DATE: Monday, September 8, 1997             TAG: 9709070015

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B12  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letter 

                                            LENGTH:  100 lines

LETTERS TO EDITOR -- THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

CRIME

Don't play favorites

with celebrities

Allen Iverson. Big celebrity. Rookie of the year. Big deal! Our law enforcement officers go out and risk their lives every day to bust criminals just so prosecutors can strike deals that amount to a slap on the wrist because of celebrity status.

God forbid that Allen Iverson should spend time in jail like any other guy off the street. He might actually realize that he is on the wrong track and change his ways.

Some celebrities are using fame and fortune as a shield against prosecution, and that should be changed. The law is the law. If you do the crime, be prepared to do the time.

Jeffrey G. Riblett Sr.

Norfolk, Aug. 27, 1997

VIRGINIA BEACH

Where's good sense

in retirement village?

In her Aug. 26 Another View, Robin D. Ray, chair of the Virginia Beach Development Authority, rebuts the Aug. 18 editorial ``Unanswered Questions.'' Her column, ``City's Founders Inn investment makes good sense,'' left me perplexed.

How long will it take ``to bring in more than $700,000 a year in real estate taxes''? How long will it take for streets, lighting, sewer and roads to be in place? How long is it going to take to build 301 homes?

More importantly, how long will it take to sell 301 homes at an average cost of $190,622? That price is what it will take for 301 ``sold'' homes to generate $700,000 on the city's investment. My calculations are based on the current rate of $1.22 per $100 assessed evaluation.

I foresee additional expenses for another police precinct, possibly another fire station and volunteer emergency squad, and additional roadways.

Final question: When Founder's Village can no longer support its own infrastructure, what will the city's leaders say? I, for one, will say it all started with a $700,000 helper up front, which I, as a taxpayer, didn't even have a say in disbursing.

Rondel D. Brendle

Virginia Beach, Sept. 1, 1997

TV NEWS

Jane Gardner

missed at 5 p.m.

I was very disappointed to learn that Jane Gardner has been replaced on the WTKR-TV 5 p.m. newscast.

Jane is an extremely intelligent and articulate woman. She delivers the news with confidence and authority. Not only can she read the news, but she reports it as well. In addition, she is well known and well respected in the community, donating hundreds of hours for community projects.

I am puzzled as to why WTKR-TV would not showcase her more prominently. I hope the station will reconsider this move and keep Jane on an evening newscast.

John Miller

Newport News, Aug. 29, 1997

PRO SPORTS

Admirals getting

a raw deal from city

Concerning the Aug. 27 sports article, ``Admirals must move up or out'':

It seems to me that the city of Norfolk is being just a tad ungrateful to the Hampton Roads Admirals - as if the city is saying, ``Thanks for all the revenue you've brought into Scope and all, but we've found someone who is willing to grease our pockets some more, so get out.'' I think they have forgotten how empty Scope had become before the Admirals took up residence there.

The city of Norfolk is seriously underestimating the extremely loyal following that has developed around the Admirals over the past several years. If the city follows through on its threat to kick the Admirals out and put another team in Scope, I will never come to see this other team play, ever! I know that I am not alone in this.

It is a shame that Norfolk is giving such a raw deal to a team that has done nothing but good things for the Hampton Roads area on and off the ice. If I were Red Wings owner Michael Ilitch, I would look closely at how the city is treating the Admirals before I moved my team here.

Chris Rigotti

Portsmouth, Aug. 27, 1997

NEWS

Wrong U.Va. story

gets big play

Your editors need help in determining priorities. On Friday, Aug. 22, the lead headline on page 1 of the Sports section blared: ``U.Va.'s (Courtney) Alexander to transfer,'' followed by a lengthy article.

However, buried on page B9 of the Hampton Roads section was the far more important piece of news about the University of Virginia as ``the best public national university (with William and Mary ranking 6th) in a new ranking by U.S. News and World Report.''

If the Pilot truly aspires to be the community's leader in helping to formulate public opinion on today's key issues, it must demonstrate its ability to articulate those priorities in a responsible manner.

Louis A. Sherman

Norfolk, Aug. 27, 1997

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