THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 21, 1996 TAG: 9604190190
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Long : 271 lines
It's a beautiful April morning in Portsmouth.
Recently retired, I drove to see my adorable niece in Cradock near Afton Village and to return to her my precious grand-niece, Ashlyn, after a short visit with Great Grandma Nana.
I took a turn around Afton Square to savor memories of my happy childhood in Cradock. From Alexander Park to Highland Biltmore and on to Mayflower Park, my parents moved after World War II. They began a life together in an upstairs flat near Afton Square. My blissful babyhood memories do not match what I see today.
I long to see happy, secure young families decently housed for a reasonable cost. The plot on which Fairwood Homes stands today already has good water and gas piped into each house. There are sidewalks and the houses are sturdily constructed.
The city could sell a house and grounds for the fee of renovation, as was similarly done in Olde Towne. The breadwinners in the family can work in the new regional correctional facility under construction near Victory Boulevard. Others might find employment in neighborhood schools and businesses founded because of the renovation and renewed prosperity of (Fairwood) Alexander Park.
Perhaps, the young people who wander the streets have not been positively noticed. Their potential for good works is enormous. The Cradock crowd is a cohesive bunch. Many children who grew up there remain and in the hearts of others remains great fondness for the neighborhood. This neighborhood bond can be useful in rebuilding the area.
When I was curious and young, I toured an intentionally isolated community near Richmond. Their ideal of total equality was admirable but their living conditions were deplorable. Although they were fed and clothed, their existence was meager. It seemed that the ideas of a few flourished while the mass of the group lived in squalor.
The community had erected an elaborate miniature educational facility accessible only to children. (At that time, there were no children in the community).
It is my personal view that the benefit of their costly project was minimal. I express now, as then, dismay over some of Portsmouth's pet projects which are nice but overlook the grand needs of the population. It is Portsmouth's people who are her greatest resource. They need and deserve attention to their basic economic needs.
Mary C. McPherson White
Leonard Road
April 11, 1996
Editor's note: Fairwood Homes is not now owned by the city but by a private business corporation. Sweep out incumbents
The time has come to put the old out and the new in - spring cleaning.
All of the candidates that are running for re-election should know why citizens of Portsmouth will not re-elect them. Many times I have seen and heard the elderly and young people come before this council and all they did was turn a deaf ear to them. Now, it's our turn to make sure you do not return to office.
You cannot buy a good pair of shoes downtown anymore. Look at city malls. If these candidates are re-elected, Portsmouth will become a shanty town. Citizens said no - no to the jail house, neighborhood help, Washington Park's lead problem - no response.
Policemen and firemen cannot find money to do things. We do not need an inlet to High Street.
Many times I have seen the elderly and young standing before these candidates and they leave in tears. Well, you don't have to shed another tear.
May 1996, remember these candidates with your no vote. Now you have the power to spring clean with a new broom - your vote.
Clyde Toler
Blair Street
April 6, 1996 Disgruntled taxpayer
I recently had the privilege of going to General District Court over a dispute. You see, I am a landlord who pays taxes on time, keeps my properties in top condition, provides regular maintenance and insists that my tenants respect my property and the property of others.
Once in a while I will have to deal with disrespect, abuse to the property and myself, deliberate damages and general apathy.
On some occasions, I will have to take these matters to court. It has been my experience that the court fails to realize the revenue other property owners and myself bring to this city.
With Portsmouth being on the threshold of success with ``Vision 2005,'' I feel the need to suggest that the court amend its bias judgment against the property owners and taxpayers. Oops! I meant ``salary payers.''
Joseph McSweeney
Craford Place
April 15, 1996 Ethical questions
I have attended some of the forum meetings and listened to the candidates for City Council answer questions put to them by the citizens. Also, I have been reading letters to the editor in the Currents. There have been many questions and many letters regarding the Ethics Commission that Cameron Pitts has tried to establish for our city.
