Rocky Romano, a Clarksburg City Council candidate, advocates for applying business principles to local government, emphasizing measurable goals, accountability, and results-driven leadership. He argues that city government should operate like a business, with clear performance indicators and consequences for failure, rather than relying on empty promises. Romano highlights the need for better public safety resources, particularly for firefighters who face outdated equipment and insufficient training budgets, and proposes creative solutions for addressing homelessness through work programs and partnerships with organizations like The Circle. He also emphasizes the importance of community engagement, including listening to frontline workers and maintaining community spaces like Staley Pool, which he believes are essential for preserving Clarksburg's identity and quality of life.
Rocky Romano Interview, Candidate for Clarksburg City Council, Meet the CandidateAjouté :
Hello, it's Gary Keith. Thank you for joining us tonight on Observer Live.
Joining us, we have candidate for city council, Rocky Romano. Is it junior?
>> Second.
>> Second.
>> Second.
>> Oh, man. I'll call you Junior. I'm second, too.
>> That's right. I don't I do not like the junior thing.
>> I should have looked that up before we started.
>> And then while we're starting, too, Gary, so this comes out all the time. I say my name the right way and most of my family says it the wrong way. Okay. I when I was 15 I went to Italy. So I gotta say this because some people might think I'm stuck up. It's Romano.
>> You're like Ray.
>> Yes.
>> Ray Romano.
>> But everyone's like the rest of your family doesn't say it like that. And I said well they say it the wrong way. So go to Italy and you'll get made fun of.
>> So I guess the best place for us to start is give me a little bit about who is Rocky. Obviously, we know your dad, great great county politician over the years, great friend of mine. Uh, I think he did an awesome job, everything he ever did. So, that's points for you right away. I got points for Do you get some points for me or >> Dad? I'll take it. I'll take it. He's a hustler and he's definitely a slave driver and a good treasuring campaign campaign manager. So, >> telling you what to do.
>> Oh, man. I just I had some other candidates and they're like, man, I wish I had a dad like that. He he wouldn't even let you sit down. I'm like, I can't even finish my dinner somewhere. And I'm like, dad, I talk to everybody. Just let me eat my food.
>> I was telling Rocky before we came on camera that his dad coached me when I was around magistrate and was telling me like, you know, where the hot dog sales were and things like that, you know, where to go get votes.
>> He's not even running and he doesn't miss anything. So, >> he would also give me crap when I wasn't somewhere. He's like, "Why weren't you in Wallace yesterday?" He's like, "Well, >> he's like, "Did you talk to everyone?" I said, "Yes, I talked to everybody. I always want to meet everybody." So, >> so tell me about you. I I I really don't even know Rocky. Like this is the first time we met. So >> yeah, >> let's get into your personal story here.
>> So um born and raised here in Clarksburg. Um graduate of RCB High School. I've always been interested, you know, in leadership, politics, um student body president there. Later went on to Wesley and took some leadership roles there. And then uh I thought about going into politics at like a very early age and you know decided like I just wanted real world experience and you know it was something to probably do like later in life. So I actually worked I won't say the name but for a congressman in uh DC for a six-month internship and really saw like >> the good, the bad, and the ugly. And one thing I'll say that was kind of crazy to me was, you know, when you you complain or you call in, they pretty much send you a form letter. So, I hate to tell everyone that like a 20-year-old was just sending you just a generic letter that was getting stamped. So, >> you know, it wasn't really how I dreamed the the process went.
>> And then from there, uh I moved away for a few years uh for a pharmaceutical job.
Got to come back here and and work at Target for 3 years as a manager and then was gone for almost 15 years. And I say that and I think that's important. I never wanted to move. So, I think I'm the perfect example of like some of the things you've talked about with some of the other candidates like there's just not if you're not a lawyer or in healthcare or working at the FBI, there's there's not a lot of highpaying jobs here. Government employee.
>> There we go. I mean, so, you know, I was fortunate enough through, you know, some business um things that I've done and through sales to come back here and um I've always been passionate. I've been involved with the Italian festival even when I lived away and still highly involved with America Conception where I go to church and just really felt, you know, the calling now after being back here for a couple years.
>> Me and you actually have a lot in common. So I moved away for 10 years and went to Raleigh, North Carolina.
>> You understand?
>> Manager at Walmart.
>> Hey. Oh wow. I see you. We're learning something together. So if you can survive retail, you can survive anything.
>> We have a a natural hate for each other.
Maybe you were a Target manager. I don't know. I actually started as a a operations manager at Kmart. That was my path. Wow. Yeah. So, I'm old school.
>> You probably know my uh my uncle Jeff Dquin's brother just passed away. Did you work with Tim?
>> I never worked anybody here.
>> Okay. Oh, it wasn't here when Okay.
Okay. Okay.
>> Now, now I worked at Walmart here. Uh I actually worked I was made it all the way to electronics department. Okay.
>> And I was like the top person in the electronics department. And like I think it was 98 or 99 they got super center of the year and I got a ring and that ring got me through so many doors in retail.
>> I remember I went to work for Kmart. I went down North Carolina. I walked in my first interview and I was like look at this super center of the year.
>> Well, I was going to say I think wasn't it the highest grossing Walmart in the entire country? I remember my dad telling me and I was like I bet those managers got some big bonuses. probably still would be if they didn't build Weston and Fairmont. You know, it was all that one time. It was all that.
>> So, let's not talk about retail. That's not what you're here for.
>> That's all right.
>> So, you originally planned to run for House of Delegates. I already know, but let's tell the people why you changed your mind about that.
>> Yeah. I mean, so after being back, I think, you know, people knew that I had a background. I had this internship. I always had like a calling and, you know, had taken leadership roles. And I had people approach me for a number of different things that they wanted me to run for and uh you know unhappy about a lot of things. And I think you know Gary you know a lot of things are a domino effect like the city can't fix everything. You know the city council only has so much power so much time and so much money. Um so after being back for a short amount of time we were blessed uh my wife became pregnant and then we found out it was twins. So, I did the math and I'm like, even if I win, they're going to be about 7 months old and I could be in Charleston for 2 or 3 months. And, you know, I've I've always, you know, been very busy, worked multiple jobs, but that was too much to ask of my wife to like actually not be home, you know, every evening.
>> I seriously considered running for that a couple times, too. And I just can't imagine going down there for that long.
>> It's a lot. I mean, you got a little kid and it's just it's hard. just they're not going to really understand like why is dad not home for you know weeks on in.
>> So we have kind of similar backgrounds which is funny but sounds like you were pretty successful in Virginia Beach.
Like that's such a cool place. I actually go on vacation there. Not many It seems like not very many people from West Virginia actually go to Virginia Beach which I think is weird. I love it.
I think it's spectacular.
>> Yeah. I It's crazy.
>> How the heck did you come back? That's the question. It's crazy, too. I'll I'll answer the first part first is, you know, it's clo I mean, Ocean City, Maryland is a little bit closer, but it's closer than Myrtle, and it's just so nice. So, we were we were on the we were on the bay. I didn't know anyone there. I went there for a medical device uh job for a cardiology company that I worked for that was great. And made some really good friends and we still still have them and still have a place there that we're renting out. And I I met my wife a month after she moved from DC there. So, uh, Virginia Beach was good to me and, um, it was actually my wife's idea to come back, not mine. And a lot of people don't know the story. And she grew up in Northern Virginia. So, I was like, you know what? Even if I ever had that idea, I was like, it's too much to ask her to come back here. And I think it was Thanksgiving around the time the last time my dad was running. And she was like, every time we go somewhere like you run into someone or someone's giving you a hug or these people I don't even know like have seen my picture on Facebook. and she was like, "I think it's just nice to like have that community." So, >> it's different.
>> She goes, >> "Let's think about moving back." So, just to show everyone the sense of urgency I act with. I'll give myself a little plug. In two weeks, we decided to move. There was a house in my parents' neighborhood that was up for Joe Pile auction. We got approved, decided to get it, closed on the house in two weeks, and now I'm back here. We have a weird amount of things in coffee. It's so weird because I did almost the same thing. The only difference I'll tell you is my dad uh I was just in visiting and we went to a job auction over on Elm Street and he bought me the house. He's like, "I want your big back. I'm buying this house." It was like a great deal.
