Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 11, 1993 TAG: 9311120265
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Several inaccuracies and misleading information need a response, although informed Southside people know better and would never use the word ``dumb'' in the same context as your editorial.
It's obvious that you've not driven U.S. 58 east from Martinsville to the Hampton Roads area through Danville, South Boston, South Hill and other towns. Some sections have undivided four lanes and some sections have two lanes.
Your open put-down of ``metropolitan'' Galax and Marion calls for an apology to these proud and industrious areas in the same space and prominence in which the offensive remarks were made. These cities and surrounding counties make a significant contribution to Virginia's economy. Companies in Galax, Hillsville, Stuart, Bassett, Martinsville, Danville and other localities in the U.S. 58 service area have manufacturing jobs in furniture and textiles that are import- export sensitive and they move their Virginia labor-intensive products along this route to Virginia ports.
It should be recognized that upgrading U.S. 58 has little, if any, relation to talked-about Interstate 73, which for the foreseeable future is not a road, but merely a number that exists in the mind of Sen. Byrd of West Virginia.
Northern Virginians are capable of looking after their own interests and most certainly will ably do so in the immediate future as the population balance continues to shift north and east.
What serves well in Southside and Southwest Virginia does likewise for Roanoke and vice versa.
When will you ever learn?
PHILLIP H. WEDDLE
WILLIS
Taking potshots at a local business
THE OCT. 17 news story (``After the dust settles'') in the Roanoke Times & World-News about Roanoke Electric Steel is the straw that broke the camel's back. The lack of a credible business section in this newspaper is disappointing, and certainly a drawback to economic development in this valley.
Perhaps the blame can be placed on the need to sell papers, or perhaps on the lack of local ownership, but the failure of your editors to promote the businesses in our area, instead of badgering them, is unacceptable.
The news story took potshots at what is perhaps the remaining premier corporate citizen in Roanoke. I applaud Don Smith, Roanoke Electric Steel's chief executive officer, for refusing to discuss the newspaper's interest in an article. After reading this story, the editorializing terms used clearly indicated an ulterior motive on the part of the staff writers, Sandra Brown Kelly and Greg Edwards. What was their motive?
Since when is volunteering in the valley's economic and civic leadership considered ``conspicuous''? If not the leaders of one of the most corporately conscious employers, then who?
It's a sad commentary to have a newspaper unresponsive to the needs of the valley. Perhaps your writers' time would have been better spent to provide timely journalism coverage on developments such as the decision by Grove Worldwide to close its facility - a news item of major negative economic impact that took back seat to the closing of the downtown Woolworth's in a recent edition.
Journalism is seeking out stories, not creating them. It would be nice to read more about the status of Connex, Transkrit, the International Trade Association of Western Virginia, the business impact on Southwest Virginia of a George Allen governorship, efforts of the valley's regional partnership or even an update on First Union's exodus of white-collar personnel.
Your business section needs work. News stories like this are not journalism, and they are not respected or appreciated.
WALLACE J. NELSON JR.
ROANOKE
Promise them anything, but ...
I WAS NOT thrilled that Mary Sue Terry was the Democrat candidate for governor. I would have preferred a female, if it had to be one, that looked like Sean Young and had a speaking style like Jack Nicholson.
But that's water over the dam. George Allen seemed a not-too-unpleasant alternative. But what got me was one of his speeches. He first alluded to the many ``takes'' it took to make his children behave in his political commercial. Then he said tax-and-spend politics in Virginia was over. As a parent, I can understand the former, but what's his basis for the latter?
There's been no tax and spend in Virginia. It's been tighten the belt and do with less. Gov. Doug Wilder stood up to the education lobby and all other lobbyists who said money could solve our problems.
If there's nothing else outstanding about this election, please remember that Governor-elect Allen said on NBC television that there would be no tax increase on the people while he is governor.
Read my lips: That, at most, is a dumb promise, or, at worst, a blatant lie.
DOUG GRAHAM
SALEM
It gets worse with every election
IN RECENT campaigns, voters have heard nothing except each candidate actively seeking defamation of an opponent's character. Campaigns have gone beyond mudslinging to the ridiculous. A candidate's first and utmost priority should be to show voters where he or she stands on issues. The opinion of the opponent should be secondary. I'm disgusted with the lack of time candidates spent informing us how they would do the job they were asking to do for us.
With each election year, this problem has increased to the point where many voters feel they cannot cast their vote for anyone. This type of dirty campaigning must stop.
ELLEN BOWLES
SALEM
by CNB