DATE: Sunday, September 28, 1997            TAG: 9709270014

SECTION: COMMENTARY              PAGE: J4   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letters

                                            LENGTH:  184 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

CAMPAIGN

Gilmore won't be an education governor

I've had only one personal contact with former Attorney General James Gilmore, now running for governor. Unfortunately, I came away from that encounter questioning his commitment to public education.

We were on a WHRO-TV Class of 2000 program on school violence in January 1996. I had just summarized research indicating that students who come from poor families tend to fail academically and that most educators recommend intervention programs to stem this tide of failure.

Gilmore dismissed the research without countervailing argument. Moreover, he asserted that the schools did not need more money for programs for at-risk students. What was needed, he claimed, was an infusion of ``family values.''

With such a misreading of public education, one can expect very little if he is elected. James Gilmore will not be an education governor.

Maurice R. Berube

Eminent scholar of educational leadership and counseling

Darden College of Education

Old Dominion University

Norfolk, Sept. 26, 1997

Don't want to pay taxes? Vote for Gilmore

A friend of mine was in your fair city Sept. 13 and saw your article ``Riddick behind on taxes.''

I call to your attention Section 58.1-3133 of the Code of Virginia. It reads: ``Treasurers may deduct any taxes due from party in whose favor the warrant is drawn.'' In other words, if you owe the locality money and the locality owes you money, the treasurer should deduct what you owe before he pays you. This is what Norfolk City Treasurer Joe Fitzpatrick did. Then he caught hell from the delinquent city councilman for doing his job.

If you are going to eat at the public trough, you should expect to pay the public trough.

If these 760-plus employees do not want to pay personal property taxes, I suggest they join the thousands of taxpaying residents of Norfolk who plan to vote for Jim Gilmore. When he is elected governor, he will eliminate personal property taxes on the first $20,000 value of cars and trucks.

Alfred C. Anderson

Roanoke city treasurer

Roanoke, Sept. 16, 1997

POST OFFICE

Trash that junk mail

The post office should provide trash receptacles in each community to receive throwaway junk mail that so many of us get. Perhaps if the junk mailers saw all of their products in such isolation, they would give up. But then, again, elephants might fly.

Julian Granger

Virginia Beach, Sept. 20, 1997

TREASURE HUNT

Offshore wreck isn't the Juno

In response to the Sept. 18 and 21 articles regarding the sunken Spanish frigate Juno, we feel the need to clarify several statements.

There is no research indicating the Juno was within sight of land when it sank or that it was driven onto a sandbar. In reality, the Favorita, an American schooner, was alongside when the Juno sank, and when the Favorita put into Boston following the sinking, there was no mention by its crew or the seven Juno survivors of being within sight of land. That would have been of immense importance to the Spanish, as they salvaged all of their vessels that sank in shallow water.

The anchor that has received much attention has two major flaws: First, the wooden crossbar is charred and partially missing due to burning. The Juno had no fire on board. Captain Leon Rose stated that the anchor was in its present condition when he dredged it up. Second, the anchor size does not match the ship's specifications that we found in the Naval Museum in Madrid.

Ben Benson has located a wreck close to shore, of which there are many. However, the research is very clear. What he found is not the Juno.

Glenn H. Rogers

Board chairman

Quicksilver International Inc.

Virginia Beach, Sept. 22, 1997

MOVIES

Don't just kiss off homosexuality

Oh, how cute! Tom Selleck and Kevin Kline exchange kisses in the movie ``In and Out'' (Daily Break, Sept. 18). After all, why should Ellen have all the fun?

But why stop at the kisses? How about scenes of what homosexuals do after the kisses? Hollywood isn't bashful. Or is there some concern that a portrayal of unvarnished homosexual acts just might shatter the myth that homosexuality is only about civil rights rather than behavior? Or that some members of the general public might even find it repulsive? Perhaps even evil?

Surely Tom wouldn't mind participating. It's only acting, and his wife wouldn't object. Wouldn't want to be accused of bigotry, you know.

