Latest news with #JoeCobb
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Roanoke City Council passes initiative to help combat homelessness
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – Roanoke City Council unanimously voted in favor of Mayor Joe Cobb's initiative, Mayor's Hope and Home Task Force, during Monday's meeting. Homelessness numbers have risen in Roanoke since the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 300 people experiencing it as of January. Beyond existing homeless providers in the city, Mayor Cobb wants to hear from other sectors of the community, like business leaders and educators, to determine the best path forward. Along with providing affordable housing, Mayor Cobb wanted the name to reflect a sense of hope, which he said is just as important. 'For people who are experiencing homelessness, there are many days that don't feel very hopeful, and most days feel more like survival,' Mayor Cobb said. ''What can I do to make it through the night,' 'What can I do to make it through the day,' and the obstacles seem insurmountable.' With the green light from council, Mayor Cobb said he's hoping to get it started as soon as possible. US homelessness up 18% as affordable housing remains out of reach for many people He wanted to stress this won't replace any existing services but rather add additional support. 'It will broaden awareness and education in the community,' Mayor Cobb said. 'It will really allow us more holistically to address not only the challenges, but to create opportunities to reduce homelessness in the community.' One of those local resources is Rescue Mission Ministries. For the past 76 years, anyone in need has visited the Rescue Mission and received three meals a day, and a safe place to sleep. It shelters an average of between 200 and 220 people each night. 'They're out during the day, but they always come back at 3:00 in the afternoon when we start the shelters back up,' Lisa Thompson, the Rescue Mission's director of development and communication, said. 'They really seem to very much appreciate it, and it fills our hearts to be able to do what we do for them.' Thompson said there is no limit to how long guests can stay at the Rescue Mission. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Roanoke named 2024 Tree City USA by Arbor Day Foundation
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – Anyone familiar with the Roanoke Valley knows the area is well recognized for sprawling mountain landscapes and forests and outdoor activities. In true Roanoke fashion, the Arbor Day Foundation has named the city a 2024 Tree City USA for planting, growing, and maintaining trees. 'We all have a role to play in shaping our future, and tree champions like Roanoke are leading the way,' said Michelle Saulnier, Vice President of Programs at the Arbor Day Foundation. 'Trees are critical infrastructure, building resiliency, and fostering good health in our nation's cities. We're proud Roanoke is among the Arbor Day Foundation's growing network of communities dedicated to creating a positive impact through trees.' The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit organization that inspires people to plant and grow trees, and over the last 40 years, the Tree City USA program has recognized cities and towns that enhance their livability and sustainability by planting trees. Celebrate Earth Day and a New Story Trail in Botetourt County Arbor Day Foundation officials said trees have been proven to mitigate the effects of urban heat islands by improving mental and physical health, reducing stormwater runoff, improving air quality, reducing traffic noise, increasing property values, and lowering home energy costs. 'In the many years I've lived in Roanoke, I've come to appreciate just how deeply nature is rooted in our city's identity,' added Mayor Joe Cobb. 'Being named a Tree City USA again is not just an accolade — it's a reminder that every tree we plant is an investment in our people, our infrastructure, and our future.' Arbor Day first started on April 10, 1872, in Nebraska to reforest parts of the Great Plains and give shelter to pioneers. The tradition is still celebrated today as a reminder and to preserve the natural beauty of parks and public lands, and support industries across the United States. To earn Tree City USA recognition, a city must uphold four core standards, including maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, spending at least $2 per capita on urban forestry, and participating in an Arbor Day celebration. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Leaders of Roanoke to sit with Hispanic Community during roundtable discussion
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – The City of Roanoke is hosting a roundtable discussion in its continuing efforts to cultivate relationships and foster inclusion with the Hispanic community. A roundtable will be on Monday, February 24 with consuls from Guatemala, Honduras, and Mexico led by Mayor Joe Cobb. This will be an opportunity for the city staff and community leaders to engage with consular representatives directly. Roanoke City's 'Name Roanoke's Snowplows' contest taking submissions 'Access to information and culturally relevant resources is critical to creating a thriving community for all,' said Mayor Cobb. 'This roundtable allows us to strengthen those connections and ensure that Roanoke's immigrant communities feel supported and welcomed.' The event will reflect Roanoke's support and broader commitment of promoting immigrant inclusion and cultivating belonging for all residents while ensuring access to needed resources. Roanoke's destination as a Certified Welcoming City by Welcoming America showcases Star City's ongoing commitment to people of all backgrounds in the community have the opportunity to thrive. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Roanoke City Council asking circuit court to fill vacant council seat
ROANOKE, Va. (WFXR) – After more than 40 days, Roanoke City Council has been unable to fill its open city council position. Virginia Code section 24.2-228 says that when a vacancy occurs within a local governing body, its remaining members have 45 days to fill the position. It goes on to state that if a majority of the remaining members are unable to agree on a candidate, they may pass the duty off to the local circuit court. With the 45 days up on Friday, council voted on Monday to ask city attorney Tim Spencer to petition the circuit court to make the appointment. Council whittled its candidate board down to three finalists in former councilwoman Patricia White-Boyd, former City Treasurer Evelyn Powers, and Temple Emmanuel rabbi Kathy Cohen. Roanoke City Council narrows down candidates for empty seat Powers finished fourth in the most recent city council election and White-Boyd just concluded her previous council term at the end of 2024. Council interviewed the finalists last week but has not been able to reach a four-vote majority behind any of the candidates to make the appointment. Former Mayor Sherman Lea, whose term also included the end of 2024, has expressed frustration with the ongoing saga. 'People can have difference of opinions but one thing about politics is you need to work together and at times it's going to take compromise,' he said in an interview earlier this month. He said this is not a great way for the new council to begin its term and feels that at this point, the focus should have shifted fully to improving the city. 'Once they take that oath and are sworn in, their focus has to be on the work of the city,' he said. The seat opened up after Lea's successor and former vice mayor Joe Cobb was elected mayor with nearly two years remaining on his council term. That created a situation that councilman Nick Hagen called 'uniquely Roanoke.' Hagen said the city charter states that if there are more than two years remaining on a vacant term, a special election is held to determine who will fill the seat. If there are less than two years remaining, as is the case here, council is tasked with making the appointment itself. Roanoke City Council took oaths of office and welcomed Joe Cobb There have been numerous instances of council appointments in recent years but none of them have been made by the courts, making the current situation quite unconventional. It is unknown what the exact hang-up was in selecting a seventh council member, but WFXR has been told the decision seemed to come down to two of the three final candidates. According to Hagen, a lot of its boils down to differences in what each current member values in an appointed candidate. 'We get voted on in an election and we select people who want to serve,' said Hagen, voicing his belief that the results of the most recent election should be respected by choosing the fourth highest vote-getter. 'It is a radically different thing for six people to decide who should represent 100,000 people, in my view.' According to Jim Swanson, one of five judges who would be involved in making the appointment, the circuit court has not received the petition yet. However, he said, even when they do, they do not have to make an appointment if the judges feel the decision would be 'strictly political.' Swanson said that in his line of thinking, 'judges should not be political,' but emphasized that he and his four colleagues would discuss the matter together and come to an agreement on what would be best. He said that he would still 'like to see council come together and make the appointment,' and the decision would be turned back over to council if the circuit court decides not to appoint anyone. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
