THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, April 11, 1996 TAG: 9604110316
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE KNEPLER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NORFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 80 lines
Mayor Paul D. Fraim said he had discussed providing free tickets for citizens who could not afford a $15-a-plate ``state of the city'' luncheon speech he will deliver at noon today.
It didn't happen.
``There was no system put into place for distributing the tickets,'' Fraim conceded. ``The word never got out.''
Until now.
On Wednesday, after hearing that some neighborhood leaders weren't coming because of the $15 admission, Fraim announced that lunch fees will be waived for anyone thwarted by the cost.
``We'll find a way to take care of the charge, either by covering it or finding corporate donors,'' the mayor said.
Anyone interested, he said, should call the city clerk's office or just show up at the Waterside Convention Center and ask for a representative of the city clerk's office. The lunch will be at noon.
Some neighborhood leaders say they'll now attend.
``Not to be cheap, but we just didn't have the money,'' said Martha Bond, president of the Norfolk Residents Organization, which represents public housing communities.
The problem arose when Fraim agreed to give his ``state of the city'' speech to a luncheon hosted by the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce.
That strayed from the practice of Fraim's recent predecessors - Joseph A. Leafe and Mason C. Andrews - who delivered their annual ``state of the city'' speeches at free lunches that brought together a wide array of citizens, from low-income public-housing leaders to downtown business activists.
City Hall once touted those luncheons as a way to thank residents who volunteer time to improving Norfolk, whether as neighborhood and business leaders or members of municipal boards and commissions.
As late as last August, Fraim promised to continue the free luncheon practice. But plans never materialized, and Fraim put off his first ``state of the city'' speech until contacted by the Chamber of Commerce. He's been mayor since July 1994.
``What happened was that the Chamber wanted this format, and all of the other mayors in the area have agreed to doing a `state of the city' address with the Chamber as sponsor,'' Fraim said.
``The Chamber will tell you I agreed to this with some reluctance.''
Fraim said he was concerned about the message sent by a ``state of the city'' speech to a Chamber-sponsored luncheon.
``I wanted to make sure that the `state of the city' address was not directed solely to the business community,'' he said.
The mayor said he asked the chamber to invite presidents of Norfolk's civic leagues and PTA groups. The chamber did, he said, but the grass-roots leaders weren't told they could attend free.
``I don't think the chamber ever got that message from us,'' Fraim admitted.
The Chamber of Commerce hopes to continue hosting local ``state of the city'' speeches. Breakfasts or lunches featuring the speeches already have been held in Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach, said Donna Girardot, director for regional program development.
Fraim's address will be videotaped and broadcast on the city's local cable access channel, she said.
Some mayors also give their ``state of the city'' speeches in other venues.
Virginia Beach Mayor Meyera E. Oberndorf delivered hers this year to the Virginia Beach Council of Civic Organizations on Jan. 10, before giving a similar address to the Chamber on Feb. 22, said legislative assistant Helen Spore. ILLUSTRATION: TO ATTEND
Presidents of community groups who want to attend Mayor Paul Fraim's
``state of the city'' speech at noon today can get the $15 fee
waived by calling the city clerk at 664-4253. Or, they can go to the
luncheon at the Waterside Convention Center and ask for a
representative of the clerk's office.
by CNB