THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, April 19, 1996 TAG: 9604180167
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
Let me give you an example of why the residents of Virginia Beach should vote no to the status quo when they vote the second time this May on how we will elect our council-persons.
I live in North Virginia Beach. We have been very concerned about the hurricane Protection Project (a cost of over $500 million over the next 50 years - 65 percent paid by the federal government and 35 percent paid by Virginia Beach). In an effort to determine how the residents of the area felt about this project, the civic league sent out over 2,000 questionnaires (1,000 were returned). The residents opposed the project by nine to one.
We don't know how our councilman will vote because even though the bids for the first phase of the project are going to be let this spring, we have been told that we can't see the project cooperation agreement because it is not finalized and therefore confidential. City Council and the Army Corps of Engineers must sign this agreement before the project begins. As far as we know, City Council has not voted on the project cooperation agreement.
Suppose our councilman votes for the project. If he is elected by all the voters of our city, which is how it is now done, he could vote for the project and therefore against the wishes of his borough and still be re-elected even though the voters of his borough were opposed to his vote.
I want the ability to hold my councilman's ``feet to the fire'' if he doesn't represent my views. In the present system he can completely disregard the wishes of the people in his borough. That's not representing his borough! Let's say no to the status quo and force our seven borough council-persons to listen to the borough they represent.
Roger L. Visser
Virginia Beach Adjust new district lines
I find that some of the new boundary lines between voting precincts now called ``districts'' (i.e. boroughs) in Virginia Beach need some adjustments.
The old Beach borough has been split. A logical and traditional boundary would be to place all of the resort area in one voting district. In the old Lynnhaven borough, the traditional voting area of Trantwood precinct has been arbitrarily split along a single street, splitting a contiguous and cohesive neighborhood. A logical position for such a split would be Wolfsnare Creek, a natural barrier, or Virginia Beach Boulevard, a major thoroughfare as a dividing line.
Harold P. Clark
Virginia Beach Cox earned recognition
I write to commend the Cox High School community - parents, students, faculty, staff and administration - on Cox High's selection by Redbook Magazine as the best all-around high school in the state.
In a time when we have heard many negatives about our school system, central administration, and school board, we would be wise to remember that exemplary work appropriate for national recognition continues.
As a citizen of the Cox High Planning Council, I commend all those whose wish is reflected in the marvelous award!
E.T. ``Joe'' Buchanan
Virginia Beach Too many red lights run
I am writing in regard to the March 29 Beacon letter from Michael Harrison (red light runners). I agree with him. I was out shopping one Saturday and I counted six people in different areas of the city who blatantly ran a red light.
The accidents that occur from red light runners are worse because they are going at such high speeds (to make the light) and hit a car that is practically at a dead stop. Whatever happened to the idea of installing cameras on traffic lights to catch these people who violate this law?
Susan Cintron
Virginia Beach by CNB