THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, January 10, 1997 TAG: 9701100012
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A12 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 35 lines
Where did those people who are against the downtown Norfolk development projects get their management, retail, mall-development and urban-development expertise? I haven't seen anything written by any of them that sounds like the results of an objectively well-researched study. The only noise I've heard from anyone with any background in retail sales or management is from a few businessmen who are so unsure of the quality of their own services that they are obviously afraid of the competition. Aren't these complainers really saying that downtown Norfolk will be a success?
There are just too many lazy people around who want only to bellyache about anything that's progressive because they are afraid someone will benefit from it and they won't. And if they actually get out of their Lazyboys and look around, they might even find something that will benefit them and their families.
Like the guy who recently wrote in bragging that he finds everything he needs in Virginia Beach and never visits Norfolk. I feel kind of sorry for him because he is missing so many wonderful things and doesn't even know it.
And there are those who jam the roads every morning coming to Norfolk to earn a living. These people use our excellent public safety, public utilities, public works and other services, take the money they are paid home with them, then send out letters and shout to all who will listen that Norfolk is a dead city. Talk about hypocrisy!
Think about the tremendous amount of private-business development and interest in this region over the past few years. Could it be that Norfolk's efforts and future plans may have been a major contributor to any of this?
FRED H. BURT
Norfolk, Jan. 5, 1997