That could change soon. The recent announcement by a submarine cable manufacturer that it will build a massive facility in Chesapeake may well be the spark our region needs to finally ignite its potential as a hub for renewable energy production and innovation, bringing broad benefit to Hampton Roads and the larger commonwealth.

Earlier this month, Gov. Glenn Youngkin joined local and state officials, as well as regional economic development leaders, to welcome the news that LS Greenlink USA, a subsidiary of South Korean-based LS Cable & System, plans to build a new manufacturing facility in Chesapeake.

The company makes a variety of cables for use in utility networks, including those used underwater for renewable energy projects — such as the offshore wind turbines proliferating along the East Coast, of which Dominion’s project is one of many expected to ramp up construction in the coming years.

The 750,000-square-foot center is expected to cost $681 million to build and, when complete, will create more than 330 full-time jobs. Those roles are expected to be geared toward engineering and machine operators, and company officials said that salaries for those workers would exceed the industry average.

The new facility will be constructed at the Deep Water Terminal Site, a brownfield reclamation property along the Elizabeth River, and takes advantage of the area’s geography, with ready access to the Port of Virginia and egress to the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic Ocean.

Notably, because of the company’s unique manufacturing process that uses gravity to center the heavier components within the cable, the new facility will include a 660-foot tower, making it the tallest building in Virginia. (At 508 feet, the Westin in Virginia Beach’s Town Center now holds that distinction.)

All of those metrics are exciting — the millions invested, the jobs created, the wages those workers can expect — but the company’s decision to locate in Chesapeake also represents something else: validation that Hampton Roads is on the right track as it seeks to build its reputation as a world-class location for green-energy development.

It’s one thing to have natural benefits, such as the deep-water harbor, or other advantages, such as the port facilities, and quite another to leverage those attributes to build a next-generation, forward-looking economic sector.

Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick told a Pilot reporter at the announcement that LS Greenlink considered locations in 15 states before deciding to build in Chesapeake. Officials celebrating the announcement noted the commonwealth’s highly educated and well-trained workforce, strengths that CNBC cited when it recently named Virginia the nation’s top state for business.

But it’s more than that. Virginia is investing more in business-ready site development to clear the path for companies to move from proposal to production as swiftly as possible. And the commonwealth is doing better to bring all interested parties together on projects such as this, with everyone pulling in the same direction.

For this facility, the governor’s announcement noted the efforts of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, the Hampton Roads Alliance, the Virginia Maritime Association and the city of Chesapeake. It also outlined grant funding from the Commonwealth’s Opportunity Fund, benefits from The Port of Virginia Economic and Infrastructure Development Zone Grant Program and support through the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program.

Such cooperation has not always been the case, and Virginia has lost these sorts of opportunities to other states as a result. To see that change is to believe that the future is bright.

Few regions in the country stand to benefit more from the fight against climate change than does Hampton Roads. By growing its green-energy economic sector, our region can create a stronger employment base while reducing emissions and helping to protect vulnerable communities. May GS Greenlink’s arrival be the first of many.

The governor’s administration may be inconsistent in its interpretation of ACCII, but the vast benefits of the public policy remain the same. So let’s set the record straight on what ACCII is and isn’t.

First and foremost, the governor’s actions exhibit blatant disregard for not only the law, but also Virginians’ health, as Clean Cars Standards would enable Virginians to avoid nearly $30 billion in health care costs and 2,700 premature deaths due to tailpipe pollution. People who live in communities located near busy roadways are at greatest risk, as reported in the American Lung Association’s 2022 report, “Zeroing in on Healthy Air.” Families on the front lines of pollution need policy protections like the ACCII.

In 2020, when the General Assembly was considering legislation to adopt Clean Cars Standards, the Virginia Auto Dealers Association (VADA) sent a letter to key General Assembly members explicitly outlining what the commonwealth needed do in order to successfully meet the standards: “Virginia should be committing today no less than $720 million over the next five years to prepare and grow market demand for EVs … Virginia does not have any consumer vehicle purchase or infrastructure incentives in place to increase the adoption of EVs. Both of these are proven ways to grow customer interest in buying EVs.”

Yet no action was taken by the commonwealth, effectively hindering ACCII’s success and sending Virginians the message that maintaining the fossil fuel status quo trumps public health.

Despite VADA’s detailed plea for EV incentives and the General Assembly’s passage of the Virginia Electric Vehicle Rebate Program in 2021, the program remains unfunded. That’s a shame, because it was designed as one of the most equitable rebates in the country, and would have put an electric vehicle within reach of many families and individuals who otherwise could not afford one while providing the incentive that Virginia’s auto dealers need to successfully sell large numbers of EVs.

