
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 19, 1991                   TAG: 9103190410
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

INFLUENCE DEVELOPERS TO HIRE LOCAL LABOR

I AGREE with City Council members in their effort to support employment of local workers when city tax dollars are used in a construction project. However, I disagree with their method.

In my opinion, council should exert influence with developers to use local contractors or at least give local contractors an opportunity to bid on such projects. Since local contractors tend to employ personnel from the Roanoke Valley, this would alleviate the problem with far less effort. Creating and enforcing a local-hire policy that may even be illegal seems a waste of time and effort when the problem can be addressed with the developers.

It seems that our representatives could do far more to look out for the citizens in the Roanoke Valley by taking firm steps with developers to ensure that local contractors are used rather than react to criticism after the deed has been done. ERIC G. NOONKESTER ROANOKE

by CNB