THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, October 14, 1994 TAG: 9410130172
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Ida Kay's Portsmouth
SOURCE: Ida Kay Jordan
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
So Portsmouth didn't win the race for the state's only horse track. Portsmouth ran a strong race and deserves credit for that.
To some, it doesn't matter that Portsmouth finished second, third, fourth or fifth in the five-horse race. Winning was all that mattered. All bets were placed on a win. No payoff on a place or show bet.
But Portsmouth won on another level with the realization that residents, politicians and the other powers-that-be throughout the city worked together on a project. The cooperative effort had Portsmouth competing down the final stretch. Portsmouth got its act together in the pursuit of a common goal.
It was the most impressive run by the city as a whole - its residents, its politicians and its powers-that-be - that I have witnessed as an eight-year resident of Portsmouth, or that I have witnessed as an 11-year resident of south Hampton Roads.
From the grassroots idea of three years ago, the bid moved from a horse 'n pony show at City Hall to an appearance of city representatives before the Virginia Racing Commission in Richmond.
The thoroughness and tenaciousness of the grassroots group earned the respect and endorsement of the Chamber of Commerce. That in turn resulted in City Hall reversing its initial rejection and joining the effort.
All of which resulted in hundreds of people and thousands of dollars working toward a common goal: an endorsement by the Virginia Racing Commission, a walk in the winner's circle.
From the seed of a simple idea to the blossoming of a cohesive game plan had Portsmouth in the race, right down to the wire.
Given, the race-track campaign wasn't all mint juleps; there were bruised egos, politics and power plays along the way. The effort required compromise, lobbying and perseverance to get as far as Portsmouth's proposal did.
Yet throughout the process, the left hand didn't cut off the right hand. Private and public entities were seemingly swimming in the same direction.
Wednesday's decision doesn't translate as failure for Portsmouth; it doesn't mean Portsmouth must be put out to pasture; it doesn't mean Portsmouth suffered a broken leg and now must be destroyed.
It just means that Portsmouth, in the eyes of the five commission members, didn't have the best horse.
This time. This race.
For some, probably those so intimately involved in the campaign, the decision is cause for a short-term wake.
For some, the decision is cause for a long-term celebration.
Far beyond Wednesday's decision, there is or should be a sense of optimism because we the residents, who, for some reason, refuse to relocate elsewhere in south Hampton Roads, finally witnessed various entities of the city working together to pursue a common goal.
Can we not harness that spirit, that energy, and work together to cohesively, cooperatively pursue other options?
Can we not harness that energy, that esprit de corps to address the problems within the city that so often tear us apart, the issues that so often have us moving nowhere, if not one step forward, two steps back?
Maybe the collaborative effort witnessed during the race-track campaign can be, should be, attempted to address issues plaguing the city such as the education of our children, be it neighborhood schools or a new I.C. Norcom; issues such as low-income housing, be it Fairwood Homes or Washington Park; issues such as race relations; issues such as drugs and crime; issues such as a 10-year plan for the city.
The process leading up to Wednesday's decision should help us realize that a cooperative effort can have Portsmouth competing down the final stretch, be it for a track, be it in addressing the social issues within the city, or be it in consideration of a master plan for the city.
Private and public sectors, blacks and whites, rich and poor, young and old working together for a common cause . . . MEMO: Whether you agree or disagree, The Currents would like to hear from you.
Send your thoughts to The Currents, 307 County Street, Suite 100,
Portsmouth, Va. 23704-3702 or fax us at 446-2607. by CNB