Capitulation?

The Gang of Four met with Mayor Wilder yesterday and all involved deemed it "productive."

Ukrop and fellow directors Beverley W. "Booty" Armstrong, John W. Bates III and John Sherman Jr. didn't win Wilder's blessing at the meeting, though they said that wasn't their expectation. Ukrop, Armstrong and Sherman lead large financial businesses in the city, while Bates is considered one of the most influential lawyers in Richmond.

It appears the foundation thinks it has a plan. After announcing their "new" strategy and emasculating Brad Armstrong's salary, the VPAF finally gave the Times-Dispatch what they have been pining for; a meeting of the principals. If the foundation can get the Mayor to sign off on phased implementation and get his public support, they might actually be able to move forward. Which is no sure thing.

But the meeting its significant, if for no other reason than it affirms that if one wants to do business with the City, all roads lead to Doug:

"It took a long time for them to get where they are now," Wilder said.

It sure is fun watching Doug Wilder work.