DATE: Monday, May 19, 1997                  TAG: 9705170012

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B8   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letter 

                                            LENGTH:  103 lines

LETTERS TO EDITOR -- THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

FESTIVAL

Cinco de Mayo

needs Mexican music

I recently witnessed a gross representation of a Cino de Mayo Festival at 24th Street Stage in Virginia Beach. This was just like a beach music festival without beach music! Can you imagine that?

There was no live Mexican band on the stage. The festivities started with a salsa band from Richmond that didn't know any Mexican music and admitted it on stage. The next live band was a black group that played nothing but soul and rock music.

The only resemblance of our Mexican culture and music was dancing to tapes by some local novices and then it took three or more takes before they could get it together!

My applause goes to the city of Norfolk. On Thursday night, May 1, they bought in ``Los Lobos,'' a class act which I thoroughly enjoyed. They played Mexican music enjoyed by all, and the place was packed.

Frank Franco

Virginia Beach, May 5, 1997

TAXES

Reductions needed for

rich and poor alike

I am a certified public accountant in private practice in Virginia Beach. I prepare tax returns for wealthy and poor alike. The implication that taxes are disproportionate is false.

A recent article compares Virginia's taxes to other states. I think we should be proud that we have lower income taxes than other states. Our goal should be to have the lowest nationwide tax rate for all levels of income.

There is no magic wand that you wave to make taxes go away. There is no dramatic drop off in liability as income increases. Quite the contrary. As federal income exceeds $100,000 per year, the tax code dramatically changes. All the neat little incentives such as personal exemptions, itemized deductions and rental-property losses are phased out and ultimately eliminated. All the while, rates are increasing.

Asking a resident of the state to pay a small part of his income for all the benefits received in return (roads, police protection, public transportation, social programs, schooling, etc.) does not seem like a lot to ask.

Your article should stress the more fundamental questions which are: 1. When will rates go down? 2. When will this morass being simplified? 3. Why aren't rates equal for all people and, further, why do certain groups (rich and poor) receive different tax favors under the existing law? 4. Most important: What is the government doing with all my money that the rates have to be so high?

Arguing about the structure completely misses the mark. We need to be discussing avenues to reduce taxes for all. Your article appears to want to shift the burden to the wealthy taxpayer, who indeed pays his fair share and then some.

Richard E. Noyes, CPA

Norfolk, May 2, 1997

EDUCATION

Save Taylor School

and also make it better

Regarding the planned demolition and replacement of Taylor Elementary School in Norfolk:

We should be very reluctant to demolish those distinctive older buildings that mean something to a significant number of our citizens -- demolition is forever.

I often have heard people say they wish Norfolk had saved the City Market, old Church Street, Union Station or the Monticello Hotel. On the other hand, I have never heard anyone say we should not have saved an older building that we managed to preserve.

Who is unhappy with saving Maury High School, the Attucks Theatre or the Martin (formerly Smith & Welton) Building for future generations to enjoy?

If Norfolk is to achieve the status of a great city, which is within its grasp, we should respect the competing concerns of all our citizens and, if possible, reconcile them.

In this case, it is indisputable that a significant number of our citizens want an up-to-date school in West Ghent.

It is also indisputable that a significant number of our citizens have developed a strong attachment to the current Taylor building and, for them, its demolition would be a painful loss.

The two goals are wholly reconcilable. The facts establish that full renovation and expansion of Taylor would provide a superior education structure for our children at comparable cost to a new school.

Norfolk's leaders should make all our citizens winners whenever feasible. In this case, they should bring the community together around a plan to build a new Taylor within the walls of the old.

Mark D. Perreault

Norfolk, May 9, 1997

VIRGINIA BEACH

View children as

a natural resource

I've been wondering if the Virginia Beach City Council thought when they gave permission to builders and developers to erect houses, townhouses and condos that all those residents would be childless. How short-sighted! Where are their priorities? I always thought our children were our best natural resource.

At least it will make my decision easy as to how to cast my vote election time.

Kathleen O'Hara

Virginia Beach, May 8, 1997

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