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>>> COMING UP, AREA FORTUNE 500s AND CITIES BEGIN COLLABORATING
ON SERVICE AND EFFICIENCY TO RESIDENTS, A NORFOLK BOXING
COACH HAILED ON CNN, AND CATCH THE NICKEL TOUR OF THE NORFOLK
AIRPLANE WITH YOUR CITY COUNCIL. THESE AND MORE POSITIVE STORIES
FROM LAKE TAYLOR TO LAFAYETTE SHORES ON THIS EDITION OF
"NORFOLK NEWS NOW." >>> WELCOME TO THE JANUARY
EDITION OF "NORFOLK NEWS NOW." I'M KAREN PARKER-CHESSON WITH
THE NORFOLK POLICE DEPARTMENT. THANKS FOR JOINING US.
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGION'S FORTUNE 500
COMPANIES AND THE MAYORS OF THE THREE LARGEST SOUTH HAMPTON
ROADS CITIES ARE TEAMING UP TO EXPLORE HOW THE REGION COULD
BENEFIT FROM POTENTIALLY SHARING PUBLIC SERVICES.
THIS JOINT PUBLIC-PRIVATE VENTURE COMBINES THE BUSINESS
EXPERTISE OF THE TOP EXECUTIVES FROM AMERIGROUP, DOLLAR TREE,
HUNTINGTON-INGALLS, NORFOLK SOUTHERN CORPORATION, AND
SMITHFIELD FOODS WITH THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT LEADERSHIP
IN CHESAPEAKE, NORFOLK, AND VIRGINIA BEACH.
THEIR FIRST ORDER OF BUSINESS IS TO ANALYZE INTEGRATING SERVICES
TO REDUCE COSTS WHILE PROVIDING THE BEST QUALITY.
THE STEERING COMMITTEE GUIDING THE PROJECT HELD ITS FIRST
MEETING NOVEMBER 30 AND PLANS TO MEET MONTHLY.
COST OF THIS PILOT PROJECT IS $150,000, SHARED EQUALLY AMONG
THE PARTICIPATING CITIES AND FIVE FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES.
THE TEAM WILL SCAN EACH OF THE THREE CITIES' ORGANIZATIONS TO
IDENTIFY PUBLIC SERVICES FOR FURTHER ANALYSIS, ASSESS WHICH
OF THOSE SERVICES ARE THE MOST LIKELY CANDIDATES FOR SHARING
AMONG JURISDICTIONS, ANALYZE THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF
INTEGRATION, AND IDENTIFY THE STEPS REQUIRED TO INTEGRATE
THEM. THE ULTIMATE OBJECTIVES OF THE
PROJECT ARE TO SAVE TAXPAYER MONEY AND IMPROVE GOVERNMENT
EFFICIENCIES IN THESE TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES.
>>> NORFOLK'S 37th STREET WATER TREATMENT PLANT IS UNDERGOING AN
$8.5 MILLION RENOVATION TO IMPROVE AND UPGRADE THE
90-YEAR-OLD FACILITY THAT PROVIDES TREATED WATER FOR THE
WESTERN PORTION OF THE CITY AND NORFOLK NAVAL STATION.
BUILT IN 1921 AND LOCATED NEXT TO OLD DOMINION UNIVERSITY, THE
37th STREET PLANT'S LATEST UPGRADES INCLUDE NEW
STATE-OF-THE-ART EQUIPMENT TO FILTER AND TREAT WATER RECEIVED
FROM RESERVOIRS, WELLS, AND RIVERS LOCATED IN SUFFOLK AND
ISLE OF WIGHT COUNTY. EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
BEING MADE TO THE EMERGENCY POWER GENERATORS AND AUTOMATED
SYSTEMS THAT OPERATE THE PLANT. OVER ITS MANY YEARS OF
OPERATION, THE PLANT HAS GONE THROUGH A SERIES OF
TECHNOLOGICAL IMPROVEMENTS. WHEN THE CURRENT UPGRADES ARE
COMPLETED THIS SPRING, THE PLANT WILL OPERATE WITH GREATER
EFFICIENCY TO REDUCE ENERGY USE AND MEET ALL STATE AND FEDERAL
STANDARDS FOR PUBLIC DRINKING WATER.
THE 37th STREET WATER TREATMENT PLANT OPERATES IN CONCERT WITH
THE CITY'S MOORE'S BRIDGES PLANT ON KEMPSVILLE ROAD NEXT TO LAKE
TAYLOR HIGH SCHOOL. TOGETHER, BOTH PLANTS PROVIDE
APPROXIMATELY 64 MILLION GALLONS OF TOP QUALITY DRINKING WATER
DAILY TO OVER 850,000 CUSTOMERS IN NORFOLK, VIRGINIA BEACH, AND
CHESAPEAKE. >>> BACK IN 2008, THE TRIPLE-N'S
JOHN LINKA INTRODUCED YOU TO BOXING COACH GLORIA PEEK.
WELL, A MAJOR CABLE NETWORK HAS CAUGHT ON, AND THE WORLD MAY
SOON GET TO KNOW PEEK VERY WELL. JOHN CAUGHT UP WITH COACH PEEK
RECENTLY TO FIND OUT WHAT ALL OF THE EXCITEMENT IS ABOUT.
