It’s time to talk about it.
Time to talk about what’s happened to a city that 50 years ago had 105,000 people and today has just over 92,000.
A city that within the first decade of its existence shot from nothing to the fifth largest city in Virginia and became . . . the Magic City.
But the magic began to drain out in the late ’50s, when American Viscose closed down after employing up to 5,000 people. When N&W went from coal to diesel and laid off another 2,000.
In a way, we’ve never recovered.
In ’59, at the tail end of the magic, our city government got the job done–the children educated, the trash picked up, the fires put out, the libraries open for business–for about $139 per citizen in ’59 dollars.
Which of course means nothing until you convert it to today’s dollars–$984–and then compare that number to today’s per-capita cost for Roanoke City government: $2,814, a three-fold increase.
And for what?
High schools that graduate barely above 50 percent of students?
Continuing high-priced, outsourced studies to try to decide what to do with municipal assets like our historic Market Building and our old stadium and its site?
Sending away the responsibility for our school buses and our civic center to people in other states who don’t know Roanoke, VA from Roanoke Rapids? And really don’t much care.
How and why have we fallen so far?
As with anything broken, the place to start to find out is with those who run things. Those who make the decisions on how fast home assessments rise and what happens to all the money that brings in. Those who decide to put city resources toward real estate deals, say, instead of basic governing.
In a few days in this space, we’ll present a detailed look at just one aspect of what’s moved us from the Magic City to a bit of a tragic city. We’ll provide details on not only the 50-year perspective, but also the years of this century, which coincide exactly with the coming of Darlene Burcham as Roanoke City manager.
Get ready–the fan’s about to start spinning.
I too am so glad to be retired from the City, but only because the comments noted here are absolutely true, such as:
1. Employees not allowed to attend Council meetings because they would only serve as “lighting rods” per DB;
2. DB does not welcome opinions/input.
3. DB rules with an iron fist — it’s her way or the highway.
4. DB does not lead — she dictates.
5. City Council is well aware of her dictator style of management, but chooses to hid their collective heads in the sand and do nothing.
6. Former City Manager Bob Herbert frequently solicited input from employees, was truly interested in what you thought, and realized that citizens and employees were to be valued, not demoralized.
At one time not so long ago, I believed Roanoke to be a good place to live and work, but since Ms. Burcham came on board, that is no longer true. It is sad to see our fine city deteriorate to the point that our young people are leaving, homeowners either cannot afford to maintain their homes or choose not to because their real estate taxes would only increase more, and the citizens have to choose between having refuse collection, educating our children, or reducing the police force in an effort to balance the budget. Who came up with that lame choice? Government should be looking at cutting its own overhead before cutting public services. How about eliminating unnecessary spending City-wide, such as all out-of-town travel/training, subscriptions, memberships/dues, employee cellular telephones?
No doubt, the negative comments concerning Her Highness will be attributed to just “disgruntled employees”, as they have always been in the past, but is so far from the truth. I really enjoyed the work I did and the people I had the opportunity to work with. And I believe the City Manager form of government is right for us — just not Darlene Burcham holding that position because her style of management is not, will never be, what Roanoke (or any other city for that matter) needs to become a fine place to live and work once more.
I WOULD BE WILLING TO BET THAT IF YOU SHOWED A PHOTO OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE TO 100 CITIZENS ALONG WITH TWO OTHER PHOTOS, 90% OF THE PEOPLE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO PICK HIM OUT.
HE AND THE QUEEN ARE VERY TIGHT, AFTER ALL SHE BROUGHT HIM TO ROANOKE.
I WONDER JUST HOW MANY TIMES HE HAS SHOWN UP AT A CRIME SCENE IN NORTHWEST AND IF HE EVEN REALIZES WHAT THE OFFICERS REALLY NEED TO DO THEIR JOBS? YOU CAN’T TELL WHEN YOU NEVER LEAVE THE BUILDING AND MAKE AN EFFORT TO SPEAK TO THE CITIZENS, OR EVEN SPEAK TO THE OFFICERS THAT HE PASSES WHILE GOING THROUGH THE FOURTH FLOOR.
