THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 13, 1996 TAG: 9609130033
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A20 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 25 lines
We have the largest city in the state in our region. Yet wages here are lower and also economic growth is lower. All seven cities should join together into one large region. In this way, we would become the logical site for industrial, commercial and housing expansion, not Northern Virginia.
We waste millions yearly by competing with each other for new jobs and new companies for our region. We have 50 states in our country, yet no state has lost their identity. Winston and Salem North Carolina joined together to cut the cost of doing business. Los Angeles County consists of over 30 separate cities extending 200 miles along the coast, with one county seat in Los Angeles. Yet none of these cities have lost their identity. In case of fire or need for more police, they can interact with each other. All these cities gain by being a part of Los Angeles County.
We must stop our individual ideas and join our seven cities into one huge region. We must push this Hampton Roads region to bring tourists, conventions and other facilities here.
FRANCIS J. LaBELLE
Virginia Beach, Sept. 6, 1996 by CNB