Let’s also address the dubious claim that ACCII reduces consumer choice. If the standards are repealed, residents will actually have restricted choice of vehicles, because automakers prioritize delivery of electric vehicles to states that have adopted ACCII. Those states make up a significant percentage of the automobile market, and manufacturers are producing vehicles that align with the standards right off the bat.

In fact, many automakers have their own electrification goals; e.g., GM plans to eliminate tailpipe emissions from new passenger vehicles by 2035. So Virginia reversing its decision to be a Clean Cars state won’t bring back the fossil fuel Silverado or Camaro. That decision has already been made by GM.

Advanced Clean Car Standards are the low-hanging fruit on the path to reducing harmful emissions. Virginians should not be stripped of the standards that they have chosen. Residents and businesses deserve full access to the reduced operating costs that come with owning EVs, especially low-income used-EV purchasers who are afforded significant reductions in vehicle operating costs. And auto dealers should be given the tools they need to be successful in the EV economy.

Gov. Youngkin, don’t let Virginia lag behind. Invest in EV charging infrastructure, fund the EV Rebate Program and honor Virginians’ choice of Advanced Clean Cars Standards.

Cheri Conca is the transportation and smart growth program manager at the Sierra Club Virginia Chapter.

As a retiree, environmentalist and transit rider, I do not own a vehicle. I use Hampton Roads Transit, walking and cycling for most of my errands. This is not easy where I live in the Greenbrier section of Chesapeake. My street has a walk score of 41, transit score of 24 and cycling score of 40, according to walkscore.com. HRT’s services have become more vital since my husband and I both suffered medical issues that keep us from driving under Department of Motor Vehicles policies.

Recently, I was thrilled to be able to travel home all the way from Metropark station in New Jersey without the use of a car. Before recent improvements to U.S. Route 13 and state Route 14 by Chesapeake and HRT, that would have been impossible. It is far too dangerous to walk from Robert Hall Boulevard over the Interstate 64 interchange on Battlefield Boulevard, especially after dark. But recently I took Amtrak Train 95, scheduled to arrive at 7:24 p.m. in Norfolk, and even at that late hour I could take The Tide to buses that carried me safely home. Between transfers I patronized a local business, too.

According to a national study, every long-term dollar spent on public transportation produces a five-fold positive economic impact. HRT is conducting a study called Connecting Chesapeake. Recommendations will address potential rapid transit service between Chesapeake and Norfolk. I hope Chesapeake continues to invest in improving local and regional public transportation.

Mary Lou Burke, Chesapeake

Literature

This retired English teacher submits the Bible must be used in public education, not as a religious text but as a literary one. The Bible provides numerous idioms and allusions used by authors for centuries, many of which are used in our daily language: good Samaritan, going the extra mile and bearing one’s cross. How about Armageddon, “Call me Ishmael” or a battle between David and Goliath? Recently, President Joe Biden was urged to step down by the “Four Horsemen of the (Democratic) Apocalypse” — former President Barack Obama, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. These are biblical allusions that only make sense when understood in their original contexts. Without a biblical background for these words and their settings, they lose their punch, and the communication between author and reader is weakened if not completely lost.

Without biblical background, how can a student read Geoffrey Chaucer, John Milton, George Herbert, John Donne or John Bunyan? What about modern writers such as Flannery O’Connor, William Faulkner or Walker Percy? Can you fully understand Martin Luther King Jr. and the Civil Rights Movement without knowing the Bible generally and the Exodus story specifically? No, to be acquainted with the Bible — its language, stories, poetry and wisdom — is to become a more literate reader and a more knowledgeable cultural observer. The Bible is a religious text; that is true. However, it is also a great piece of literature that has informed our civilization for millennia and should be taught as such. Let’s not deprive our students of their literary heritage.

Jerry Wasserberg; Elizabeth City, North Carolina

Name-calling

Disgraced former President Donald Trump’s shameful strategy of using nicknames to smear or insult his opponents shows lack of maturity and reflects more poorly on himself than those he tries to denigrate.

For example, he has called President Joe Biden “sleepy Joe,” Hillary Clinton “crooked Hillary,” Rep. Nancy Pelosi “crazy Nancy,” special counsel Jack Smith “deranged,” etc.

