THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 26, 1995 TAG: 9503240177
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Long : 153 lines
Earlier this month my 9-year-old became ill on the school bus with stomach and chest pains and difficulty in breathing. Martha Slaughter of Bus 118, took my son back to the sitter's house. Mrs. Ferdon and Mrs. Free, very dear friends, assessed the situation and used excellent judgment in calling 911 to get my son the proper medical attention he needed.
Mrs. Slaughter came back when her bus run was completed to check on my son. As a direct result of everyone's care and good judgment, my son is fine.
I want all involved, Mrs. Slaughter, Mrs. Ferdon, Mrs. Free, the rescue squad, fire department and staff at Maryview Medical Center to know how much it means to me and my family to have such wonderful and caring friends.
Sharon Wingate
Deal Drive
March 22, 1995 Morrison is role model
I am writing in response to a Letter to the Editor (Currents, March 19) that called into question the ethics of Circuit Court Judge Johnny Morrison. By attacking Morrison's character, the writer demonstrates an obvious lack of appreciation for what I now to be a man of impeccable integrity, and a role model for all of Portsmouth.
The attack on Morrison's conduct with regard to his personal business dealings, and his wife's announcement to run for public office demonstrates the letter writer's lack of understanding of Virginia's Canons of Judicial Conduct or the ABA Code of Judicial Conduct.
Part 6, Section III, Canon 5(C), of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia directly addresses the issue of extra judicial financial activities. Under Canon 5(C) 2, a judge is expressly permitted to ``. . . hold and manage investments, including real estate, and engage in other remunerative activity
There is nothing to indicate that Morrison has exploited his judicial position or has acted in any way that would reflect adversely on his impartiality, interfere with the proper performance of his judicial duties or involve him in frequent transactions with lawyers or persons likely to come before the court he serves.
Canon 4 of the ABA Code of Judicial Conduct similarly addresses the issue of a judge's financial dealings.
With regard to the comment that Morrison's wife will be a candidate for Circuit Court clerk, a judge is only prohibited under Canon 5 of the ABA Code of Judicial Conduct and Canon 7 (A) of the Rules of the Supreme Court of Virginia from publicly supporting a candidate for public office.
Again, the letter writer offers no evidence that Morrison has engaged in any conduct inconsistent with these Canons and there is no reason to doubt that Morrison would not excuse himself from any matter before his court that would present a conflict with the proper discharge of his judicial duties.
My knowledge of Morrison is that he always has acted in a manner consistent with Canon 2 of both the Canons of Judicial Conduct for the State of Virginia and the ABA Code of Judicial Conduct. His actions promote public confidence in the integrity and impartiality of the judiciary, and he continues to admirably serve (all of) the citizens of Portsmouth and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Darrell M. Lassiter
Portsmouth
March 23, 1995 Project had backing
As a resident of the Woodbine neighborhood, I take exception with statements in the column by Ida Kay Jordan (Currents, March 10) regarding the former Churchland High School site, to the effect that the commercial development proposed several years ago was quashed due to the efforts of the Woodbine neighborhood residents.
I attended several neighborhood meetings with the developers, and the neighborhood was, in fact, supportive of the project in its final form. The column fails to point out that the developers ultimately decided not to follow through with the project because it was not financially feasible because of the economic slump.
To state that the project was killed because of the Woodbine residents is factually inaccurate and misleading. While another discount or grocery store is arguably not the highest and best use for the site, I don't think anyone would disagree that there will and should be commercial development on the subject site.
H. Alexander Johnson
3005 Oakley Hall Road
March 15, 1995 Do what is best for city
As a lifetime resident of Portsmouth, I never have felt as much concern about the future of our once proud city as I do now. I read about the possibilities for the development of the old Churchland High School site in Ida Kay Jordan's column (Currents, March 10). It suggests that the neighbors of the site are protesting the use and most probably will continue protesting anything that might want to locate there. Are the residents and city officials going to continue to let a few ruin what is good for the entire city?
How many residents have toured the city and have seen the number of high vacancies in the business world? Do you know that it is almost impossible to buy in our city the many things that are needed so often for our families? We are only allowing the other cities to grow with our help and our sales tax. Do you realize that cities can and have gone into bankruptcy?
If we continue to proceed in the direction we are heading now, we will really deserve to be the laughingstock of the entire Hampton Roads area.
Lets work for our entire city and not a favored few to end a path to self destruction.
William W. Curling
Fairway Drive
March 15, 1995 Boat tax won't float
I recently have become aware of discussion concerning a suggested increase in the 1-cent boat tax. Although I reside in Virginia Beach, this subject concerns me greatly as a fairly recent retiree with a greatly reduced income. The thought of having to move my boat after almost 15 years at Tidewater Yacht also distresses me from the perspective of the convenience of the marina and the many other merchants I regularly patronize. My boat slip has been at Tidewater Yacht since I lived on Dinwiddie Street for three years upon moving to Hampton Roads in early 1980.
For several years I have considered moving my boat to Willoughby Bay or Little Creek to be nearer the Chesapeake Bay and ocean. Because mine is a sailboat, and thus limited in speed, I lose about three hours each sailing trip just getting to and from the good sailing waters north of Norfolk. This has been tolerable in light of the tax cost differential and convenience of being in Portsmouth. Although I would enjoy some minor savings by renting a slip in Norfolk, it would be significantly more than offset by their much higher tax rate.
Why should Portsmouth be concerned if I move my boat? Because between marina fees and other expenditures, my guests and I spend literally thousands of dollars a year in Portsmouth. Admittedly, it is pleasant and convenient for me but financial considerations cannot be ignored by someone in my circumstances.
My respectful wish is that the boat tax remain at its present level.
John B. Harvie
Virginia Beach
March 14, 1995 Keep boat tax low
I am writing to ask the citizens of Portsmouth to consider the serious economic effects that I believe would occur if the city were to increase the boat tax.
Like myself, many of the boaters in Portsmouth currently reside in other cities. We keep our boats in Portsmouth because of the low taxes. As a result, we spend many thousands of dollars each in Portsmouth that we would otherwise be spending in our cities of residence.
I, for one, will relocate my boat to Virginia Beach if taxes are increased. Virginia Beach will then benefit not only from the higher tax that I will be paying, but from the money generated by the expenses that I incur from boating in Virginia Beach.
Creative ideas such as the low boat tax are the kinds of things Portsmouth should and must be doing to generate interest in the city and income for the city.
James A. Cato
Virginia Beach
March 15, 1995 by CNB