DATE: Tuesday, October 7, 1997              TAG: 9710070005

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B8   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letter 

                                            LENGTH:  136 lines

LETTERS [-- TO THE EDITOR]

As a young college student, I considered myself a liberal and tended to support Democratic causes and candidates. However, since I joined the work force, married and became a mother, I have come to realize the devastating impact that taxes have had on me and my family budget.

Tax Freedom Day for us average taxpayers comes sometime in May, which means taxes consume nearly 40 percent of our incomes.

Therefore, I heartily support Republican Jim Gilmore in his efforts to phase out the personal property tax on automobiles. He understands how much the middle class needs relief from these outrageous taxes - something Mr. Beyer apparently does not.

Sandy Biles

Virginia Beach, Sept. 29, 1997 OCEANA Florida drivers don't deserve a free ride

As long as everyone is thinking about those 180 new fighter jets moving to Oceana from Florida, here is one more aspect to consider: Another 9,500 cars driving on our roads paying no auto property taxes. Many of these cars have license plates from Florida, which has no state income tax.

Proponents of this move, like our mayor, desire the relatively high salaries that will accompany the 5,600 new workers. Will more than 5 percent of them help pay personal property taxes on their autos to help build more roads and schools?

I know a Navy officer who has never been stationed in Florida yet both his cars have Florida plates. Another officer I know lived in Virginia Beach for 12 years and always had Florida license plates on his cars.

Maybe it is time for Governor Allen to politely but firmly write the governor of Florida and ask him to please tighten up his laws concerning our highly paid military personnel who claim Florida as residence while not actually living there. Florida's tax laws are severely burdening the rest of us who work in Virginia Beach.

Frank Sullivan

Virginia Beach, Sept. 27, 1997 VIRGINIA BEACH City just skates over the opposition

It certainly looks as if the mayor of Virginia Beach and her City Council, aka the Ministry of Truth, have optimized their decision-making process on the tough issues. First, decide the outcome of the issue; next, find the right people and ask their opinions. Presto chango, no problemo! Of course, it runs roughshod over most of the citizens but, then again, you can't have everything here in ``Oceania.''

I'll list but two recent examples of this blatant conduct.

1. Hold the City Council meetings regarding the disposition of skateboarders on the boardwalk on Tuesday at 2 p.m. in May, during school week, to ensure minimal, if any, skateboarder attendance. Invite the police to give testimony; they have a history of adversarial relationships with skateboarders. Put off the study to establish a skateboarding park until school is started again. Distribute the survey pamphlet to the boardwalk surf and skate shops (skateboarders are banned from the resort area), golf courses and recreation centers (skaters don't go there.) Expected results of the survey: ``We've found little interest in establishing a skateboard park.'' Problem over.

2. The mayor and each member of City Council get to invite 10 citizens to city-sponsored soda, pizza and cookies for a ``talkfest.'' As reported by The Pilot, ``Many council members were pleased that the people's responses were fairly similar to their own.'' Duh . . . you get to invite your cronies for a free meal and then are amazed they think like you? Hey, this is working so well that the next crony event is Oct. 21, so the boards and commissions can invite their friends to free supper. As quoted, City Manager James Spore doesn't like regular public hearings - ``people show up because they have . .

Jack Hughes

Virginia Beach, Oct. 1, 1997 LAWSUIT Oddball case? Look at the facts

Regarding your Sept. 15 editorial, ``Oddball cases,'' about the mentally ill man who cut off his hand and sued the surgeon who said he was competent to refuse an operation to reattach it:

You stated that a Norfolk Circuit Court judge had ``counseled (the doctor) not to proceed with the operation because the patient could later sue him for assault and battery.'' That is not true, and you insult the judge by saying it is.

The doctor said he told the judge that this man was competent to decide his hand should not be reattached and then asked the judge what would happen if he reattached it anyway. In the doctor's words, the judge only said ``that would potentially constitute an assault and battery.'' The judge could not and did not tell the doctor not to proceed with the reattachment operation. He only stated the truism that a competent patient's wishes have to be followed.

This patient sued for malpractice because the doctor wrongly said he was competent to refuse this hand-saving operation just hours after he cut it off in the psychotic belief that it was evil and God wanted if off. You unfairly labeled his lawsuit ``frivolous.''

Now this patient has a hook where he should have a reasonably functional reattached hand. He and the legions of mentally ill people like him deserve your compassion and not condemnation.

Robert E. Brown

M. Wayne Price

attorneys for the injured patient

Norfolk, Sept. 23, 1997 CODE VIOLATIONS Firefighters aren't the ones to blame

Your Sept. 26 editorial, ``A Norfolk embarrassment,'' implied that firefighters were somehow to blame for the fire code violations at Fire Station No. 7.

The fact is, firefighters were responsible for finding the problems, all of which were reported in writing to the administration. Most of the problems were ignored.

Out of frustration, supervisors at Fire Station 7 felt the need to bring in a fire inspector, who turned up eight violations. Even after the inspection, the violations mostly went unrepaired. The news media picked up on the situation, and finally the violations are being corrected. The firefighters did their job, the station officers did their job and the fire marshal's office did its job. The problem got tangled up in the Fire Department bureaucracy.

The real issue is the lack of money budgeted for repairs of this nature. Several stations are in need of major repairs, but only the most necessary repairs get done. If all 15 fire stations were inspected, including the just opened Station One, many code violations would probably be found.

The mere suggestion that firefighters are somehow responsible for these violations is ludicrous. It's like saying that the cook at your favorite restaurant should be held responsible for the leaking roof. The best he could do is report the problem to his boss. It's up to his boss to find the resources to correct the problems.

James A. Mikell

President

Norfolk Professional Firefighters

Local 68

Norfolk, Sept. 26, 1997

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