THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 10, 1995 TAG: 9509080228
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letters
LENGTH: Long : 141 lines
Electoral reform item on May 3 ballot `a flawed half-measure'
Unlike two recent letter writers (``Voters (not grumps) OK'd electoral reform,'' Aug. 27), I voted against their ``reform'' package.
I am in favor of real electoral reform, but the item on the ballot on May 3, 1994, was a flawed half-measure. First, it would only shift disproportionate power from Blackwater to Kempsville. Not only would they get their councilmanic seats; they would get the biggest role in deciding the at-large seats.
Second, there would still be at-large seats under the ``reform'' plan. At-large seats in a city as large as Virginia Beach take plenty of money to campaign for, giving a big edge to monied interests.
What we need is a system of councilmanic districts only, with no at-large seats. The smaller the districts and the number of voters to be reached, the easier it would be for ordinary citizens to wage winning campaigns.
Eric Knapp
Virginia Beach
City should stop trying to avoid
result of reform referendum
This is in reference to John T. Atkinson's letter, ``Switch to wards is not yet a done deal in Virginia Beach - and shouldn't be'' (Beacon, Aug. 20). I disagree with most of his reasons for not having a so-called ward system.
First, he wants to spend tax dollars (to which I contribute heavily) to educate the voters. I could take that as a personal insult, but I will just consider the fact that like many other bureaucrats, Mr. Atkinson, who is treasurer of Virginia Beach, underestimates the intelligence of the voters.
He is also afraid that the Justice Department will consider the city racist. For the life of me I can't figure out that statement. In recent years, the ``R'' word has been used when a person or a group does not have solid facts to back up their position. They know that throwing out the ``R'' word scares a lot of people, especially politicians and bu-reau-crats.
Next, Mr. Atkinson wants to set up a referendum. The results of one are already available from the May 1994 polls.
In May 1994, voters approved a change to Virginia Beach's councilmanic election system. Of those who went to the polls, 91 percent responded to the referendum; and of those, nearly 53 percent endorsed the plan. It also won in eight of the 11 voting districts.
Why isn't it now the law? Because six Beach legislators fought the bill and the result was an unsatisfactory compromise. If the Beach legislators had been supportive, it would have easily passed the General As-sem-bly.
Mr. Atkinson states that he wants to vote for all 11 council members and if the system isn't broke don't fix it. The problem is, it is broke. The council member whom you should know best is the one in your district. That person can be held more accountable to the voters when elected by a district.
In case Mr. Atkinson has forgotten or over-looked the fact, all state and federal politicians are elected by so-called wards. We are restricted in the number of congressmen, state senators and delegates for whom we may cast a vote. To the best of my knowledge the only politician that we can vote for who is not in a ward system is the president of the United States.
So come on, council members: Bend to the will of the voters and don't waste any more of our tax dollars by trying to educate your under-educated citizens. I am sure if the voters had not approved the May 1994 referendum, many politicians and bureaucrats would have said what an intelligent group of voters we have in this city.
James E. Laughlin
Shenstone Circle
Unimpressed by introduction
to Assembly aspirant Phil Geib
With the waning of the summer season we are faced with the waving of the political season. I have just received my first political
advertisement through the mercurial delivery of bulk mail.
Sent by one Phil Geib, whoever he is, it tells me that our incumbent delegate, Mr. Leo Wardrup, does not like senior citizens. Personally, I find that an overstretching of the imagination. But I did glean from this political masterpiece that the author does not believe in fiscal responsibility, so I assume his campaign theme song will be, ``Hello, Big Spender.''
It was disappointing that Geib did not take the time in his first mailing to identify himself and his qualifications for public office. I assume he is probably a lawyer and they are as numerous in politics as summer flies around my city-owned trash can. Personally, I think this guy is driving on soft tires.
C. W. Carr
Bunker Hill Lane
Cost, protection spur opposition
by North End to hurricane plan
As an owner of property at the North End, I can't tell you how annoyed I was at the first belittling of our objections to the proposed Hurricane Protection Plan in The Virginian-Pilot article Aug. 14. Even more irritating was Beacon Editorial Page Editor Beth Barber's Aug. 27 column, ``Stormy Whether.''
Implied was that our concerns are superficial, with no more substance than the possible loss of an ``ocean view'' or ``private walkover.'' North End residents were made to sound petty, and our interests self-serving.
What are the real concerns of the North End?
One is cost. Estimated from 1993, the initial expense would be $92 million, a figure easily inflated using today's dollars, and an additional $10 million each year for maintenance ($500 million over the projected life span of 50 years).
Another concern is protection. I have heard the project is only effective for a category 3 storm or less. An expensive proposal with a short life, the Hurricane Protection Plan guarantees little with the exception of taxes.
And while the city would like desperately to have Uncle Sam pitch in, the plan must show that the property is worth twice as much as the project will cost. The better the numbers, the better the chances for the plan. As a means to getting those federal dollars, the numbers have been artificially inflated by including the North End. But because there really isn't a need, the North End would get little or nothing. The plan is dishonest. Despite project engineer Jack Usher's claim that he sees ``nothing wrong with that. It's good business,'' it is wrong to purposely manipulate numbers to be misleading.
City Council needs to reconcile the South End's ``champagne tastes'' with a ``beer budget,'' beginning with the elimination of expensive surplus items in the plan.
This is a project everyone will pay for, not just taxpayers in Virginia Beach. The federal dollars to pay for this project will come from people all over the United States who pay income tax, whether they benefit or not.
Isabelle Clarke
Gwynn, Va.
Local Heat team did city proud
in AAU basketball championship
Sixty-six baseball teams from throughout the country paraded into the stadium while the torch was being lit to signify the start of the games for the 1995 U-11 AAU National Basketball Championships recently. The Virginia Beach Heat was not considered a serious contender but quickly gained respect when they defeated the No. 3 seed in the first round.
The following 11-year-old boys participated: Mike Ballard, John Gilchrist, Stave Haupt, Jacoby Kay, Steve Maloney, Wesley Petticrew, Dave Rodgers, Joe Sargent, Loren Sisson and coached by Steve Strausbaugh.
The Heat finished sixth with a 7-1 record - a great performance since the games were played in Florida and they also had to fight Hurricane Erin.
Herb Taylor
Sandbridge by CNB