EXCLUSIVE - PHOTO OF OCCUPY RICHMONDERS MOMENTS AFTER RAID

I've just obtained this exclusive photo of several Occupy Richmonders, taken just after the police raided their illegal encampment after indulging them for more than two weeks. Crying and sobbing could be heard for miles when the Occupiers first learned that the City's police force would no longer cater to their whims.

Dear Sa'ad El-Amin, Please Shut Up and Go Away!

Why, oh why does the media in Richmond continue to give Sa'ad El-Amin -- a race-baiting crook if ever there was one -- a forum for his racist views? In case you missed it, now the convicted felon and disgraced former City Council member is claiming it was racist to leave the Tucker family off of the plaque that was dedicated to the Harvey family. For some reason, NBC 12's Rachel DePompa felt it necessary to go interview El-Amin about this. Watch the video here if you must.

Nevermind the fact that the Harvey plaque was paid for with private money that was raised by those who knew and loved the Harveys. Nevermind the fact that City Council President Graziano stated that if El-Amin or someone else wanted to raise money for a plaque for the Tuckers, they would allow a plaque to be erected. In El-Amin's warped, racist, tiny little mind the only explanation that the Tucker's weren't also on the plaque is "racist Richmond." Hey El-Amin, you want a plaque, get off your "asphalt" and go raise the money. Until then, please shut up.

Let's just hope that the youth of Richmond aren't exposed to El-Amin's twisted and out-dated views of the world. If there is anyone in this town holding it back from moving forward in terms of race relations, it's El-Amin. Too bad he won't just leave town. And DePompa and the rest of the Richmond media, please quit going for the easy story -- do some work and go after a worthwhile story for a change. Richmond deserves better than having to repeatedly listen to the racist rantings of outdated flame throwers like El-Amin.

FanGuy's Plan for Saving the Byrd.....

Raise the admisison price from $2 to $3.

Seriously. You can't run from inflation forever. Do the people who run the Byrd think that the basic rules of economics don't apply to them? If you'll pay $2 for a second run movie, you'll pay $3. BAM! 50% increase in revenue right there.

No need to thank me. I'm just an involved citizen who will do anything to avoid having to hear about yet another bad "Save The Byrd" fundraiser.

Baseball In Richmond.....Let The Hypocrisy Begin!

Well here's a surprise (note: that's sarcasm people), the Eastern League finds the Diamond to be unsuitable and insists that a new stadium must be built. (LINK)

According to EL president Joe McEacharn:

"The playing field and conditions for player development, despite everything [owners and operators] have done, have deteriorated to the point where you're really just starting to patch, patch, patch," McEacharn said. "We can't keep putting a million-and-a-half dollars into this stadium every couple of years. It doesn't make sense, and it won't happen."

That's no surprise. Everyone knows the Diamond is a dump, and a little spit and polish will only go so far. But here's a little nugget from McEacharn that should get your attention:

"The [Eastern League] and the franchise made a commitment to Richmond that we'd come here and we'd prove ourselves," McEacharn said. "We made that commitment with the expectation, with the understanding, that a new facility would get done. We feel like we're holding up our end of the bargain. The Richmond community is certainly holding up their end of the bargain [by supporting the club]."

Translation: Time to pony up Richmond. Clearly the EL and the Squirrels are posturing for a big contribution from the City for a new ballpark.

The article talks about the need to study whether a new ballpark constitutes the best use of the Boulevard. Here's a news flash: that study has already been done, and the answer was a resounding 'no'. (See the Krupi report.) The best and highest use of the Boulevard is NOT baseball. This is undeniable. For 25 years the Diamond has failed to bring about significant growth on the Boulevard. Did anyone notice that the Boulevard started to improve once the Braves announced they were leaving? Hmmm. The best use of that land is mixed use, commercial, so that residents no longer have to travel to the suburbs to hit up some of the bigger stores.