>> IT'S BEEN WORK TIME AT NORFOLK'S BOXING CENTER UNTHE
EYES OF GLORIA PEEK SINCE 2006. >> THEY'RE PUTTING NORFOLK ON
THE MAP, YOU KNOW, AS WELL AS YOU'VE GOT A PROGRAM THAT IS
HELPING TO KEEP KIDS, YOU KNOW, OFF THE STREETS, OUT OF GANGS,
SO THAT'S WHAT IT'S ALL ABOUT. >> CNN HAS EVEN TANE AN INTEREST
IN PEEK. SHE WILL BE FEATURED IN AN
UPCOMING EDITION OF HEADLINE NEWS' TELEVISION SPECIAL
"BREAKTHROUGH WOMEN" FOR HER LONG HISTORY AS A FEMALE BOXING
COACH. >> WE TALKED ABOUT EVERYTHING,
AS TO HOW I GOT INTO THE SPORT AND WHY I LOVE IT SO MUCH.
AND I CONTINUE TO DO IT, YOU KNOW, WHAT ARE MY GOALS AND MY
HOPES AND ASPIRATIONS, AND WE TALKED ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS.
>> SPECIFICALLY HER SUCCESS AS A FEMALE COACH IN A TRADITIONALLY
MALE-DOMINATED SPORT. >> WATCH IT!
>> WHAT WAS MORE IMPORTANT TO ME IS NOT SO MUCH WHETHER OR NOT
THE COACHES ACCEPTED ME, AS WHETHER THE ATHLETES ACCEPTED
ME. >> WE GOING TO GET IT AND GET IT
RIGHT, COME ON. >> WHAT I FOUND IS THAT MALE
ATHLETES, THEY REALLY DON'T CARE WHETHER YOU'RE A WOMAN, A MAN.
THEY WOULDN'T CARE IF YOU WERE A GORILLA, THEY WILL NOT CARE AS
LONG AS YOU PROVED TO THEM THAT YOU KNEW WHAT YOU WERE TALKING
ABOUT, YOU KNEW THE SPORT. >> HUH-UH, WRONG WAY.
YOU'RE FLIPPING, YOU FLIP THE JAB AND GOING TO THE OUTSIDE.
TWIST ON THE TOES. THERE WE GO.
>> KNOWING THE SPORT IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT FOR PEEK.
HAVING SPENT MORE THAN 30 YEARS AS A BOXING COACH, SHE'S
TRAVELED THE WORLD TRAINING AND COACHING PROFESSIONAL AND
OLYMPIC LEVEL BOXERS. SHE RECENTLY SPENT TIME AS THE
HEAD COACH OF THE MEN'S AND WOMEN'S U.S. BOXING TEAM FOR THE
2011 PAN AM GAMES. >> THE FIRST TIME EVER A WOMAN
WAS GIVEN THE HEAD COACHING POSITION FOR BOTH MALES AND
FEMALES FOR A -- SUCH A PRESTIGIOUS EVENT, AND THE PAN
AM GAMES IS RIGHT UP THERE ALONGSIDE THE OLYMPICS, SO, YOU
KNOW, TO GET THAT -- TO GET THAT SPOT AND BE ABLE TO DO THAT WAS
GREAT. >> PEEK IS ALSO IN THE RUNNING
FOR THE HEAD COACHING POSITION FOR THE FIRST EVER U.S. WOMEN'S
OLYMPIC BOXING TEAM TO COMPETE IN THE 2012 GAMES IN LONDON.
>> THAT WOULD BE HEAVEN. I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO COACH IN
THE OLYMPICS FOR THE LAST THREE OLYMPICS, AND THAT'S 12 YEARS.
THAT'S 12 YEARS. SO I MEAN, JUST THE FACT THAT
I'M LIKE THIS CLOSE TO, YOU KNOW, TO BEING NAMED THE COACH
FOR THE FEMALES SIDE IS JUST -- I MEAN, I CAN'T EVEN DESCRIBE
IT. >> BUT BELIEVE IT OR NOT, SHE
WOULD NOT BE THE FIRST OLYMPIC HEAD BOXING COACH TO COME OUT OF
NORFOLK. DAN CAMPBELL, WHO USED TO BE IN
CHARGE OF THIS VERY GYM BEFORE PEEK TOOK OVER, WAS THE HEAD
COACH OF THE U.S. MEN'S TEAM IN BEIJING DURING THE 2008
OLYMPICS. >> YOU'RE LOOKING AT POSSIBLY
TWO COACHES COMING OUT OF THIS GYM, MAKING THE OLYMPIC TEAM.
THAT IS UNHEARD OF. THINK OF ALL THE GYMS IN THE
COUNTRY. THEY WOULD GIVE THEIR RIGHT ARM
FOR ONE OF THEIR COACHES TO MAKE THE OLYMPIC TEAM, BUT YOU'RE
TALKING TWO? JUST PHENOMENAL.
IT'S PHENOMENAL FOR A CITY TO HAVE TWO OLYMPIC COACHES.
