THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, November 10, 1995 TAG: 9511100018
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A18 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 34 lines
Score another blow to regional cooperation. Norfolk City Council hopes to ``lure locals to Nauticus'' (read city of Norfolk residents only) by offering free parking. It's interesting how the council defines ``local'' in a market that hopes to jointly build tourism as an economic base.
My husband and I live just inside the Virginia Beach border. He is stationed at Norfolk Naval Base. I am a full-time graduate student and part-time worker at Old Dominion University. Recently we hosted out-of-town relatives for a visit to Nauticus and lunch at Waterside, as we have done before. We frequently dine in Norfolk's restaurants and participate in events at Waterside.
We are not asking for free parking. We are just amazed that our city governments still don't get it. We, like most of our friends, neighbors and co-workers, consider ourselves residents of Hampton Roads and conduct business (and spend money) in various cities throughout the area on a daily basis. Is a Norfolk resident who frequents (and spends money) in the Virginia Beach resort area, at Greenbrier Mall or the Commodore Theater not considered a ``local''?
Whenever one of the city councils makes a distinction between residents along these political borders that have no bearing on our day-to-day reality, we are both insulted and reminded how sorely this area's economic and social opportunities are limited by the narrow minds of local politicians.
ELIZABETH M. WITHERSPOON
Virginia Beach, Nov. 1, 1995 by CNB