EVERYWHERE I HAVE EVER LIVED THE POLICE CHIEF WAS ALWAYS OUT CHECKING ON WHAT REALLY WAS GOING ON WITH HIS STAFF ON THE STREETS. THEY DIDN’T RELY ON HEARSAY AN IN INVESTIGATIONS THEY WERE PART OF THE TEAM.
ENOUGH SAID HE IS SAFE IN HIS IVORY TOWER WITH THE QUEEN COVERING HIS BACK AND HE DOING LIKEWISE!
GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS THOSE WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SURVIVE THE CUTS TO COVER THE SHORT FALLS OF AN ALMOST BANKRUPT CITY.
G.L. RETIRED AND GLAD TO BE FREE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
YOUR STAFF MUST BE COMMENDED FOR HAVING THE BACK BONE TO TAKE ON ONE OF THE SORRIEST EXAMPLES OF CITY GOVERNMENT THAT I HAVE SEEN IN MY LIFE.
IT SURE IS A PLEASURE TO KNOW THAT THERE ARE AMERICANS LEFT IN THE COUNTY THAT DO NOT FEAR THE TRUTH. HOW BLIND CAN THE CITIZENS BE AS TO THE FACT THAT QUEEN WANTS THE UNDER HER DICTATORSHIP.
I FEAR THAT THE HAMMER HAS FALLEN TO LATE FOR ROANOKE.
THERE ISN’T ANY THING LEFT FOR HER TO DESTROY. DOWNTOWN IS GONE THE YOUTH OF THE CITY IS OUT OF CONTROL AND AS FAR AS THE POLICE DEPARTMENT GOES, YOU CAN’T FIGHT CRIME WITH OUT POLICE OFFICERS.
THOSE THAT HAVE HUNG ON ARE OVERWORKED AND HAVE TO PUT UP WITH PEOPLE THAT DO NOTHING BUT COMPLAIN ABOUT THEM.
WHEN THESE OFFICERS RESPOND TO CALLS THEY EXPECTED TO BE THERE WITHIN MINUTES. YET WHEN THEY ARE SEEN RESPONDING TO A CALL ALL YOU HEAR IS COMPLAINTS.
I GUESS TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM THEY SHOULD DO THE SPEED LIMITS, WAIT FOR ALL RED LIGHTS, STOP USEINGTHOSE IRRITATING LIGHTS AND SIRENS.
WHEN THEY SEE A CRIME IN PROGRESS THE SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO SAY PLEASE STOP DOING THAT IT MAY BE AGAINST THE LAW ( WAIT WHILE I CHECK WITH A SUPERVISOR OR FIND IT IN MY BOOKS).
FACE IT IF YOU DON’T WANT THE POLICE IN YOUR LIFE THEN STOP CALLING 911 OPERATORS AND START OBAYNG THE LAW.
EVERY ENCOUNTER THAT I HAVE HAD WITH A POLICE OFFICER I HAVE BROUGHT UPON MYSELF BOTH GOD AND BAD.
I THANK GOD EVERY DAY THAT THERE ARE MEN AND WOMEN
OUT THERE WITH THE GUTS TO PUT UP WITH THE ABUSE THEY HAVE TO TAKE EVERYDAY FROM PUNKS AND LAW BREAKERS MOST OF WHOM SHOULD BE IN SCHOOL OR JAIL ANY WAY.
WORKING EVERYDAY IN NORTHWEST TO BUILD A BETTER PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO LIVE AND HAVE THING JUST LIKE THE PEOPLE IN OTHER AREAS OF THE CITY.
THANKS AGAIN TO THE STAFF OF THE ROANOKER MAGAZINE FOR TRYING TO ENLIGHTEN THE TAX PAYING CITIZENS THAT PAY THE QUEENS SALARY AS SHE KEEPS ON ABUSING THE PUBLIC !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! G.L .
If you folks don’t like Darlene Burcham or the city manager form of government try the mayor form. Can you imagine a more inept country bumpkin than David Bowers as the leader of Roanoke City?
