THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, September 7, 1995 TAG: 9509070668
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Long : 219 lines
Who among us is not against violent crime? Who among us does not wish to see violent criminals behind bars? Are we to believe that only the present Republican members of our legislature are sensitive to this?
Those among us who would be led by the rhetoric of those who aspire to office would be well-advised to look not only at the so-called ``solutions'' that have been proposed but to the costs to each of us in Virginia. We would be wise to heed the words, ``be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.''
Sen. Stanley Walker has been good to the people of the 6th District and for Virginia. An informed electorate will send him back to Richmond in November.
Carla L. Alligood
Lion Avenue The clerk's duties
In Elizabeth F. Clark's letter to the editor in the Aug. 10 Compass, she stated that Randy Wright was knowledgeable about every area of the clerk's job and duties. Being curious, I researched all of the clerk's jobs and duties in the Code of Virginia. Is this what Randy Wright has done to be ``knowledgeable'' about every area of the clerk's job and duties? If so, wouldn't anyone who has access to this code be qualified to be Clerk of the Circuit Court?
Kimberly Osborn
Plaza One Building Focus on the kindness
This letter is in reference to the Aug. 17 Compass letter to the editor from John G. Saunders Jr. He wrote to say that after being immobilized due to a flat tire several people stopped to help him.
My question is: Why did Mr. Saunders find it crucial to point out the race of everyone who stopped to help him?
Racism is a scary, sad situation that seems to take precedence over everyday thinking. It would have been nicer to hear about the people who helped rather than focusing on what color someone is.
Hopefully in the future Mr. Saunders will concentrate on the kindness of someone rather than their race.
Carrie A. Wray-Niemi
Edward Street
In favor of Teich
We have all heard the expression ``earn while you learn'' many times, but I can't believe that phrase was meant to include the $90,000 salary which Randy Wright is striving for. On-the-job training is fine but at what cost?
The operation of the office of Clerk of the Circuit Court affects every resident of the City of Norfolk from birth to death. We need a person with experience in the field of law in that position. Al Teich is certainly that person. His expertise, his years of practicing and teaching law and his integrity will bring to the residents of Norfolk a very capable Clerk of the Circuit Court.
Ellen Layton
Jerry Road Much-appreciated help
On Aug. 4, about 6:30 p.m. I had a tire blow out on Military Highway in Norfolk near the Expressway exit. I managed to get the car to the shoulder and proceeded to get the spare out. I had never changed a tire before and was very nervous.
Next, I saw a car pull up and a couple get out to help me. I was so relieved. They saw me as they were driving in the opposite direction and turned around to give me a hand.
I want to point out that there are still good people in this world, but their good deeds seldom make the news.
In the excitement, I didn't ask the couple's name, nor did I offer them a reward, which they may not have accepted. But I want them to know how much their help was appreciated and that a donation to a charity will be made.
Christel Welner
Chesapeake Electing the school board
I am a lifelong resident of Norfolk, graduated from Norfolk Public Schools in the late 1960s, have no children and am for elected school boards.
There are some very important reasons why we should consider an elected school board system.
The first reason is that 40 percent of our local tax dollars combined with funds from the state - our tax dollars again - create a $188 million Norfolk public school budget each year. Look at what we get for our hard-earned tax dollar: A school system that has the highest dropout rate in the state. We also get graduating seniors who average 760 on their SAT scores. The average Literacy Passport scores in Norfolk dropped nine points from last year's scores, or almost a 20 percent drop overall, and we in Norfolk pay more per student for education than any other neighboring city in all of Hampton Roads.
There are very few who would argue that $188 million a year is a lot of money for one public school system. What is really disturbing to me is that that money is being managed by a board of individuals who were not even elected but who were appointed by City Council.
The second reason is that the depth of our tax coffers is only as deep as our tax base is wide, and Norfolk's tax base is shrinking rapidly. Ask anyone why they are moving to Virginia Beach or Chesapeake, and they will answer because of Norfolk's crime rate and/or because of the poor quality of the Norfolk public school system.
With community-wide participation, I believe we can affect a change in the quality of our school system. To do so would attract people to Norfolk as a desirable place to live and not just as a place to commute to work. And it would be one very significant means of increasing our tax base to help fund future city projects without having to raise our taxes in the process.
We in Norfolk cannot turn our backs on our responsibilities as citizens and as voters because, like it or not, the children graduating from our school system today will determine our community's future.
Judy Edwards
Baldwin Avenue Examination of the facts
In an Aug. 17 Compass letter to the editor, Mr. Robert P. Walker wrongly puts the blame for the rising crime in Virginia on Sen. Stanley Walker. Nothing could be farther from the truth.