It was one of those deals where like nobody showed up.
>> Joe pile auctions are never like that now. They're >> now mine was not.
>> Yeah, they're competitive now.
>> I probably paid a premium. It probably would have been cheaper to buy through real estate agent. This one there was like three people there and my dad's crazy. He's bought multiple houses at auctions. He's like, I'm buying this.
>> Hey, I'm I'm a big auction guy, so my wife gets mad at me sometimes, but I I get some good deals. So, you know, you got to be thrifty these days.
>> Well, that's the thing. You know, if you're there at the right time, you can make a lot of money.
>> It was more fun when I was younger. I don't know if you ever went to the estate sales in person.
>> Yes.
>> That was like you could get great deals.
Now that it's online and the apps, like the prices are like really, really high.
>> Sometimes it was good and sometimes it wasn't. We actually used to go Joe Pal used to do all theirs the armory at one time. I remember those armory and sell the house separate. I remember >> we went to some there. You know, sometimes it'd be really everything was cheap and then sometimes everyone was competitive and they'd be selling like broken toasters for like $30.
>> There's certain things like I mean any auction where there's guns, it's like everything even stuff that's not a gun is like through the roof. Yes.
>> Gold coins, people are going to go crazy. under.
>> So, you obviously had like an emotional and family connections and things like that. Uh, so what we're kind of getting into the Clarksburg stuff here. What makes Clarksburg worth returning to?
>> I mean, I don't want to sound cliche, but I mean, it really is the people.
Like, cuz let's face it, if I'm being honest, I mean, I had 10 breweries within walking distance of my house on the Chesapeake Bay. I had the beach and the sand there. And I'm not saying that to gloat. It's just it's still not the same. And I I know I'm probably blessed cuz it's different and I don't think that every resident in Clarksburg has it having a big family and I've I've been involved myself for a number of years, but it's just nice to be able to go and run into people that you care about where like I knew a lot of people in Virginia Beach, but like I could be invisible if I wanted to and I can't hear. Sometimes that's good, sometimes that's bad. So, I don't know.
>> Right. You definitely can't be invisible here. Like you just said, uh my wife was actually at Sam's the other day and I have like 3,000 Facebook friends. So, she's going through Sam's. I'm not even with her. And this lady sees Mason. He's like, "Oh, you're Gary Kea. I can't believe somebody noticed you from pictures." It's like this woman, she's like, "This woman started talking to me.
She told me to say hello to you." He's like she recognized him on Facebook.
That's crazy.
>> Listen, you're talking about having stuff in common. I don't know if it was like one of my parents' friends, but literally this person like goes names my sevenweek old twins like how Santiago and Stallone. I have no I still don't know who this woman is. I still have no clue. No clue. I told my wife I was like I guess our twins are famous. Total strangers coming up to me asking about >> people remember twins too. I mean there's not very many twins. So that's >> I was like I was like they're definitely going to be the Romano twins. They're just going to be famous.
>> So you worked in healthcare operations, business development, management. uh like is it a combination of all or which one of those prepares you best for city council?
>> I think it's a combination of all. I mean, especially the sales jobs, you know, that I've had recently.
>> Um it's that drive for results. Like it's a high stress job. You know, you're you're working off a quota.
>> You have, you know, KPIs, key performance indicators, and if I hit it, I make a lot of money. If I don't, I get fired. You know, I said it some of the meet the candidates. So, I think some of that should be replicated and it should be replicated if I win as a as a um councilman. You know, if I'm not hitting those key performance indicators, then you get rid of me, you know, and it should be for supervisors, etc. And just holding everybody accountable.
>> You're not going to like government rocky.
>> I can already tell you, you're too much like me because I totally acted like a retail manager when I started there. The first thing I did in the first couple weeks that I was there, I got a notepad and walked all the way down Main and Pike and wrote down everything that needed fixed just like I just like I would in a Walmart.
>> Managers, you have to mad at me. You have to do your rounds. I don't I don't see anything wrong with it.
>> I made a list. It was great. And >> but like how do you you have >> and you're talking about like performance indicators.
>> You have to know >> so many floaters, >> you know?
>> There really is. I don't even know. I don't even know like where to start with everything, but you know, I'll I'll start with um I because I brought it up in one of the meet the candidates. You know, the city's the city's plan and it's been joked about that, oh, you know, we spent this money on it, we didn't use it, but like you have to have a gauge like and I want a progress bar and I was thinking about it the other night like you know, United Way has their little like thing they do for fundraising. Like how do we know where we're at? Like it's very easy for myself running or any of the incumbents or anyone on council or any politician for that matter to say, "Oh, we're working on this." At the end of the day, nobody cares. People want to know like, "Show me what happened. Show me what you've done. And show me results." Like talk is cheap.
>> And there are things that I was very passionate about, they're still working on right now.
>> Yeah. I mean, and listen, I'm not faulting anyone that's on there right now. You know, more than anyone, Gary, like it takes four votes. I can collaborate and work with anyone. I just want to like hold >> people accountable. And you know, the other thing too is like I was saying before we started, you know, on air is everything is not it's too big for even Clarksburg. So I've made a point at every event I've been at, not just our delegates, our senators, Republican, Democrat, but even our US representatives that have been there, like telling them like you're not going to forget Clarksburg cuz at the end of the day, we need state money. Like you've talked to some of the people that were here and like there's certain numbers I've got from talking to people.
I think there's $750 million of the opioid money.
>> Is there still that much?
>> Yes.
>> That's why I I just talked about that with Jackson last night actually. Like that money has to be somewhere cuz I knew how much we got >> and it sure hasn't come to Harrison County.
>> I mean I I went to school for a long time. I'm not a rocket scientist but even the interest on $750 million if you gave it to every single city in West Virginia that's still a huge chunk of money.
earning 4%. You're like, that's so much money.
>> We got a ton of the ARPA money, too. And you know, Clarksburg got a big piece of that and they still have a lot of it. I think I don't think they have to spend it all until 29.
>> Yeah, I've asked a lot of questions. The last number I got was I think we have $800 $850,000.
>> I thought it was more than that.
>> So, >> okay.
>> I don't know. It was OP. There's so many acronyms. So, >> there are there are a lot of Well, because we got COVID money and then we got >> infrastructure money and then we got opioid money. And I think we haven't even got all the op opioid money yet.
>> I believe how it's structured is they only give out so much. And I'm not sure and I need to do more research on like who on the state level is controlling that. And that's like the other thing I said too, and I don't want to, you know, I I was told I was hard on certain people at some of the events that I went to. I won't mention any names, but like what I want to do is have all of these delegates once a year if I'm elected council to come and I'm going to ask them one question. What did you do and what money did you bring to Clarksburg?
>> The way that district 70 especially is set up now. I don't care who wins it. Uh you got four people running for it.
They're all pretty good. I think uh whoever wins that like the last one was not great uh but I think we should try to almost integrate that person into council. I mean nothing against Nutter Fort but it's mostly a Clarksburg seat like they should have a chair there over on where the police sit or something. Like just give them a chair and put a thing there and tell them they're expected to be there. If they don't show up they'll look bad and their name plate will be there and if they don't show up it's like oh where they at? I think one of the things that hurt us and we lost some really good candidates is when they did the redistricting or whatever you want to call it where like it was better when we just had five and you could vote and it didn't matter you know where you lived.
kind of agree. But I like having that attached person because they know if you have the right person, but it's not when we've had some of these people who just, you know, >> but just like I talked about with Jackson last night about what about when we had R.
>> Hey, Mike says it.
>> What about when we had Mike and Tim Miley in there? I mean, that was a whole different ball game. Like, we got what we wanted then. Like, we were >> we were running the show at that time, you know? felt Harrison County was up here. We weren't. You know, >> hey, you have to know who to call. And you know, I tell everyone like there's a lot of good candidates right now. I think one skill set is I do talk to a lot of people and I know who to call.
Like, and I think sometimes that's it's not the smartest person. It's not the person who's the most aggressive or the loudest. It's like, >> do you know who to call? Do you know who the right person is to make stuff happen?
>> It's not always like calling the government. It might be calling the head of the DO garage.
And it might be and and honestly it might not be the supervisor. It might be the secretary that's been there for 40 years who really knows who to call and who has you know who has the power.
