Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, July 23, 1994 TAG: 9408160048
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Vinton was one of the earliest, and certainly the strongest, supporter of Explore in the project's formative years. An agreement in 1987 resulted in the town contributing to the project land, easements and promised water service (all valued at $2 million). It remains today as the largest matching contribution ever made to Explore.
As part of the agreement, Explore's board of directors was increased by one member so that Vinton would have representation in the project's future development and operation. George Nester, who was town manager at the time, was the first Vinton representative on the board. He was followed in 1990 by Mayor Charles Hill. Both men served with distinction and impartiality.
Imagine the shock and surprise when Mayor Hill showed up July 1 to take part in Explore's opening ceremonies, only to learn that he'd been removed from the board and that Vinton no longer had a representative. Named in his place was one of the governor's political cronies from near Vinton, whose only previous interest was an occasional political potshot at the project.
Vinton provides office space in the Vinton War Memorial for Explore's headquarters, at $400 per month on a month-to-month lease. It's my understanding that the town is in need of additional office space for its employees.
In view of Allen's slap in the face to the mayor, the Town Council and the people of Vinton, it seems an appropriate time to consider reclaiming that space for the town. It may also be time to rethink our part of the 1987 agreement, in the same spirit that the governor showed in honoring Vinton's place on the board.
S. WALLACE CUNDIFF ROANOKE
Mail delivery gets no stamp of approval
I WONDER when something will be done about the U.S. Postal Service. The more postage we pay, the less service we get. I do not refer to employees in the post office, but delivery service in general is getting worse all the time. For instance, where it used to take one to three days for mail to reach its destination, it now takes five to seven days.
I say enough is enough. No more raises in postage rates until we get some better service.
CLETIS F. ROBERTSON ROANOKE
Boucher pushed for tax cut for many
CHARLES POE of Bluefield reveals an unfortunate ignorance of the subject in his July 10 letter (``Steve Fast will provide fresh ideas'') concerning the deficit-reduction legislation enacted by Congress last year.
He wrongly accuses Congressman Rick Boucher of voting for legislation that removes tax revenues from the 9th District. WIth a little research Mr. Poe would have discovered that quite the opposite is true. Congressman Boucher strongly championed a tax cut for working Southwest Virginia families, which was enacted in the tax legislation. As a result, more than 25 percent of the families in the 9th District qualify for a significant tax cut, while only 1.2 percent of families in the distrcit experienced an income-tax increase. The net effect on Southwest Virginia's economy is dramatic. Our region receives a net benefit of more than $30 million each year as a consequence of the tax legislation.
I congratulate Rep. Boucher for championing a measure that so broadly benefits our region, and I urge Mr. Poe and others of his partisan persuasion to become better informed before attacking such an effective congressman in the future.
EUGENE L. NUCKOLS PULASKI
Risks still exist for mentally disabled
IN RESPONSE to the June 26 Horizon section article by staff writer Mary Bishop, ``An elite said their kind wasn't wanted'':
Today, forced sterilizations aren't mandated. However, individuals with mental retardation and other disabilities aren't always assured basic human rights.
For example, people with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities aren't free to live in environments that are free of violence and other forms of abuse. State and federally supported group homes are no exception. Most mentally retarded people are taught to comply with authority figures, or face consequences. The problem with this is that it enables those in authority positions, as caretakers, to perpetuate cycles of violence if the ``caretakers'' haven't dealt with their own problems. The imbalance of power is a particularly damaging problem in cases of sexual abuse.
Virginia currently has no way to assure that people working with Adult Protective Services are trained to competently investigate abuse complaints. The General Assembly recently passed a resolution asking that the Department of Social Services develop and implement a plan to require minimum-competency standards for Child Protective Services staff.
The Department of Social Services, other agencies and concerned persons need to request and require that adults in placements ``protected'' by the Adult Protective Services staff have the same protection that we all deserve - to live in an environment free of all forms of abuse.
The ``elite'' talked about in the article are, unfortunately, still in charge. They're more subtle now, but just as dangerous due to current social judgments.
DOLORES M. DUDLEY ROANOKE
by CNB