Marcus in the Middle
Norfolk’s new city manager brings fresh ideas and procedures to the region’s cultural hub

By Jeff Maisey

When Marcus Jones began his job as Norfolk’s City Manager on February 1, he met with department heads to discuss how to go about managing the municipality. The concept of a well-managed city government with strategic planning was paramount, meaning all departments were to be accountable, efficient, effective, responsive, inclusive and customer (citizen) focused.
Jones found the city to have a budgeting process based on “how much can we cut” as opposed to listing priorities and aligning resources to achieve them. In fact, a foresighted list of priorities had not been part of city planning since the mid-1990s, and even then transportation wasn’t one of them. Norfolk’s current six stated priorities are as follows: 1) Safe, Healthy and Inclusive Communities, 2) Economic Vitality and Workforce Development, 3) Lifelong Learning, 4) Accessibility, Mobility and Connectivity, 5) Sustainability and 6) Well-Managed Government.
Jones and other city management personnel began the process of developing a vision for Norfolk with fundamental priority statements, objectives, goals and a means of evaluation. Jones plans to hold each employee accountable for their actions and how monies allocated reflect the stated priority.
The city is seeking public input on draft legislation on its website: http://www.norfolk.gov/intergovernmental/.
Below is our interview with Marcus Jones.

Do you think Norfolk’s citizens have been served well by city council and the mayor in terms of having a clear vision for the city?
I’m going back to February 1. We see this as a great opportunity. I am so pleased council is engaged in this process. We had a retreat in September. I set aside 90 minutes just for a reaffirmation of these new priority statements. As a matter of fact, we have one priority statement that is Connectivity, Mobility and Accessibility.  I’ll never forget, one council member said, “Now wait a minute. Where’s transportation in that? Do we need to pull it up-top?” So I’m very pleased with how engaged they are.
One of our priority statements is Lifelong Learning. It’s not just a concept about how much money you give K-12, it’s really what’s happening from 0 to 100. And the last time I checked, we’re associated with five institutions of higher education in Norfolk.  So whether it’s workforce development; whether it’s opportunities for our veterans coming home, when you start to focus on lifelong learning it opens up a whole new level of conversation.

What do you consider Norfolk’s top priorities?
Without a doubt, if I had to pick one it is a well-managed government. I believe that is the foundation for everything we do. It’s that accountability; it’s being inclusive; it’s being customer oriented; it’s being responsive, efficient and effective.
In this priority setting process we started ten months ago, it’s interesting that we turned economic development into economic vibrancy and workforce development. Clearly, we have a safe and inclusive community. We can list them all, but for me it is definitely being able to establish this well-managed government. Then it is very important to engage with the community.  My understanding is that when you’re out there and having conversations with the community, you’re going to learn some things that you wouldn’t if you just sat on the 11th floor of City Hall and try to sort it out for yourself.  

Great cities have an intangible cultural heritage. For New Orleans, it’s music, food and architecture. Paris is the city of lights, cafes, museums and monuments. What would you say is Norfolk’s intangible cultural heritage, and how would you like to see it evolve?
I get excited when you ask that question. I have one of the greatest views from my office. When you look out over Harbor Park and all the way to the (USS) Wisconsin, to me that’s just something special.
We have the Norfolk Consortium. It is about 14 entities including the (Virginia) Zoo, Chrysler Museum, Festevents…and we set down for about two hours a week just to discuss what you’ve asked me. One of the things that came up last week was, “Hey Marcus, don’t forget the Navy.” It is a great asset.
Now years ago we would have talked about taxable property. Norfolk’s always been challenged because roughly a-third of the real estate is not on the tax roll because of the Navy and institutions of higher education. It’s been (an issue) of what can we do to get more property on the tax roll. I think we missed something that’s very valuable. So I envision more than just the waterfront, but there is so much in this community, whether it’s East Ocean View, the Zoo or the Chrysler Museum.
The report on the state of the economy for the region they talk about tourism being about 8 percent of our regional product and not to focus too much on tourism. I don’t know if I totally agree with that. I think that we have something special here in Norfolk. We’d like to call ourselves the cultural hub of the state, and in this consortium we say the world.

Well certainly of the region and commonwealth. How would you like to see the Norfolk Consortium members, including the Virginia Arts Festival, Visit Norfolk, Virginia Stage Company and Virginia Opera, collaborate and develop more refined working relations?
I like what I see right now. What I see is a group of individuals who are very excited about meeting. I’ve never seen that before.
Before we started meeting in May, we didn’t have one calendar for the city where you could say this is what’s happening on this day in Norfolk. One of the first objectives for the Consortium was to put together a calendar so if you’re in Washington, DC or Richmond you can, on a Thursday, find out what’s going on in Norfolk on the weekend.
We’re finding that when you’re around the table and discussing different possibilities – it doesn’t have to be that one big idea, but we are thinking about that big idea – it’s how can we enhance our existing offerings as well as create new ones. Even when you look at the holiday parade there are discussions on having a (Christmas) tree.
The group has even reached out into the community and asked for ideas. Someone said, “Just shut down Granby Street on a Friday and have a big party.” So those are ideas that are just floating around.

