THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 26, 1995 TAG: 9502240220
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
Somebody needs to get a handle on city business.
As City Council muddled through the last two public sessions, it became very clear that officials were more into playing games with each other than in making good decisions.
It seemed last week as if council members are going off in all directions, far apart from each other and each posturing to the public.
Portsmouth doesn't have time for games. The city needs leadership that takes control and makes decisions. Even citizens who disagree with some of the actions feel more comfortable if they believe their officials - both elected and appointed - are doing something positive and acting honestly.
Most officials start out doing what they believe to be in the best interest of the city's future. But, as the Portsmouth group did last week, they sometimes lose sight of that goal and the games with each other become the focus.
The city needs direction and council, which has backed the Vision 2005 plan, knows that. But it's hard for the public to have any confidence in the vision of city officials when they muddle around as they have at recent meetings.
As the saying goes, they can't please all of the people all of the time. But they can appear to know what they're doing - even at the expense of making some citizens unhappy. by CNB