As the saying goes, turnabout is fair play. The offended parties subjected to this tasteless verbal branding, can readily volley back and address Trump by an appropriate, well-deserved and new forever handle: convicted felon.

Ken Powders, Chesapeake

By 2050, the experts tell us, nearly a quarter of Americans will be age 65 or older, and it’s likely that 1 in 10 of those will become a victim of abuse.

In light of these sad realities, it’s wise that Virginia’s attorney general, Jason Miyares, is making stronger protections for vulnerable older citizens a priority. Lawmakers, officials and ordinary people should work toward that goal.

Abuse of vulnerable elderly people takes many forms. One of the most common is financial, both the scams that modern technology has made increasingly easy and misuse of a person’s finances and assets by caregivers, including family members.

There’s also physical abuse, both neglect and more aggressive misbehavior, including violent crimes and sexual assault. In these instances, too, family members and other caregivers are often the culprits. They may isolate a vulnerable older person so that the victim cannot try to get help and grows increasingly confused.

Miyares’ most recent action was the announcement in June of an Elder Abuse Investigation Center for Central Virginia, a coalition similar to some operating successfully in other regions of the commonwealth. The center will bring together law enforcement agencies, commonwealth attorneys, advocates and those who work with the elderly from Richmond and nearby cities and counties to investigate possible cases of fraud and other abuse of senior citizens.

Staffers at the center will look into possible abuse cases and make investigators and expert witnesses available. They will prosecute cases themselves when necessary. Such a center also helps cities and counties learn from one another about instances of elder abuse and warning signs.

Closer to home, a similar coalition, the Peninsula Elder Abuse Forensic Center (PEAFC), opened in November 2017 under the leadership of York-Poquoson Social Services and the Riverside Health system, with a goal of investigating abuse reports and working to make sure abuse does not go undetected. The center draws on the expertise of law enforcement, commonwealth’s attorneys’ offices, mental-health agencies, medical professionals, social services, advocates for the elderly, and agencies that deal with domestic violence and sexual assault.

The PEAFC serves Newport News, Hampton, Williamsburg and Poquoson and the counties of York, James City, Gloucester and Isle of Wight.

As he has worked to combat the problem of elder abuse, Miyares has proposed legislation for stiffer penalties for scammers and others who target older people. He also has built on existing programs.

An important national effort started by AARP and associations of chiefs of police and sheriffs in the 1980s and introduced to Virginia in 1995 is Triad, a cooperative effort of law enforcement, senior citizens and organizations that serve the elderly. Triad works to help senior citizens learn to protect themselves from abuse. Senior citizens in Hampton Roads cities can join their local Triad at no cost, attend meetings and even volunteer. Contact information is available through virginianavigator.org or by calling the police or sheriff’s department.

Individuals can help in the fight against elder abuse. If you come into contact with an elderly person and something doesn’t seem right, let someone know.

Another important resource is the Virginia Coalition for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (VCPEA), a nonprofit, all-volunteer coalition of individuals and agency representatives who work with seniors and disabled adults. It offers information about how to spot the telltale signs of abuse or neglect.

People who suspect abuse are urged to call the toll-free, 24-hour hotline (888-832-3858) run by Virginia Adult Protective Services.  You can also call your local Department of Social Services about suspected problems.

The elderly among us should be treated with respect and helped to live with as much independence and dignity as possible. As they become more vulnerable, they need more help. We must protect them from abuse and neglect.

The current student loan crisis has deep roots in the rising costs of higher education and the burden placed on individuals seeking to improve their prospects through education. According to 2013 research by Susan Dynarski and Judith Scott-Clayton, skyrocketing tuition fees coupled with stagnant wage growth have made it increasingly challenging for students to finance their education without resorting to loans. Consequently, many graduates find themselves entering the workforce burdened with substantial debt, limiting their ability to invest in homes, start businesses or save for retirement.

Critics of government intervention in student loan debt argue against moral hazard, asserting that forgiving loans would incentivize future borrowers to take on excessive debt without consequences. However, research suggests that student loan forgiveness can have positive economic effects, stimulating consumer spending and boosting economic growth. A 2017 study by Marshall Steinbaum and Kavya Vaghul found that canceling student debt would lead to an increase in GDP and create more than 1 million jobs over a decade.

Moreover, addressing student loan debt aligns with principles of social justice and economic equity. According to a 2017 study conducted by Mark Huelsman and Jason Delisle, students from low-income families, who are more likely to borrow to finance their education, are disproportionately burdened by student loan debt. By alleviating this burden, the government can promote greater equality of opportunity and ensure that higher education remains accessible to all, regardless of socioeconomic background.