If the writer of this misinformed letter had bothered to examine the facts, instead of Dimitrios Rerras' rhetoric, he would realize that Sen. Walker has been a leader in dealing with the real issues concerning crime and has advocated legislation to fix the problem. In comparing the candidates, all Sen. Walker's opponent has to offer as experience in fighting crime is being a ``neighborhood block security co-chairman.'' Sen. Walker, on the other hand, established the Virginia State Crime Commission and served as its chairman for over 13 years.
Sen. Walker, as chairman of the General Government Subcommittee of the Senate Finance Committee, adopted an important ``anti-crime package'' that included additional funds for law enforcement, criminal prosecution, increased penalties and crime prevention. This directly resulted in Norfolk getting four additional paralegals and five senior assistant Commonwealth Attorneys.
Under Sen. Walker's leadership, Virginia became the first state to introduce DNA testing. Sen. Walker also introduced legislation establishing the Forensic Science Bureau and the Forensic Science Academy to train law enforcement officers in the collection of evidence.
The current administration that Mr. Rerras claims is tough against crime proposed cutting $10 million in revenue sharing for police departments. Sen. Walker successfully fought to restore these funds of which Norfolk will receive $1 million. Sen. Walker also supported legislation that moved state troopers from behind desks to our highways and communities. I think that if you examine the facts and compare the history of crime fighting, there's no question that Sen. Stanley Walker is a leader in fighting crime, not only for the 6th District but for all of Virginia.
Lewis W. Hurst
Chincoteague
(Mr. Hurst is former executive director of the Virginia State Crime Commission, former vice chairman of the Virginia Parole Board, and a former lieutenant and head of the Narcotics Division in the Norfolk Police Department.) A call for decisive action
Having recently been a victim of a drive-by shooting, I have a few observations I would like to make.
We have the finest police department in this area. The level of professionalism and dedication I observed during this incident is as high now as it was 30 years ago. However, the liberal ideas that have been foisted upon us have hogtied our police officers with their own handcuffs.
It surprises me that we still find people willing to do this job as their level of frustration nearly approaches my own. Despite good leads in this very traumatic case, it seems little can be done to investigate for fear of lawsuits in the name of protecting the civil rights of criminals.
So-called neighborhood watch programs are useless unless the neighbors get up off their recliners, lift their shades and start reporting suspicious people and vehicles in the neighborhood. By confronting three armed teenagers skulking around my home at 3 a.m., I wind up a week later with nine bullet holes in my home, shattered windows and a very frightened wife.
Not one person to my knowledge called 911. Shame on you and your bunker mentality!
The main road through my neighborhood is a racetrack - 25 mph is a joke. Yet we are told ``the city allows it to be a `safety valve' for Little Creek Road.'' I say we pay way too many taxes to be a convenience for irresponsible people too lazy to wait for a few traffic lights, who throw their trash in our yards and speed through in defiance of the law and have total disregard for the genteel character of our neighborhood.
We will be presenting a petition soon to close off this road to all but residents. I expect, no I demand, that the city accede to our wishes before someone is killed, either by a reckless driver or some coward who feels he can intimidate people by violating the sanctity of their home by gunfire. Finally, let's allow the brave men and women of our police to do the job we ask of them before we all must surrender our lives and property to the sociopathic miscreants in our midst.
R.W. Simon
Heutte Drive Educational problems
I cannot agree with the Norfolk schools' superintendent, who blames the lack of our students' success on parents alone.
Our children spend six to seven hours daily in school; their work habits are greatly influenced by those of their teachers. Many teachers simply give reading assignments to be followed up with true/ false quizzes that can be graded in a minimum of time. There is very little communication in such a setting, and students become bored and frustrated.
Children like to be active; they should be encouraged to discuss subject matter and problems in class to assure comprehension and to maintain open communication with the teacher. They should also be taught to write about the subject matters taught because writing, too, is a form of communication with the teacher.
About 50 percent of high school graduates in Virginia cannot pass the college entrance exams in English and writing because they have not been taught to write in high school. Most teachers still give multiple choice tests even on literature because these tests can be graded quickly with the help of score cards.
Yes, parents do need to get involved. They should visit their children's classrooms more often, participate in PTA meetings and help elect school board members who promote a better grading system.
In Virginia, all high school students must have a 70 percent score in core subjects or fail. Some have to repeat classes several times before they can graduate. Why not maintain a 60 percent level like Maryland and North Carolina have held for years? Our students could then pursue more marketable subjects in computer and business fields to help them find good jobs after graduation. Many schools have a large amount of computers; yet not all teachers use them. Why not? Because some still have no computer skills!
We do not need to spend our tax dollars on more experimental programs; let's spend it on good teachers, on teachers and administrators who will inspire students and work with their parents.
Ruth Nordbow
Virginia Beach by CNB