THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 9, 1997 TAG: 9702070021
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 35 lines
Your Jan. 26 and 27 front-page articles about the good things happening in Portsmouth are excellent examples of positive journalism.
Anyone contemplating relocation from their present home site should give Portsmouth serious consideration. As a resident or visitor to Portsmouth, you will quickly discover there is something very special about our city. It's the quiet, unhurried atmosphere, the friendliness of our people and how willing they are to make everyone feel at home, the appeal of a waterfront city bursting with history.
If you are looking for things to do, there are museums, galleries, festive market places, historic buildings and monuments, concerts, celebrations, fine restaurants and entertainment. If you are looking for a new home, you can probably find one considerably lower priced than a comparable home in one of our neighboring cities. Business locations and office space (with ample parking) are substantially lower in cost than you will find all around us.
Our Economic Development Department will assist you in relocation and provide added incentives to make your move a pleasant experience.
I know that bad vibes on the crime rate in Portsmouth have hurt our image. However, we have learned from our failures as evidenced by a resounding 29 percent decrease in violent crime during 1996. We are not yet where we would like to be, but making problems visible has a tendency to escalate improvement and involve more people in the healing process.
All we want in Portsmouth is to be evaluated on a level playing field with our neighboring cities and to be an equal partner in regional-cooperation projects. We can all benefit under this philosophy.
JIMMY R. SPRUILL
Portsmouth, Jan. 28, 1997