I have done some research and would like to pass on the to the citizens the purpose of the Ethics Commission. It would specifically be concerned with the compliance of the Conflict of Interest Act, Human Rights Act and the Freedom of Information Act. The Ethics Commission would cover actions by elected officials, as well as the administration and would serve as an advisory group as well as exposure to unethical activities and practices. The City Council minutes reflect, each time the Ethics Commission is voted on, it has been tabled and defeated by four votes consisting of Hawks, Martin, Robinett and Webb.
Mr. Benn also stated at a forum, which was held at Highland Baptist Church on Tuesday, April 16, that he opposed to an Ethics Commission.
I ask the citizens of Portsmouth, if everything is ethical at City Hall and if there is nothing unethical to hide, why are these five individuals so opposed to an Ethics Commission to serve our people?
Madalyn Morris-Grimes
Florida Avenue
April 17, 1996 Dignity in cemetary
Many thanks to Ida Kay Jordan for the accolades in her column recently concerning the restoration efforts in Cedar Grove Cemetery. Much has been done and much, much remains to be accomplished.
There are many other folks who need a pat on the back for their assistance and interest in beginning the restoration of this woefully neglected historical site. Included among them are Assistant City Manager Timothy Little, Dr. Lydia Patton, Paul Forehand and Sue Burton from the city staff. Also, the crew of the USS Blount and Sheriff Gary Waters for their assistance.
The men of the Stonewall Camp No. 380, Sons of Confederate Veterans, continue to volunteer their time and labor removing and resetting stones. Also, Barnabus Baker, Bill Blake and Gyerl May who have done much of the historic research.
Of course, those of you who bought a granite paperweight, I hope will purchase ``Porter's History of Norfolk County, 1861-1865'' from us when it becomes available in early May. Each of you have made a contribution to the much needed beginning. And I should not forget Miss Pitty Pat's who is handling most of the paper weight sales and Pfeiffer's Books for hosting our forthcoming book debut on March 17-18. All those proceeds are earmarked for this project.
But, this is just the beginning. We need more help. If there are any organizations that care to lend us a hand please call me at 488-1397. They say you can judge the character of a city the condition of its cemeteries. With your help, we can restore the dignity to this one.
On behalf of the Stonewall Camp No. 380, again I thank those who are helping in this endeavor. We invite you all to participate in the Memorial Day Ceremonies in Cedar Grove Cemetery at 1:45 p.m. on May 27. We shall unveil the memorial to the CSS Virginia at that time. At the conclusion of the ceremony, historical tours of the cemetery will be conducted by Bill and Edith Blake. We look forward to seeing you there.
And last but not least, we thank Ida Kay Jordan, who, on several occasions, has championed the cause through her weekly editorials.
M.H. Morris
Commander
Stonewall Camp No. 380
April 15, 1996 Grave desecrated
The dictionary defines ``desecrate'' as ``. . . to treat disrespectfully, irreverently or outrageously.'' In that respect, my father's grave was desecrated this past weekend. No slogans were scrawled across his tombstone, nor was it pushed over or the grave site dug up. What did occur was the removal of an arrangement holder that was in place at the foot of his veteran's marker. We visited his grave Easter Sunday at the Olive Branch Cemetery in Portsmouth to place a new arrangement of flowers to mark the coming of spring.
What greeted us was an empty hole where the metal holder we had used for over a year should have been. The hole was as fresh as if someone had removed the container that morning. A quick look around led us to a nearby gravesite where the holder was jammed into the ground with an arrangement of daisies stuck in it. The holder still had dirt clinging to its sides.
Our first reaction was to removed the flowers and place it where it rightfully belonged. However, that action would have put us in the shoes of the person who desecrated my father's grave. It would have show disrespect for the person who was buried there. That person had performed no act of stealth. We might possibly have been driven to that end had we not had the foresight to bring along a new container and the material to hold an arrangement. You see, this is not the first time we have been a victim of this particular type of crime. I know we are not alone in our victimization. Others have suffered worse. The incident brought to mind the family that had a special Christmas sleigh decoration stolen from the grave of their beloved daughter and sister this past season.