MOST CITIES DON'T HAVE ANY. BUT JUST TALKING ABOUT TWO
COMING OUT OF THE CITY OF NORFOLK, AND OUT OF THIS GYM.
>> SHE WILL FIND OUT ON FEBRUARY 19th WHETHER OR NOT SHE GOT THE
HEAD COACHING POSITION. REGARDLESS, PEEK'S LOVE OF
BOXING AND LOVE OF HER ATHLETES, BOTH AM AND OUT OF THE -- IN AND
OUT OF THE RING WILL NEVER CHANGE.
>> OKAY, LET'S GO. >> WHEN I GET A CALL BACK FROM
MY BOXER SAYING, COACH, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN TEACHING FOR 12
YEARS NOW, I HAVE A SON AND A DAUGHTER, I HAVE THEM BOXING
BECAUSE OF SO MUCH THAT I GOT FROM THE SPORT AND I'M TRYING TO
GIVE BACK WHAT -- BACK, WHAT YOU GAVE ME HAS BEEN WITH ME MY
ENTIRE LIFE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE WITH ME.
THAT'S WHAT TEACHING MEANS. >> FOR NORFOLK NEWS NOW, I'M
JOHN LINKA. >>> THE BIGGEST SPORTING EVENT
OF THE YEAR FOR NORFOLK FIRE RESCUE AND POLICE IS BACK.
IT'S THE GUNS AND HOSES HOCKEY GAME AT SCOPE AND THE TEAMS ARE
FIRE RESCUE VERSUS LAW ENFORCEMENT.
THIS IS THE FOURTH YEAR FOR THIS CONTEST AND IT'S GETTING BIGGER.
LAST YEAR IT WAS OPENED TO THE ENTIRE REGION, SO FIRE AND
POLICE PERSONNEL FROM ALL OVER CAME TO PLAY.
THIS YEAR THEY'RE LOOKING TO BREAK 2,000 TICKETS SOLD.
WHY IS THAT IMPORTANT? WELL, BECAUSE THE TICKET MONEY
IS GOOD TO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF THE KING'S DAUGHTERS.
LAST YEAR, OVER $12,000 WAS RAISED.
SO IF YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WANT TO HELP OUT CHKD AND SEE SOME
GOOD HOCKEY, HERE'S HOW. THE GAME IS JANUARY 28th AND
TICKETS ARE 20 BUCKS, WHICH INCLUDES THE ADMIRALS GAME ON
THE SAME NIGHT. YES, TWO HOCKEY GAMES FOR ONE
TICKET, ALL ON THE EVENING OF JANUARY 28th AT SCOPE.
>>> A NEW WORKSHOP IS IN THE WORKS TO HELP NORFOLK'S
SHORELINE RESIDENTS LEARN TO HELP CARE FOR IMPORTANT BUFFER
AREAS. THE SHORELINE BUFFER WORKSHOP
SUPPLIES THOSE WHO LIVE NEAR WETLANDS ACCESS TO TECHNICAL
EXPERTISE AND PRACTICAL ADVICE ON WETLANDS RESTORATION AND HOW
NEIGHBORS CAN BE ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS OF THEIR COMMUNITIES.
CITIZEN VOLUNTEERS AS WELL AS CITY STAFFERS HOST A WORKSHOP
AND HELP PARTICIPANTS UNDERSTAND HOW TO CARE FOR BUFFERS AND HOW
TO HELP THE CITY RESTORE BUFFERS.
BUFFERS ARE ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT FOR NORFOLK.
THEY CLEAN OUR WATER, BUT THEY ALSO HELP WITH FLOOD CONTROL.
>>> WITH MORE THAN 5,300 HYDRANTS LOCATED THROUGHOUT THE
CITY, CHANCES ARE GOOD YOU'VE SEEN THE DEPARTMENT OF
UTILITIES' HYDRANT MAINTENANCE CREWS INSPECTING, MAINTAINING,
AND FLUSHING AT LEAST ONE. THE MAINTENANCE TEAM IS BUSY
YEAR-ROUND MAKING SURE THE HYDRANTS ARE FUNCTIONING
PROPERLY AND CAN BE RELIED ON IN AN EMERGENCY.
CREWS INSPECT THE OVERALL CONDITION OF THE HYDRANT,
CHECK THE VALVES, AND MAKE SURE THERE'S ADEQUATE PRESSURE FOR
FIRE FIGHTING. SOME FACTS YOU MAY NOT HAVE
KNOWN ABOUT YOUR CITY HYDRANTS: DID YOU KNOW THE TOPS OF THE
HYDRANTS ARE COLOR-CODED? THE COLORS LET FIREFIGHTERS KNOW
HOW MUCH PRESSURE IS AVAILABLE. THE HYDRANTS ARE USUALLY SPACED
ABOUT A THOUSAND FEET APART. THAT DISTANCE ENSURES
FIREFIGHTERS CAN REACH A FIRE WITH THE AMOUNT OF HOSE THEY
CARRY ON THEIR TRUCKS. >>> THROUGHOUT DECEMBER, THE
WEATHER OUTSIDE WASN'T TOO FRIGHTFUL, BUT CITY CREWS GOT
TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE READY WHEN MOTHER NATURE IS.