>> There are always people that can get things done.
>> You know, >> amen to that.
>> Who who are they is the question.
Hopefully you're related to someone.
>> So you've already managed large budgets and teams and things like that. Uh what bad habits do governments have that businesses can't afford? So you already know how to avoid I just think you can't operate at a loss. Um, so I think it's really just like trimming the fat. Um, and I haven't, you know, I'm not privy to everything yet. Obviously, hopefully I win and I can see everything and you don't know. My grandma always say you, you don't know what happens behind closed doors. So, I'm not judging anything or anyone until I get in there.
But, I think really just operating it like a business, you know, and if someone's not performing, you get rid of them. If something is wasteful spending, then you get rid of it and you use that money for things that would help and benefit the city.
>> I'll tell you what, Rocky, I'll be your Paul Harvey, okay? Cuz I have a memory like an elephant and I remember everything and know a lot about the city. So, if you want the rest of the story, hopefully I don't have too young a crowd. That wasn't a that probably a bad reference.
>> I probably went over a lot of people's heads there. I mean, >> so the rest of the story, you text me and I'll give it to you. Well, we we >> I had to take a lot of history classes.
>> We'll text on Snapchat or something so it disappears.
>> Sounds good. Sounds good. Sounds good.
>> So, getting into public safety, you kind of headed that direction a little bit there.
>> Uh I saw the fire fighters endorsed you, which actually surprised me a little bit.
>> Yeah. uh just because you're kind of a newcomer. I'd say that probably was probably they must know you personally somebody there because they usually kind of go with incumbents which was just kind of funny to me. So police and firefighters like is it just because you've been answering the right questions like how'd you get in there?
>> Um I think one thing was a lot of not everyone came to the meeting that the um city workers had and the firefighters.
They gave us a questionnaire and you know I was honest. I did my research and uh I do know some of the firefighters and I just asked them questions, you know, kind of like what's bothering them and some of the stuff to me was like common sense. The police seem to be a little bit more content and you're more connected to that than than I am, but the firefighters are are not happy right now. Uh you know, I was >> Well, they have that whole stupid lawsuit going on and I hope that's over soon.
>> Yeah, I I do too. And you know, the crazy thing though, Gary, is that's not what they were bringing up. I mean, some of it was like pay parody with the police, but a couple things I've learned and like, you know, that are really going to be and I I told them I am going to stand up for you. They haven't had anything where like they're going I want to talk to like the boots on the ground in front of council like the chief is there but they're not there. So, couple things they brought up to me. They have a lot of outdated equipment and their actual uniforms. But then some folks that I've talked to are like, "Oh, you know, we obviously support them." And I'm like, "All right, well, 2 plus 2 isn't equaling four here." And then another huge thing, and I'm like, "This doesn't sound right." And I don't know the exact numbers, but I was told that Bridgeport has a training budget three times greater than Clarksburg.
>> And Clarksburg does not have a um safety officer >> anymore. And we're one of the only ones.
There's someone that's supposed to be completely done for safety and training.
>> Huh. Well, listen.
>> So, there's so many things that came up.
I don't remember the acronym, too, but there's like a a federal guideline of how many people are supposed to be on shift. And, you know, from being retail, like we talked about, like your Yeah.
your overhead is so high, right? But we're operating lower. So, like, god forbid something would happen, like the city's going to be liable. You're going to have a good attorney. And I worry about, you know, we still have my grandmother's house in Glenn Elk. You have a Glenn Elk. You have a Staley. you have a north view and there's a big fire like I mean thank god it rained tonight they just had the fire in Locust you know but like in one of these bigger neighborhoods we're all in trouble >> and let me tell you when I was on council actually we greatly increased how many guys we had it used to be much much worse >> so what they had told me >> because Harry loved fire >> I think I think the count is where it needs to be but there's not enough people per shift and I don't know how the math works and I'm not like privy to that but I mean I think when you to answer to go back to your question like they endorse me because I get a little too passionate a little too angry. I think you do too sometimes from what I've seen way too much >> and uh you know I just ask a lot of questions and it's not it's not you know saying that anyone's doing a bad job but like when you have these people who put their lives at risk and like I'm very close with my family. I'm close with some of the firefighters and I think like my gosh, if something would happen to them, you know, they leave their kids without a father, without a mother, like we need to protect those folks and if there's not enough money too, like I'll use some of my skill sets if people decide to elect me and even if I'm not like that I've done for the Italian Festival and other nonprofits. I was thinking the other day like there's so much money at the um Hollyball for, you know, United Hospital Center for the hospital. I'm like it's nice but the hospital already has money. I'm like, why couldn't we just do one of these fancy events and get huge companies like Steu and Johnson to write these big checks and we could easily raise a million dollars for our firefighters, I bet through private money even. So, like there's always a way.
>> Wow, that's interesting thinking. Uh, yeah, I was I know they probably hated it when I left council because I always had the attitude just give them what they want.
And it was hard for me to get people to vote with me sometimes. And even public works like I was not a good I was probably not the best budget guy. Uh but they really got screwed over the years.
I mean I don't know if you know but we just recently got them >> from the time I was there to now some of these guys did it this last council three new trucks like before that >> and the people I've tal about that but there's still like other things. So I like question too when you see and I'm not talking about the people I'm running against like all of council everyone's saying like they support they support they support they support and I'm like well why am I hearing that you don't h they don't have what they need like so sometimes you and that's what I say you know I've been at these things like putting the feet to the fire I'm going to be like well you said that but I'm talking to the actual boots on the ground and they're telling me they don't have what they need so there's a breakdown somewhere >> it's it's because some people are all about the budget and You know, when every single person you talk to, public safety is the number one thing they bring up. I don't know. We got to cut the budget somewhere.
>> I mean, if my house is on fire, if my kids drowning in the Elk Creek, who's coming? The firefighters are coming.
>> Just like uh when I first got on council, we had like 20ome cops and we didn't have a K-9 unit. We had nobody on the drug task force. It was like it was all about the budget and it just had went to hell at one point, you know.
>> There's other ways to cut. There's other ways to cut. Yeah, >> like cut administrative. Don't cut the firemen.
>> Thank God for chief. Yes.
>> You know, he's >> we have some really good We have some really good people >> and the fire department's spectacular. I I hate to be like of the attitude of giving whatever they want, but >> maybe not whatever they want.
>> I mean, everybody everybody, myself included, if I'm on council, like you should have oversight.
>> You can't be stupid about it.
>> Within reason, for sure.
>> I I hate to ever hear them asking for like something like air packs. like my god really like we're really making them ask for that.
>> It was just like someone was like we have some really old uniforms and I'm like okay like I understand maybe we don't need to maybe we could buy the the midtier truck and not the most expensive one but like some of those things like okay you should probably have a new helmet.
>> So I had like two more questions and we kind of went through all of them there.
So what public safety issue do you think city leadership kind of underestimates?
Did we cover that? I don't know. Um, >> I kind of lost my own train of thought there.
>> I think we did with that. I mean, it's really I think like you said that the the police officers, everyone's doing a good job. The firefighters are. I just think it's making sure that they have what they need. It seems like there's some breakdowns. And, you know, maybe that's not even ill will against anyone.
That could just be communication errors.
And, you know, that's why I'm saying like I want to hear from the boots on the ground, not just the top at every level. Same thing with the the city workers. You know, you'll get a different thing if you talk to the boss verse the the person.
>> You'll probably get a different thing for every person you talk to.
>> Yeah, that's probably really true.
Especi Especially in Clarksburg.
>> Yeah. And but I do think it's awesome that they endorsed you. I mean, that's a big deal.
>> No, I was I was very >> The city workers could almost win you an election.
>> I was very >> Don't forget public works either. Go there, talk to those.
>> No, I I I did. And there there wasn't a ton of them that were there. And you know, they voiced some of the other uh concern. I don't know if you know my little brother. My brother Willie worked there for like a decade. So >> Oh yeah, I do.
>> Um so he's Yep. So um I know a lot of those guys and I went to school with a bunch of them. So I mean it's they have their own things that they're concerned about and I've told them the same thing like everyone deserves a voice and you'll have it if I'm there. I might not always say yes. They might not be able to get four other councilmen to agree with me, but I'm going to at least hear you out, >> right? I mean that's the right attitude to have. So, we already kind of touched on the opioid settlement money. Um, and you knew the amount, and it's actually much less than I thought it was. That actually makes me kind of sad.
