Huntington State of the City Aftermath

In the 2015 Huntington State of the City Address Mayor Steve William elaborated on the future developments, budget plans, and hopes for the city. In my latest prediction, I said that Williams would discuss new developments for the city of Huntington, and in result link all parts of Huntington together. Williams also touched on the budget for this year as well, as I predicted.

Williams described Huntington as a “vibrant, teeming with optimism, fiscally sound and is at the beginning of a renaissance.” As I predicted, a major topic of the address was the three new additions that I previously discussed. These new developments is a major part of the renaissance that Mayor Williams hopes for the city.

The first project that Williams sees in the future takes place on Hal Greer Blvd. corridor, which also includes Northcott Court. The second project is on the west end of Huntington, focusing on the River to Rail area. The third project includes the ACI plant property located just east of Marshall University, and west of the Highlawn neighborhood. Williams said “with these three projects combined, with a proposal to deploy high-speed broadband, will provide our city with the greatest opportunity for consistent expansion since the 1940’s.”

These three new developments will consist of retail and commercial businesses. As Williams previously discussed, high-speed broadband will be a major part of these additions to the city. He also stressed that high-speed broadband will act as a “virtual ribbon” between the three developments.

I predicted that the budget would be a major point and a high concern addressed in Williams’s speech. The 2015 budget for the city will be down 5% from last year’s budget. Williams stated the revenue for the city is projected to be $1,613,455 less than what was originally projected for the current fiscal year.

The new developments and the budget for the city were a major part of my prediction for the State of the City Address, but I also missed a lot of things that Mayor Williams discoursed. Mayor Williams highly stressed his concern with struggle of addiction in the city. He took quite a bit of time on the topic of addiction, and said that it was the largest issue that Huntington was currently facing. “We need to move our focus from the dealers, to the dealers and addicts,” Williams said. He also proposed the idea to establish a comprehensive plan that is all-inclusive of government agencies, recovery houses, recovery programs, hospitals, medical centers, and medical schools.

Lastly, Williams discussed his vison to embrace diversity and celebrate our differences. Williams not only wants to focus on diversity when it comes to race, but sexuality as well. He has formed a LGBT Advisory Council to act as a liaison between his office and the community.

I predicted that Williams would discuss three new major additions to the city as well as the new budget, which were correct, but I overlooked some his most important points regarding the LGBT community and the addition in Huntington. With all of these ideas combined there is no doubt that Huntington, West Virginia will continue to grow and develop.   

Huntington State of the City Prediction 2015

Mayor Steve Williams will conduct the Huntington State of the City Address this evening to inform the citizens of Huntington of future budget plans and new additions to the city.

                I predict Williams will have four main points in his State of the City Address. The first three points will cover future development projects for the city of Huntington. The first of these development projects will take place on Hal Greer Blvd. Recently some of the government housing was taken down in hopes of producing a more retail, commercial environment that will connect Marshall University students to the area. Williams stated that there is absolutely no need to worry about the state of the government housing. He has moved the individuals that resided in this area to a place downtown.

                The second project I predict Mayor Williams will discuss is the ACI plant property that is near the baseball stadium. William has plans to make this area definitely a more commercial part of the city. He plans to tear down the ACI property and fill it with restaurants, retail stores, and hotels. I believe that Mayor Williams wants to make the city of Huntington a fun, exciting place for the students on Marshall University’s campus to feel safe and welcome to stay in Huntington after graduation.

                The third project that Williams will discuss is the River to Rail development that will reside in the West end of Huntington. Williams plans to build a warehouse that will attract more people to that side of the city. Another thing that I believe Mayor Williams will address is the need for high-speed broadband. He believes that without high-speed broadband these three projects will not thrive. With the high-speed broadband Mayor Williams says that this will act as a virtual ribbon between the three new developments.

                Another major issue that Mayor Williams will definitely discuss is the city’s new budget. This year’s city budget has gone down 5% from last year’s budget. With this new budget I believe that questions will be raised about jobs, but not to worry Mayor Williams has stressed that there will indeed be no layoffs in the city of Huntington.

How does the WV FOIA help journalists?

The West Virginia Freedom of Information Act gives anyone the right to access information from the federal government and for all persons to obtain complete information about the workings of the government and the acts of those who represent them as public officials and employees.

                In Section 29B 1-3 it discusses the rules and regulations regarding the Freedom of Information Act. The section states that anyone has the right to inspect a public record or body in the state. It also states that the request for any public record must be made directly to the “custodian,” and the request for the public record must provide reasonable opportunities for the inspection and examination in the facilities for making memos. The West Virginia FOIA also states provisions such as all requests must be made with reasonable specificity, the person making the request must be advised of the time and place of which the materials may be examined, all denial requests must be made in writing, and the public body must establish fees reasonably calculated to reimburse for the actual cost in making reproductions of such records.

                There are several pros and cons to the West Virginia Freedom of Information Act for journalists. For example, journalists are allowed to further their investigative reporting due to this specific act. Journalists can obtain any document needed to further their research for a report, but the amount of time it takes to retrieve the documents may definitely prolong the journalist’s investigation. The Freedom of Information Act requires a lot of patience and time, and depending on the particular document you are requesting,  it has the possibility to be denied several times before the actual request goes through.

                The Freedom of Information Act, in my opinion, could use a few improvements regarding the amount of exceptions that they have when it comes to releasing certain types of documents. I would also change the amount of time a FOIA request takes to be submitted, and the amount of time it takes to retrieve the document being requested for.

                I personally have not had any personal experiences regarding the Freedom of Information Act, I find the FOIA to be extremely helpful to everyone, especially journalists who are involved in investigative reporting. The FOIA is a great tool for journalists to use to get one more lead on a story that they did not have before their investigation.