Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, November 30, 1994 TAG: 9411300033
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Tourism does, indeed, have a downside, as anyone who seriously studies tourism development must admit. However, this isn't the real issue. The real issue is that of comparison. How does tourism development compare with traditional industrial development, for example? Much of this comparison boils down to the question of what unique advantages Roanoke offers for development of any kind. Traditional industry, throughout America, hasn't been the dynamic force it once was for many years now. Roanoke is far from unique in suffering its decline. Competition for new industry is extremely intense nationwide. The relative attributes of Roanoke for drawing new industry are less than overwhelming.
The relative attributes of Roanoke and its environs for drawing tourists are, on the other hand, quite strong. Much of this advantage is simply geography. Our beautiful mountains are in close proximity to several urban centers from which we may reasonably expect to draw visitors. The very fact the area isn't heavily industrialized becomes an asset for tourism development.
Unless Disney decides to locate in Roanoke County, it will be some time before we need to be concerned about runaway tourism development in the valley. The real issue now is how to develop the area into a more attractive place for visitors and residents. Tourism development, even with its downside, deserves to play an important role in Roanoke's future. The efforts of Roanoke's Mayor David Bowers, the New Century Council and others who promote tourism in the region should be supported.
FRED TAYLOR JR. FINCASTLE
Don't lift ban on assault weapons
I'M NOT affiliated with any political party and, in my view, the subject I wish to discuss shouldn't be political.
On television, I recently heard Rep. Newt Gingrich state that he would work to remove the ban on assault weapons. People who wish to remove the ban usually cite the constitutional right to bear arms. We also were granted the right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness by our founding fathers. One person with an assault rifle greatly encroaches on another person's right to life and the pursuit of happiness.
Arms of today are very different from those our founding fathers knew. Would anyone want our citizens to bear nuclear arms?
Let's keep the ban on assault weapons.
NELLE Q. RICHARDS HARDY
Indoor air problems: nothing to sneeze at
REGARDING the Sept. 1 commentary ``Indoor air quality is the next environmental frontier'' by Stephen J. Caldeira:
The commentary touched softly on the serious problem of indoor air quality. But look at symptoms other than the three mentioned: watery eyes, runny nose, sneezing, irritability, fatigue, respiratory tract irritation, visual disorder, memory impairment, asthma, damage to central nervous system, kidney, cancer, miscarriage, impaired mental and physical development of unborn fetus, not to mention how it affects people's everyday lives and those around them. Some symptoms appear on first exposure; some develop over months or years.
The first step on the environmental frontier is to pass a bill that would enforce strict maintenance and require routine inspections of energy-efficient buildings. Also, educate people of indoor air-quality problems. Employees should have guidelines to follow in reporting problems to employers and the Environmental Protection Agency, if they have any of the aforementioned symptoms constantly reoccurring. There should be a law requiring employers to report any problems that have been reported to them to the EPA or some organization other than their own maintenance crews.
Indoor air quality is a growing problem. Let's address it before it gets out of hand, and help those who have already suffered and will be affected by the symptoms for the rest of their lives.
In one company I know, officials don't think it's possible for their ``new'' building to be affected, or else they don't want the expense of correcting it. If it's the expense, Total Air Quality Coalition would do it free. The coalition only requires the company to approve the order for it to inspect the building, which the company has refused to do. One might wonder what the company had to hide or lose!
DOROTHY DICKASON SALEM
The big stall at the mall
MY DAUGHTER and I were caught in the traffic jam at Valley View Mall on Nov. 25. We left the mall at 1:50 p.m. to head home, since my daughter was due at work at 4 p.m. We sat in line and inched along until we came to a stop, and didn't move at all for more than 30 minutes!
We then parked and went back inside the mall to call my daughter's employer. This was at 3:50 p.m. We had been in the parking lot for two hours. We then went back to the car, got back into line, and pulled into our driveway at 4:50 p.m.
It took us three hours to get from Valley View to Vinton.
My time is much too precious to spend it in my car in a parking lot. I'll not shop at Valley View again this season unless someone out there gets a clue about traffic patterns and the urgent need for more than one exit.
PATRICIA McDANIEL VINTON
by CNB