>> Um, so right.
>> What do you think that should be used for? Yeah, I thought it was I thought it was 2 million.
>> I've got a lot of and I want to spend some time on this. I think it's really important. There's so many different things to do. Um, and what I've tried to do, I've gone with um some other candidates, not city council, to uh the circle. Have you ever heard of the program?
>> I have.
>> So, the circle was really nice. I got invited to go to go there and I saw >> Is that local now?
>> Yeah. So, they have the chapter at um I don't want to say the wrong It's the I think it's the baptist church, the big one that's by the pretty one that's by the parking garage.
>> Okay.
>> So, they do it a few United Methodist.
>> Yeah. First, sorry for a few times a week. So sorry to everyone's go. So that church is a beautiful church.
>> Methodist and Baptist. I don't think they're that far. They're not poor or anything. You're good.
>> Thanks. Thanks for letting them do that.
But no, I mean, so they gave a free lunch. They don't care if someone's rich or poor, you know. I sat in there and I didn't talk to the executive that uh Michaela that runs it. I just sat in there and there's a lot of folks that are homeless. There's a lot of people that are on drugs there and I learned a lot. Um, you know, I think it came up, you know, when you were talking to Jackson. I didn't know that there was no uh men's sober living facility. So, I've learned a lot. My sister >> Are we sure that's true? Cuz Jackson said that, too. And I thought there was.
>> Yeah. So, >> I thought the one by Notre Dame was.
>> So, my sister is actually the CEO. That one is uh the Phoenix Recovery House.
So, my sister's been on the board. Uh, a couple of her a couple of her really good friends have have been involved with that for a long time. And that that has been really successful. And at the end of the day, nobody wants those things close to them. I go to Mac Conception Church and I remember everyone around there was like, "We don't want this." And I'm not saying to put these to put these in the community, but it was an uproar. I mean, that was an uproar.
>> Yeah. They were very mad.
>> But I mean, I think >> but you know what, looking back, >> uh, even me being a 911 dispatcher, I hear nothing about that.
>> Yeah. I mean, it's quiet.
>> They're so productive. So, I think that, you know, it's a choice. some people that are down on their luck because of drugs. It's a choice. And when I've talked to other people on council, people running other politicians, you've lived in, you said you were in Raleigh, right, Gary? I mean, I feel like people that don't get out of Clarksburg, like we really don't have a homeless situation. In my opinion, it's nothing compared. There's some unhoused. We have >> Yeah. I mean, it's it's it's it's crazy.
>> I talked about that with somebody that I did an interview with. I don't know.
>> I probably watched that.
across the bridge when you get off that first exit. There's tents.
>> I feel like people would be like, man, we actually have it pretty well. But I think it's more of a drug problem. And I'm not someone that's um you know, give give give government funds. I'd like to see and I was talking to a buddy like and there's different legal issues you have with it but do like more work programs like if we would have some sort of like housing situation you know where it was like a sober living like you need to work to pay for it you know we always talk about cost why can't those guys work for the city parks and mow the grass around the VA trail >> thinking so like you earn your keep for it I mean we had it we had it during the great depression I'm a history, political science guy. FDR is one of my favorite presidents. And I'm like, why can't we have one of these work programs?
>> Somebody just posted the other day that one of our bridges, I think they were talking about the Gulf Plaza Bridge, was built by one of those >> Yeah.
>> projects.
>> Yeah. I mean, people don't realize I mean, it's kind of like it's kind of faded away. So, sorry I went on a tangent there, but I think it's that money need that money needs to be, you know, really used wisely. And I think people will need we I'd like to see I'm not a grant writer. Uh I'm good a good speaker. I'd like to think sometimes I'm don't have the best grammar, but my sister I think just got a huge grant for the Phoenix Recovery House. So that money is out there. It doesn't even have to come from Clarksburg's budget cuz that's going to go really quick. So I would just like to see kind of out of the box thinking and we need to really partner. I've already, you know, talked about the legislators but with the county too. So with no one wanting it, like in my mind, a a big kind of crazy idea my dad and I have talked about for a long time is maybe on the edge of a c the county you have kind of a facility where it's like a drug rehab and you have like trainings for mechanics, HVAC contractors because if you are an addict >> and you get clean but then you can't get a job and you have kids, >> you're just going to repeat the cycle.
You're a father. I'm a father, Gary. you are not going to let your child start.
You're 100% right. You have to find some way to create like creative solutions.
And I want to see the money wisely. And then, you know, I hate when people come back and there's always like uh I'm I'm a solutionoriented person. They'll say, "Well, how? They can't get out there."
And I'm like, "Well, we have Centra Bus." And they say, "Well, Centra Bus doesn't go there." And I'm like, "Well, let's make them go there." Like, it's it's like I makes my head want to explode sometimes. I'll tell you a behind the music secret that not very many people know. We tried when I was on council two different times to buy uh pieces of property.
>> Okay.
>> And people found out that we wanted to do something like that and stopped us both times. We tried to buy the Salem Armory and there was a >> I think I heard that would have been that would >> and there was a like some kind of kids home out there that closed too. I forget what it was called but it was out in that area too. But maybe even it's in town out like find a farm that nothing's around.
>> See, that's kind of what that was.
>> So nobody so nobody can complain. But I mean, >> we tried that twice though. We tried to keep it quiet.
>> There's there but there's small things for the money. So I'll give you an example.
>> My sister said some of the ladies at Phoenix Recovery House, you know, they're totally clean. Some of them don't even have records, but it's hard to get a job other than maybe like some of the fast food in East Point.
>> Sure.
>> I don't know the exact times, but I think Centra stops running at 6. That's right.
>> So, if they're taking a closing shift at one of these places and it's 11 to get home, >> if you're making minimum wage, you're spending 2 hours of your earnings on an Uber. Now, mind you, I think we only have three Uber drivers in Clarksburg cuz every time I've called, I've got the same guy, but that's a whole different story.
>> I didn't know we had one.
>> We do. We do. I should remember his name because I think I've had the same guy every time. So, that's probably what I miss the most about Virginia Beaches, some public transportation, Uber options. So, Transportation is definitely different in bigger city.
Definitely different. So, what do you think should happen with um getting into something a little different here?
Nuisance properties, abandoned houses.
So, you know, there's two big schools of thought with demolition or trying to fix housing to make economic housing. So, which which boat are you on here?
>> I think it just needs to be fair. Like, I know that they're trying to update the codes right now. Um, I've talked to uh the city manager and some other folks.
There's some number that was crazy to me, Gary, and I don't know where it was coming from. I'm guessing it's like the fees, etc. Clarksburg is owed over $6 million right now. So, and I was like, it continues to go up.
>> I'm like, well, I don't I don't understand this. And I think a lot of you know this, but a lot of people don't do research. They can't collect it because all of these people are out of state folks and they never sell or they'll will it to their children. So, >> so they put stuff in LLC's.
>> Yeah. I mean, one option and it was I it was I have to give Tiffany the city manager credit for this was she showed it to me and there's legislation to get basically we would pay the county 1% to kind of process everything and go through the assessor, go through the sheriff to collect and it's so much money. And then I was shocked when I had asked I think I'd asked a couple of the current councilmen. I'm like, "Have you gone to and they said that they did go to I'm not going to name any names to some of the legislators and they said I can't get that passed." And I'm like that that's the stuff that makes my blood boil because I myself will take my own time, time off of work, away from my business and go and I know how to do it and lobby not just our legislators but everybody. You're not raising taxes. So, why would you not want to pass that and give that $6 million back to the city?
And I think that I'm going to give myself credit here. I don't hear anyone else talking about things like this, and it's making me crazy right now.
>> We're not even like halfway through this. And you've probably already won me over because you're so in-depth right now. And this is what I'm asking people for. Like, I feel like I just want some depth and nobody will give it to me.
You're so in-depth right now.
>> So, kind that angry Italian side with everything. Well, like I said, we have a lot in common. I feel like I'm listening to myself right now. This is spectacular.
So, going through your campaign stuff, you mentioned losing places like Staley Pool and the YMCA.
