THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, May 26, 1995 TAG: 9505250186
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 49 lines
Having been a taxpayer all my adult life, I am greatly concerned when my tax dollars are wasted with wanton disregard.
Recent events have led me to believe that there exists a fine opportunity to save many tax dollars for untold generations far into the future.
As of June 1, the tolls are to come off of the Virginia Beach-Norfolk Expressway. I believe that tolls are just another form of taxation.
Many times I have marveled at how frugal the federal government has been by maintaining the mothballed fleet of ships at anchor in the James River near Fort Eustis, which are ever ready to go into combat to defend our nation with only a few years' notice. Instead of demolishing the toll booths, why not mothball them in the median strip of the roadway? They would be a constant reminder to Route 44 travelers of how fortunate they are to be able to travel that highway toll-free and of the great sacrifice their forebears made so that they may do so. They would also be ready to be placed into action at a moment's notice should our political heroes decide to build another toll road anywhere within their jurisdiction; that could save the taxpayers much money in consultant fees on toll-booth construction, contract-letting, etc. If made mobile, during crisis situations such as excessively long lines of people waiting to purchase entry tickets into Nauticus, they could be immediately emplaced and serve as auxiliary ticket booths, similar to the way K mart opens another checkout counter when too many people are waiting.
I believe that this proposal should be zealously pursued by our state and city leaders and that a person of great reverence should be placed in charge to ensure that the mothballed toll booths are maintained at the highest state of readiness. This person should also be someone who has always had the best interests of the taxpayers of Virginia as his goal, especially those of the Tidewater area.
I therefore propose that state Sen. Clancy Holland be our man in the median strip, for in all of Tidewater no other man has made greater efforts to maintain the toll booths in their present state of readiness. Judging from past actions, I am sure Mr. Holland would be overjoyed to serve on a voluntary basis at no expense to this area's citizens.
John A. Cookson
Virginia Beach by CNB