THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 5, 1995 TAG: 9511050004
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 81 lines
Sic the city treasurer on the big spenders
My congratulations to Virginia Beach Treasurer John T. Atkinson on his technological approach to tax col-lec-tion.
Please put him in charge of spending the money he collects. His collection of $1.5 million in personal-property tax hardly makes a dent in the school budget shortfall. If his technology works on income, it may work on expense!
Jim Atwell
80th Street
PBA representative anything but benevolent
I was recently called by a representative of the Police Benevolent Association requesting a contribution to fund training and equipment. I asked that he fax me the information, which he reluctantly did. About two hours later, I received another call asking if I had any questions. My reply was that I hadn't had time to read it and I would get to it as soon as possible. His reply was basically, How much time did I need to read one page? I hung up.
About three days later I received another call asking if I had made up my mind. I again told him I would get to it when I could, that I was a sole proprietor, that I didn't appreciate being badgered and that he was being pushy. His reply to me was, ``If you were in front of my face, I would sling you up against the wall.'' I again hung up. Repeated phone calls to the PBA whose name and address were on the AFL-CIO let-ter-head went unanswered.
I faxed the information to Beach Borough Councilman Linwood Branch, weho advised me he would show the fax to the PBA president. I still have received no apology or explanation from the PBA.
I understand that the PBA is among the groups that hire planes to fly around the beach proclaiming that City Council is cheap in spending taxpayer dollars. If they have money to hire planes that deliver negative messages, why not use it to buy better equipment, train people or at the very least hire people capable of carrying on a friendly conversation and returning phone calls?
I would caution anyone who is approached by the PBA to be sure they are giving to a worthy cause. Any group that employs strongarm tactics to raise questionably needed funds ought to be closely scrutinized, especially if it is employing people who threaten potential donors.
Are the Virginia Beach police aware of the crude and unprofessional PBA tactics? They should be concerned - very concerned.
Tom Clark
Virginia Beach
A fine bit of police work by a fine force
Recently, while I was mowing grass at my church here in Virginia Beach, my gas-powered leaf-blower was taken. A lady driving a schoolbus saw two lads pull into the parking ot. One jumped out and took the blower. The driver of the bus noted the color of the car and the license number and notified me. I notified the police. Officer George Fox took down all the data and through his computer system located the residence of the car's owner.
He and a detective proceeded to the residence. About half an hour later, Officer Fox called me at my home to say that they had recovered the blower. Approximately two hours elapsed between the time the blower was taken and then time I had it back in my possession.
Officer Fox and his accompanying detective need to be highly commended for a job well done. With the wave of negativism going across the country concerning law-enforcement officers, we should be very proud to have this fine police force here in Virginia Beach.
James K. Ramborger
Virginia Beach
A church `go-go bar'? He thinks not
The article about the Virginia Beach United Methodist Church in the Oct. 13 edition of the Beacon was very interesting. However, the headline ``Church has plans for go-go bar,'' was in very poor taste. This headline was misleading and made it sound as though the church was operating a go-go bar, which I found very distasteful.
L. Wirt Walker Sr.
Lynnwood Drive by CNB