THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, May 5, 1996 TAG: 9605040088
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 25 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
SOURCE: BY D.L. MALONEY
LENGTH: Medium: 51 lines
Resident likens the resort city to police state
I am writing in response the the April 8 Virginian-Pilot article, ``It's the Law.'' As a Virginia Beach resident, I can't express my disgust and dismay at the kind of ``police state'' our city has descended to because it is beyond words.
It seems to me that if the City Council isn't planning on ways to rape our neighborhoods of its woodlands, tearing down trees and laying concrete for ``development,'' then it's busy telling its over-taxed, under-represented residents what they can and can't do and how much it will cost us. I find it hard to believe that the council can't find more important things to do with their time and our taxes than to burden us with, and in essence, depriving us of using and enjoying the fun activities that Virginia Beach ``prides itself on as a premier resort area.''
The partial list of ordinances printed in this article (out of 132) was incredible. That there is such a list of such petty issues is just preposterous. Yes, there should be a degree of rules to ensure the public safety, but these rules should be pertinent, not petty. To say that these ordinances are there to enforce ``voluntary compliance' is the ultimate oxymoron. Obviously these are not simple rules asking for compliance, these are laws with fines and possible jail time, if compliance is not met.
What harm is there in sleeping for a night on our beaches - enjoying the seashore for its sound of the ocean, or smell of salt air? What harm is there if young tourists who do not have the resources to pay $100 for a hotel room, sleep in their own vehicle so that they may have money to spend on other things? These trivial ordinances do no good but to deprive people of enjoying basic amenities.
Virginia Beach depends largely on tourism for revenue. Visitors from all over the world come here to enjoy our oceanfront and have fun. It seems, according to this list of ordinances, fun is the last thing the City Council wants people to have. What an inconvenience it has become to live in Virginia Beach. What an un-ideal place to vacation. Perhaps copies of the 132 voluntary compliance list should be posted in all our hotels and chambers of commerce to help increase our tourist population as well as public safety awareness. Virginia Beach welcome signs should say, ``Welcome to Virginia Beach . . . Big Brother is Watching.'' by CNB