THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, April 28, 1996 TAG: 9604260023
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 31 lines
Chesapeake is not a city. Chesapeake is a Bay.
Virginia Beach is not a city. Virginia Beach is a beach.
These are pseudo-cities created from the greed of the good-ol'-boy politicians of Princess Anne and Norfolk counties. They were created to prevent the normal expansion by annexation of the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth. They took the suburban ring around the existing true cities, stirred in some farms and presto! they had instant cities.
Suburban sprawl does not a city make. Cities are not created; they evolve. Cities begin as a settlement; grow into a village; expand into a town; and finally become a viable city.
Let's get rid of these fake cities. East of the Southern Branch should be Norfolk. West of the river, Portsmouth. With this scenario, everyone would have a downtown. Citizens of Virginia Beach and Chesapeake could put away their flashlights; they no longer would have to look in vain for a downtown.
This is the only way to eliminate clash and put in clout.
VINCENT E. LASCARA
Portsmouth, March 30, 1996 by CNB