THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 8, 1996 TAG: 9605070138
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
The majority of City Council, voted recently (March) to take road improvement funds that were already allocated and transfer them to the design and construction of the Southeastern Expressway. In the past, the city advertised well in advance of council agendas. They, Jim Spore and his staff, failed to do that this time. The vote was supported by Will Sessoms, Linwood Branch, Harold Heischober, Louis Jones, Billy Harrison and Louisa Strayhorn. Why did they not advertise this vote to the people that elected them? Why, when a motion was made and seconded to let the public decide in a voter referendum did they vote no?
At the public hearing for this road two years ago the public gave Mr. Spore's staff a strong indication that this road was out of the question. So did the environmental agencies. Yet Mr. Spore and some members of council continue to push and now are robbing Peter to pay Paul and not letting Peter know about it. Fresh from the School Board fiasco, Mr. Spore finds all of this money and promises no tax increase to fund this road. Citizens of Virginia Beach should know that their homes are still in the patch of the expressway, now called a parkway. Some are still under construction.
It's time for a referendum to allow our input but the council and Mr. Spore say no. I have called and left a question for Mr. Spore. Would he support a public referendum on the building of the road? At this writing he hasn't returned my call.
M.F. Stone Keep riff-raff off beach
I read with disbelief the opinion of D. Maloney in the May 5 Beacon stating that the resort area of Virginia Beach is likened to a police state.
Personally speaking - and speaking I would wager for my law-abiding friends and family, all of whom have been lifelong Beach residents - the lax picture you paint of people sleeping on the beach and in cars to enjoy the ocean sounds and air is repulsive as it would only lead to abusive and offensive behavior.
Lawful citizens can enjoy a walk on the beach any hour of the day and night to smell and hear that ocean - as long as, of course, they feel courageous enough that some evil is not lurking in the shadows.
Virginia Beach is ``a premier resort area,'' and it is that way in spite of folks who'd like to make it an alley of riff-raff as you suggest.
Sondra M. Mulkey
May 6 Money isn't well spent
I just finished reading an article in the Beacon (April 5) by Karen Weintraub about the increase in taxes and City Manager Spore's justification for it.
The police department and the commonwealth's attorney's office are getting additional monies to staff more people to pursue crimes such as malfeasance (article in Virginian-Pilot, April 2). Yet the police department and the commonwealth's attorney don't see fit to arrest and prosecute a theft of almost $2,000 from me. They told me that it was a civil matter and they would not prosecute it. I just don't think a witnessed theft by an individual that was helped in the theft by a convicted person is a civil matter.
I guess that Robert Humphreys thinks that a malfeasance charge is more important and serious to pursue for his re-election campaign.
Neal Caldwell
April 5 Medical care needed
How about a hospital/nursing home/medical complex in/as part of the Lake Ridge area?
Philip Caloia
April 3 by CNB