THE DEPARTMENTS OF PUBLIC WORKS AND EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
MET TO REVIEW THE CITY'S SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL PLAN AND TO
CLARIFY ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES DURING A SNOW
EVENT. THE CITY HAS 20 DUMP TRUCKS TO
LOAD PLOWS, 20 PLOWS, 17 CHEMICAL SPREADERS, AND TWO SALT
DOMES THAT CAN HOLD A PRE-MIXTURE OF SALT AND SAND.
>> THE TRUCK BEHIND ME THERE IS A COMBINATION TRUCK, HAS A
SALT-SAND SPREADER ON THE BACK, STANDARD TEMPLATES SNOWPLOW ON
THE FRONT. WE HAVE 20 OF THOSE UNITS THAT
ARE CURRENTLY READY TO GO. SINCE WE'RE A MULTI-UNIT
DIVISION, THE STREET CREWS ARE USING THE TRUCKS CURRENTLY, BUT
WITHIN A MATTER OF THE COUPLE HOURS, THEY WILL PUT ON
SPREADERS, LOAD THEM UP, PUT ON PLOWS WHEN THEY'RE NEEDED, SO
EVERYTHING IS READY TO GO. >> BACKHOES AND FRONT-END
LOADERS CAN ALSO BE USED TO MOVE SNOW INTO THE BACKS OF DUMP
TRUCKS AS WELL AS CLEARING NARROW AREAS AND PARKING LOTS.
THE CITY'S GOAL IS TO CLEAR ARTERIAL ROADS FIRST FOR
EMERGENCY VEHICLES. >> THERE'S OVER 2,000 LANE MILES
OF ROAD. WE HAVE A LOT OF ROADS AND WE
STAY WITH OUR PRIMARY ROUTES. WE HAVE TWO SETS OF ROUTES,
PRIMARY AND SECONDARY. WE CONCENTRATE ON THE PRIMARIES
WHICH ARE SIGNIFICANT STREETS, CHESAPEAKE, TIDEWATER, PRINCESS
ANNE AND AROUND HOSPITALS AND SCHOOLS, SO WE CAN GET THE
MAJORITY OF THE COMMUNITY UP AND RUNNING AND MOVING AS QUICKLY AS
POSSIBLE. >> THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS
AND CHIEF OF POLICE HAVE SIGNED OFF ON THE SNOW AND ICE
EMERGENCY PLAN. >>> WHEN WE COME BACK, FIND OUT
HOW YOU CAN ASK WORLD CHANGERS TO HELP YOU WITH EXTERIOR
REPAIRS THIS SUMMER. >>> PLUS, A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY
TO FLY WITH NORFOLK CITY COUNCIL.
>>> AND NORFOLK'S CRITICAL ROLE LINK TO THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD
COMES TO LIFE. \M\M
>>> EVERY YEAR, MOTHERS LOSE THEIR BABIES TO GUN CRIMES.
\M\M >> YOU WILL ALWAYS BE YOUR
MOTHER'S BABY, SO BEFORE YOU COMMIT A GUN CRIME, THINK ABOUT
WHO YOU LEAVE BEHIND. GUN CRIMES HIT HOME.
>>> WELCOME BACK TO THE TRIPLE-N.
BECAUSE OF HER LOCATION ON THE WATER, THE CITY OF NORFOLK
SERVED AS A CRITICAL CROSSROADS IN THE UNDERGROUND RAILROAD.
THAT HISTORY IS BEING BROUGHT BACK TO LIFE THROUGH A NEW
INTERACTIVE WEBSITE HOSTED BY THE NORFOLK CONVENTION AND
VISITORS BUREAU. THE WATERWAYS TO FREEDOM SITE IS
BOLSTERED BY A WALKING TOUR OF THE ACTUAL LOCATIONS THAT PLAYED
SUCH A PIVOTAL ROLE IN HELPING AMERICAN SLAVES REACH FREEDOM IN
THE 1870s. THE INFORMATION ON THE SITE WAS
COMPILED AND WRITTEN BY NORFOLK STATE UNIVERSITY'S CASSANDRA
NEWBY-ALEXANDER. >> NORFOLK WAS A BUSTLING SEA
PORT DURING SLAVERY. HAMPTON ROADS' DISTINCTIVE LAND
ESCAPE ALONG THE ATLANTIC OCEAN AND AT THE MOUTH OF THE
CHESAPEAKE BAY ALLOWED IS REGION TO DEVELOP A THRIVING
INTERNATIONAL TRADE. TOBACCO, CORN, WHEAT, PORK,
NAVAL STORES AND OTHER GOODS AND PRODUCTS PRODUCED IN THE
HINTERLAND BY SLAVE LABOR ARRIVED AT THE NORFOLK WHARFS
FOR SHIPMENT TO NORTHERN PORTS, THE WEST INDIES AND GREAT
BRITAIN. NUMEROUS CARGO SHIPS DOCKED AT
THE LOCAL WHARF BROUGHT A WIDE ASSORTMENT OF TRADE GOODS.