Um, like what what do you think these places mean to the city and how's that changed us? You know, >> I mean, it's it's it's really hurt us.
Like, I feel like we've lost identity and you know, if I don't have the answer, I'll say it. Like, I don't know how to fix that. you know, we've lost a population decline, but I mean, as a kid, you know, we were out of the city for a little bit and we would go to Quiet Dell, but I think for over 10 years, I coached at Sale Pool. I had I had 85 kids at one point on our swim our undefeated swim team. Give props to myself and Natal and Ardelli and Mel Springer, the coaches there. But, um, it was just like a magical place. And you know, when I was living away and I found out the board had to close it and there was crazy stuff. You probably know the back side of the road was going over.
>> Well, let me tell you, uh, the last day it was open, if you go back and find the news story, you will hear my voice on the 911 call when the fireworks fell over and people stamped.
>> So, yes, I was very, very involved, >> you know. So, you know, >> that'll be my voice on the WBO, >> you know. But, I mean, I don't know. I'm like sometimes I wonder like did I just have this like charm child? I didn't grow up rich by any means. You know, my parents were struggling. I was the oldest one in my family, but like I just had all these good memories there. And same thing like I worked from a young age. I I started working at the YMCA when I was 15. And like the Y was like a hopping in place. We had like the Duggar dance. We I made great and it was an easy job. I would lifeguard during water. Like none of my friends wanted the 6 a.m. shift on Saturday and I was always money hungry. So I'm like, "Oh yeah, it's all it is is water aerobics ladies and they bring me food and some lap swimmers." But I mean, I think that we just have to think outside of the box. And I know a lot of people are like against the why and I I appreciate we have business people like Kyle Green able to put some money back into it, but like whatever it is, like we don't have anything. And we all complain about, you know, kids getting in trouble. Well, like they have to have something to do.
Like I don't I don't know. And you have to spend money for that. And a lot of people don't want to. They say it's like a waste of their tax dollars. But like I don't know. I'd probably say back in the day this area of Sale where you're in was probably hopping and there probably were block parties and everybody probably knew everybody. But I would say half >> was a rich neighborhood at one time.
>> Half the people in the street like they don't know anyone.
>> Yeah.
>> It's it's >> I mean honestly I know a few people but >> people are just different today. I mean, I know half of my neighborhood, but it's they're my relatives. I had a big family.
>> I mean, I know who people are, but >> but I mean, even like the older neighborhoods, so you know, my grandma got sick. I moved in with my non- Gene and Glenn Elk when I was a freshman in high school. So, we were always there.
So, I still always consider Glenn Elk my my home neighborhood. Oh, >> I knew every person there.
>> You're really old school.
>> And when I say every person, Gary, I knew the homeless people by name. Like, everyone just knew everyone. Everyone watched out for everybody. and you were porch talking and we just we don't have that and that's the part that makes me very sad and I think you can only get that back by having these like community hubs and having things to get together.
Yeah. I mean the big organizations and things like I do with the Italian festival is great but like it doesn't have to be that big and that much money just like I know a couple people's interviews you talked about like the wine and cheese thing that Kathy going >> I loved it. We need we can there's like a go.
>> Yes. Yeah. Absolutely. I mean there could be smallcale things like that where you just maybe have local bands and maybe the city cut gives everyone a couple hundred bucks to like come and play or whatever the I don't even know the going rate for a band right now, but just some event and there's ways to make money out of it. I'm not saying just like frivolously spend the city's money, but we need to get together and like all of these nonprofits need to raise money.
So like I'm fine. It's a skill of mine to like work with people to help them get some of these sponsorships. People are willing to donate to causes that they are um appreciative of, >> right? I mean, Kathy did an amazing job fixing up. It's actually the BNS property, but they fixed that whole grassy area at the end of fourth. It was beautiful. It was such a nice little fix.
>> I mean, >> and lots of people had to be something.
>> We talk about community. I mean, like in a perfect world, I love going and uh going to uh Woolies and getting my fish and cheeses and the strip district and going to the cigar bar. I rent a space, my wife and I do right now from Jean Pop and his big building up from the bakery.
So, I'm still over there every day for our business. I'd love to see Glenn El Turnin, not just a little Italy, like a strip district. like how we have the traffic from 50 and 79, but all of those people from the counties that don't have as much activity as us, like the Dodgers counties and even further out, they just go to East Point. And I understand that's BNO revenue for us, but like how do we get those people? And I want to work with the visitors bureau, use my sales and marketing skills to like we're not marketing Clarksburg. We're not like my I mentioned his name early, but my my uncle Jeff does connect Bridgeport like your uncle. Yeah, >> it's like my idol.
>> He's He's married He's married to my dad's sister Valerie. My aunt Valerie.
>> She's like my idol, too. You know, I'm trying to become a Fraser right now.
>> Oh. Oh, hey, I didn't know that. She's Hey, it's a good It's a good job. She's been She's been She's been doing it for a number of years. But I mean, they do so much and their their readership is crazy through Connect Bridgeport. And I'm like, it's actually making money for the city and for the visitors bureau.
And I'm like, I I don't understand there. Our population is higher. Like, we're just missing the boat on a lot of things. I just have a lot of questions for a lot of people.
>> So, when I first started my news and observer site, I was totally like uh stealing off of him. I I was connects for a while and then I started getting really big and I was like, he's probably going to get mad at me. I probably should change that name. So, you know, actually, because I work in Raleigh all that time, the News and Observer is there. So, >> I forgot about that. I've seen I've actually seen that. I've actually seen that.
>> So, it's funny you brought up bands, too. Just so you know, I just joined a band and I'm >> I was going to ask you on Facebook. I was like, is he serious or it's real and it's professional? 10X Outlaws.
>> I'm jealous. So, >> yeah, we're probably going to be coming to the Titan Festival board looking for a place.
>> Hey, we'll see. We'll see. Hey, it's been a while. I took uh I took lessons from Pam Crawl back in the day, so I can carry it to him, but it's been a while.
>> If you can get us in the best pool, I'll let you come up and sing a song with me.
>> Hey, there we go. There we go. There we go.
>> So, what uh I don't even remember if we talked about this question, but uh you started talking about Glenn Elk and you came up with something I'm very passionate about. I didn't grow up in Glenn Elk. I grew up in Adamston, but I love Glenn Elk. I think it's spectacular. I don't know if you know, I two buildings over there, like five other lots. I do.
>> And it's such a missed opportunity. I'll tell you what, uh before the last round of uh what do they call it when they got rid of Liberty uh >> the school consolidation?
>> Jerry worked really hard trying to get them to tear down the Parsons and build a school there because >> I know that I didn't know.
>> Would that have fixed Glow overnight?
And think of the access.
>> It would have been a lot of traffic. You do have a lot of access over there. It's funny that you say that though because I mean it's I'm sure it's probably past repair. There was a beautiful bar in there in Glennel Garden. I don't know if you ever went to a wedding there. It was like the most I'm wondering I'm wonder I'm wondering if it's still there >> for after co after college before I got my first job with uh Eli Lily. I was working for Philip again for a couple months and I really think losing >> Oh, you worked there?
>> Yeah. My sister and I did for a little bit.
>> Okay. Henry was my uncle. I didn't do that.
>> Yeah. No, I didn't that I didn't that I did not know. So I did a lot of lot of chocolate covered strawberries there.
But I think when Philip left that was that last like big kind of heartbeat of Glenn Elk and no weddings over there for decades until the Morris right at my wedding came back over.
>> Oh, did you? Yeah.
>> Cool. Very cool.
>> The uh but it's just that one was that was a blow. That was a serious serious blow.
>> Yeah.
>> And I hope I was hoping maybe the Robinson Graham would kind of like bring things back. My brother and and his wife and children lived in my grandmother's house and we still have it and I can't let it go. We can't let it go cuz there's just so much heartstring over there. But, you know, for a variety of different reasons that you're aware of, like has just not been able to recover.
And thankfully, there are people like yourself and the papas that are putting money into it, but like it needs more love.
>> I really thought when the mission cleaned up their act, it would get better and it just really hasn't done anything. At least it's not bad like it used to be, but it's just kind of dormant right now. It's just sitting there.
>> Yeah. You don't have as many vagrants.
