THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 19, 1995 TAG: 9502170036
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 32 lines
As a resident and taxpayer of Norfolk for the past 22 years, I've seen the city grow from the urban blight of the early '70s to a city of which to be proud. The downtown clean-up and development have been the class act of the Hampton Roads area, and with the addition of the USS Missouri to link the latest downtown-development plans, Norfolk would be remiss not to bid and win the Missouri as an attraction.
I work for the Navy Department and have worked on the battleships Iowa and Wisconsin. I've also visited smaller battleships located in Mobile, Ala.; Fall River, Mass.; and Wilmington, N.C. They are all truly a sight to see and tour.
The Missouri, the mall (MacArthur Center) and the MacArthur Memorial could prove to be a Norfolk public-relations and advertiser's dream.
If, after a long-term trial of financial independence, the ship were to prove to be a burden to the city, unlike a building, it could be sold to the highest bidder and relocated elsewhere.
I agree with Councilman Wright: The USS Missouri floating alongside Nauticus is a win-win situation.
DONALD M. BOLICK
Norfolk, Jan. 27, 1995 by CNB