In the mid to late 1980s, they did shut down the 100 block of Granby Street for an annual St. Patrick’s Day party. So, some of these “new” idea proposals actually aren’t original ideas at all. In fact, there have been other street parties presented in the past decade and were all given a thumbs-down.
It’s a different day now. As a matter of fact, Karen (Sherberger) said let’s get some more people around the table to talk about the art of the possible.

Festevents does a great job in producing events at Town Point Park and Ocean View Park. There are numerous other city parks and green spaces that citizens rarely make use of. What is your view regarding allowing non-profit organizations such as Hope House Foundation, which presents the bi-annual Stockley Gardens Art Festival, to create new events in other parks, even as gated events with the sale of alcohol, as a means to further enliven neighborhood parks?
Let’s put alcohol aside for a second.
What’s important to me is that when we start to discuss a lively city that it is the entire city. So it’s not just what’s happening at Town Point Park. That’s what we want to create. So I think that’s great; that’s where we’re moving. I’d love to have celebrations across the city.

One of the buzz words or phrases here in Norfolk this year is the “creative class.” The issue for Norfolk is how do you retain them and also lure them from other cities. One way is to create a quality of life that is attractive to them. What is the strategy for doing so in Norfolk?
I love the creative class. My concept is if someone comes from California and attends ODU. I want their experience in this city to be so good. I want them to be hooked on light rail; I want them to enjoy what we’re trying to do in terms of the new Slover Library; what we’re doing at Town Point; what’s happening at the zoo. I want the culture to be such that they don’t want to go back to California.
When you talk about the creative class there has to be something that attracts them. Last week when I was at ODU and I wanted to go to Boardwalk Fries and they weren’t open yet, but I was walking and someone said, “Hey, Marcus. Come here, you’ve got to see this.” It was that whole concept of innovation and folks coming out with their various projects. And it was just neat. This is cool stuff and what’s sometimes cool is when the city just gets out of the way and things become organic.
So I see that in pockets and it’s exciting.

Some bars and restaurants in Norfolk struggle with city ordinances restricting capacity, allowing DJs but not dancing, etc. While safety is of great importance, it does seem the city is not as friendly to live music venues and clubs with dancing. These are important if you want the creative class to reside in Norfolk. What are your views?
I’m with you on the quality of life. As for code enforcement, whether it’s the Bar Task Force or just traditional code enforcement, I hope everybody agrees that what makes quality of life is that someone understands they’re in a safe environment.
There are various issues and I understand that. Public safety, though, is paramount.  

The neighborhood of Ghent has an intangible cultural heritage in that it is known as a quaint neighborhood with locally-owned restaurants and retailers, and where you can walk or bike easily from place to place. Ghent is becoming very attractive to national chain franchises. This encroachment of chains dilutes the unique brand of Ghent. From the city’s point of view is there an effectively strategy to preserve and protect the uniqueness of the neighborhood? Would the city consider a moratorium on national chains in Ghent?
I think what’s most important is that the city is consistently engaged with that community, whether it’s through the Ghent Business Association and the neighborhood league so we can hear what the priorities are for the community.
I think Ghent is one of those special areas. It’s so family-friendly.
In terms of strategy, I think it’s a nice mix. I hope you would agree. It’s a popular place so that’s going to attract a wide array of possibilities. 

Wards Corner was once considered the Times Square of the South. Citizens have long awaited a satisfactory plan for the four corners area. Given the section already has a Farm Fresh and Kroger grocery store is a new Harris Teeter really the best vision for this part of the city? Is that creative, innovative thinking?
Let’s try it a different way. When I was the Assistant City Manager I did staff the Wards Corner Task Force. There’s always been a discussion about 1) the apartment and 2) what would happen in terms of economic development opportunities in that space. After talking to people on the Wards Corner Task Force, they are excited about the possibility here. In other words, being able to purchase those apartments and tearing them down. Having some movement in terms of commercial activity is important. So what happens is you see movement in terms of the apartments and blight; you see movement in commercial activity. You hope that attracts more.
You ask is having a grocery store the right answer? I think having investment is extremely important there.

What needs to happen next to expand light rail?
I’ve always said from Day One that it’s very important for this administration to have a light rail system that’s safe and clean. With that the ridership levels have been incredible…We’d love to work with Beach officials and have it go to Virginia Beach. Then there’s been discussions on having it go to the Navy Base, ODU and up Hampton Blvd. The concept is what would be best for the system? It’s about mobility and accessibility.  Some folks said, “Wow. You just started it and now you’re looking for the next spur.” That’s the right thing to do. I think the council is acting in the right manner on this.

