DATE: Monday, June 23, 1997                 TAG: 9706210012

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B10  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letter 

                                            LENGTH:  124 lines

LETTERS TO EDITOR -- THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

ENVIRONMENT

Waste, recycling bring

two sides together

Recently, a Pilot article explained why the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and Virginians for Effective and Efficient Public Services oppose SPSA's proposed construction of a new landfill in Suffolk. According to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, this landfill will have an adverse impact on the the Chesapeake Bay.

Given the current amount of private landfill space available in the area, it seems a waste of public funds to build a landfill that is not needed.

The story makes the statement that waste haulers and environmentalists are traditionally at odds with each other, which is not a correct assumption. Environmental organizations believe in recycling. Private waste haulers are the largest recyclers in the world. Private companies also provide recycling services to commercial businesses, as well as over 100,000 households in Hampton Roads.

Environmentalists also recognize that private landfills are generally built and operated to exceed state and local requirements, which is not always the case with public facilities.

Robert Kania

Region President

Waste Management of Virginia

Chesapeake, June 9, 1997

TRANSPORTATION

The Laskin Labyrinth:

8 lanes of confusion

I am new to the area but I have already witnessed many near misses in the maze of confusing roads along Laskin Road, starting just west of Oriole Road. There are two two-way feeder roads and the main four-lane boulevard. Eight lanes of traffic, three two-way parallel roads with intercommunications about every block. We used to laugh when we saw such arrangements in the Middle East, imagining some fiend designing these concrete nightmares for population control.

There is a yield sign on the feeder road where it meets the intersection of a cross street. So if I am sitting at this yield sign, do I follow the Laskin light or the cross-street signal? I haven't a clue, so I avoid these situations. Unfortunately, Laskin Road is the main way from the beach strip, so many out-of-state tags are out playing bumper tag in this area. If I live here and can't figure it out, what about these vulnerable tourists? Tourist control?

If I am facing Laskin Road at a cross-street signal, I have seven possibilities: Straight across; three right turns; and three left turns. Sort of hard to drive defensively when the other guy has this many options. And late at night on empty streets, you must actually count lanes in order to find the correct lane since you must choose from three possible right turns from among eight lanes - four of which place you head-on with death.

How about the joy of accessing the main boulevard from the feeder road? While turning your head 180 degrees behind to scan for a clear boulevard, you must check for oncoming traffic on your feeder road, which is zero degrees in front of you. Unfortunately, our two eyes are on the same side of the head.

If we must live with this layout, I suggest that these feeder roads be made one way and that eventually, instead of a yield sign on the feeder road at the intersection, there be a simple understandable sign allowing only a right turn onto the road intersecting Laskin.

Dennis Zeunert

Virginia Beach, June 16, 1997

POLLUTION

Consent order is

best clean-up tool

The Virginian-Pilot editorial position on the Smithfield Foods pollution issue is another example of narrow-focus myopia.

Let's look at the positives of getting the packing plant waste waters and other waste streams out of the Pagan River, a body of water that obviously is more tidal flat than flowing steam. And let's look at the economic and environmental benefits of having a waste-water sewer available along the Route 17 corridor.

The consent order is a proven problem-solving means of achieving real and lasting environmental improvement. The federal numbers ``gotcha'' game is not. Virginia has a record of utilizing the consent order as a means of forcing the polluter to the bargaining table and into negotiations. It is not the secret sweetheart deal that the press and some environmentalists would have us believe.

The consent order is a win/win/win proposition for the environment, the public and Smithfield Foods. Let's not destroy a proven approach that predates federal intervention.

Howard B. Brown

Suffolk, June 17, 1997

FATHERHOOD

Thanks - not every

dad is a deadbeat

Bravo to Elizabeth Simpson and her June 10 article on fatherhood. It is so refreshing to read an article that shows dads in a good light.

I am also so very pleased to have seen that Ms. Simpson chose to profile a father who has gone through the terrible pain of a divorce and has been able to work out an equitable joint custody arrangement. The gentleman profiled in the article is a real class act by having put his two daughters in the forefront of his life.

It just goes to show that there are actually some fathers, divorced and not divorced, who are not just providing financial support for their kids but also emotional and physical support. Not every dad is a deadbeat dead.

Steven J. Breisch

Portsmouth, June 11, 1997

ELECTIONS

Rx for doldrums:

bolster third parties

I read with much interest your June 14 story, ``Looks like slim pickings on fall ballot.''

There is one obvious solution to the problem: Open up the system to third parties. There were six parties in the 1996 presidential ballot in Virginia, but you hear only about the Democratic-Republican duopoly in 1997.

Ease petitioning requirements for third parties to .5 percent of the last vote cast, make it easier for parties to remain ballot qualified, invite all candidates on the ballot to debates and tackle media biases against third-party candidates. Also, eliminate the state income-tax donation checkoffs for the Democratic and Republican parties, or open them up to all parties.

As for myself, I'm involved in the U.S. Taxpayers Party. Letting third parties in should increase voter interest and turnout. Third parties would also inject new ideas into the debates in Richmond.

Eric Knapp

Virginia Beach, June 16, 1997

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