THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, January 4, 1996 TAG: 9512300131
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Long : 162 lines
On Dec. 19, at 5:15 p.m., a brown van with Virginia license tags ZUX 2400 jumped the concrete curb that divides the beginning of the 44 West on-ramp from Newtown Road North and then proceeded to run the red light in the Newtown Road and Center Drive intersection.
At that same moment, I was driving through that intersection. I slammed on the brakes to avoid being hit by the van and honked my horn. An instant later I was rear-ended by the car behind me. The van never stopped.
Stopping smack in the middle of one of Norfolk's busiest intersections didn't seem like a bright idea, so the gentleman who hit me suggested we pull into the Exxon station right there to check our cars for damage. Fortunately, having just begun accelerating from a dead stop, our bumpers had absorbed the impact of the collision, and there was no damage. However, both of us were very angry that the driver of the van didn't bother to stop. We decided to call the Norfolk Police Department to file a complaint.
Five minutes later I was on the phone with the Norfolk Police Department getting the run-around. I was told that since the accident hadn't happened ``just then'' the driver of the van was probably long gone. The woman who initially answered the telephone refused to take my complaint.
When I wouldn't take no for an answer, she transferred me to her supervisor. The supervisor actually had the gall to tell me it wasn't the van's fault for causing the accident - it was the gentleman behind me.
The accident would never have occurred if the driver of the van had not recklessly jumped a divider and run a red light. I demanded that they put out a broadcast for the reckless driver, and the supervisor transferred me to an officer. After going through the story once again for the officer's benefit, he told me it was too late to do anything.
I complained, stating that the driver had already caused one accident and would most likely cause more if the police didn't apprehend him or her immediately. Finally, the officer took down the tag information. But when he said he didn't need any of my personal information, I knew he wasn't serious about putting out a broadcast on the van; he was simply placating me to get me off the telephone.
I think the Norfolk Police Department just doesn't care anymore.
Claire P. Rowland
7717 Cortlandt Place Against MacArthur Center
There is now so much controversy surrounding the proposed MacArthur Center shopping mall and for good reasons, some of which have been exposed in recent Virginian-Pilot articles.
First and foremost is the simple but all-important issue of trust. The citizens of Norfolk, again with good reason, have grown distrustful of the Norfolk city government. Nauticus is only the most overrated and overused example.
A relatively recent article that should cause alarm, or at least curiosity, detailed the vast amount of city-owned property in downtown Norfolk. It seems obvious that city officials feel that they can do whatever they wish with this valuable property without public input.
The Department of Development and City Council's decision to build this tremendous ``upscale'' shopping center on downtown's infamous yet promising ``17 acres'' is, to put it mildly, dubious.
Norfolk is to be commended for many things downtown - Harbor Park, TCC, Harrison Opera House and the recent announcements of the New York Times and Coast Guard moves among other things. But a huge indoor shopping mall, paid for by questionable means (HUD funds and who-knows-how-many taxpayer dollars) is a tremendous step backward.
Perhaps Norfolk's Department of Development should swallow a bit of its considerable pride and look to Virginia Beach for a moment. The Beach's recent rezoning decision for the Pembroke area, which will attempt to help build a downtown similar to the one Norfolk already has, is an ironic proposition. By building a new mall that is (to paraphrase) ``more upscale than Lynnhaven Mall,'' Norfolk would be effectively bringing Virginia Beach-like suburbia to downtown. How short-sighted and downright boring.
Norfolk has often rightfully expounded about how it is the urban core of Hampton Roads and how only a healthy urban center can guarantee the prosperity of its region. This scenario has proven to be true throughout the country. We all realize that commercial income leads to a large tax base, which is necessary for a city to be formidable. But there is another necessary component that often seems to be overlooked by Norfolk's decision-makers: People.
Sometimes when I am in downtown Norfolk now, it actually seems like a real city - but without the people. Whether a huge suburban-type mall will finally bring people downtown is an enormously expensive, spacious and risky question. It is a question that these city officials are all too willing to continue to try to answer on behalf on Norfolk's citizens, taxpayers and voters.
Why should we sterilize the region's only real downtown by promising millions of dollars to companies based across the country?
Why destroy the progress made by other public and private downtown developments that have helped re-invigorate the area as a pedestrian-friendly urban landscape replete with private business, dining and shopping opportunities?
The city of Norfolk unveiled a plan to build a ``community'' from scratch in East Ocean View. Well, there are 17 acres of land right downtown that would make an ideal location for such construction.
People who do not work or live in a downtown area visit such places to get a feel for and be a part of a true urban environment: to walk on the streets, browse, shop and dine. This is what Norfolk, to some extent, already offers that none of the other Hampton Roads suburbs - er, cities - can.
Norfolk needs to take pride in both what it is and what it is not. It is the urban core of the region with much room to grow in that regard. It is not former farmland upon which we should hastily erect some 21st century strip mall and cross our fingers.
It is never too late to stop a huge mistake.
Matt Salzberg
Spotswood Avenue Thanks for the help
The Board of Directors of the Equi-Kids Therapeutic Riding Program wishes to extend their thanks to the many individuals and businesses who supported our program in 1995.
Volunteers gave hundreds of hours assisting with the riding lessons, caring for the program horses and ponies and fund-raising. We would not exist without them.
With their help we were able to serve over 40 riders for each of the five sessions of lessons. Many of these riders now are showing on local and state levels. Thanks to the dedicated parents and students of Equi-Kids. Thanks to the owners of loaned horses and ponies who give so much joy to these children and adults.
Beginning in January 1996 full-time staffing will become a reality for the first time in our history, and we are excited that our waiting list clients will be incorporated into the lesson schedule soon thereafter.
Barbara S. Ford
Executive director
EQUI-KIDS Therapeutic
Riding Program
Virginia Beach Looking for some help
The article, ``Sir! Yes Sir!'' written by Jon Glass and published Dec. 2 in The Virginian-Pilot was very inspirational. So many of our children today have low self-esteem and believe that they will never have a promising future or career.
At Coleman Place Elementary School, we have many new and wonderful ideas that not only reach ``at-risk'' students but also children with different abilities. One of several goals that the school is trying to establish is the purchasing of uniforms for the fifth-grade ROTC cadets. Due to insufficient financial resources, this goal may not be achieved.
We are seeking financial support from a corporation or an organization to enhance our cadets' self worth through the purchase of uniforms. Anyone interested in assisting with our new program is asked to contact our school at 2450 Rush St., Norfolk, Va. 23513, or by phone, 441-5852.
Michele Cross
Guidance counselor
Coleman Place Elementary School Thanks to the police
Larry and Kay Bobbitt were in my antique shop Dec. 9. Larry was still visibly shaken from the recent violent incident while he was on duty as a Norfolk police officer.
We citizens often take our police force for granted losing, sight of the fact that a day at work for a policeman is an eight-hour routine that is potentially life threatening.
On behalf of all Tidewater citizens, I express a much-deserved thanks to Larry and all Tidewater police officers for keeping our homes and streets safe.
G.M. Morelewski
Ashland Circle by CNB