THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 11, 1995 TAG: 9505090067
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
I want all of the kind souls who helped to clean the waterways in Hampton Roads during a recent weekend.
Early one evening, as I turned onto Mayflower Road and into my neighborhood in Colonial Place in Norfolk, I could not help but notice the pile of debris stacked neatly on the bank of Knitting Mill Creek and the dramatic difference this cleanup had made on this waterway and our neighborhood. I believe all of the ducks on Mayflower Road were wearing smiles as well!
Thank you very much for your efforts!
David J. McDonald
Mayflower Road Government questions
Why did federal, state and Oklahoma City officials allow a day-care center to be located in a federal building?
Would Norfolk's City Council, city manager and fire chief allow a day-care center at City Hall, the Federal Building on Granby Street or at the jail?
Probably so since the fire chief allows 1,400 inmates to be jammed into the jail built to hold 579.
City, state and federal officials should enforce fire safety laws in their localities. Presently, they are breaking the law at the overpacked Norfolk jail.
The new jail addition will only hold 309. There will still be hundreds sleeping on the floor after it is completed in two years.
Bruce H. Banks
Pecan Point Road Dress-code questions
I'm 17 years old and currently attending high school. As I was walking down the hallway one day I overheard two teachers complaining about the teachers' dress code. One said, ``They want us to dress like business people and lawyers, but we don't have business people's salaries.''
Now, I have no problem with wearing school uniforms. I am totally for it. I think it's a good idea because it will cut down on peer pressure, and students will keep their mind on school work and less on what to wear to school.
What I do have a problem with is where are they going to get the money for these uniforms? Kids grow every year, and nobody really knows how much they are going to cost. One teacher said they were $300. Who can afford $300 for a uniform, and I have to buy at least three or four for the school year. People have low income coming in. How will they pay for the uniforms? Have they thought about that? What I want to know is are they going to make this mandatory for all public schools next year, how much will this cost and will they raise taxes?
Charmaine Banks
East Liberty Street The short end of the stick
The April 26 Virginian-Pilot article entitled ``Tax Increase Proposed, Approved'' states that the Norfolk City Council wants to increase the charges residents pay for trash pickup from $6.17 a month to $8.10 a month.
My complaint is that the City Council has already increased the trash collection revenue by 100 percent over the past few years. This is due to reducing trash collection from twice a week to once a week and recyclables from once a week to every two weeks. By reducing collections in half there was never a reduction in fees collected for reduced service.
This is a very convenient way of doubling the cost of collection and it not being called a fee increase. Now they want to increase fees for trash collection. This is an equation of 2-1 equals 2 plus $1.93 for citizens and businesses of Norfolk. Would you work for 40 hours at the beginning then have your pay reduced to 20 hours for the same pay and later on have to pay additional money and still work for 40 hours? I would not because I would be the big loser and the company - the City of Norfolk - the big winner. Since I am a resident of Norfolk I have to pay.
Glenn V. Howell
Kirby Crescent by CNB