But I think a lot of the business owners, I've even had people that, you know, I'm not super close with that know that I'm running who have approached me that are on the other side of the four street bridge saying like, I want it moved. I don't know what the answer is.
You know, I as far as >> the LA Yeah. The last >> I see. I have no problem with the mission.
>> Yeah. I mean, the last I heard it seems I know a lot of people on the board there. I think that they're only doing veterans now um for h for housing there.
>> They have two programs. They have the veterans program and then they also have a faith-based program that uh people can't just come in off the street. They have to agree and they check them for drugs and stuff like that.
>> And I don't really hear there's a couple times you hear some crazy people yelling, but I mean I'm there every day.
I don't either. I walk down and I get pepperoni rolls for lunch or I go to bees or I walk over to the Mexican restaurant or go down to Mary Kay's like I'm staying over there all the time and I don't really see anything bad other than some of the folks that aren't taking care of the houses or renters and >> well I'll tell you nothing against the person I sold it to but I sold that house on the corner of right down from the Morris on the corner of Clark and >> I know which one you're talking about >> that's where my real estate office was and I wish I had never sold it. It was a mistake.
>> That's a good spot. So, >> it was such a nice house. I don't know why I got >> Man's house is on Wine Street, you know, going closer to to Gourmet Catering and it just I don't know. You just see the changes over time and I think it's cuz some of those houses are so close together. And I don't know the answer.
And like something else, you know, there's a lot of things I I one thing I forgot to tell you, Gary, is I know it was like real controversial and I can't remember where you stood was the camping ban.
>> Yeah.
>> So, I made everybody mad over that. Did you support it or not? I can't. I thought you did. I thought you did. So, I can see the benefits kind of either way. One thing I learned when I went to the the circle though was >> and I read through some of the notes from those past meetings saying that like there was supposed to be like a warning I guess. So, I found out that if they get that misdemeanor, they can't get HUD housing for 3 years. And I just found this out. So, the folks that are running that program >> was ours even a misdemeanor though. I thought it was a just ordinance.
>> I was told it was a misdemeanor from the folks that were running that agency. So then what they told me was that's some of these folks are clean, you know, and they just could be homeless. Not everyone that's homeless, you know, this is a drug addict.
>> So, but that's preventing them from getting that HUD voucher for 3 years.
And then I also found out and I was like, some of the stuff kind of blew my mind was that we have more folks with HUD vouchers than we even have HUD housing right now. So, I'm like, maybe we need to I'm not saying change the camping ban, but like we need to re-evaluate this if we are preventing, you know, families that are just maybe down on their luck from getting a government program that's not even costing us money because we gave them a minor misdemeanor. I don't know what the answer is, but I hated to hear that maybe somebody just got maybe they slept in their car for one night and got this misdemeanor. I I don't know. So, this is what I heard through the grave.
I want to talk and I want to talk to the police and I want to talk to the folks on council and come up with a solution for that cuz we should take, you know, take advantage of of HUD and help these folks, especially if it's federal money that's not even coming out of our budget.
>> I'll tell you the secret about the camping ban. I don't think any people who would be in that category probably will watch my show, but it's really more of an intimidation thing than anything.
It would never stand up if it was challenged hard enough.
>> I I listen, I don't know. I I know a lot of attorneys and I'm I'm related to some.
>> It's not illegal to be homeless.
>> I just I would and like we talked about there's not really that many homeless.
So I just hated I hated to hear that that misdemeanor if that's true is c preventing someone from taking advantage of the HUD program for 3 years because the other flip side >> we want them off the street. I mean if we can put them in a house that's spectacular.
>> And like not everyone's bad. Like people talk about some lords and I know you're you're into real estate. We just talked about it, but like there are good people and there are people who would accept HUD vouchers, you know, on certain properties in certain places.
>> I personally never use the term slum slum lord. I don't use it.
>> A lot of people don't like it.
>> Well, just from being a real estate agent, it's a bad look. Uh >> it hurts everybody. Even if uh I don't like an apartment complex or something like that, you won't hear me use that term because that person might call me to list it someday. And then I'm going to be happy to >> I'm going to be the marketer that I can sell anything.
>> I can sell anything including that bad apartment building.
>> When we talk about sales though too, man, I think that that's one thing when we're comparing oursel to our surrounding cities. You know, an advantage of Bridgeport. Yes, it could change people's taxes is like I want my property value to be higher. Like that helps everybody. Like our square footage property value is so much lower than Bridgeport and there's we could change that.
>> And we've actually done well over the years if you actually look at just the numbers uh better than I would expect.
The numbers actually don't make sense. I don't know if you ever had this conversation with Valerie, but uh we've actually done well over the years. like it's continued to go up. Shockingly, like even, you know, 2007 and 8 when everything went crazy, didn't really hurt us that bad. Like we never we never had a huge dip, but I don't know if we can stay that lucky forever.
>> Yeah. I mean, I think it's hard to like I saw there was a couple um like big homes and I have some cousins looking like I know the can home on Main Street and I'm like you have these beautiful five bedroomedroom houses and I'm like someone got that for a steal. Like it's crazy with that kind of square footage like what you can get properties for.
>> Right. And real estate in Clarksburg is weird too.
>> Makes no sense.
>> You can't really go by the square footage.
>> No. No.
>> Because we have these houses that sell for 20, 30, 40,000. But then like a couple years ago, a super nice house I listed on Musgrave Street sold for a crazy amount of money in like two days.
Like if a nice one comes up, totally different ball game.
>> There's there's no rhyme nor reason.
>> Yeah. Totally different ball game. Like if a nice house comes it we're I'm telling you I hope people don't disagree with me and question my real estate skills here but if it's a really nice house and it's been kept updated you can follow right on with those brick for >> but I mean I think your your neighbor your neighborhood like I'm not planning to leave anytime soon but like I worry sometimes in my neighborhood even though it's nice and people take care of and there's older people over there like did I overpay? Like it's it gets it gets tricky, you know, >> and you know, it could change overnight.
You know, if the house across the street from you, >> all of a sudden, fire or something, >> whole new ball game. Now you got an eyesore across the street from you. Now, they've been very good in the last probably 10 years of getting rid of houses when they burned, but they didn't used to be. Uh there was one across the street from us in Adamston when I was a kid that burned and it just sat there for long, long time. I uh one of my grandmother's best friends was over there and I remember like going over there and there was there's a couple houses I feel like in Addison that were like burned houses that were there for my entire childhood. I feel like >> you know people think that the government is so bad now. I think it was much worse in the past. We just had a better economic situation then so it wasn't so obvious you know now it's more obvious. It's still not terrible though.
>> But I think it's like social media too.
I was having this conversation with my wife and you know if we look at like per capita with like drug overdoses and I'm like is West Virginia and Clarksburg really that bad or is it just cuz like we're connected and we have social media and we hear about it more like in a big when we are in Virginia Beach there's so many more people and we don't know everyone so you're not going to hear about these things you know it's like word travels very fast like from my perspective of my job um it's than what it was years ago Like during the whole opioid thing, we're one million times better.
>> I mean, that makes me feel better.
>> One million times.
>> Did you hear that, Lena?
>> There used to be I mean, this is not a joke, Rocky. We used to have an overdose with death at least every at least once a week.
>> How long have you been in that role, Gary?
>> I've been there 20 years.
>> Oh, wow. So, you've really like that's a long time to see kind of the curve the curve change.
>> And that's when I try to always give people a perspective. I've talked about with a couple of these candidates if you've watched it. Um, do we have crime?
Yes. But we have a spectacular police department. Uh, really good. Like way way way above average. Um, and the criminals we have, and some people get mad at me when I say this, they're not real criminals. They're really not. Like we, you lived in Virginia Beach. No offense. I don't know how much love you have for Virginia Beach, but there's >> I mean, you watch the news right now. I mean, there's curfews, there's stabbings, there's gunshots, and we don't have that kind of stuff. You're right. We don't have violence. Like if someone wants to go jog in downtown Clarksburg, they may not feel safe because of the social media, but they are pretty much safe.
>> I mean, >> you might have someone yell at you.
