ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, March 6, 1996 TAG: 9603060028
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTER
I BELIEVE it would serve the public interest more effectively if you would refrain from making statements about how low this area's unemployment figures have become.
Your statements, as typified by your Feb. 13 article (``Report: Roanoke is where the jobs are'), constitute a misuse of the available data, and mislead the general population into thinking that employment problems are coming to an end. The figures you cite are, judging from your phraseology, based on Virginia Employment Commission statistics. The only information the VEC makes available regarding employment rates is the number of people currently enrolled in its program and receiving benefits. I suspect many more people are actually unemployed than are currently listed as such by the VEC.
To more clearly illustrate my point, allow me to give a hypothetical, albeit extreme, example. Suppose 50 percent of the working population suddenly loses jobs. At that point, by any reckoning, the jobless rate would be 50 percent. By using the VEC's definition, all of the unemployed, immediately after exhausting their 26 weeks of benefits, would magically become employed again. This would return the unemployment figure to zero. Terminology the VEC uses is: ``They are no longer seeking employment.''
All that can be properly inferred from this is that these people are no longer enrolled with and receiving benefits from the VEC. A door-to-door survey would, I'm afraid, paint a somewhat less encouraging, although more accurate, picture. RICK HERMANN RADFORD
How can careless landlords sleep?
IN RESPONSE to your Feb. 17 article (``Rental inspection plan drafted'') about the certificate-of-compliance program Roanoke city is implementing:
It's my understanding that there are laws or codes in place that put forth specific guidelines regarding housing. The certificate of compliance will ensure that rental properties are within the law. Salem already inspects property, and if you've been to Salem, you'll notice a lack of substandard housing. So why are Roanoke's landlords banning together to prevent this program?
John Kepley, president of the Roanoke Property Investors Association, stated that the guidelines were ``a crock.'' Spanky Macher said the program is going to ``destroy a lot of people.'' I cannot understand statements such as those. Haven't enough lives been destroyed? Why don't they want their property to be up to code or legal? How can they sleep knowing they may have a family living in a home with exposed wires and no smoke detectors?
This program is asking landlords to obey the law. Why are they refusing? I won't eat at Macher's restaurants again since he's having such a problem with laws enacted to protect people!
The public meeting on March 7 at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center auditorium will give them a chance to explain their reasoning. SANDRA MANETTA SALEM
`Macbeth' deserves a revised review
REGARDING Katherine Reed's review on Feb. 17, ``Most of `Macbeth' gets the royal treatment'':
The current production of ``Macbeth'' at Mill Mountain Theater is a treat for all lovers of Shakespeare's work. The set is magnificent, the actors' diction is clear, and their interpretations of the role are right on target. I saw the show at the first dress-rehearsal performance, accompanied by 26 teen-age students and three other adults. We gave it a standing ovation!
I was most surprised to read Reed's rather caustic review of the same performance. In our opinion, it was in all ways first-rate. We had seen a BBC video version, and the students found the acting at Mill Mountain far superior. Their attention was rapt, and their appreciation evident.
We'll return to see the final performance, since we'd like to see how the show has changed during its run. We hope Reed does so also, and gives this show the appreciation it deserves in a revised review. Perhaps she shouldn't wait until the end of the run to see it again. Readers deserve to know about the quality, effort and beauty that are standard for Mill Mountain's shows. NANETTE JOHNSON Drama teacher Floyd County High School FLOYD
Editor's note: This letter was also signed by 18 students.
Junior Miss contest is a Roanoke plus
WE WERE first-time visitors to the beautiful Roanoke area, being the parents of a 1996 Virginia Junior Miss contestant, and we were impressed with the professionalism of this totally volunteer-staffed program. We congratulate the local businesses and citizens who helped sponsor and support this worthwhile endeavor. Local residents who opened their homes (and hearts) to the contestants and made them feel at home during a busy and stressful week are especially to be commended. It speaks highly of the hospitality of your citizens.
We only recently learned of this program, which encourages intelligent, talented young ladies to be their best by offering generous scholarships to help fulfill their dreams. Indeed, we hope you will help spread the word about this marvelous program by giving it the publicity it deserves.
While this suggestion appears to be a bit self-serving coming from a participant's family, we welcome the reporting of positive and uplifting happenings in the news media, especially since we read and hear about so many bad things happening in our society today.
On behalf of our daughter, we all feel honored to have been in Roanoke, and thank the Virginia Junior Miss program and Roanoke for this opportunity. May God richly bless you, Roanoke, for your gracious and generous citizens who hosted such a wonderful event. JOHN and SCHOLASTICA WHITE MANASSAS
LENGTH: Long : 101 linesby CNB