Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, July 27, 1990 TAG: 9007270571
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHARLES L. WILLS
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The July 5 and July 8 articles about valley priorities and funding of projects bring to mind the gladiator games of old. It is good to see "Dickie" step back into the arena, because after all he was a charter member of the scandal-ridden River Foundation, and he certainly wants to protect his investments.
Then there's the proposed "sacrifice" of the game - the people in the way of the pleasure road that will take the investors to the pot of gold. Let's be honest: Everyone knows the final route for the road was chosen on a snowy Saturday in Washington, D.C., in 1985. And we all know the draft environmental-impact statement has been in certain investors' hands since the first of November 1989, while the public has been told it was not ready until now. We all know who the investors are. And was there any doubt that the National Park Service would not compile a perfect environmental-impact statement? These are things that we all know.
But let's move to something we do not know:
1. When an elected official like Sen. Macfarlane asks questions about our tax money, why can't he get any answers? Why is the newspaper determined to drown out his concerns?
His job as a state senator is to ask appropriate questions and get the answers. He is a taxpayer too. What should the people do, tell him to not ask questions about this project because the paper has invested heavily and doesn't want any questions?
2. As the paper is one of the top investors in the project, what credibility does it have, based on its monopolistic view as evidenced by its $90,000 investment?
3. As an interested property owner and taxpayer, I have for three years documented the numerous questions and have yet to receive any answers. On Jan. 26, I asked two congressmen, a state senator, a delegate, representatives of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors, the National Park Service and Virginia Department of Transportation to justify building a pleasure road for $107 million ($11 million per mile at a cost seven times the estimate). No answer. Why?
Am I to assume that because I have now had the audacity to ask these questions publicly, the newspaper will use its position to stifle me also? Is the Roanoke Times & World-News the ruling power in the valley, and are the taxpayers' freedom of speech and right to have honest answers to honest questions dictated by anything the paper invests in?
Our governor has stated that there will be a money crunch for several years. Is the paper saying that he and his advisers are lying and there is plenty of tax money?
Recently, a congressional aide (I suppose the same unidentified one you quoted) told us we were lucky to be in a country where we are allowed to oppose projects. If neither our elected officials nor we will get any answers to our questions and therefore no opposition is allowed or accepted, which society is better? Even a cornered mouse will attack, the people will have their day in court, and I am sure we will have the company of all who are tarred by this ridiculous waste of tax dollars.
by CNB