THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 19, 1995 TAG: 9501170142
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: In The Neighborhoods
SOURCE: Mike Knepler
LENGTH: Medium: 72 lines
Civic leagues are drafting their annual goals for the General Assembly.
As usual, wish lists include asking the legislature for tougher laws to fight neighborhood blight and preserve communities.
``Most of us agree on that,'' said Horace Downing, president of Berkley's Beacon Light Civic League and coordinator of the Inner-City Federation of Civic Leagues.
This year, civic leagues also are directing energies toward a few new proposals - supporting some, opposing others. A sampling:
The Federation of Civic Leagues, made up of 42 neighborhood groups, wants stronger criminal laws against stalkers. It also seeks clarification of organ-donation regulations.
Eloise LaBeau, federation president, said it's unfair that families of deceased organ donors can be billed for removal of donated organs - hearts, lungs, eyes, etc.
``The bills are supposed to stop at the death of the donor, and the removal is supposed to be billed to whomever is receiving the organ,'' LaBeau said.
Another key proposal from the federation, this one also submitted last year, would force the Norfolk City Council to hold public referendums on big-ticket projects, such as Nauticus and the Harbor Park baseball stadium.
If passed, it would not be retroactive on existing downtown projects but would affect ones in the future.
A few years ago, many federation leaders helped organize a petition drive to hold a public vote on the $52 million Nauticus and the $15 million ballpark. But the Virginia Supreme Court ruled that City Council spending decisions were not subject to referendum.
The federation wants to change that by asking the General Assembly to amend Norfolk's city charter.
The Inner-City Federation, representing 18 neighborhood groups in low- to moderate-income black communities, is worried over some of Gov. George Allen's budget and welfare-reform proposals.
For example, the coalition opposes plans to cut money from anti-poverty programs like STOP, the anti-poverty Southeastern Tidewater Opportunity Project.
Allen's budget would eliminate nearly $160,000 to STOP, including its $47,500 Project Discovery that helps guide low-income high school students toward college.
Another concern is the potential loss of money for school nurses, Downing said. Instead, the inner-city group wants funds allocated for more in-school nurses.
The inner-city group also opposes Allen's plan to place time limits on welfare benefits.
``I know personally some girls who have been to training programs and are well qualified but can't get jobs because of all the layoffs in business,'' Downing said. For many low-income blacks, he said, economics in the 1990s are having a worse effect than the Great Depression of the 1930s.
The inner-city federation also opposes Allen's push for ``charter schools.'' The governor's plan would allow Virginia to charter publicly funded experimental schools that are free of most local and state regulations and can be run by private groups.
The coalition opposes a potential change in education policies, the advent of tuition tax credits or vouchers for parents who send their children to private schools.
Calling all editors. It's been a while since we've updated our collection of civic league newsletters. To help us be informed, please add us to your mailing list. Thanks. Mike Knepler, The Compass, P.O. Box 449, Norfolk, Va. 23501. by CNB