Hampton Handyman

Hampton, VA

Peninsula Town Center on schedule to open in Spring 2009

As far as transport A lot of manufacturing companies want access to interstates and railroad. I-64 headed west is easier to navigate on this side of the tunnel and rail in Hampton where it still exist is rarely traveled. If you look at the existing industry in the area Suffolk and Chesapeake have several plants. Not because of the night life but because they worked at attracting business and kept enough land for them to build industrial plant rather than trying to cover every inch of land with housing and shopping malls. Hampton will buy up neighborhoods to build a shopping center and then never be able to fill it. The power plant is a perfect example. Johnny Crino's wasn't open 6 months and still sets empty. Until BJ's bought the K-Mart that was built and never occupied. Industries aren't looking for somthing to do in their off time they are looking for a good location, a city that will work with them, and a good workforce. Budwieser didn't build in James city county for the shopping. Lipton isn't in Suffolk for the entertainment. Hampton refused to let Wancheese build a warehouse because they didn't want the truck traffic. So they built in Suffolk and truck from the Hampton waterfront to their warehouse. We still get the traffic Suffolk gets the tax base.  (10 hrs ago | post #196)

Hampton, VA

Peninsula Town Center on schedule to open in Spring 2009

Chad, We agree completely on what the city needs and you seem to be well informed. We just have a difference of opinion on how the city should get to where it needs to be. I feel if the city of Hampton would put the effort that it puts into bringing in stores, hotels, and new homes, into bringing in manufacturing and industry they would be way ahead of the game. With industry you increase you tax base through taxes charged to the factory and sales tax charged to workers that come in to town to work. With a tax base that is primarily residental all the taxes you bring have to go to provide new services for the residents (schools, roads, sewer,etc.) While industry you put residents into higher paying jobs and people from other cities that commute to work in the plants will buy lunchs, gas, and do some shopping before or after work then go back to their cities were their service are provide at no cost to Hampton. I don't think Town Center is a bad idea I just don't see how the city of Hampton can support it without residents that have some sort of diposeable income. That kind of money is not there for a family that is living off hotel or waitressing jobs. The city needs to spend more time working toward job creation rather than entertainment creation.  (15 hrs ago | post #193)

Hampton, VA

If ex-felons pay their dues to society, let's give them a chanc...

It is hard to rewrite a law that would exponge some records and not others. If you had to go in front of a judge after 5 years or so to have your case reviewed then you would just tie up the court system with case that had already been tried. The system now say you can petition the governor for a pardon and that is reviewed on a case by case basis. I know someone who did that with a first offence DUI 10 years after the conviction and had no problem getting the pardon and the job he wanted.  (16 hrs ago | post #653)

Hampton, VA

If ex-felons pay their dues to society, let's give them a chanc...

If I ran a warehouse such as a Target or Walmart distribution center I don't think I would want someone convicted of Grand Larceny driving a forklift around all of that merchandise. If they had kept their nose clean for a while maybe but not right out of jail. It would be to much temptation and lossed mechandise would fall back on me. It comes down to if you don't want to suffer the consequences don't do the crime. And breaking the law intentionally is not a mistake. It is a crime.  (16 hrs ago | post #652)

Hampton, VA

If ex-felons pay their dues to society, let's give them a chanc...

So lets say based on the second case we say after 5 years felony will be exsponged from your record. How will you feel in 5 years when the guy wuth the three DUI's is appointed the Alcholic beverage control board in you state and can affect DUI laws.  (19 hrs ago | post #648)

Hampton, VA

If ex-felons pay their dues to society, let's give them a chanc...

A kid with a bag of weed would be a misdemeanor. Unless he has a large amount, materials to distribute, or is in pocession of a gun. A kid that is caught shoplifting would only be a felony depending on the value of the item. Felonies are usually serious crimes which is why they don't come off your record. DUI in some cases, larceny, breaking and entering. The judge and prosecutor also have the ability to reduce a conviction from a felony to a misdemeanor if the case merits it. So I think the system works. The problem is people convicted of crimes like I mentioned above want their crimes over looked after they have served their time. Or use their record as an excuse when they are caught committing other crimes."I had no other choice because I have a felony and can't get a good job"  (Yesterday | post #642)

Hampton, VA

If ex-felons pay their dues to society, let's give them a chanc...

So what rights should be returned and how soon? Right to own a firearm? If they are convicted of violent crime or drug offense never. If you don't reinstate that right at all you can easily get through life without a gun. Right to vote? I don't see where this makes much difference either way. It is harder to get a job if you have to submit to a background check. But do you want someone convicted of armed robbery driving the Brinks truck? Or someone with a drug conviction working in a pharmacy? How about a sexual offender working in a day care? If you have kept your nose clean and gotten your life together you can petition the governor for a pardon. That is a case by case basis and there is no need to change any laws.  (Sunday | post #638)

Hampton, VA

If ex-felons pay their dues to society, let's give them a chanc...

