When Governor Kaine's Urban Policy Task Force studied the state's 19 largest independent cities, they made a startling discovery: Richmond ranked last in the category they called "employment growth." Truth is, "employment growth" really was a misnomer when discussing Richmond, for the Kaine Administration found that in our River City, jobs had actually declined by 6500 in the first half of this decade."
The Goldman Difference.
"The Kaine study concluded what is clear to me but not my opponents: we need a Mayor with the vision and proven political courage to challenge the old thinking and the old power-brokers who have brought us to this cross-roads.
We need to make Job Creation....Job # 1 in Richmond.
Having been cited in three different decades for being a leader not afraid to do the grunt work and take the point position in efforts to make historic, fundamental change, I am not afraid of taking the criticism necessary to make real progress for real people.
As the Kaine Task Force concedes, unless Richmond moves from dead last on jobs, the job of solving Richmond's social problems will get harder, not easier.
I am the only one running for Mayor who had the vision, and was also willing to do the grunt work needed, to give us what my opponents now concede was necessary, a fundamental change in our form of government.
Now, we need to make a fundamental policy shift: move away from an approach that looks for ways to give significant tax and other governmental incentives for projects like Echo Harbour and move towards my "Economic Growth" approach that looks for opportunities to offer new and significant incentives for private capital to invest in expanding the businesses we have in Richmond, bringing new businesses to Richmond, all of which will create more jobs."
The "Gold Standard" of Economic Growth: Less Government, Lower taxes, More Business Growth, Unprecedented vocational and technical skill training, Record Job Creation.
This year, Americans will be going for the Gold at the Olympics. They will try their best.
Why should we in Richmond do any less?
The Kaine Report admits that the state has not done enough to spur economic growth in cities like Richmond. My plan includes a novel way for the state to assist economic growth not just Richmond but all localities willing to cut local business taxes.
THE "GOLD STANDARD" PLEDGE:
Given my commitment to fiscal responsibility, and given a seeming lack of transparency in city finances [for example, we have City Hall and City Council arguing over whose budget is legal!, this plan is of course subject, as was Mark Warner's fiscal action plan, to my getting the opportunity to inspect the books upon taking office.
SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GOLDMAN "Economic Growth" Agenda: [Full-position paper with all the points and further discussion to be released tomorrow]
* Slash by 50% Business license taxes in new budget starting July 1, 2009
* Cut bureaucratic Government Spending by 15 million in new budget starting July 1, 2009.
* Reduce certain business-related fees by 10% in new budget starting in July 1, 2009
* 99 cent property tax rate is achievable far faster than you think if the many specific
policy recommendations contained in my "Economic Growth" agenda are adopted.
* Charter school for Vocational and Technological Education to raise local job skills
* Reduce bureaucratic Red Tape at City Hall: Within two years, I want it said that it is easier,
faster, and less costly to start a business in Richmond than anywhere else in the region.
+ Richmond First Tourism Initiative making us the destination city to learn history of
the Southern woman
* Create new incentives aimed specifically at attracting the new 21st century economy to
Richmond
* 8th and 9th District Economic Development, Grow Port of Richmond,
* Top-notch "cost-benefit" study to determine whether the Richmond Coliseum
needs to be replaced by a modern facility
* Jump Start a Revitalized Farmers Market by banning traffic from 17th Street
* Action Agenda for The Diamond and the Boulevard Corridor
* Novel state legislation to help Kaine's Urban Task Force keep pledge to Richmond
"We can not become a first tier city, we can not reduce the economic, social and governmental costs of poverty, while running last in job creation."
"My "Economic Growth" agenda - which will drive down taxes and the cost of government by giving families new hope by helping to lift them out of poverty - is centered on creating more jobs and more businesses in Richmond, not more Echo Harbour type projects."
(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, announced today a comprehensive "Economic Growth" plan based on a basic economic premise:
"Richmond can not become a first tier city, Richmond can not reduce the economic, social and governmental costs of poverty, while running last in job creation."
Goldman continued. " When Governor Kaine's Urban Policy Task Force studied the state's 19 largest independent cities, they made a startling discovery: Richmond ranked last in the category they called "employment growth." Truth is, "employment growth" really was a misnomer when discussing Richmond, for the Kaine Administration found that in our River City, jobs had actually declined by 6500 in the first half of this decade."
The Goldman Difference.
"The Kaine study concluded what is clear to me but not my opponents: we need a Mayor with the vision and proven political courage to challenge the old thinking and the old power-brokers who have brought us to this cross-roads.
We need to make Job Creation....Job # 1 in Richmond.
Having been cited in three different decades for being a leader not afraid to do the grunt work and take the point position in efforts to make historic, fundamental change, I am not afraid of taking the criticism necessary to make real progress for real people.
As the Kaine Task Force concedes, unless Richmond moves from dead last on jobs, the job of solving Richmond's social problems will get harder, not easier.
I am the only one running for Mayor who had the vision, and was also willing to do the grunt work needed, to give us what my opponents now concede was necessary, a fundamental change in our form of government.
Now, we need to make a fundamental policy shift: move away from an approach that looks for ways to give significant tax and other governmental incentives for projects like Echo Harbour and move towards my "Economic Growth" approach that looks for opportunities to offer new and significant incentives for private capital to invest in expanding the businesses we have in Richmond, bringing new businesses to Richmond, all of which will create more jobs."
The "Gold Standard" of Economic Growth: Less Government, Lower taxes, More Business Growth, Unprecedented vocational and technical skill training, Record Job Creation.
This year, Americans will be going for the Gold at the Olympics. They will try their best.
Why should we in Richmond do any less?
The Kaine Report admits that the state has not done enough to spur economic growth in cities like Richmond. My plan includes a novel way for the state to assist economic growth not just Richmond but all localities willing to cut local business taxes.
THE "GOLD STANDARD" PLEDGE:
Given my commitment to fiscal responsibility, and given a seeming lack of transparency in city finances [for example, we have City Hall and City Council arguing over whose budget is legal!, this plan is of course subject, as was Mark Warner's fiscal action plan, to my getting the opportunity to inspect the books upon taking office.
SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GOLDMAN "Economic Growth" Agenda: [Full-position paper with all the points and further discussion to be released tomorrow]
* Slash by 50% Business license taxes in new budget starting July 1, 2009
* Cut bureaucratic Government Spending by 15 million in new budget starting July 1, 2009.
* Reduce certain business-related fees by 10% in new budget starting in July 1, 2009
* 99 cent property tax rate is achievable far faster than you think if the many specific
policy recommendations contained in my "Economic Growth" agenda are adopted.
* Charter school for Vocational and Technological Education to raise local job skills
* Reduce bureaucratic Red Tape at City Hall: Within two years, I want it said that it is easier,
faster, and less costly to start a business in Richmond than anywhere else in the region.
+ Richmond First Tourism Initiative making us the destination city to learn history of
the Southern woman
* Create new incentives aimed specifically at attracting the new 21st century economy to
Richmond
* 8th and 9th District Economic Development, Grow Port of Richmond,
* Top-notch "cost-benefit" study to determine whether the Richmond Coliseum
needs to be replaced by a modern facility
* Jump Start a Revitalized Farmers Market by banning traffic from 17th Street
* Action Agenda for The Diamond and the Boulevard Corridor
* Novel state legislation to help Kaine's Urban Task Force keep pledge to Richmond
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