In addition to forgiveness, policymakers should consider reforms to the student loan system to prevent future debt crises. This includes expanding access to income-driven repayment plans, which cap monthly payments based on borrowers’ income levels, thereby making loan repayment more manageable.

Critics of student loan forgiveness often raise concerns about the fiscal impact and fairness to taxpayers. However, according to Steinbaum and Vaghul, studies suggest that the economic benefits of forgiveness could outweigh the costs, particularly if targeted to those most in need. Furthermore, the federal government already bears significant costs associated with student loan defaults and income-driven repayment plans, underscoring the need for comprehensive reform.

In conclusion, the government plays a crucial role in addressing the student loan debt crisis through a combination of forgiveness, reform and equitable policy measures. By tackling this issue head-on, policymakers can promote economic growth, reduce inequality and reaffirm higher education as a pathway to prosperity for all Americans. This action should include exploring avenues for widespread forgiveness, implementing fairer repayment options and ensuring that higher education remains accessible and affordable for all. By doing so, we not only fulfill a moral obligation to our citizens but also lay the foundation for a more equitable and prosperous society.

Darry Powell-Young, Ph.D., is a faculty member in the Department of Political Science, History and International Studies at Hampton University. He holds a doctorate in political science, with specializations in urban politics, public policy and public administration, from Wayne State University in Detroit; a dual master of public administration and public policy from Roosevelt University in Chicago; and a master of arts in political science from Wayne State.

Anyone heard of microplastics? If not, we should get familiar with it because they are everywhere — in our soil, in our water, on our clothes (made of nylon and polyester), in the air, in the food we eat, and, you may have guessed it, they are in our bodies too.

As in the name itself, microplastic is broken down plastic. For information on this, search “A Global Perspective on Microplastics” for a publication on the matter. There have been discussions about reducing the use of plastic, not just recently but over many years. Some states and cities have taken action while others choose to ignore the warning signs.

Not only is plastic a danger to our environment, but it’s a danger to our bodies and most importantly our health. I think it’s time we start paying attention and take action. For starters we can work to persuade our City Council members to pass the single-use plastic bag fee. That’s all it would take. Additionally, we can intentionally reduce the use of plastic water bottles. The water in them is not as clean as you think.

Anita Ward, Virginia Beach

Immigration

Republicans have framed the immigration debate with racism and lies. Regarding immigrants, former President Donald Trump has said, “These aren’t people. These are animals.” He’s said they are “poisoning the blood of our country.”

Unlike Trump, most immigrants have not been found liable for sexual abuse and fraud, nor are they convicted felons. According to Scientific American: “Undocumented immigrants are half as likely to be arrested for violent crimes as U.S.-born citizens.” According to the Cato Institute: “In 2021, U.S. citizens accounted for 86.3% of fentanyl trafficking convictions compared to just 8.9% for illegal immigrants.” Immigrants deliberately turn themselves in to the authorities to claim asylum.

Under President Joe Biden, a record 15.7 million jobs were created and the unemployment rate has been at or below 4% for months. There is a labor shortage caused by a million COVID-19 deaths, retiring boomers and declining birth rates. Immigrants have filled much of the gap. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said, “The U.S. economy has benefited from immigration.” The Congressional Budget Office reported that the economy is projected to grow by $8.9 trillion more over the next decade than it would have without new influxes of immigrants. Refugees and asylees paid $123.8 billion more in taxes than they received in government benefits (2005-2019). They cannot vote in federal elections.

Congressional Republicans demanded and negotiated a bipartisan immigration bill but then rejected it so Trump could demagogue the issue.

Trump’s planned “largest domestic deportation operation in American history” of 15-20 million people would wreck the economy.

David Campbell, Virginia Beach

The leopard

Do not presume for an instant that the leopard will change its spots. He has not had an epiphany and most likely his quietude reflects his shock that someone tried to murder him as he was about to rail against the immigrant horde invading his America. However, it wasn’t a refugee fleeing poverty, an oppressive government or a failing lawless state dominated by narcos; instead it appears it was the standard, all-American lone gunman, an aggrieved, disaffected and disenfranchised young white man with an AR-style rifle who shot him and three others.

Trump’s brush with death will not change him nor alter the trajectory of his party and campaign to reshape the electorate and the government in his image, the United States of Trump. That is evident in his choice of running mate — a converted Never Trumper. Sen. J.D. Vance, who like most converts, is a zealot and a devout MAGA acolyte who has fully embraced Trumpism.