So now that the Flying Squirrels and Eastern League are making noise about a new ballpark, it will be interesting to hear how the opponents of a Shockoe ballpark justify a new park on the Boulevard. Remember all those tough questions they asked about the Shockoe Center proposal: Who will pay for it? How will it be paid for? Have all of the economic impact studies been done? I'm sure they will demand answers to these same tough questions with regard to a Boulevard proposal, right? And I'm sure Style Weakly and the Times Disgrace will be give a Boulevard ballpark boondoggle the same treatment they gave the Shockoe Center proposal. (Note: that's sarcasm again, people.)

In reality, I think the Boulevard ballpark debate will reveal the true interests of many who opposed the Shockoe Center project. It will be interesting to see how these folks justify their support for a boondoggle on the Boulevard when all evidence shows it makes no financial sense for the City to contribute to a new ballpark there. Let's hope their hypocrisy is at least entertaining.

Dear Pence Nissan....

.....that's enough. Please stop. Seriously.

Gimme more MacMac instead.

Equality Virginia Has Apparently Resorted To Telling Lies to Champion Its Cause

In their zeal to rally the troops against Ken Cuccinelli, Equality Virginia has apparently resorted to telling outright lies. Check out this little gem from their website:

Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli Jr. has sent a letter to the governing boards and presidents of the Commonwealth's public colleges and universities directing them to rescind policies that ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, arguing that the colleges have no legal authority to adopt such statements.

What's the problem with this? Well, let's set aside the major problem with this issue, which is that critics of Cuccinelli's letter have displayed (1) a complete lack of understanding of the role of the AG's office vis-a-vis state universities; and (2) a complete lack of understanding of the law. Despite these shortcomings and their complete lack of understanding of the import and effect of Cuccinelli's letter, that hasn't stopped the easily excitable masses from spewing hatred and vitriol Cuccinelli's way (never mind the fact the guy is just doing his job by providing legal advice in response to a question). Some folks are apparently so "angered" by this situation that they have resorted to contacting Northrop Grumman (which is considering relocating to Virginia) to tell them to go to Maryland instead -- talk about cutting off your nose to spite your face.

No, the major problem I have with this little blurb from Equality Virginia is its statement that Cuccinelli is "directing" universities. The letter says no such thing. Read it here yourself. Moreover, Cuccinelli has no such power. He is the state's lawyer. His job is to give legal advice. Universities can heed that advice, or they can ignore it at their own peril. In Cuccinelli's opinion, ignoring his advice will open the state up to lawsuits. Only time will tell if he is right.

The bottom line is that the nastiness that is coming out of groups like Equality Virginia on this issue is at best, misdirected, and at worst, harmful to their cause. They should be spending time lobbying the General Assembly, not hounding the state's top lawyer who is powerless to effect change on the issue.

Come on Equality Virginia -- intellectual dishonesty does not suit you.

Westboro Counter-Protestors Do More Harm Than Good

First off, don't get me wrong, I find the adults w/ the Westboro Baptist Church to be repulsive, misguided individuals. Their message is one of hate and intolerance. But, as an American, I respect their right to share their views, no matter how ignorant they may be.

That said, it seems pretty clear to me the the "Counter-Protestors" in RIC who have organized to rally against Westboro's activities in Richmond today are doing more harm than good for their cause. How? Simple -- they bring this very small, fringe group of hate-filled loonies the very publicity they seek.

First, it seems pretty obvious to me that 99% of the general public would not have even known that Westboro was in town today but for the advertising that the Counter-Protestors have done over the last week.

Second, the Westboro group is a very small group of loonies. Them standing alone outside a building in protest is hardly a big media event. BUT, if you throw a couple hundred counter-protestors into the mix, you've got something reportable, and something that is visually compelling to put on the local news. Of course, that means the Westboro loonies get interviewed, and have a greater opportunity to share their message of hate with the masses.

Seems to me that sometimes the best way to protest something is simply to ignore it, especially when a group is as small and marginalized as the Westboro group is already. Silence does not always equal indifference. Perhaps the best approach is to stop giving these loonies the attention and publicity they seek.

Just a thought.