THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, June 7, 1996 TAG: 9606060179
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 113 lines
On May 7, I was returned to the City Council by the voters of this city. I thank each of you who voted and each person who helped me win this election - particularly Pat Colby who ran my volunteer office; John Langlois who helped me with my advertising and media as well as David Schoonover and Eric Warner who helped with my print advertising; all the hundreds of people who gave contributions big and small; all the residents who put up signs and are still taking them down; those who worked at the polls and talked to their friends and neighbors to get them out to vote; those who gave coffee and advice; the editorial staff and news staff for the Pilot and Beacon; those who helped with delivery of signs, poll literature; my friends and family - everyone who had a part. I'd like to name each of you personally because so many helped in so many ways.
To the over 24,000 voters who came out on such a terrible day and voted for me, you've given me new inspiration. I look forward to working and serving with each of you as we move forward to the 21st century. Many longtime friends came through but so did many new friends, too. I look forward to us all working together.
I would also like to thank the School Board candidates who came forward and gave of their time and abilities to help when needed. I congratulate those who won and all who ran. I feel that many of the winners for the next School Board election were in the May 7 grouping.
To all who participated in this election, whether by running or by voting I congratulate you and thank you.
Reba McClanan
May 19
Harsher laws would
discourage drunk driving
My name is Lindsay Kassir, and I am in eighth grade at Baylake Pines Private School. I feel that the laws regarding teenagers drinking and driving should be made harsher to lower the death rates caused by drinking and driver.
Drinking and driving is a problem that has been going on for many years and we need to stop it. There are too many innocent people dead as a result of someone else's carelessness. Drinking and driving is very dangerous and it needs to be taken seriously.
More kids need to be educated about drinking and driving. The laws need to be changed. And, police need to start taking more action.
The law now states that if you're 17 or younger and found guilty of drinking under the influence of alcohol or drugs, you'll lose your driver's license or your ability to get one for at least one year or until you're 17, whichever is longer. This law needs to be made harsher. Making this law much stricter might help teenagers get the message about how dangerous drinking and driving is.
Lindsay Kassir
April 29 Budget cuts targeting programs for children
City leaders have found the answer to the budgetary problems: Squeeze our children.
The fiscal mismanagement of the school system has led to downsizing and elimination of programs. And now our city manager and City Council have put the pressure on the parks and recreation department to curtail even further the youth programs offered through the Parks and Recreation Department.
Despite the nice article in the Beacon describing how much of the youth program is a voluntary effort, the council and Mr. Spore do their best to cut further each year into the programs offered to our children.
Our recreation association has spent over $15,000 in one city park to upgrade the facilities to make them playable for our children. Meanwhile our Parks and Recreation Department, City Council and city manager encourage non-resident adults and children to use our facilities all in the name of ``revenue producing'' activities such as soccer and softball tournaments.
We are told to cancel our youth team practices so that the city can allocate time for out-of-towners to play in weekend adult softball tournaments. Game schedules for our youth are chopped yearly. At the current rate, we will be eliminated totally in two to three years.
The litmus test for youth programs should not be the ``Innkeepers Test'' (Will it fill my hotel in the offseason?). We see more and more youth groups pandering to City Council with their main argument being, ``Look at the money we can bring in with our tournaments.'' Enough is enough.
We are ``revenue producing'' citizens who are here year-round spending and being taxed. We do not need to justify our children's needs to the hotel owners. Rather City Council should explain why they are not doing more for our kids.
John Coffren
May 7 School board scandal theme: ``Let people pay''
I have been following with interest the comings and goings of the Virginia Beach School Board. I suppose it is mainly the ones who are not going that are most intriguing.
When the unmagnificent seven were threatened with indictments by Mr. Humphreys, I said to my wife, ``Watch, they'll all resign. Heck, they won't dip into their own pockets to fight prosecution. Lawyers cost big bucks, just ask O.J.'' Whoa. They found a way around the speed bump in the path of the people's money. In a manner that would make Marie Antoinette blush, they said, ``let the people pay.'' Cha-ching!
Mr. Humphreys was not amused and quickly promised another round of indictments for Ferdy and Timmy since both voted to ``let the people pay.'' Given yet another chance, the new and improved board (well, forget the improved part) said, ``Yep, let the people pay.'' What if all seven had vowed not to go gently into the good night? Yep, ``let the people pay.'' What if they wanted Shapiro and Cochran? ``Let the people pay.'' Fortunately only two remain to ``let the people pay'' - Timmy and Ferdy.
To Timmy's credit he has offered to reimburse the people if he loses. That's an offer we (the people) should not pass up. Tim, if that offer is genuine, please send a certified check down to the city treasurer for $25,000 to be held in escrow. (We wouldn't want that check to get lost as in ``the check is in the mail'' lost if you lose in court.)
Dr. Charles Swanson
May 8 by CNB