THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, February 9, 1996 TAG: 9602080143
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 47 lines
Sandbridge taxpayers are city residents, too
I was shocked to read a letter recently written by Donna Pohl regarding Sandbridge beach (Jan. 19 Beacon). Before anyone assumes I am one of the ``rich crybabies'' that live down there, I am not. I am a resident of Virginia Beach, which happens to include Sandbridge.
Like Ms. Pohl, many people in this town believe we should let Sandbridge wash out to sea, because people shouldn't build on the water. Should we let the Boardwalk and hotels at the ``Oceanfront'' wash out to sea? What about all the homes at the North End? Why not let Mother Nature take her course with everything?
Of course, the answer to this is that the motel owners value their property, as do the residents of Sandbridge. No matter where you build, there are risks. I would be willing to bet that if a hurricane leveled Ms. Pohl's home she would take advantage of the federal aid offered, even though we all know Virginia Beach is in a hurricane region.
Many of the people who resent the spending in Sandbridge may not be aware of the revenue it generates. In addition to property taxes, there are rental taxes paid each time a house is rented. All summer long tourists flock to Sandbridge, which is truly a family-oriented beach. These families spend money in our stores, eat in our restaurants and often return to the same house year after year. This income is not offset by money spent by the city for libraries or recreation centers, which Sandbridge does not have.
Ms. Pohl believes that living here 10 years gives her the right to complain about Sandbridge. What about the rights of the many residents whose properties have been there 20 years and more? My Grandmother visited Sandbridge as a little girl 70 years ago and I hope that if I have grandchildren they will be able to visit there, too.
All this bickering, name calling and blaming between areas of the Beach is holding us back as a city. We need to spend as much time and effort in finding solutions to all of our collective problems, as we do tearing each other down to get what we feel we deserve. Then, I believe, Virginia Beach would be a much better place.
Lynn Newcomb Melton
Virginia Beach by CNB