What goes through the mind of a person performing such an act? ``...Well, it's not holding anything right no so I'll just take it and use it for myself. These people will never miss it.'' Granted, the cost of a new container is minimal and won't bankrupt us, but yes, we did miss it.
Do people ever stop to think about the emotional impact on people when they steal something from the resting place of a loved one? We honor the memory of our forebears, not just by thinking of them but by decorating their graves at special times of the year. That person desecrated one grave to decorate another. Would the person buried there condone such an act? I would hope not.
To anyone who would contemplate any such act, please stop and think of the impact on the family of the deceased. Check the dumpsters for a container that someone has discarded and no longer needs. Better yet, they should go buy their own! There are several places within a few miles where these things can be purchased.
It's a shame they can't buy new morals while they are at it.
Wanda Y. Neff
Ebbtide Lane
April 8, 1996 Clerk's office a disgrace.
I'm 89 years old and a registered voter. I was disturbed when I read in the newspaper and saw on television the condition the city clerk's office was in; it just made me sick.
I just can't believe that Walter M. ``Square'' Edmonds' office was in such bad shape that it will require a commissioner from the Supreme Court along with two part-time employees at taxpayers' expense. Edmonds is the highest paid constitutional officer in this city making more than $85,000 a year.
Ironically, we heard about how malfunctioning that office was and all of these inadequacies were pointed out during the last campaign which failed on deaf ears and still a very small majority of die-hard syndicates voted him right back in office. Where is the outcry for Mr. Edmonds?
We need a recall. Come on Portsmouth, we deserve better and let us not make this mistake at the polls this election, May 7.
Lelia L. Barnes
Highland Avenue
April 17, 1996 Nurses aides underpaid
I'm writing this letter in regards to the thousands of nurses aides in hospitals and nursing homes. There are a lot of us who are not getting the pay that we deserve.
We are closer to the patients and the residents than the doctors are; we are responsible for reporting any physical marks and monitoring their behavior. The starting pay for a nurses assistant is $5.25 to $5.50 an hour. Now with heavy lifting, bathing, feeding, showering and a lot of other things the job requires, we should get paid more than what we are getting.
There's no union, we really don't have anyone we can talk to regarding a new pay rate. Even though some nursing homes pay by experience, I still feel that the starting salary should be $6 an hour.
There are a lot of single parents who are raising children and there are a lot of women who are on welfare trying to make it and if they are working as nurses aides, the money that they do make is not enough. Due to the new law that has passed concerning welfare recipients, they shouldn't be cut off until after their probationary period is over because anything can happen in 90 days. You could be fired from that job. If this should happen, then you would have to re-apply.
The nurses aides are not given enough recognition for their work, you might get a little pin or maybe make employee of the month, but that is not enough. We need to know that we are important and that we make a difference. If this letter is published, I hope it will give the readers a better understanding of how hard and stressful our jobs can be and maybe show some compassion. To those at City Hall, you should really think about nurses aides because we could be taking care of your mothers or fathers.
Denise Robinson
April 10, 1996 Why endorse Holley?
I read in your newspaper the other day, that the retired police and firefighters association in Portsmouth have endorsed James Holley as its candidate in the upcoming City Council election.
My question is why?
It was only a few years ago, that Mr. Holley was the mayor of Portsmouth and the citizens signed petitions recalling his election and threw him out for misconduct in office - for abusing the taxpayers' money among other things. Surely, these people remember this. What promises has Mr. Holley made to them that the would give him their support?
I don't like the present mayor either but for lack of better candidates, I would be compelled to vote for her as opposed to Mr. Holley. If Mr. Holley is voted in again as mayor, then the people of Portsmouth will get what they pay for and whatever Mr. Holley pays for. Our city has to be in bad shape, when honorable men and women who served our city well in the past, are forced to support someone such as Mr. Holley. It is truly a shame there are no other qualified candidates out there to oppose Mrs. Webb.
C.W. Catlett
Blance Drive
April 9, 1996 by CNB