THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Thursday, April 4, 1996                TAG: 9604020140
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS          PAGE: 05   EDITION: FINAL 
SOURCE: BY ALEX MARSHALL, STAFF WRITER 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   48 lines

CITY GOT MUCH OF WHAT IT SOUGHT IN RICHMOND

Now that this year's General Assembly session has ended, the city finds it got a lot of what it wanted in Richmond, namely money for various projects and programs, says Robert M. Fischbach, the city's legislative liaison.

For this, it can thank the seniority and clout of its delegation, Fischbach said, which has perhaps the most legislative muscle of any city in the state. Del. Tom Moss is Speaker of the House, Sen. Stanley Walker is president Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the other Norfolk legislators chair numerous committees and have a combined total of decades of experience.

The exception to this is newcomer Del. Thelma Drake. Elected last year, Drake is the sole Republican in the city's otherwise Democratic delegation.

Although Norfolk got a lot of what it wanted, it did not get everything. The Virginia Zoo, for example, has sought $5 million from the state legislature but had to suffice with $225,000 over the next two years.

The Urban Partnership sought some $200 million but had to be content with an initial $3 million and another look next year. Still, the regional cooperation program did get off the ground, something some observers had not predicted.

The funding and programs won include:

An additional $4 million over the next two years for the local school system, over and above what originally was proposed in the state budget.

$40 million over two years to fund the Juvenile Justice Project, which was led in part by Del. Jerrauld Jones of Norfolk.

$3 million for the Urban Partnership, a state initiative to encourage regional cooperation around the state.

$4.5 million to the Cooperative Tourism Advertising Fund, which helps pay for Norfolk's Virginia Waterfront Campaign.

$3.5 million for initial funding for the new branch of Tidewater Community College on Granby Street.

$2.1 million to the Community Services Act, which provides services to young people.

$250,000 to monitor water quality on the Elizabeth River.

$225,000 to fund renovation of the Virginia Zoo in Norfolk.

$300,000 to construct an offshore breakwater at Willoughby.

$1 million for mass transit statewide, which will help offset federal cuts in funding. by CNB