Probably going to be >> Yeah. There might be somebody dancing in front of you on the sidewalk that you have to go around, you know, that's high or something, but nobody's shooting you or attacking you or stabbing you. You know what I'm saying? It just doesn't happen. I mean during co especially like I was I was back here and I would make the loop and I would go around Holy Cross and walk the graveyard and >> that's what I used to do when I lived over there. You over in that area cuz when I lived on Elton Street that was my >> well mo for a big chunk before you know my grandma was getting older and I moved back over there in Glenn Elk. My parents were right there on Grant Street. So I've kind of always been really close to like St. Mary's. I met Conception Glenn Elk in that kind of area and then even before that my parents were on Maple Avenue. So like we've always been like pretty close to town. So >> I mean there's nothing cooler than walking at night downtown in the summertime. It's so much fun. So much relaxing. It's a good workout, too. We got a lot of hills here.
>> There's always a lot going on. I love walking downtown. So I'm with you on that. I actually uh lots of times I want to like move my cars around. My wife's always at work cuz she's a teacher. So I'll just walk the Glenn out, too. I mean, from here it's not that far. It seems like it's far, but it's not. I'm not that fat. I can make you. I would actually when I was in better shape, I would actually ride my bike from Grant Street up to Staley Pool. I don't think I can make it up the hill right now.
>> I got you beat, son. Let me tell you right now. I told one of the other candidates this the other day. When I was a kid, we had a house at Lake Floyd.
Okay.
>> And we lived in Adamston. I would just ride my bike to Lake Floyd and that was totally normal.
>> Oh my god.
>> My mom would have had a heart attack.
>> I rode on the road.
>> Were you going on 50?
>> Oh, the trail. Okay. Okay, that's better. That's better.
>> I'm picturing you on 50.
>> I mean, trail wasn't great. I'm picturing like a 9-year-old on the side of that.
>> Probably 13. All right.
>> You know, the rail trail wasn't great then, but it was started. You know, it was all it the >> I didn't realize it went that far then.
>> Oh, yeah. Yeah. Tunnel Hill. It goes right through there.
>> I remember when I was younger, I would I would I would park at Wolf Summit and just go to Salem.
>> Yeah.
>> The short route. Stop at the Dairy Queen.
>> Yeah. But I had to have transportation before I could drive. And I got a license and I don't know. I I haven't had a bike since, so honestly. Yeah, >> I like to bike. I want to do the trails more when the babies get a little bit bigger.
>> Right. So, let's talk about some uh business and economic growth. Uh so, what barriers do you think are frustrating for small businesses? I know you've been talking to people. So, what are you hearing out there?
>> I just I think that there there's not enough traffic and it depends. You know, I think what we know we all need is like is a storefront. You know, my wife and I opened a senior non-medical home care business and I'm in Glenn Elk, but like I don't need a storefront.
>> Is that England Elk? I mean, I've seen your advertising, but I don't >> So, we don't have a it's a facility, so we're just doing inh home care. So, I just need an office to like meet with caregivers or sometimes the clients, but we have to kind of do we have to do safety assessments. So we're going to people's houses and our ter it's a franchise so we cover we can cover the whole state because no one else is here but our focus is banned to cheat lake but most of the customers are Clarksburg Bridgeport Fairmont area but um to answer your question I mean >> you need traffic so a lot of people folks running other politicians like we need more housing downtown cuz that would spur more restaurants more bars and it's not just coffee shops like we need like out of the box thinking Like I said, I I rent from from Jean Pop and I'm like, man, turn one of your buildings into a brewery. Like, I'd love to see like a beer garden in Glenn Elk and maybe have a cigar bar right beside it. I was like in that slowly have a hub where people, if it was cool enough, like how can we get someone to come from a city that has tons of stuff like Morgantown to come to Clarksburg um and just drive that traffic because I'm not going to and you that you're in real estate. A lot of these folks that own property in Clarksburg aren't going to sell. So, I'm going to have to do a lease buildout.
>> They don't do anything with their property.
>> I'm putting a lot of money on the line and I'm not going to do that with a high chance of failing at a business. And it happens. It doesn't matter how how smart you are, >> right?
>> So, I think for me it's just maybe do I and I like the different programs with um >> I like programs where if there's grant money and someone else has a skin in the game. So, maybe you want to change your facade and you do half and they do half, right?
>> Uh, it's starting to fade a little bit, but um, oh my gosh, it's going to be I'm going to forget the name. Mr. Hickman, I believe, donated our sign for the the Italian festival. Yeah, you're right. It would have cost us, I think, like $15,000.
And that wasn't like a sought. It's just like a I think it's a metal sign. I don't even remember. But >> our office looks pretty nice compared to some of the things in Clarksburg. So, I don't think it takes like a fortune for that. and just slowly, you know, build it up. And it's just little things like I think just how Sam media did his sign for his law firm. Like little things add up to make a big difference.
>> That looks great. So >> you're right.
>> I don't have the answer, Gary.
>> So my my brewery answer to you.
>> Go ahead. Are you for it?
>> I hope that's what happens to the Waldo.
>> I hope that's the downstairs of the Waldo.
>> That would be pretty cool.
>> That's my dream.
>> That would be pretty cool.
>> And you know, nobody's going to believe the Waldo until they actually start working on it. But >> yeah, you know how I talked about resolve first. I was like until people literally see a giant >> I've heard it too many times.
>> A giant crane there and >> I wasn't working for Congressman Mahan.
I was with someone else. But you know when I was on Capitol Hill was when he still had the Vanelia Foundation and I heard about that and that was what 25 years ago.
>> Oh, he screwed us so bad.
>> He's the reason the Waldo is how it is.
>> Not touching that.
>> You brought up a bad name.
>> Not touching that. But I think we all everybody is everybody's frustrated and I don't think we should blame it on anyone but like we need we need something to happen. Everybody agrees on that.
>> So what do you think? Do you think there's any realistic industries or big opportunities that Clarksburg could pursue?
>> I think it'll the problem is going to be like what you said people either won't want it or if it's a property owner they're going to want to bring the city like um just rake us over. I mean, we don't have that much property, so that's the biggest problem. We can annex more.
The only thing I can think is maybe going out. I don't even know if it's in the city to be honest, like past the armory or somewhere like that. Like Bridgeport.
>> It's not, but it could be.
>> Bridgeport keeps going that way. So, that's our big problem. Like, yes, it would be great. And I'm I I actually was thinking about this today. It's interesting you asked like what factory could we get here? I mean, I think, you know, I'm big on ancestry and and staying with, you know, on all sides of my family with the culture, but most of the Italians and the other immigrants in Northview and in Glenn, they came here for the glass factories. They went to the coal mines on the weekends. Like, we don't have any of that. So, there's a there are not labor jobs. So, that's created, I think, everything like it keeps saying a domino effect. That's created the drug problem to a point.
It's created some of the housing issues to a point. It's why Staley Pool has closed the wise because we've lost that population and it's a big problem and I think it's it's so much it's it's past city council. City council has to work with the commission and we have to work with the state and come up with a joint solution and play in the sandbox together or it's not going to change. Do >> you think just playing off that a little bit, are there any unnecessary barriers that you think the city needs to deal with? I I don't I don't know. I can think of there was a business I'm not going to mention names. There's a business owner and I didn't think about this. It's not my idea. I'm not going to take credit for it is um maybe like have a map of the city and you list who owns what and what the square footage is. So let's say that I do have a little bit of money in the bank and maybe I thought I could pull off a brewery since we're talking about it. Like even me having a big family, I know who owns some buildings, but I don't know the square footage. I don't know what they would charge. So, someone that's like an outside business person wouldn't even know where to begin. So, let's make that like entry a little bit easier for those folks. You know, I'm not saying give them tax credits or tiff money or any of this stuff, but just make it easier to get the information. You know, market and sell Clarksburg, like how easy it would be to start a business.
>> I'll tell you what, you hire me to be the real estate representative for downtown and we'll list every building for free.
So, what do you think could make uh more young professional types, not even just professionals, young people, how do we get them to stay here more? Me and you both left and we both came back. How do we convince them to stay a little longer?
>> I mean, it's industry and I mean, that's what's really hard and people are going to have to work together. And, you know, there may have to be tax credits and different things, but that's not going to be from the city. That's going to be from the legisl the governor down and even our our US representatives because you know at the end of the day, excuse me, when I got that first pharmaceutical job, I told them I wanted to go between Charleston and Pittsburgh. It was so competitive because there's so few highpaying jobs here. I got offered my first job in Delaware and I moved away.