Trump will use him and others to carry the message that we are in dire need of salvation and that only Trump and his apostles, including nine Supreme Court justices, preaching his gospel will lead us to the promised land.

The MAGA gospel, Heritage Foundation’s Project 2025, promises to restore American exceptionalism and to reinstitute nuclear family values at the cost of limiting or eliminating rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Constitution, which has been reinterpreted by Trump judges, like Aileen Cannon, who not only delayed justice, but dismissed it. Trump can delay, deny and deflect but still remains the spotted predator.

John Mannarino, Virginia Beach

Read

Re “Immunity needed” (Your Views, July 10): The letter writer stated that Democrats are using hypothetical scenarios after the recent immunity ruling by the Supreme Court. He stated the legal bar is “extremely high,” and that a president “can’t just go around willy-nilly” killing.

I encourage the him to read Germany’s 1933 Enabling Act. This law allowed the chief executive the authority to enforce his own laws and conduct without checks and balances. Months later, Germany was a one-party state and a totalitarian dictatorship.

I also encourage him to read philosopher Jason Stanley of Yale University. He is best known for his book “How Fascism Works” and has said, “Once you have the courts you can pretty much do whatever you want.”

I respectfully implore the letter writer to take off the proverbial blinders, remove his head from the sand and learn from history.

Patrick L. Blake, Virginia Beach

The question isn’t whether voters are ready for a woman leader. Vice President Kamala Harris has already passed that milestone.

She has more than proved her integrity, leadership and effectiveness. Every time this sexist trope is used against Harris, voters see it for what it is — a cheap shot intended to keep her from shattering that last glass ceiling over the White House.

A better question is whether voters are ready to support that proven leader, stand behind her when she’s viciously attacked, and be her allies on the campaign trail, and, once elected, in governing.

Women know they are “ready to lead, and leading” every day — there isn’t a challenge they can’t meet or an obstacle too daunting to tackle. And they know that to win in November, Harris will have to overcome centuries of sexism and decades of extremist politics that led to Donald Trump’s rise and return.

To succeed as the first woman president, Harris must depend on a broad coalition of support, one built on shared values and fundamental rights, not partisan bickering.

As the first woman vice president — and the first Black and Asian-American woman — Harris has firsthand experience unlike any other occupant of the White House. But as a candidate, Harris will face what may be the last stand of systemic sexism in our presidential politics.

Sebastian Gorka, a former Trump administration official, used a racist phrase from the 1950s when he said this about Harris: “She’s a DEI hire, right? She’s a woman. She’s colored. Therefore, she’s got to be good.”

Less than a year ago, Pew Research surveyed voter attitudes toward women and political leadership, especially on the importance of electing a woman president and the likelihood voters saw of that happening.

Only one in four said they thought it was extremely or very likely that the U.S. would elect a woman president in their lifetime. When asked why there are fewer women than men in office, more than half (54%) said women need to do more to prove themselves, and 46% said many Americans aren’t ready to elect a woman to high office.

That’s the result of that history of sexism baked into our politics — a history we can and must change to defend our democracy.

Gender will matter in this election, just as it has in so many others — but maybe in a different way.

In 2016, 53% of white women voted for Trump, while 94% of African-American women and 69% of Latinas voted for Hillary Clinton. A repeat of that result could mean defeat for Harris.

Of course, the historic nature of Harris’s candidacy will make gender a central issue in this campaign. Her opponents will try to put her on the defensive and make her explain why her gender isn’t an obstacle. Voters will see through that one, too.

The issue of women in politics shouldn’t be an issue — it should just be a fact. And it certainly shouldn’t be a weapon to diminish and weaken our democracy.

We can’t accept a campaign system where men have a head start and the finish line is placed out of reach for many women.

More and more, today’s voters — especially younger voters — are motivated not by partisanship or personal attacks but by their values, such as the right to vote, reproductive rights, gender equality, pay fairness, and safety in school and the workplace.

Those are the cornerstones of our democracy; women can be just as vigorous defenders of democracy as anyone. If we say that democracy is the “government of the people, by the people and for the people,” then that must include all the people. All of us. Not just, as the Founders believed, other white men like themselves.

These are different times, and we are a different nation, one that we’re still creating and improving. Harris’s presidential candidacy will show how blasting gender bias in politics, along with that last glass ceiling, is a long overdue fix.

Christian F. Nunes is the president of the National Organization for Women. She wrote this for InsideSources.com.