Local Elections 2016
- Portsmouth Taxpayer Alliance Mayoral Candidate Forum, August 13
Economic Development Authority (EDA)
- December 15, 2015, public proceedings
- November 17, 2015, public proceedings
- October 20, 2015, part I and part II (several minutes of discussion were lost when the memory card reached full capacity)
- September 15, 2015, public proceedings
- May 12, 2015, public proceedings
- January 20, 2015, public proceedings
- December 16, 2014, public proceedings
Portsmouth Port and Industrial Commission (PPIC)
- November 24, 2015, public proceedings
- May 26, 2015, public proceedings
- January 27, 2015, public proceedings
- September 23, 2014, public proceedings
Portsmouth Commonwealth’s Attorney Special Election 2015
Candidate Interviews
- January 6, 2015, interview with Ali T. Sprinkle
- January 7, 2015 interview with Michael R. “Mike” Rosenberg
Candidate Forums
- January 8, 2015, Portsmouth Democratic Committee Forum
Portsmouth City Council Meeting Deleted Scenes
By direction of the Portsmouth City Council, effective January 8, 2013, the Non-Agenda Speakers portion of regular meetings is no longer televised on PCTV nor available for viewing at the city website and on the YouTube “Portsmouth VA” channel. As a public service, PortsmouthCityWatch.org is recording this important portion of our community conversation and intends to continue doing so until council rescinds its censorship policy. To date only Council Members William Moody and Elizabeth Psimas have expressed support in public for resuming the televising/webcasting of council proceedings in their entirety.
Audio quality note: Because our video camera does not receive a direct feed from the speakers’ podium microphone, the playback volume on these recordings will vary. Viewer Steve Carroll has suggested that if your computer speakers do not produce sufficient volume for comfortable listening, try using headphones.
Non-Agenda Speaker segment, February 26, 2013
Council Public Work Session and Joint Meeting with city commissions involved with economic development, Monday, February 25, 2013, at Bide-a-Wee Pavilion, Portsmouth, VA
Non-Agenda Speaker segment, February 12, 2013
(Program note: As the second speaker of the evening began his remarks, the television lights illuminating the council dais and speakers’ podium switched off. The recorded material is, consequently, darker than that captured earlier.)
I was hoping to see more new faces speak on the subject of non-agenda speakers at the last council meeting. To have many of the same people that the action might have targeted in my opinion could have been counterproductive even though good points were made. They (the regulars) had the right to speak and did it well; we just need other citizens who were complaining before and after the meeting to step up. There is power in the people. A great opportunity is coming up at the Community Meeting next Tuesday at I.C.Norcom. Council members might be leaning toward a change of heart, so show up and speak out. Watch Mark’s video and see what you missed last Tuesday. Good health means a good life!
The surprise entry in that roster was former City Manager Luke McCoy. I was expecting him to speak on what has become his signature issue, elimination of the Social Security offset for PSRS retirees. That he would weigh in on the topic was impressive to me.
I will speak at the Community meeting but I also feel that this is a powerful medium for expressions and infomation. Join in!
The council meeting held on 2-26-2013 was another sad day for the people of Portsmouth. The article that was in the pilot on 2-26-2013, I believe it was written with the intent on starting problems within the council as well as the people of Portsmouth. For anyone to come in on the tail end of someone’s conversation not being apart of that conversation and to run and tell misinformation about something that they are not privy to is what some people do.
Leadership in Portsmouth should lead by example. For an elected official to feed the paper with racist rmarks and to threaten the churches is like a child having a temper tantrum just to have his way. Maybe to prove that his voice is the loudest simply because he has a mike. I don’t know but, I do know something postivie needs to happen and happen real soon so that we the people of this city can start walking the walk that we talk about. If we are to be a people united then we need to act like it. I would like to know why would someone write an article and not follow-up to get the facts before printing such a nasty, hate filled article. I believe it was written to do exactly what it did. I am glad that more people came to council meeting and I wish more would come, so that there will be more non -agenda speakers so they have to stay that much longer until everyone is heard and then maybe they will listen to the people a put it back on television. I doubt it but they are the leaders and we are the ones who put them there. Let them hear from you and let your voices be heard by ones that are not able to come to hear.
Thanks for going to all the trouble to do this Mark. I’m hoping Nancy Lamartin’s excellent argument about the ADA will convince council to rethink the decision not to air non-agenda speakers. I left my comment on the Feb. 26 video on that page.