THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 11, 1996 TAG: 9608090177
SECTION: CHESAPEAKE CLIPPER PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 166 lines
Well, I see that the Chicken Little no-growthers are tuning up again.
If we don't want Chesapeake to be the second-largest city by 2001, then why do we spend millions of dollars on industrial development? It takes people to work in these businesses, and people must live somewhere.
When will people realize that, within reason, you can't tell people what they can do with their property?
What is wrong with residential development in Chesapeake? All reports show that about 90 percent of residential development in Chesapeake pays its way from the start. The other 10 percent helps those that need help the most, and we should not mind that.
The main problem with Chesapeake is that we are living far above our means. It is not the City Council that is causing the problem; it is the citizens of Chesapeake who are at fault. At every budget hearing all you hear is how many different ways the council should spend more and more money. We ask for everything under the sun and expect it now. Well, folks, you must pay for all these dreams. The buck starts here.
Another problem is that we do not manage the money that we have now. The $500 million we have borrowed in the last three years has not been spent wisely. Look at the $100,000 we spent on the underground retention pond at Western Branch High School. Did we need to improve one intersection in each neighborhood to pass the bond referendum? Did we need to repair the Jordan Bridge? Do we need to replace the Jordan Bridge? Did we have to build a castle for a library in Great Bridge? Should we have spent the thousands of dollars to build roads to Wal-Mart? If you answered ``yes'' to any of these questions then you must say ``yes'' to the next tax increase. These are the projects that cause your taxes to increase.
All the new plans in the world will not help when you spend twice what a building or road should cost.
Let's get real. We don't need more tools to deal with growth. We have enough tools now. The tool the no-growthers want now is a fee on new home sites, which is a quiet way of increasing the value of every home in Chesapeake by $6,000. Any increase in the cost of new developments will increase every home by a like amount through reassessment.
We have spent millions of dollars on plans, studies, commissions, reports, consultants, computer programs, models, meetings, education, charts and graphs in the name of controlled growth.
Let's make it clear: The people pushing controlled growth really want no growth.
It is time to say that we will facilitate proper growth with only the proper amount of money spent and that we will not build any more showcase buildings. This way we can have the infrastructure we need now. Tell the council to watch the money they now spend and there will be no reason to do more to get tools to properly manage growth in Chesapeake!
If you lower spending, taxes will follow.
Fax City Council and tell them to lower spending and delay non-essential projects.
Wilson Garland
Harding Drive Growth controls needed
Chesapeake needs to control growth. Having grown up in Chesapeake, I wanted to make my home here so my children could grow up in this beautiful city, too. But now I'm wondering if this was the right decision.
The city is changing because of rezoning to smaller lots, so many townhouses and apartments, the loss of so many trees and wooded areas, the over-crowded schools and roads and the lack of fire protection due to a shortage of firemen.
Without growth management and control, Chesapeake will soon be like Baltimore, Washington and Philadelphia - people on top of people. Our planning commissioners and our City Council need more tools to control growth. We hope the City Council will give us the opportunity to vote for managed growth.
Do they really want Chesapeake to be a cement jungle? Please save Chesapeake, our children and our quality of life. Let the City Council hear from all the residents.
Kathy Damian
Chesapeake Welcome candidacy
The entrance of Sen. Mark L. Earley to the attorney general's race has been a pleasant surprise. Sen. Earley has a long, distinguished career in the Senate and deserves our support.
I thank Sen. Earley for becoming a candidate for attorney general of Virginia and ask for everyone's support in his race for the office.
Anne Robl
Amhurst Court Library holidays
There seems to be a double standard for ``non-essential'' civil personnel in regard to work on holidays. I am referring to employees of the Chesapeake Library.
While other civil officers enjoy a full holiday schedule, the library personnel have to work. The holidays previously enjoyed by these employees should be reinstated - especially the Veterans' Day holiday. If not for veterans, Americans today might be speaking a different language.
If two or three people could revoke this holiday, five or six veterans could rally to restore it and the other holidays that were taken away.
Furthermore, the libraries are open four evenings a week, and they should be closed on Sundays in accordance with the principles of several religions. Other city offices are closed on Sundays. Why not the libraries as well? If one must do research at the library, one can take time, find time and make time on evenings and Sundays. One could rearrange such activities as mall-shopping, television watching or night clubbing. The library system must not become a martyr to the apathetic portion of the public.
Closing the libraries on Sundays year-round would save thousands of dollars for the city. With all due respect to Chesapeake city councilmen, the self-imposed $10,000 salary increase would be covered by this extra money, with money left over for miscellaneous expenses.
Thank you for taking time to read this letter and please do not dismiss my ideas as just one unhappy citizen crying for reform. Think about the library personnel who see their families mere hours a week. Think about the population of disrespected American veterans in this city.
Robert W. Rhodes Jr.
Rodgers Street Missing cat
On July 21, our cat disappeared from our neighborhood in the Wellington subdivision in Western Branch. He was wearing a collar with an identification tag that had his name on it, plus our name, address and phone number.
After an exhaustive search of our neighborhood and calls to all of the local animal shelters and hospitals, we can only conclude that someone picked him up and took him home.
He is a small, white cat with touches of orange on his ears, back and tail. His most distinguishing feature is his large blue eyes.
We are writing this letter in the hope that whoever picked him up will return him to us. He is a much-loved member of our family, and we miss him terribly. No questions will be asked if he is returned. We are offering a reward for his safe return.
If you have our cat, please call us or return him to us. We want him back home, where he belongs. Thank you.
Larry and Pat Denlinger
Elkton Drive Proud of team
It was my pleasure to attend the Pony Games in Salisbury, Md., July 22-26 as a spectator cheering for our team - Western Branch. I was proud of our 14 boys (ages 13-14) in their playing ability, as well as their behavior and sportsmanship. It is not easy to have the responsibility of so many boys of this age, but their coaches did an excellent job. We in Western Branch should be proud that these boys represented us.
The coaches were Jim Lilley, Tom Weatherford, David Ambrose and Leigh Phelps. They deserve congratulations for giving their time, expertise and dedication.
Members of the team are Patrick Phelps, Scott Olson, Andrew Turner, Rob Beamon, Bubba Ambrose, Brandon Floyd, Jessie Shuping, Brian Warren, Carlton Bitgood, Cameron Twiford, Andy Rutherford, Greg Dale, Corey Bailey and Jay Lilley.
During these times, when everyone seems to be so critical of our youth, it is refreshing to see such a large group prove them wrong.
Julia A. Hoffler
Portsmouth Clashing programs
The cover story about AAU Baseball in The Clipper Aug. 2 couldn't have come at a better time. There is nothing wrong with AAU ball and there is nothing wrong with Great Bridge Pony Baseball, but watch out when the two cross paths!
The Great Bridge Mustang All Stars were in North Carolina heading for the regional championship game when the manager of these 9- and 10-year-old boys left them high and dry only to take off for an AAU tournament. Parents and players were left stunned when their manager sneaked away with two of the players into the night. Needless to say, we lost.
Never again should the players and their families feel the pain that we felt in North Carolina.
We, as parents, need to stop AAU players from becoming All Star players for Great Bridge Pony Baseball or our future All Star players will feel the same defeat as our past players. It's a recurring problem, and it needs to stop.
Linda Bell
Denver Avenue by CNB