AT THE SAME TIME, THE EXTENSIVE WATERWAYS AND MARSHES ALSO
PROVIDED ENSLAVED PEOPLE WITH UNPRECEDENT THE ACCESS TO THE
COUNTLESS VESSELS THAT WENT THROUGH THE SHING LANES.
>> TO VIEW THE FLASH PRESENTATION AND FIND OUT ABOUT
THE WALKING TOUR, GO TO WWW.VISITNORFOLKTODAY.COM AND
SELECT WATERWAYS TO FREEDOM FROM THE TOUR NORFOLK MENU ON THE
RIGHT OR JUST GOOGLE "WATERWAYS TO FREEDOM."
>>> THE CITY IS HOLDING A WORKSHOP FOR HOMEOWNERS
INTERESTED IN GETTING HELP FROM WORLD CHANGERS VOLUNTEERS IN
REPAIRING OR IMPROVING THE EXTERIORS OF THEIR HOMES.
WORLD CHANGERS NORFOLK IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE CITY AND
A MINISTRY OF THE NORTH AMERICAN MISSION BOARD OF THE SOUTHERN
BAPTIST CONVENTION. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES EXTERIOR
REPAIR AND IMPROVEMENTS FOR FREE TO LOW- AND MODERATE-INCOME
HOMEOWNERS. THE VOLUNTEERS COME FOR ONE WEEK
DURING THE SUMMER. HOMEOWNERS WHO WOULD LIKE TO
APPLY FOR HELP THROUGH THE PROGRAM SHOULD PLAN TO ATTEND A
WORKSHOP ON JANUARY 25th FROM 1:00 P.M. TO 3:00 P.M. AT THE
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CENTER, AT WARDS CORNER.
HOMEOWNERS MUST MEET CERTAIN CRITERIA TO QUALIFY FOR HELP,
INCLUDING LIVING IN THE HOME TO BE REPAIRED, UP-TO-DATE PROPERTY
TAXES AND HOMEOWNERS INSURANCE, AND AN INCOME 80% OR LESS THAN
THE MEDIAN INCOME IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THOUGH EXCEPTIONS
MAY BE GRANTED IN CASES OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP, LIKE MAJOR
MEDICAL BILLS. >>> GOVERNOR BOB McDONNELL HAS
RECOGNIZED CITY EMPLOYEE DENISE BIRON FOR HER LEADERSHIP IN
CONTINUING THE SUCCESS OF VIRGINIA'S PRISONER REENTRY
PROGRAM. THE PROGRAM ASSISTS NONVIOLENT
OFFENDERS AS THEY RE-ENTER THE COMMUNITY.
THE MAIN GOALS OF THE PROGRAM ARE TO PREPARE EX-OFFENDERS WITH
JOB READINESS TRAINING, PROVIDE EMPLOYMENT AND EDUCATIONAL
SERVICES, ASSIST WITH HOUSING STABILIZATION, AND PROVIDE OR
FACILITATE INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY COUNSELING AND ASSISTANCE.
SINCE THE PROGRAM BEGAN IN 2008, THE RATE AT WHICH EX-OFFENDERS
GO BACK TO JAIL IN NORFOLK'S PROGRAM HAS DROPPED TO 12%.
NOTABLY LOWER THAN THE STATE-WIDE AVERAGE OF 28%.
>>> STARTING THIS MONTH, NORFOLK RESIDENTS WILL BE ABLE TO USE
THE TRACK AT NORVIEW HIGH SCHOOL FOR WALKING AND RUNNING.
THE TRACK WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC FROM 6:00 TO 9:00 P.M. ON
TUESDAYS AND THURSDAYS. RECREATION, PARKS, AND OPEN
SPACE STAFF WILL BE AT THE TRACK DURING THE PUBLIC USE TIMES AND
TRACK USE IS CONTINGENT ON NORFOLK PUBLIC SCHOOLS EVENTS,
WHICH TAKE PRIORITY. SHARING THE TRACK IS THE FIRST
STEP IN A PILOT PROGRAM BETWEEN NORFOLK'S DEPARTMENT OF
RECREATION, PARKS, AND OPEN SPACE AND NORFOLK PUBLIC SCHOOLS
TO SHARE FACILITIES FOR PUBLIC USE.
FUTURE PARTNERSHIPS MAY ALSO INCLUDE SCHOOL GYMNASIUMS AND
AUDITORIUMS TO BE USED FOR ATHLETIC AND COMMUNITY EVENTS.
PUBLIC USE OF THE TRACK IS ALSO A KEY COMPONENT OF NORFOLK CITY
COUNCIL'S PRIORITY OF ESTABLISHING SAFE, HEALTHY, AND
INCLUSIVE COMMUNITIES BY PROVIDING INCREASED SPACES FOR
NORFOLK CITIZENS TO LIVE, LEARN, WORK AND PLAY.
>>> IT WAS FIELD TRIP TIME ONCE AGAIN FOR MEMBERS OF NORFOLK
CITY COUNCIL. LAST MONTH, THE COUNCIL GOT A
BEHIND-THE-SCENES LOOK AT NORFOLK INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
THE TRIPLE-N'S JOHN LINKA HAS ALL OF THE SIGHTS AND SOUNDS.
