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

DATE: TUESDAY, February 16, 1993                   TAG: 9302160328
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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IDENTITY CRISIS

MY SUGGESTIONS are:

Establish an all-valley commission with the task of guiding valley citizens toward a vision of who we are and what we want to be. For example, if we lose certain types of jobs (banking, manufacturing), what do we want to take their place? This begs the question of the city's identity. Until we know our identity, it's hard to formulate development goals.

Valley governments must cooperate. We're all in it together.

Let citizens participate in the efforts mentioned above.

Expand Virginia Western Community College to a four-year state college. Add in programs reinforcing area technologies such as fiber optics, rapid transit and medical research.

Attract a significant federal institute, such as a rapid-transportation research center or a fiber-optics institute.

Improve housing, especially low-income housing.

Building upon the city-identity commission, reconsider local zoning, building vacancies and property available to develop as part of long-range development. GEORGE GORBATENKO JR. ROANOKE

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