THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 19, 1995 TAG: 9510170067
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
City's answer is all wet
I live in Overbrook and have had drainage problems from water for years. It has caused settlement problems of my home, plus other damage.
I have contacted the city on this matter quite a few times. They keep promising that something will be done, but I would like to know when. Maybe after I'm dead and gone? The city can put all kinds of money downtown but can't help a citizen who has lived in Norfolk 72 years. I would like for water to rise up to half an inch of coming into Mayor Fraim's home, or any of the council members', but that would be another story, as they would do something about it. My wife and I are in our 70s, living on Social Security and cannot afford to move.
The city promised in June of 1992 to run new sewer lines in front and to my home. I signed a paper giving them permission. They stopped one block from my home. The answer I got from the city was that they did not appropriate enough money for this project. Anyone knows that before you start a project you get bids for the project.
I talked to Mayor Fraim and he sent a representative to talk to me - but no results. They are running new sewer lines in two or three places now but don't have the money to do it here. They do have the money to bail out Nauticus, though. If I signed a contract with the city to do certain things, they would hold my feet to the fire until I did it. Why don't they honor their commitment?
E.L. Gibson
Oklahoma Avenue
Nauticus is worth saving
City Council was right to continue support for Nauticus. It takes money to make money and while Nauticus is new, it is nevertheless a beautiful asset to our city. It is educational, informative and entertaining.
If you have not tried it, don't knock it. Do offer your suggestions from the similar attractions across our country and soon our Nauticus will be second to none.
Grace I. Haworth
13th Bay Street
Call for an investigation
It's time the Norfolk citizenry gets a peek inside its Nauticus can of worms.
I'm betting that if the capacity in which Nauticus officials interact with Norfolk City Council seat-holders and vice versa (lender, benefactor, supplier of services, etc.) were investigated, some interesting and unethical, if not illegal, bedfellows would be found.
As a tax-paying Norfolk resident, I say that another $2 million a year tax debt ought not only to vacate some city officeholder seats, it'll likely vacate some owner-occupied residences.
Eugene Radtke
Taylor Drive
Thanks, Officer Warren
On the morning of Sept. 21, I left my house to go to work and found the new car we had purchased just the night before covered with paint.
I called the non-emergency number to report the incident and requested that an officer be sent to the house. In a very short time, Officer Phillip R. Warren was knocking on my door.
Officer Warren quickly took control of our situation. He instructed me to back my car up and bring out a garden hose. As I turned on the water, Officer Warren began spraying the paint off our car. He washed off two gallons of latex paint. When he was through, there was not a speck of paint to be seen, and the finish of the car was unmarred.
Were it not for Officer Warren and his timely appearance, I'm sure our car would have been damaged. There is no way my husband and I can thank Officer Warren enough.
It is nice living in a city where a police officer will take the time to be a friend in the community.
Debbie Landreth
Spotswood Avenue by CNB