>> THE STATE DID AN ECONOMIC IMPACT STUDY JUST LAST YEAR, AND
NORFOLK INTERNATIONAL GENERATES OVER 10,000 JOBS, USUALLY
MULTIPLIER EFFECT, AGAIN AS OF 2010, AND GENERATED OVER
341 MILLION IN PAYROLL, AND OVER ONE BILLION IN ECONOMIC
ACTIVITY. SO WE ARE A MAJOR ECONOMIC
ENGINE FOR THE CITY OF NORFOLK. NOW, WHEN I TELL YOU THAT WE
DON'T COST YOU ANY MONEY, YOU MIGHT WONDER WHERE WE GET OUR
REVENUE FROM. AGAIN, WE DON'T GET TAX MONEY TO
OPERATE, MAINTAIN, OR TO DEVELOP THE AIRPORT.
ALL THAT MONEY COMES FROM THE PEOPLE THAT USE THIS FACILITY.
PARKING ACTUALLY GENERATES ABOUT 40% OF OUR REVENUE, SO WE'RE
VERY CAREFUL TO TAKE CARE OF OUR PARKING.
MANY OF YOU MIGHT HAVE SEEN THE LATEST DEVELOPMENT, WHICH IS A
SITE IMPROVEMENT GETTING READY FOR A FOURTH GARAGE WHEN THAT'S
NEEDED. RIGHT NOW IN THIS ECONOMY, WE
DON'T THINK THAT WILL BE NEEDED FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, BUT THAT
COULD CHANGE. THE MAIN THING IS WE'RE READY
FOR IT IF AND WHEN NEEDED. RENTAL CARS GENERATE ABOUT 20%
OF OUR REVENUE, SO ANOTHER VERY IMPORTANT PART OF THE REVENUE
STREAM. OUR CONCESSIONS, AND THIS IS
BASICALLY OUR MASTER CONCESSION, HUDSON NEWS AND GIFTS, H&S HOST
WHICH OPERATES ALL OF OUR FOOD AND BEVERAGE GENERATES AN
ADDITIONAL 10. THE AIRLINES AND THE RENTS AND
CHARGES AND LANDING FEES GENERATE ABOUT 15%.
OCCASIONALLY GUILTY OF TELLING THE PUBLIC THAT WE REALLY DON'T
NEED THE AIRLINES WHEN IT COMES TO GENERATING REVENUE.
WE CAN DO PROBABLY JUST AS WELL WITHOUT THEM, BUT THE IMPORTANT
THING IS IF YOU USE THE AIRPORT, YOU PAY FOR THE AIRPORT.
IF YOU DON'T USE THE AIRPORT, YOU DON'T PAY FOR THE AIRPORT.
WE'RE GOING TO BASICALLY DRIVE AROUND THE ENTIRE PERIPHERY OF
THE AIR FIELD. FOR AN AIRPLANE OUR SIZE, WE
HAVE A FAIRLY SMALL AIR FIELD. AIR CARGO FACILITY HERE IS
OPERATED ABOUT A THIRD-PARTY ENTITY, OPERATE A NUMBER OF
THESE AT SEVERAL OTHER AIRPORTS. AIR CARGO IS DOWN IN THE
INDUSTRY. IT'S BEEN FLAT HERE FOR THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS. FIRST NINE MONTHS OF THIS
CALENDAR YEAR IT WAS ACTUALLY UP ONE PERCENT AND LAST YEAR UP A
LITTLE MORE THAN THAT, BUT WE WERE ACTUALLY DOWN ABOUT 6 OR 7%
IN '09, SO IT'S BEEN A BIT OF A ROLLER COASTER, DEFINITELY
IMPACTED LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE BY THE ECONOMY.
I THINK THE IMPORTANT THING HERE IS WE ARE SERVED BY THE TWO
MAJOR FREIGHT CARRIERS, FED EX AND UPS.
THEY BOTH DO A GREAT BUSINESS HERE.
ALTHOUGH I WILL TELL YOU THAT IN MANY, MANY CASES, WHEN YOU SEND
SOMETHING BY AIR, IT ENDS UP BEING SHIPPED BY TRUCK.
SO EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY PAY THE AIR FARE BILL, A LOT OF AIRFARE
TODAY GOES BY TRUCK. A LOT OF TRUCK TRAFFIC BETWEEN
US AND RICHMOND AND US AND RALEIGH AND SOME OTHER CLOSE
AREA FACILITIES. ONE OF THE REASONS WE WERE ABLE
TO ATTRACT SOUTHWEST AND KEEP SOUTHWEST IS BECAUSE WE'RE A
LOW-COST AIRPORT. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE ARE
TRYING VERY HARD TO DO IN THIS ECONOMY IS KEEP OUR COSTS DOWN.
THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CONSOLIDATION IN THE AIRLINE
INDUSTRY AND SOUTHWEST ELECTED TO ACQUIRE AIRTRAN.