He will scare away out of town Taubman Museum of Art tourists, proclaim Gainsboro as the center of the universe and attend a social function with a plaid shirt and checkered tie? No Thanks!!
Taken from Wikipedia. What are the police doing here?
The studies of Dr. Isaac Van Patten, a criminologist from Radford University discovered that Roanoke’s rates of rape and aggravated assault were the highest in the state of Virginia in 2004. Roanoke had seen a total increase in violent crimes from 1985 until 2003, surpassing every Virginia city, only Portsmouth had seen a larger increase in crime. Van Patten is not suggesting that Roanoke’s overall violent crime rate was the highest in the state over the 18-year period, just that it saw the largest total increase. [11] According to the FBI data, the crime rates in Roanoke for murder, rape, aggravated assault and motor vehicle theft all decreased from 2006 to 2007, while the rates of robberies and burglaries increased. In 2007, Roanoke was ranked as Virginia’s second most dangerous city; in 2008 the city was ranked as the fifth worst city in Virginia. [12}
M. Prosser, I do not disagree with your sentiment, but the story to which you refer was about the Museum of Transportation. The Museum of Art will be in much worse shape than the Transportation Museum financially in a year or two.
IT would tickle you all to know that even as I write this, the raido (news960) is covering a story that the mayor and the wonderful art museum that we had to have no matter the cost (city owns 45%) is asking for $50k. They need the money for guess what? A CONSULTANT TO TELL THEM WHAT DIRECTION TO MOVE WITH THIS FAILURE!!!!
Do you belive the nerve of these people?! I bet not a one of them has even taken a look at this story or care for that matter.
We have to start somewhere or else this city is going to be ran to poverty and any somewhat smart resident is going to run for the hills.
Yep………………..your article is the buzz…………..friends call friends…….neighbors stop neighbors asking if you’d read it. Most then follow with the resolve that this will be like all the many times Burcham has done something that would get anyone in the business world fired and Council sits back, time passes and again Queen Teflon moves on.
But remember Council in its self egrandized martyrdom does give up every other Monday to meet over a taxpayer treated lunch to vote on yet another multi-thousand dollar study of a study, that they will never read. Don’t be surprised to see one funded for them to help inprove their image in the community. Often they take tax payer funded retreats to some pretty exotic places and can eat taxpayer funded meals at places they might not otherwise afford (What ever happened to that). The citizen/taxpayer role is to pay for all of this, never expect to have a word in any of it and be humble and thankful for their work………………………such privelege is above reproach or criticism.
Just remember all of this when elections come along……………but also remember that in reality Burcham has final word over Council………….and it seems she is never questioned.
Bravo on research and publication of what other media ignores….the feelings of a majority of locals……….of course that kind of reporting does require work.
The number of citizens who have experienced Burcham slamming could hold a meeting in the Civic Center’s largest space. Many can tell of money wasted to a lesser degree than the article details, but amounts of a quarter to a half million here and there, add up! Here’s one.
Part of the power given the Queen is ultimate control over personnel issues.
To bring to fruition the now rightly defunct Arts Festival, Burcham advertised the director’s position locally for a $36,000- salary. No matter who came forward with those credentials, and ignoring Event Zone already in place and perfectly capable of producing the festival, Burcham hired a Norfolk transplant who had never directed a festival, increased the salary to $65,000- (Maybe this is the scale offerd to former residents of Norfolk as opposed to locals), hired him an assistant and paid a consultant to tell him how to do this, placing the whole project under recycled fire chief Grigsby (whose experience with firefighting made him the perfect expert to address the arts) and to help justify his salary on which his retirement pay would be gauged.
The first festival was an artistic and financial disaster when you look at revenue, if you can get those figures, another City stalling tactic, charging you for such info. The reward: The festival was funded for a second year and resulted in another arts debacle……..a reflection on the City all over the state. Council went along with this all the way.
Finally admitting to the failure but likely conveniently blaming this on the economy………….when all else fails, the festival was cut from the current budget but the director rewarded with another city job while police and EMT staff positions were cut. Likely close to half-a-million dollars went into this public joke.
