THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 3, 1997 TAG: 9701030006
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A14 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 26 lines
Your Dec. 22 editorial says that tying Lake Gaston to light rail is absurd. You are wrong. It was essential because Norfolk has proved it is intent on denying Lake Gaston water to Virginia Beach. The courts and regulatory agencies have had veto power of Lake Gaston water for over a decade. And they will exercise control over light rail as well.
A legitimate question about light rail that you failed to include was the route to be covered. Norfolk's proposal to tie the unused rail route to Virginia Beach is not realistic even though it is probably the cheapest.
I am particularly outraged by your attack on Councilman Louis Jones. You can be sure some tourists to Virginia Beach would take light rail to downtown Norfolk. Also, those tourists chose Virginia Beach and not a ``region.'' They are Virginia Beach tourists. It was a low blow to call them Jones' tourists.
It is without merit for you to state: ``It is time for Beach voters to send a wake-up call to elected officials.'' It is time to give them a pat on the back for doing an outstanding job in this and other aspects of their job.
ROBERT L. RINGHAUSEN
Virginia Beach, Dec. 22, 1996