I WAS COMING DOWN TO THE MAYOR'S OFFICE AND THE MAYOR SAID IN NO
UNCERTAIN TERMS, WE WILL KEEP SOUTHWEST, DO WHATEVER YOU NEED
TO DO, AND I MADE SURE THAT WE KEPT THAT PROMISE.
INCLEMENT WEATHER IS NOT AN AIRPORT'S FRIEND, BY THE WAY,
AND THAT'S WHY I WANT TO INCLUDE THIS ON THE TOUR TODAY.
ANY KIND OF FROZEN PRECIPITATION ON THE AIR FIELD IS NOT GOOD
NEWS. SAFETY IS OUR FIRST
CONSIDERATION IN ALL MATTERS, AND SO AN AIRPORT'S ABILITY TO
CLEAR CONTAMINANTS FROM THE AIR FIELD IS VERY IMPORTANT.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY OF YOU REMEMBER THE BLIZZARD OF 1980.
WE HAD 47 INCHES OF SNOW THAT YEAR.
IT WAS SO BAD THAT THE GOVERNOR DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY,
CLOSED THE INTERSTATE, AND BASICALLY STATE SHUT DOWN.
WE WEREN'T PREPARED FOR THAT, BUT WE KEPT THE AIRPORT OPEN
DURING THAT ENTIRE TIME. I WANT TO FINISH THAT, BUT THESE
SNOWPLOWS AND BROOMS THAT YOU'RE SEEING ARE STATE OF THE ART.
THESE CAME AS A RESULT OF THAT STORM BECAUSE I WALKED OUT AND
SAID WE AIN'T DOING THIS WITH NO EQUIPMENT AGAIN.
WE NEED EQUIPMENT. WE GOT THE PEOPLE, WE GOT THE
DEDICATION, WE GOT THE TRAINING, BUT WE NEED EQUIPMENT.
ALL THESE SNOWPLOWS, ALL THESE BROOMS, EVERYTHING YOU'RE
LOOKING AT ALLOWS US TO PLOW, BROOM, CLEAN OUR MAIN RUNWAYS,
WHICH IS 9,000 FEET, 150 FEET WIDE, IN UNDER 20 MINUTES.
SO THAT'S A TWO-MILE STRETCH OF PAVEMENT AND ANOTHER
COMMISSIONER, HE DROVE TO GEORGE WASHINGTON AND HE'S AN AVIATOR,
PROBABLY HE APPRECIATES THIS MORE THAN SOME OF YOU, BUT A
TWO-MILE STRETCH OF PAVEMENT -- HE'S SHAKING HIS HEAD NO, BUT HE
DOES, TAKE ME AT MY WORD. TO CLEAR THAT, DOWN AND BACK, 20
MINUTES, NOT ONLY CLEAR IT OF ICE AND SNOW, BUT TO PUT DOWN
ANTI-ICER AND DE-ICER IS A BIG DEAL.
DURING THE STORM OF 1980, WHEN THE GOVERNOR DECLARED A STATE OF
EMERGENCY? THEY CLOSED THE INTERSTATES AND
YOU COULD BE FINED IF YOU WERE CAUGHT OUT DRIVING WITHOUT
FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE AND NEED TO BE OUTSIDE.
THE CITY CALLED UP AND THEY SAID WE WANT YOU TO CLOSE THE
AIRPORT, AND UNFORTUNATELY, BEFORE THE CITY CALLED, I HAD
GOTTEN -- THERE WAS A GROUP THAT CAME DOWN AND VERY UNHAPPY WHY
THE FLIGHT HAD BEEN DELAYED. I WASN'T TOO EXCITED ABOUT THAT
BECAUSE I HAD BEEN HERE FOR THREE DAYS AND I WAS TIRED, BUT
THEN NORFOLK GENERAL CALLED AND SAID WE HAVE SOME HUMAN ORGANS
HERE. IF WE DON'T GET THEM OUT TODAY,
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO DIE.
AND WE DON'T WANT TO SEND THE AMBULANCE OUT, FOUR-WHEEL DRIVE,
GOT A TRACK, WITHOUT YOUR GUARANTEEING THAT THIS CORPORATE
JET CAN GET OUT. AND OUR STAFF SAID, SEND IT.
AND THEN FOR THE FIRST TIME AND ONLY TIME IN MY HISTORY AT THIS
AIRPORT, I DEFIED THE CITY AND SAID WE AIN'T CLOSING THE
AIRPORT. I SHOULD SAY THIS.
THE ONLY TIME THAT I'M GOING TO ADMIT TO DEFYING THE CITY IN
FRONT OF NORFOLK CITY COUNCIL. WE KEPT THE AIRPORT OPEN AND THE
VERY NEXT DAY, THE GOVERNOR FLEW DOWN TO SURVEY THE HAMPTON ROADS
AREA ONLY BECAUSE THE NORFOLK AIRPORT WAS OPEN.
SO WE WON TWO SNOW REMOVAL AWARDS THAT YEAR.
I WENT TO GET ONE IN NEW ENGLAND AND THEY COULDN'T UNDERSTAND WHY
A GUY FROM A SOUTHERN AIRPORT WAS EVEN UP THERE.