Ben Evans

Virginia Beach, Sept. 18, 1997

WELD NOMINATION

Power-broker Helms made a fool of himself

The sham between Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., and William Weld was our government at its worst. It was frightening to watch on television the lengths to which a U.S. senator would go just to satisfy his ego. What I observed was a self-righteous, self-centered, power-hungry old man making a complete fool of himself.

The senator opposed Mr. Weld's nomination as ambassador to Mexico solely on the grounds that he is soft on drugs (use of marijuana). This is a case of the kettle calling the pot black. Both marijuana and tobacco have been classified as drugs, and we all know that tobacco is a moneymaking staple for North Carolina as well as Virginia.

After seeing Helms' bad use of power brokering, possibly the good voters of North Carolina will see fit to put him out to pasture during the next election.

Thomas M. Hitchings

Chesapeake, Sept. 17, 1997

TRAFFIC

6 reasons for rampant road rage

There are several explanations for why road rage is exceptionally high in this area.

1. People forgetting that the far left lane on a highway is for passing.

2. ``Dead-end'' lanes that disappear soon after you get through the intersection - for example, at the Centerville Turnpike and Kempsvile Road intersection.

3. The inability of some people to start up quickly when a light changes.

4. The extreme in driving habits between the hot-dog crazies and the slow fogeys.

5. Drivers who don't use their turn signals or who, when making a turn, slow down first and signal just before turning.

6. The way traffic on I-64 goes from 60+ mph down to 20 mph and back several times during rush hour.

One final point: The reason some people use the dead-end lanes to cut in front of others is because people take so long to start up. The reason some people zip out of driveways into traffic is because they have waited patiently for a break but there is none. People may stop using signals to change lanes because other people will speed up to prevent them from moving over.

In effect, it all becomes self-perpetuating, which only adds to the road rage.

Joan Mann

Virginia Beach, Sept. 22, 1997

OCEANA

Cut noisy jets, get a silent economy

I am intrigued by the many letters you have printed that discuss the aircraft engine noise that will accompany the arrival of the F/A-18s at NAS Oceana from NAS Cecil Field, Fla.

If canceling the transfer of the 180 F/A-18s to NAS Oceana will reduce the noise level, why not do it? To achieve an even greater degree of noise reduction, send the F-14s away; cancel all air operations at Oceana; shut the place down.

If we work together, we can make it so quiet you could hear an economy drop.

B. P. McSherry

Virginia Beach, Sept. 22, 1997

Area can't support more noise, more people

Regarding the relocation of the Navy jets to Oceana: Congressman Owen Pickett and the mayor of Virginia Beach do not live in the high-noise-level zone. It's easy for these politicians to approve something that doesn't affect them directly.

Bay Colony, Linkhorn Park, Birdneck Point and other Oceanfront areas are right in the flight path. The schools, roads and utilities of Virginia Beach are not adequate to accommodate this influx in population. What will we gain other than higher taxes and a resort city jammed with tract houses and overcrowded roads and schools?

Hampton Roads has done its part for the armed forces - we already have the Norfolk Naval Base, Little Creek Amphibious Base, Fort Story, Dam Neck, Langley and Oceana. Should we leave this important decision to a city council that has just spent $12 million to build a new Linkhorn Park Elementary School that is not now needed?

Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lane

Virginia Beach, Sept. 19, 1997

Give tax break to crash-zone residents

So, Virginia Beach city officials think it's a great idea to bring in all these additional (noisier) jets to Oceana? They tell us the increased noise level is just ``the price we have to pay'' for the additional jobs.

Here's another great idea: All homeowners in a noise/crash zone should receive an automatic 25 percent reduction in their real estate tax. Think of it as a return on the investment for these new jobs, or compensation for the reduction in quality of life.

Or make it a condition of serving that all city officials must live in a high-noise zone. After just one spring and fall of being unable to enjoy having the windows open in their homes, then they can tell us about the price we have to pay.

Ron Wickert

Virginia Beach, Sept. 23, 1997

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