The New York Times and PBS both produced reports on Norfolk being on the front line of global warming in that we are highly susceptible to flooding due to rising water levels. Do we need a levee system? What sort of planning needs to be done now?
I went to New Orleans last week. I was amazed with the conversations I had with the governor’s office staff, with folks at the state and local level. What’s important is to have a strategy that is both the federal, state and the local governments. In our legislative package this year we have a resolution that would have a study and then hopefully action. We have been putting money into our capital improvement fund, but we need to do more. At the federal level, we’re working with lobbyists to make sure we’re in front of the right committees.

Tribute to Clarence Clemons
Friday, January 6, Attucks Theatre
www.sevenvenues.com

CAPTION: Clarence Clemons and Bruce Springsteen during the Born to Run era

Tribute to the Big Man and his Horn

Growing up in Norfolk County, now known as the city of Chesapeake, Clarence Clemons listened to the early rock-n-roll of the 1950s. But his childhood dreams were not of music stardom. Football was his first love, and he was a good enough player at Crestwood High School to attract collegiate attention.
“I went to Maryland State College [now University of Maryland Eastern Shore] on a scholarship,” he told me in a conversation prior to his induction into Norfolk’s Legends of Music Walk of Fame in 2007. “I wanted to play professionally and I played with the New Jersey Generals. Then I had a chance to hopefully play for the Cleveland Browns, but I was in a car accident and that kicked me out of football. So the horn took the spotlight in my life.”
It’s the horn that put Clarence Clemons in the spotlight, and it’s his horn playing that brought him international fame as a member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band. When he died after suffering a stroke in June at the age of 69, the music world mourned the loss of “the big man” with a distinctive saxophone sound as large as he was. On Friday, January 6, the Attucks Theatre will host a tribute to the man and his music. Lending a musical hand will be E Street Band members Gary Talent, Vini “Mad Dog” Lopez and David Sancious as well as Bon Jovi guitarist Bobby Bandiera, Gary US Bonds, and Clarence Clemons III.
“I grew up in Oak Grove,” he told me, recalling his youth, “actually in the fork where Butts Station Road and Oak Grove ran together, right in that fork in the road. It’s a highway now—the highway runs through my bedroom!
“When I was nine, my father bought the saxophone. He had a fish market in Berkley and I went to elementary school in Berkley. I started playing saxophone, practicing, then I took lessons at Norfolk State College. I’d take the trolley over to Norfolk State, dragging the horn, but it was a great start.”
Though his growling tone with the E Street Band conjures up memories of those early rock and R&B saxophonists, Clemons attributed it to his upbringing as a preacher’s grandson.
“Actually it’s a more spiritual tone,” he explained. “I grew up in my grandfather’s church and that was where we heard the music. But I was mostly influenced by King Curtis, Junior Walker, Boots Randolph.
“My grandfather was at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church down in Norfolk County. I also went to Oak Grove Baptist Church with my aunt, where she sang. And I watched what an impact the music had on the people; it was just amazing. It did what I wanted my music to do—I wanted my music to stir people, to make you feel something. So that’s where my tone developed.”
Something in that tone certainly connected with Bruce Springsteen. Stories of their first meeting in 1971 have taken on the aura of myth. His version was humble and to the point:
“All the time I was hoping to play football, I always had my horn in the car and I’d go out jamming. My first town where I started working was in Jamesburg, New Jersey, which is west of Asbury Park. I was messing around with the horn, jamming; when I heard a band playing, I’d jump out and play. I met this guy named Norman Seldin who had a band, and I was playing with him. The girl singer was telling me about this guy Bruce who had a music act, she saw this thing happening, and she said ‘you guys ought to get together; it would be something really fantastic.’
“A couple of months later, he and I did finally get together and she was right. It was an instant thing; I knew it. It was an instant marriage right there. His dedication to what he believes is a high point. He’s so dedicated, and it rubbed off on me, it inspired me.”
After the iconic black and white photo of the two musical buddies leaning against one another on the cover of Born to Run in 1975, their musical personages were forever fused.
“That was a decision that Bruce made,” Clemons said. “My part in the music was pretty heavy, and the music was making a statement in that period of time. He was bold enough to make a statement and put the picture out there. The music was simple, straight-ahead, no candy coating.”
Clemon’s legendary sax tones were vital to such songs as “Born to Run,” “Jungleland,” “The Promised Land,” “Dancing in the Dark” and “Thunder Road.”
While Clemons achieved legendary status in the earthy, materialistic world of rock-n-roll, he was motivated by the sense of a higher calling.
“My spiritual teacher Sri Chinmoy told me that my purpose in life is to bring joy and light to the world,” he said in a Rolling Stone interview a few months before his death. He shared similar thoughts with me four years earlier:
“I have open arms to all spiritual life. There’s good and bad in everything, but there’s one God. And if you believe in that one God, then your life will be saved. If you envision good, and you bring good into your life and goodness to the world, good will come to you.”
Through his music, Clarence Clemons achieved his purpose.