Like it doesn't matter what we have. If somebody is offered a $20,000 a year job here and a $100,000 a year job in a city that has more opportunity, they're going to leave. So, we have to make it more attractive. We have to sell it. There has to be things to do or it doesn't matter what we have, Gary. They're going to leave. I mean, it we did because the opportunity wasn't here. I don't know about you, I did not want to leave. I never thought I would.
>> I've been lucky with my daughter so far.
She just got her masters in business and medical administration, but she's working in Fairmont. Like, Fairmont sucks. I I hate that she's even that far away. Like, I don't even want her in Fairmont.
>> Hey, speaking of breweries, they have short story brewery. Short story brewery. I can't talk right now. A little sleep deprivation with the babies, but my wife and I love it. And I was like, >> so it's um you know, you go along the water in Reeville, you turn up. I don't even know what that road is. You make the left. We're talking about my aunt.
She actually appraised the building. I think it used to be a barn and it's so pretty. They have a spot right on the water in Morgantown, but I actually prefer this one in Reeville, kind of in the middle of nowhere.
>> Barn.
>> Yeah, it's like Man, that's so easy.
>> And I actually run into Clarksburg people every single time I go there.
>> Think about all the places we have that that would work.
>> You owe me some You owe me some free beer when I come there. Nice little plug here.
>> Jean Pop was the one. He needs to do something in that Coke Factory.
>> There's So that's the brewery right there.
>> There's so much potential. Oh, and you know I they were old old neighbors and I went to school with uh them. I just saw on the news article uh Angela Oliver was big pickle balls blowing up and I was like maybe some of these factories like we don't have an indoor one now. Let's like turn this into an indoor facility and they have some Gary in Virginia Beach where like it's not it's not cheap but it's not like going to a golf like Pete Dye where maybe you pay like a couple hundred bucks a month but you have a bar and you can play pickle ball at 2:00 in the morning when you want to.
So I I just think she's like have crazy ideas like this.
>> She should love me. I got the money for the pickle ball course.
>> Oh, did you really?
>> That was all me.
>> I Well, Jerry helped me. But we pushed that hard on.
>> Angela's great and she's like she's actually promised me some lessons, but I've been a little bit busy. So >> I actually bought paddles and balls and I've never played. You're sitting back there.
>> I have some I have some I have some from Costco. I need to break out. I play some friends at some friends at uh Virginia Beach who are really uh really into it.
So one day I'll start. So, do you think I don't know uh so one thing I've got into kind of with everybody is do you have any um plan on when you get in there uh let's say the road deal is done. Okay.
>> I don't even like to talk about the roads. I've told everybody this. I don't want to make a me talking about board because I can do it. I can talk about it for hours.
>> You're fine. You're fine.
>> Uh so let's pretend like that's done.
What's the next step?
>> Cuz it's really it's really wrecked downtown. Like it's worse than it was. I mean, three years ago, it may not You may have thought it wasn't good then, but it's much worse now.
>> I think we like we don't have a I don't know when. Hopefully, it's done before this like a fall festival, but like I think it should be a big party. Like, let's have a ribbon cutting unveiling.
Get the Davidson Brothers Amichi. Let's have the Pota Gen X out. Have some drink.
>> I don't Yeah, there we go. I forgot.
There we go, Gary. and let's just have a big party in town and and celebrate and like help people out too. Like, you know, we can have all these people that are craft vendors or people that have bars and restaurants, have them have the truck so there's like limit the cost and maybe you charge those folks 100 bucks and that's enough money to pay for the bands and such so there's no cost and let's like celebrate. have like we all joke about everyone hates the roads, everyone hates the traffic and you know I had a couple people running and say, "Oh, Rocky, it's so easy for you. All you have to do is talk about the roads."
And I said, "I don't even bring it up once." I do say that we had communication breakdowns and there should have been a project manager who kind of like informed people cuz I do feel like everyone's blamed, you know, this side blamed the water board, this side blamed the gas company. And I'm okay. Like if I'm on counsel, I'm going to say I messed up cuz I will mess up cuz I'm going to have these crazy ideas and they're not all going to work. But it's better than sitting there and doing nothing in my opinion.
>> Let me break it down for you. The blame really is on the contractors. They're the ones that really have not done a great job.
>> U but you know, >> but the waterboard kind of is the reason we But you know how it works though, too. like in my mind and I have talked to some of these contractors like they have to know where these guys are going the next day. So somebody knows that and the fact that we haven't like been able to communicate that and if it is the contractors the waterboard like let's hold them accountable and like find that out. People just they're okay if you have to go but like when I go from my house off of coming off of 19 and I have to go three or four different routes to get to Glenn Elk I'm like this is crazy.
What if I didn't know every back road and shortcut in town?
>> It is absolutely crazy. And the thing about it is people like me and you who have to go to Glenn Elk will do it.
>> Yeah.
>> Other people will just say screw this.
I'm not coming back.
>> I feel bad, you know, like people are going to go and get their their bread and their pepperoni rolls, but like you have a new restaurant like Bees over there. Like are they going to survive if if it keeps being difficult? Is someone just going to go up the road to one of our other 20 pizza places we have in Clarksburg?
>> That's absolutely the problem. That's a huge problem.
>> So, are there any uh issues that like what's your first thing I guess is the good is a good thing to go. Is there any like easy thing that you already have in your mind like this is the first thing I'm going to do?
I think it's what we talked about with the the firefighters and it's not just cuz I had the endor it just seems like a nobrainer like if they need equipment >> and they need some extra training or they need a safety officer like that needs to be a priority >> right >> I'll do that and then when it's time to evaluate the budget like we'll figure it out the city has enough money that that should not be a problem. That is a great answer, Rocky. Thank you for that. And also, don't forget my police, too.
>> As many problems as we have with >> Hey, they just they haven't if you got if the police are voting for me and you have problems, just let me know. I haven't heard anything, so I'm just assuming that everybody's happy there.
>> Hey, either that or they're afraid of Chief Kitty. He's a very intimidating guy.
>> I don't know.
>> He's always He's always been nice to me.
>> He's probably told all them not to talk to any of his council people.
>> He's always been nice to me. So, >> I know some of them are afraid to talk to me sometimes.
But anyway, uh, great job. I think we had a great interview here. I'm going to take myself off the camera like I kind of do with everything everybody and give you a, uh, chance to just give me your best commercial, man.
>> All right, >> give me a pitch.
>> Thanks for having me on. Um, I could put on social media. I'm doing this. I was already passionate about it. You know, my why has changed with my twins, Santiago and Stallone. I just want them to have the Clarksburg that I had, you know, going to places like Staley Pool and having that community feel and being safe walking around Glenn Elk on my Nani Geneva's porch and I want to bring that community together. Yes, we have to do the unfund things and look at the budget and talk about, you know, drug situations, but the bigger thing is just improving the quality of life in Clarksburg. So, if you want someone who knows how to drive for results, who's had to do that with their career and sales and knows how to market and wants to improve the quality of life in Clarksburg, vote Rocky Romano, number eight on the ballot for Clarksburg City Council.
>> Dude, you're good at this.
>> Are you sure you never ran for anything else before?
>> Never.
>> You're just a damn good salesman.
>> I am a good salesman. I'll give myself I'll give myself credit for that. Doing that for a number of years.
>> You're definitely a hustler. You're a good number of years. So, you're definitely spectacular in pitch.
>> Uh, very good job.
>> Angry like just angry, you know.
>> I was kind of skipping around there. I didn't miss anything you wanted to talk about.
>> No, we hit all the big things. We definitely jumped around, but we covered I think we covered everything on the list and more.
>> I think we did, too. I think we did, too. Well, great job. Thank you everyone for watching. Thank you for joining us on Observer Live. And I'm going to have hopefully at least one more candidate on here before it's over. Maybe two, but we are out of time, man. I don't know.
>> The clock is ticking.
>> I should have started a little bit faster. I'm glad I got you an interview because >> it's been fun. It's been fun.
>> You gave me the details I wanted, man.
>> It's been fun.
>> Maybe maybe the best interview. You and Jerry are right here.
>> Thank you.
>> All right, man. Thank you very much. And thank you everyone for joining us.
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