DATE: Sunday, September 7, 1997             TAG: 9709070006

SECTION: COMMENTARY              PAGE: J4   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Editorial

                                            LENGTH:  129 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

VIRGINIA BEACH

Pick on someone besides home owners

As a taxpayer in the city of Virginia Beach for over 33 years, I find the current direction of the City Council to be inexcusable.

I understand the need to support our schools and libraries, but to raise taxes only on real-estate owners is grossly unfair. Homeowners are not the only source of revenue.

A large percentage of the city's residents are retired and living on fixed incomes, many on Social Security and other small annuities. They cannot afford the luxury of a spendthrift council.

Why doesn't the City Council consider raising the sales tax one-half to one percentage point? People who rent apartments should share in the cost of educating their children.

It disturbs me greatly that the council can find funding for golf courses, amphitheaters and expressways but must come to the homeowners for an additional tax increase to revitalize our schools and libraries.

It is also disturbing that our School Board can dictate to the city that it needs more funds. In reality, we all have to live within our budgets and the sooner the School Board realizes this, the better the city of Virginia Beach will be.

Arthur J. Ratte Jr.

Member, Board of Directors

Lake Placid Civic League

Virginia Beach, Aug. 27, 1997

Gee, thanks for another tax hike

Virginia Beach assessors have raised my property value (for tax purposes) by $11,170 since 1995, plus increased the tax base. This makes it a twofold tax increase each year.

So I get disgusted when The Pilot and the Beach continually harp on the low Beach real estate tax base, and tell us we should be happy to accept another double increase this coming year.

I guess they gradually intend to run the retirees out of the Beach.

Philip W. Fluke

Virginia Beach, Aug. 30, 1997

Locals losing their Oceanfront rights

Each year, we Virginia Beach taxpayers watch our rights to accessing the Oceanfront erode faster than the beachfront sand. In particular, parking close to the beach is almost impossible, and for those few places where it is permitted, the rules are insulting to locals. Saturday night, my family and I attended the American Music Festival at the Virginia Beach oceanfront. The only spot available was a mile away, in front of the Virginia Beach Middle School on 24th Street. After having a wonderful time at the festival, the evening was ruined upon finding a $25 parking ticket. There were at least 100 other ticketed vehicles on 24th Street.

You do the math. It's the best concession at the beach. I, for one, refuse to be herded onto shuttle buses like cattle. This is our beach, not the tourists'.

Terry Siviter

Virginia Beach, Sept. 1, 1997

A peek inside my recycling can

Meyera Oberndorf can come and get her big blue recycling containers off my lawn. Here's what's inside to recycle:

1. My water bill, which has tripled since I moved here in 1989. The mayor is all ga-ga over the Lake Gaston pipeline and how it will solve our water problems. Will my water bill decrease when the pipeline is open? Yeah, right.

2. My ``air tax,'' that $3 fee the city charges for my cellular phone air space. Funny, no other city in this area does this.

3. My rain tax bill, which stays the same rain or shine.

4. The receipts for the outrageous parking fees that the city imposes upon anyone who visits the beach.

Michele Baird

Virginia Beach, Aug. 29, 1997

ENFORCEMENT

Call out a posse, it's seat-belt time

While driving on Route 17 to North Carolina, I got caught in a traffic jam. As I approached the state line, I saw over two dozen law-enforcement officers checking driving licenses.

``What has happened?'' I wondered. ``A manhunt for a murderer? A search for an escaped convict?'' No, this massive display of force was to verify that I was wearing a seatbelt. (I was.)

No wonder violent crime is rampant. Instead of patrolling our neighborhoods, police officers are busy enforcing a law that should be taken off the books. A person makes a decision whether to wear a seatbelt, just as he or she makes a decision to smoke or not smoke cigarettes. What's next, a roadblock to check whether I'm killing myself by smoking cigarettes?

Eugene Woodson

Norfolk, Aug. 29, 1997

JAILS

Let prisoners earn their stay

Regarding Jim Gilmore's proposal to have prisoners pay, literally, for their incarceration (news, Aug. 27), there is a way to do this and benefit the prisoner and the public as well.

All prisons should have an industry from which the prisoner can learn a skill. The government can contract with private enterprise to make furniture, do mechanical work or learn a trade. The prisoner should be paid an average wage. From this salary the prisoner would pay room and board in prison, help support his family and pay restitution for his crimes. Participation would be mandatory.

The result: No prison debt, fewer families on AFDC and prisoners with an alternative to crime.

Norma Tillett

Powells Point, N.C., Aug. 26, 1997

ORGANIZATIONS

Filipino leaders should respect diversity

The Filipino American Community Action Group (Fil-Am CAG) is absolutely right in saying that now is the time for Filipinos to enter the political arena. We have been the silent major minority group for too long.

However, if this organization is to lead the pack, it must first get the blessing and support of the Filipino community. To accomplish this, two important initial steps are probably in order: change its tactics and rethink its leadership.

Fil-Am CAG vice president Amando Salinas' remarks about his fellow Filipinos - ``fat, dumb, and happy,'' ``envious of one another'' - are antagonistic and insulting and can only promote further disharmony. Salinas' idea of ``shaming'' the community into rallying behind him does not sit well with Filipino sensibilities.

The United States is in its present preeminent position because its leaders, for the most part, strive to respect its people's diversity. Our Filipino leaders could learn from that.

Matt R. Jardiniano

Virginia Beach, Aug. 27, 1997

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