Newport News holds the ignoble distinction of being the only local government in Hampton Roads that does not record or broadcast the work meetings of its City Council. That needs to change.
Work sessions are generally the precursor to a council’s formal meetings. They allow members an opportunity to hear about agenda items, to discuss measures and to ask questions of the city manager, all in the interest of making informed decisions.
All of that has compelling public interest, but meetings are generally held in small rooms and at times that make it difficult for residents to attend in person. Most localities recognize that and record the sessions so citizens can view them at their convenience.
Not Newport News. While Councilwoman Pat Woodbury has lobbied her colleagues to record the work sessions and post them on the city’s website, others have resisted. That includes Mayor McKinley Price, who told a Daily Press reporter that cameras will affect how members behave and interact, perhaps making them less productive.
That may be true, but surely members understand that providing this window into the council’s work is valuable to the community and can conduct themselves accordingly with a camera present.
Newport News would do well to embrace Woodbury’s call for greater transparency and make the accommodations needed to get these sessions on video and make them available to the public.
Signs of progress
Two weeks have passed since Gov. Ralph Northam reimposed restrictions on Hampton Roads to curb an alarming increase in the number of coronavirus cases here. The news is promising.
The number of daily cases has plummeted and, more importantly, the seven-day moving average is half of the figure reported in mid-July. Some localities are doing better than others, but the region’s overall progress is very good.
It’s reasonable to conclude the stronger restrictions had an effect, and that the attention surrounding the announcement helped encourage better behavior here. It could also be that the pending start of a new academic year prompted better decision making.
Whatever the case, Hampton Roads is reporting better numbers and the region should be encouraged by the data. It’s important to have confirmation that the sacrifices made in the cause of public health are making a difference.
This has been a difficult summer for the commonwealth, but especially for places such as Hampton Roads that are dependent on tourism and hospitality to support thousands of jobs and hundreds of businesses. They have been asked to do so much and we cannot lose sight of the hardship they continue to face.
So continue to wash your hands, to wear a face covering, to practice social distancing and avoid large gatherings. It’s having an effect and flattening the curve, putting Hampton Roads on a path to a full reopening and the recovery we all want.
Foul water
There was something in the water at the Oceanfront recently. Something foul.
An algae bloom precipitated by Tropical Storm Isaias turned the water a rust-brown color and was the reason for a putrid smell that had many beachgoers holding their noses or seeking alternative recreation.
In 2020, the hits just keep coming, don’t they?
There are a number of factors that can create such a bloom, including runoff from stormwater, fertilizer, pet waste or other contaminants. This type isn’t harmful to humans, though others are, and some algae blooms can kill fish and other aquatic life, though that wasn’t the case here either.
According to Pilot reporting, researchers from Old Dominion University were monitoring a bloom on July 20 in Norfolk, which may have moved from the Lafayette River to the Chesapeake Bay and into the ocean during the storm.
While most algae blooms dissipate in those conditions, this one managed to weather the storm — to the Oceanfront’s chagrin. Thankfully, the mess moved on, but everyone is advised to avoid water that smells bad or has an odd color.
