Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, June 16, 1995 TAG: 9506160063
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: MYLENE MANGALINDAN/LANDMARK NEWS SERVICE
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium
``What we don't have is regional cohesion,'' said David R. Goode, NS president, chairman and CEO. Goode was speaking at the Urban Issues Forum, a gathering of the 16 Virginia cities belonging to the Urban Partnership.
``We don't have what places like Charlotte, Jacksonville and San Antonio have - a regional identity, based on a strong urban core, that we can rally behind and market to the world.''
Goode cited Norfolk and Virginia Beach's problems over the Lake Gaston pipeline.
``It's difficult for people to think of themselves as citizens of a region when their municipal leaders are drawing swords over water issues,'' he said.
Goode, the keynote speaker for the second gathering of the Urban Partnership, addressed the central theme for the day's discussion - economic competitiveness - by pointing out that ``Virginia has a tough assignment just to be in the running.''
In addressing the state's failings, Goode used the Norfolk region as an example of how not to behave.
He made both veiled and blunt references to Norfolk and Virginia Beach's water squabbles over Lake Gaston. Virginia Beach would not need to buy Norfolk's water if the Lake Gaston agreement with North Carolina is approved by state and federal lawmakers. Norfolk officials have objected to the Gaston accord. They claim that the agreement fails to compensate Norfolk adequately for the lost revenue and restricts the city's ability to sell surplus water.
The Lake Gaston dispute is among the most divisive between the two Hampton Roads cities. The two routinely compete for everything from new businesses to entertainment and sports facilities.
``It's difficult for people to buy into a regional identity when the cities compete with each other for employers, revenues and resources,'' Goode said.
Goode's speech Thursday mirrored a verbal spanking he gave Western Virginia civic leaders two years ago. In that speech, he lectured the region's cities and towns to drop their provincial thinking, band together and work to make a name for the region and its products in the global market.
William Lucy, a University of Virginia professor, and Michael Pratt, a professor at Virginia Commonwealth University, presented research that supported business and political leaders' arguments that the fate of suburban cities is linked to the urban core.
Virginia's regions clearly fall behind those in North Carolina and Georgia in areas such as private-sector pay. Vibrant, growing economic regions usually share assets such as good highways, airline service, higher education institutions, city growth or central locations such as state capitals, Lucy said.
Conference participants discussed avenues to help cities and counties to better cooperate through revenue sharing and citizen involvement.
``I think this issue of urban reform needs more discussion,'' Roanoke Mayor David Bowers said. ``We're not at the point of having a consensus yet. We're still struggling, grappling with this.''
``What people essentially want is a better quality of life,'' said Mary Margaret Whipple, chairman of the Arlington County supervisors. ``Ultimately that's what we want our economic competitiveness to result in.''
by CNB