I WAS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE SITTING AT THE BAR TELLING THEM WHAT I
WAS DOING THERE, HAD MY DRINK, CHECKED MY AWARD AND I FLEW
HOME. THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT
FACILITY. THE GUYS THAT OPERATE THIS ARE
TOP-NOTCH PEOPLE, AND WHEN YOU SEE SNOW AND ICE -- I WILL SAY
THIS. YOU CAN TAKE LESSONS FROM WHAT
WE DO HERE BECAUSE WE KEEP THIS PLACE OPEN WHEN A LOT OF OTHER
AIRPORTS DO NOT, SO VDOT DID TAKE LESSONS.
ANOTHER THING YOU SEE OVER HERE IS WHAT LOOKS LIKE A BURNED-UP
AIRPLANE, CHAS WHICH IT IS. IT'S THE AIRPORT'S FIRE TRAINING
FACILITY. THEY CAN SIMULATE AN ENGINE
FIRE, A FUSELAGE FIRE, A WHEEL FIRE.
THE GUY UP THERE PUNCHES ALL THE BUTTON AND THE WHOLE THING CAN
GO UP. IT'S IMPRESSIVE, BUT
UNFORTUNATELY WE'RE NOT DRILLING TODAY.
COSTS A LOT OF MONEY TO RUN A DRILL AND THE FUEL WE BURN HERE
CANNOT PRODUCE A LOT OF SMOKE BECAUSE IT PRODUCES TROUBLE ON
THE INTERSTATE. EVERY TIME WE BURN HERE, PEOPLE
CALL 911 WANTING TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON, SO WE HAVE THIS VERY
SPECIAL FUEL HERE THAT KEEPS THE SMOKE IN.
WE'LL DO A LOT OF THINGS FOR COUNCIL, BUT WE CAN'T SPEND THAT
MONEY TODAY BECAUSE IT'S NOT IN THE BUDGET.
BUT FEW AIRPORTS HAVE THIS KIND OF FACILITY.
IF THERE'S AN ACCIDENT ON THIS AIR FIELD, THE FIRST FIRE TRUCK
THAT'S DISPATCHED HAS TO REACH THE MID POINT OF THE FURTHEREST
RUNWAY WITHIN THREE MINUTES AND ALL THE OTHER EQUIPMENT HAS TO
BE ON THE SCENE WITHIN FOUR MINUTES BECAUSE WITH AN AVIATION
FIRE, TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE. NEXT STOP IS NORFOLK TOWER.
HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE TOWER BEFORE?
>> TALLY HO. THIS IS LOCAL CONTROL, THIS
PERSON CONTROLS THE AIR SPACE AROUND THE AIRPORT, A THOUSAND
FEET UP AND AROUND THE RUNWAY. NEXT IS GROUND CONTROL.
THEY CAN CLOSE TRAFFIC TO AIRPLANES AND VEHICLES ON THE
AIRPLANE PROPER UP TO AND BEYOND THE RUNWAY.
THIS PERSON HERE IS CLEARANCE DELIVERY.
HE LEADS THE CLEARANCES TO THE AIRPLANES WHERE THEY'RE GOING
AND HOW HIGH, HOW FAST. THIS PERSON TAKES CARE OF THAT
ISSUE. WHEN THIS PERSON GIVES THEM A
CODE, IT SHOWS UP ON THIS DATA BLOCK RIGHT HERE SO IT'S TRACKED
ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE COUNTRY. >> TURN AND COME RIGHT AT US AND
WHEN HE TURNS RIGHT INTO US, YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO SEE HIM,
SOMEWHERE BETWEEN FOUR AND FIVE MILES.
>> THAT'S DELTA 2148. AN MD-80 AND HE'S DOING 160
KNOTS ACROSS GROUND AND LANDING AT NORFOLK, AND HE'S LANDING
HERE AND DOING A VISUAL APPROACH.
>> WHEN HE TURNS AROUND, HE WANTS TO GO TO ATLANTA, HE WILL
STOP HERE FIRST, GET A CLEARANCE AND HE WILL HAND THAT TRIP OFF
TO HIM, TAXI HIM OUT TO THE RUNWAY, SHE WILL CLEAR HIM FOR
TAKEOFF AND HE WILL BE CLICKED DOWNSTAIRS TO DEPARTURE CONTROL
AND GIVES IT TO FEEDER CONTROL, GIVES IT TO WASHINGTON CENTER,
WASHINGTON CENTER GIVES TO ATLANTA APPROACH AND ATLANTA
APPROACH GIVES TO ATLANTA TOWER AND HE GOES TO THE GATE AND
LANDS. THAT'S AIR TRAFFIC IN A NUTSHELL
WORLDWIDE. THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.
>>> THAT CONCLUDES THE JANUARY EDITION OF NORFOLK NEWS NOW ON
THE TRIPLE-N. THANKS FOR WATCHING NORFOLK'S
NEIGHBORHOOD NETWORK FOR ALL THINGS NORFOLK.
I'M KAREN PARKER-CHESSON WITH THE NORFOLK POLICE DEPARTMENT.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND YOUR CITY, AND CELEBRATE LIFE DAILY.
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