THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, December 1, 1995 TAG: 9511300148
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
Looks like Virginia Beach's City Council has done it again. Do they make all their decisions while in a comatose condition?
Here comes the Southeastern Expressway again with a new name. This is an insult to the intelligence of the affected home owners. Council member Barbara M. Henley was quoted in the Nov. 17 Beacon saying, ``I don't want to have to live in fear that some City Council will decide (my) property should be industrially developed and I don't want our citizens to live in fear.'' Wake up, Barbara. Council member Baum and other members don't worry. The expressway (parkway) won't be in their back yards.
The proposed highway will cross 10 streams. This will require a considerable amount of concrete. Maybe we can draw all the removed natural resources instead of the usual graffiti on the concrete walls.
Local citizen groups have repeatedly expressed their opposition to this proposed highway. The current and future traffic congestion it is projected to alleviate would not be improved by adding this highway. The interchanges proposed serve no current need and seem only to promote new residential development in the rural areas currently not served by urban infrastructure. A number of existing neighborhoods would be directly impacted; some neighborhoods have been built since the highway was conceived by local planning officials without regard to the impact on this project on the quality of life for those residents.
Citizens in Virginia Beach are befuddled because there are water restrictions and the estimated construction costs are between $350 and $500 million with no identified source of funds. There will be no relief on the areas of traffic congestion and there will definitely be detrimental effects on neighborhoods and the environment.
Terry McElroy
Virginia Beach A rude policeman
On Nov. 8, at about 2:30 p.m., a Virginia Beach motorcycle cop had traffic stopped at the corner of Kempsville Road and Lion's Way to allow the funeral procession of Officer Dan Eaker to pass by. When my 15-year-old son, who was on his way home from school, asked the police officer who had died, he was abruptly told, ``None of your damn business.'' I find this response both offensive and demeaning on the part of the paid public servants and a poor way to honor the memory of Officer Eaker.
Aren't these the same Virginia Beach police who are currently seeking support for higher salaries from the taxpayers? They have now lost the support of this taxpayer, not to mention the way it has changed my son's attitude about police in general.
Linda K. Bennington
Virginia Beach Where the hail are taxis?
For a city that has many visitors, we have inadequate taxi service.
Ten days ago I needed to be at Virginia Beach General Hospital at 6 a.m. for outpatient surgery. I called a taxi service at 486-4304 at 7:30 p.m. for service on the following morning. I was told, ``We can't take an order this far in advance.''
I asked if I should call back the next morning and was told, ``Yes.''
I then called another cab service in Virginia Beach 0605 and got the same ``put off.''
The following morning, I called the first taxi service at 5 a.m. only to be told all their cabs were out - they were assigned to go to the airport. The other cab company gave me the identical response!
I drove myself to the hospital. A friend brought me home at noon. My car sat in the parking lot for 27 hours until I was able to drive it again.
When did those airport travelers arrange for their cabs?
The largest city in Virginia can do better than this!
F.A. Clark
Virginia Beach by CNB