I agree violent crime is not the only felony. But what about non violent criminals like Bernie Madoff who didn't kill anyone but destoryed lives just the same? Or high level drug dealers who are not convicted of violent crime but are in some way responsible for deaths and people who commit violent crimes to raise money to buy drugs. Where exactly do you draw the line? How do you make a distinction? On a crime by crime basis? I doubt most felonies are first offenses.  (Sunday | post #636)

Hampton, VA

Peninsula Town Center on schedule to open in Spring 2009

I don't doubt we probably would. I think your still living in the 80's if you think the Coliseum is drawing more shows than the Ampitheater, Norva, or the Intelos ampitheater in Portsmouth.It is an odd sized venue to small for big shows to big for small shows. Perfect for the Circus. Although Hampton had an opportunity to turn the old armory into a Norva type establishment and refused. I don't want to come across as having a grudge against the developers. They are private and as long as they use private money I don't care what they build. My problem lies in the city council expecting the town center to be the saving grace of Hampton and their "Build it and they will come" attitude. If you have been in Hampton long enough you will remember the Raddison hotel and Merit's restarunt. Both huge failures that cost the city millions. Hampton's answer to that fiasco? Build more hotels and restarunts in another part of town. Low paying jobs and more choices than the population can support. We gave tons of tax breaks to Bass Pro to anchor the power plant the new cutting edge shopping center at that time. It would draw so many tourist we needed hotels and a new exit off 64. now people from all ver the country can come to our Lowes and BJ's rather than their own. No matter how socially attractive you make an area people live near their place of employment. We need to work toward offering more options than cleaning rooms and waiting tables. anything else is putting the cart before the horse.  (Sunday | post #188)

Hampton, VA

Peninsula Town Center on schedule to open in Spring 2009

I don't put evreything down. I said the town center looks nice. But Hampton and the peninsula as a whole need to focus on bringing in real jobs and industry. If the local income can not support a project like the town center it is destine to fail and we will be left with more empty run down buildings. Hampton's only industry is Howemet(sp) and it is struggling. But we continue to fight to bring in shopping centers and hotels. The major tourism and entertainment faclites are across the water. If a company can schedule a convention in an area with a well developed waterfront like Virginia beach they aren't going to stay on this side of the HRBT. We need to focus on bringing employment to Hampton not moving department stores across the street and building cinder block signs all over town announcing that you are in an area with three restaurants and a bait shop.  (Saturday Dec 12 | post #186)

Hampton, VA

Peninsula Town Center on schedule to open in Spring 2009

God knows we don't have enough hotels. The head line reads on schedule for spring of 2009 opening. Lining up tenants is not the same as securing them or actually having some were to shop. Three hamburgers and an order of fries in a greasy paper bag for $34.00 is not my idea of a great bargin. I guess if you pay the rent for one of those appartments you can afford a car or you park over by the old Target if there are that many people living there. The most ingenious marketing plan I have ever heard of is to secure businesses to fill empty store fronts and not announce them. It's well designed and looks great. But it's like walking through a move set. Looks nice but empty and serves no purpose.  (Saturday Dec 12 | post #184)

Hampton, VA

Peninsula Town Center on schedule to open in Spring 2009

It is now winter of 2009 and the opening of town center has brought us a Target we already had three restaurants, and a lot of empty store fronts. I will admit the British Pub is a nice place and every brit I have spoken to says it is the best pub they have been to in the states. The Target only left us an empty building that will be hard to fill because it is so close to Walmart. Five Guys is the most over priced burger joint I have ever been to and I would be surprised to see it last a year. Mean while two years after tearing down the mall everyone is still going to Williamsburg, Newportnews, and Chesapeake to do their Christmas shopping. If you consider the empty condos upstairs... A great success  (Wednesday Dec 9 | post #182)

Hampton, VA

Health Care - Hampton, VA

government has never run a program well.  (Thursday Dec 3 | post #29)

Hampton, VA

'Mancow' show coming to 1490AM, 102.1FM on weekday mornings

Get Sirus and find out what real radio entertainment is.  (Nov 11, 2009 | post #24)

Hampton, VA

HAMPTON: One school short of full accreditation

Agreed SOLs and no student left behind were the wrost moves ever made in education. Now they just teach to a test and have no room for anything outside of that curriculum. It's just a cookie cutter system that leaves out a lot of options.  (Sep 30, 2009 | post #8)