THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 9, 1997 TAG: 9702070290
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 09 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letters
LENGTH: 72 lines
In reference to your editorial of Jan. 13 ``N.I.M.B.Y.'' Who do you people think you are?
You have the unmitigated gall to try to send the good citizens of Kings Grant on a guilt trip because they do not want a reform school in their back yard.
None of you elitists have any credibility until you put a reform school in your neighborhood. When you do, let us know. We will be very compassionate.
W.T. Finn
Jan. 24 Don't expect any help when you're stranded
I feel I must also respond to ``Driver with car trouble hoped for help,'' Warren Rumpf of Chesapeake's letter to the editor in the Beacon on Jan. 17.
His son was driving their van and it stalled in the middle of Lynnhaven Parkway and Princess Anne Road. No one came to his help. Except, lots of apparent horn blowing and obscene gestures. How sad!
On Jan. 17 at approximately 8:45 a.m. my daughter's front (driver's side) tire went flat on her way to work at the Municipal Center.
The incident occurred on Princess Anne Road just beyond the intersection of Dam Neck and Princess Anne roads. My daughter pulled her vehicle over to the right side of the road next to the Colonial Grove Memorial Park Cemetery. She turned on her hazard/emergency lights and rolled down her window, hoping to get assistance.
What happened in the next few minutes caused me some real concern. My daughter said she watched five Virginia Beach Police officers drive by in their police cars and a rescue squad vehicle (all heading in the direction of the Municipal Center). She attempted to wave one of them down by extending her hand out of the window.
Well, one police officer, according to my daughter, looked at her, proceeded on by her, looked again and kept going. It was about this time my daughter told me that she began to get real nervous. Can you blame her, no one was helping her.
In an attempt to get her car off the road, she drove her car, flat tire and all, into the Farmers Market area.
Fortunately, there was a security guard at the Farmers Market and he assisted her. My sincere thanks goes out to this gentleman for all the help he gave her.
Needless to say, I am very angry at the lack of public safety concern these police officers had for my daughter.
I had the opportunity to attend the first Virginia Beach Citizens Police Academy last year. Basically, its purpose was to provide citizens with an opportunity to learn more about the Police Department and then go out into the community and be an advocate for our police force.
Considering the number of people who applied, I felt fortunate that I was selected. How can one be an advocate when incidents like this occur?
Jim Smith
Jan. 23 Sprinkler extension sets double standard
Regarding the story ``Hotels lack sprinklers; face penalties'' (Virginian-Pilot, Jan. 24), you can bet your average citizen in Virginia Beach:
1. Would not have had a seven-year grace period to comply with a law in the first place; and
2. Would not have political support for a six-month extension of time to rectify the problem.
I shudder to think of what could have happened over the past seven years in those death traps if a fire had taken the lives of unknowing, innocent people.
In Virginia Beach, it sure pays to be a VIP. They seem to get all the special treatment!
Nancy J. Parmele
Jan. 24