Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, February 3, 1995 TAG: 9502030026
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Roanoke wants more tourism, but needs a way to fill Hotel Roanoke.
Subsidies for Valley Metro buses are being cut, leaving a serious gap between revenues and operating expenses.
Riverboat gambling is being hotly debated in the state legislature, and may be legalized soon.
The many news accounts of these issues have given me an idea that combines all three issues in a synergy that's dazzling in its simplicity, if I do say so myself. In the spirit of valleywide cooperation, I offer this idea to the Roanoke Mayor David Bowers, free of charge:
Turn the Valley Metro buses into rolling casinos! Just envision the sight. Legions of tourists will pour into Roanoke, using the now-underutilized buses, touring the valley, pumping millions of dollars into the local economy and spending their nights at Hotel Roanoke (at least until their money runs out). What could be better?
Of course, a few problems need to be solved. Roulette wheels might not work so well in a moving bus, and the riverboat-gambling bill will have to be amended to allow bus gambling. Also, a small, nongambling section will be needed in each bus for Valley Metro's current customers. But we shouldn't let these small obstacles stand in the way of such an opportunity.
I'd like to see the mayor jump right on this by lobbying for the bus-gambling amendment, and appointing a commission to study converting buses to casinos. Perhaps he can even get his good friends at Disney to help.
LARRY MORGAN
ROANOKE
State's heritage is good for business
A CRISIS threatens our Virginia heritage. Gov. George Allen proposes to eliminate all funding for the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities and Public Policy. Without state funding, which provides one-fourth of VFH's budget and one-half of the Virginia Association of Museums' budget, the foundation will be forced to cut community programs statewide.
VFH faces another challenge. Members of Congress favor major funding cuts or elimination of the National Endowment for the Humanities. State humanities councils like VFH receive about 45 percent of their funding from NEH. Facing a loss of 70 percent of its funding, VFH would be crippled.
VFH supports public libraries in approximately 25 communities each year. It provides educational films, videos, audiotapes and traveling exhibits to more than 500 schools, museums and community groups. VFH is the home of Virginia's folk-life program to document and preserve Virginia's rich traditions and heritage. Regional councils in Southwest Virginia and elsewhere organize educational programs, and promote civic participation and responsibility through forums on the Constitution, the Bill of Rights and the Statute for Religious Freedom. VFH isn't an elitist organization. It links the grass roots to our heritage.
VFH is also an investment in Virginia. The humanities - museums, historical sites and programs - generate more than $2.8 billion annually from tourists and return nearly $150 million to the state and localities in tax revenues. As a member of the Board of Directors of the state Department of Historic Resources, I've learned the value of heritage tourism. Three-fourths of all foreign companies locating here cite Virginia's history as a reason for their interest in the state. I remember Allen saying that Virginia was open for business.
Let's tell our local and national representatives what's good for Virginia: jobs, economic development, education and preservation of our heritage.
CRANDALL SHIFFLETT
BLACKSBURG
Slam at public TV offends its viewers
AN ASSOCIATED Press article in the Jan. 19 issue of this newspaper (``Christian Coalition funds `Contract' effort'') quoted Executive Director Ralph Reed of the Christian Coalitian as calling for an end to taxpayer support for the arts as well as for the Corporation of Public Broadcasting's promotion of ``values contrary to those we teach in our home.''
This is a blanket condemnation of those viewers who happen to cherish traditional values themselves. They encompass everyone from the elderly to parents of the very young and their children. Many may not have access to cable or cannot afford the monthly fee. Public television is their only opportunity to experience theater, historic events, symphonies and public discussion - both pro and con. Surely, we can be trusted to hear both sides of a question rather than depending on someone like Pat Robertson and his ilk to decide for us. After all, we live in a democracy where opposing views are encouraged.
Without public television, we're condemned to watch commercial stations' silly sitcoms, unnecessary violence and gratuitous sex, peppered with frequent commercials. It really makes one wonder where all the opposition is coming from. Public television is surely worth more than the $1 per person it costs our government to support it. Don't let us lose it.
VIRGINIA CURRIE
BLACKSBURG
by CNB