THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, May 22, 1996 TAG: 9605220001
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 129 lines
I am writing in response to the April 30 article regarding the city's decision to stop curbside recycling.
The only trash that needed to be thrown away was the article by Tom Holden about recycling. It was slanted and one-sided. When this program started, it was voluntary and free. We were assured that recycling would pay for itself. Well, another half-baked idea has proven to be a flop and here comes the taxes. To continue funding it we are being assessed $1. Next year it will be $2, then $5, $10, etc. To equate our children's future with a plastic bottle is absurd.
The number of people who responded to the Infoline was reported as impressive. 1,782 out of a population of 430,295 is less than half of 1 percent. Hardly impressive.
If these people want to continue the recycling program, let them pay for it. Surely they will be more than happy to pay for recycling, seeing that it is their children's future. One of the opinions expressed in the article was that the environment is only important as long as it is convenient. The woman was not willing to dirty her car in order to take her recyclables to a bin. I say to her, use clean bags!
We in Virginia Beach have many more important issues to deal with such as ``Code Blue'' and restoring the three R's to our schools. I wish to thank City Council for seeing through a failed project and putting a stop to yet another tax and ``feel good'' idea. A tax by any other name is still a tax.
Ron F. Peperak
May 2 Indict Mr. Faucette
I have read many editorials concerning the Virginia Beach School Board issues and the indictments of Mr. Jackson and Mr. Tolentino. This question remains: ``How can you indict two individuals from a board whereas no one individual has a vote to make or break an issue?''
A majority vote is required on any issue. The bottom line is to indict Mr. Faucette for the malfeasance. The School Board in question (Mr. Jackson & his peers) did not hire Mr. Faucette. The City Council-appointed School Board brought Mr. Faucette to our fair city. Additionally, I believe if Mr. Smith had requested an audit, this budgetary shortfall would have been discovered earlier.
Dr. Faucette is the only one to be blamed for the malfeasance. Our elected School Board members are to represent the citizens of Virginia Beach. The taxpayers' dollars that Mr. Humphreys is spending to indict these individuals are the question. Additionally, I see this issue as a City Council that wants control of the School Board. Our questions should be:
What is the status of the investigation on the burning of Princess Anne High School?
What is the status on the use of Celebration Station by the schools?
How much nepotism and inequity is being condoned within the administration of our city schools under the disguise of site-based management?
Mr. Jackson is looking out for the citizens of Virginia Beach as an elected official, just like he did when he was with the Virginia Beach Police Department. A majority vote placed him in office, and I believe that these same citizens would place him in office again. I say let the citizens of Virginia Beach speak and let the Commonwealth's Attorney and City Council listen.
J.E. Odom
May 16 Ashman honored for service to seniors
Hearty congratulations to Will Ashman and Green Thumb Inc. for receiving the Virginia Beach Mayor's Committee on Aging Awards for Exceptional Accomplishment in Service to Senior Citizens. The Board of Directors and staff of SEVAMP are gratified that a person of such great stature and an organization dedicated to helping older people accomplish their ``second career'' goals were chosen.
We are especially pleased that Will Ashman is being recognized. At 94, he is a professional role model for people of all ages. In this age of ``total quality management and efficiency through right sizing,'' consider that in only 20 hours per week Mr. Ashman coordinates and accurately accounts for over 300 senior volunteers who each year provide over 55,500 hours of service in 48 community and government organizations.
More importantly, Will Ashman is a gentleman of the highest moral and ethical character, is forthright, honest and daily lives out the best of human values: service to others, respect for family, hard work and advocacy for those in need.
The recognition of Green Thumb Inc. is also well deserved. Older adults are vital, active members of our community. Unfortunately, due to life's circumstances or age discrimination, they find themselves with the ability to be self-sufficient, but without the guidance and support to enter today's highly competitive work force. Like Green Thumb, SEVAMP operates an Older Americans Act-funded senior employment program. We appreciate the talent, energy and effort it takes to do a program like this well.
Virginia Beach, by the year 2000, will have more senior citizens than any other city in Hampton Roads. Today's recognition of the value of age is necessary preparation for the future.
John Skirven
Executive director,
Southeastern Virginia
Areawide Model Program
May 17 Nursing in public a mother's right
A friend of mine was asked not to breast-feed her child in a Virginia Beach hair salon. I was saddened that she had to go through that. I then realized that I or any other mother who chooses to give the best food to their child while out in public may be asked to do the same.
I wondered if my friend had been giving her child a bottle would she have been asked to stop? Probably not. Though I have never been asked to stop breast-feeding, I have gotten my share of looks that imply ``How can you do that in public?'' My silent answer is that my child is hungry or needs to be comforted.
I was under the impression that breast-feeding mothers had a law to protect them while nursing in public. With this in mind, I went on a search to find that law. I was disappointed by what I found.
Virginia State law: 18.2-387. Indecent exposure - No person shall be deemed to be in violation of this section for breast-feeding a child in a public place or any other place where others are present.
First, it is sad that we need a law that says that it is not indecent exposure to breast-feed a child as nature intended. This law, though a good first step, does not go far enough to protect a mother's right to feed and comfort her child when going about her daily life.
Second, it is upsetting that a mother is asked to go to a bathroom to nurse her child. Most establishments do not have a place for the mother to sit and most are not very clean. Would you like to eat your meal in there? No, and neither should your child just because he or she is being breast-fed.
A few states have laws that protect a mother's right to breast-feed. I am hopeful that by calling attention to this issue Virginia will enact a law that fully protects a mother's right to breast-feed. This will be impossible unless attitudes change. This will happen when there is more education and exposure to breast-feeding.
Kim Ann Lorber
March 30 by CNB