I doubt that anyone can or should understand why the people they elect for Council can’t step in when they are made aware of things like this. They have got to see some spending reporting and the story above with figures has been reported in the media.
Maybe upcoming elections can be a way for change to come. Darlene does not run for office…………..that group of potential voters were it the case could meet in any vacant phone booth with space left over. Council on the other hand makes promises……..one would think they had image concerns to match the egos.
PS. Burcham was not the only official in Norfolk who made the McArthur Center happen and you might look into whether or not her job there was going to continue.
As a long time city worker, 27 years, I have seen many changes within our city. We have gone from a city where Council made the decisions and directed the City Manager to facilitate what was decided on, to a city where the City Manager makes the decisions and Council must find a way to make it happen. Previous City Mangers, Mr. Ewert and Mr. Herbert, might have had to make decisions that may have not been popular with city employees, but you could respect them because they respected you. If they would encounter you, they would take the time to speak with you and express thier appreciation for your hard work. Not so with the current City Manager, she will make eye contact with you, but will NEVER initiate any kind of interaction with you. The City administration has privatized the Civic Center operations. The privatized Civic Center is doing a better job with the same resources, and looks to become more proffitable. The School Board seems to think that bus service can be better managed by a private company, utilizing newer resources, and making a profit. Given this track record, perhaps consideration should be given to privatizing the City Managers Office.
If you work for the city then you know the iron fist that DB uses to get what she wants. It is all about her and her economic empire. Department are required to cut cost, not fill positions and to not buy basic goods to operate so money can be directed to her projects. A city employee is not allowed to attend a council meeting or contact a member of council. Infrastructure is broken because of funding redirection and the city’s pay for employees is well behind other first cities in Virginia. As this article points out- things are broken and the city needs a cooperative city manager who values the input from the citizens and workers.
HARD TO LAY IT ON DARLENE?
Bottom line is this: we’re the poorest city in Virginia (over 50,000
population) with the highest realty tax rates. The city whose residents can least afford high taxes are being charged the most.
Are you proud of that?
That wonderful new PH high school you cite, graduates about HALF its students. Downtown uptick? You obviously do not own a business downtown.
Reserve Avenue/Carilion development? How much of that property will be classified “non profit” and be exempt from real estate taxes?
It’s time Roanoke got a grip. Most of us have drunk the Kool-aid and tried to see the positives in Roanoke. THE ROANOKER magazine is guilty of the same, promoting all the good stuff issue after issue.
I’m glad someone in the media finally did this story. I think it’s amazing that city hall is charging us, the taxpayers, $ 83 million more for their services than just 8 years ago when Darlene Burcham took over.
City taxes have risen 2.5 times as fast as the inflation rate and twice as fast as Salem and Roanoke County.
Look at the cost of city hall in the charts in THE ROANOKER this month. If you haven’t read the article yet, you need to. Get a copy from someone.
What else needs to be said?
I think now would be the time to revisit the city charter and rewrite it so that we move from a weak mayor system of local government to a strong mayor system of local government. check it out, it would move us in a more progressive direction. Then we could elect a progressive mayor under 40 and hire a new city manager with substantially reduced power.
Hard to lay it all on Ms. Burcham. And there are some progressive movements – what’s going on on Reserve Ave/Jefferson is exciting. The museum (thanks, Nick and Heywood, among countless, generous others) is a wonderful step forward. The Greenways (yea Liz, et al), downtown uptick, and where would we be without Ed Walker and company? Henry Street, Higher Ed Center (kudos to John Edwards and others). Don’t forget the new tower at the airport, speaking of which – a fine terminal. The river improvements. But there is a communal tendency to refuse to move forward. Can you say “Victory Stadium” – ugh…. Patrick Henry High School is a treasure. So, what’s the bottom line?
Wow! I’m glad someone has the marbles to say it, I and many other people have said it for years…it’s not about hating where you are, it’s about fixing what is broken and being frustrated when nobody else seems to care…
I can’t believe people don’t understand why young people are leaving in droves… If I had a different family situation, I would be out of here in a heartbeat.
@Roanoker 4 – We are very supportive of the city manager form of government, just not the city manager in place now.