Alvin Nash Defends Decision to Stay on City Council

By John Carlin
WSLS10 Anchor
Published: May 7, 2008

Scattered among Roanoke’s poorer neighborhoods are homes that are newer or newer looking than the ones surrounding them.—The work of Blue Ridge Housing, a company that aims to provide affordable housing to people who need it.  People like those who live in Hurt Park, home to Norma Smith. “This neighborhood has always been labeled the highest poverty pocket in the Valley,” Smith said.

Alvin Nash heads Blue Ridge Housing.  His programs have a proven track record, but when he was forced this week to decide whether to keep his newly appointed position on City Council—or forgo more 500,000 in federal money—about 40-percent of the source money for his projects—many were surprised he decided to stay on council.

Carlin: “So to the people who are saying you made this decision to stay on council and that’s going to leave a lot of people out in the cold, you would say what?”
Nash: “I would say that’s sort of ridiculous.  They don’t quite understand that nature of the beast.”

Nash tells me his company was overly dependant on Federal money and that it will be a year and a half to two years before his projects will feel the impact.  He says it will be his job to find new sources. 
He tells me he can do more with a council seat than he can with the money.

“I believe that I can have a greater impact on affordable housing in the Valley by serving on council. I think I have a bigger platform from which to work,” Nash said.

In Hurt Park where beautification projects seldom happen—Norma Smith agrees.

“Without him on City Council, they are not going to do anything. They are not going to do like they said they were going to do,” Smith said.