DATE: Wednesday, October 8, 1997            TAG: 9710080009

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B10  EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letters 

                                            LENGTH:  106 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

VIRGINIA BEACH

Community Services on the right track

Regarding the proposed Virginia Beach Community Services Board complex on Bonney Road: News that the project would cost $3 million more than expected greatly concerned citizens and the City Council, which spent many hours getting to the bottom of the issue. We are confident that the board now has the situation well under control and that the facility, when completed, will be one of which we can all be proud.

The response of the Community Services Board, and particularly that of its chairman, Donald Jellig, an executive with Sentara Health System, was impressive. The residents of Virginia Beach are fortunate to have men and women of this caliber willing to donate their time to oversee services for citizens coping with mental-health and substance-abuse problems. It is unfortunate that SCB Director Dennis Wool resigned in the wake of this episode, and I want to publicly thank him for his many years of service to Virginia Beach.

William D. Sessoms Jr.

Vice mayor

Virginia Beach, Sept. 30, 1997

City Council out for a scapegoat

The Virginia Beach City Council is once again looking for someone to blame for a $12 million problem (``Board chief takes blame for project's cost overrun,'' Sept. 24). Two years ago, this same City Council decided that when placing blame, the buck stopped at the top, with the Virginia Beach School Board. Now that the council is in the same position, the buck no longer stops at the top.

Anyone who has ever served on a board knows that board or council members have to rely on the information given to them by the experts. Two years ago, however, the City Council dismissed that idea and held School Board members to an unfair and impossibly high standard. It is only fitting, therefore, that council members should hold themselves to that same standard.

Where is City Council members' outrage now? Where is their call for a special grand jury to determine if they themselves are unfit for public service?

June T. Kernutt

Virginia Beach, Sept. 25, 1997

PROMISE KEEPERS

``Taking responsibility'' means taking control

On Oct. 4, the fastest-growing segment of the religious right, the Promise Keepers, held a mass rally in Washington, D.C.

While this group claims that it is a religious group, quotes from its leaders, such as Raleigh Washington, suggest that they have every intention of bringing their agenda to the public sphere.

Promise Keepers (PK) claims the group is good for women, and urges men to take responsiblity in their homes. However, when you look closely at the rhetoric at one of the rallies, you see that ``take responsibility'' actually means taking control. PK expects women to submit not only in our homes but also in the classroom and workplace.

PK professes to promote love, not hate. However, its founder and leader, Bill McCartney, was instrumental in passing Colorado's anti-gay Amendment 2, which was so extreme that it was later ruled unconstitutional by the Supreme Court.

PK leaders are masters at double talk. Honor your wife, but be sure you're the head and master of the household. Seek racial ``reconciliation'' with hugs and tears, but ignore racial injustice when it comes to housing, education and jobs. Then march on Washington, but claim it is not a political action.

One final note: Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson have contributed both financially and with staff members to PK.

Mary Roberson

Co-president

Tidewater chapter

National Organization for Women

Virginia Beach, Oct. 6, 1997

CITY HALL

Police, firefighters need our support

What happened to our heartfelt pride in our firefighters and police force? They have always been there for us in our frightening hours of need and have always thought of our safety first.

It seems more and more I see articles implying, ``Well, they are no better than anyone else'' and ``They are always asking for more from the city.'' Well, guess what? The things they are asking for are vital for them to protect us. They need our support, not just monetarily but for the dangerous jobs they perform on our streets every day.

It seems like City Hall fights their every request for better work environments, better equipment and better protection. Why? We should be supporting these heroic people with great vigor.

Kay M. Thomas

Norfolk, Sept. 29, 1997

CHESAPEAKE

Center's opening marred by rudeness

I attended the Grand Opening celebration for the new Chesapeake Conference Center and cannot express my shock at people's behavior during the program. What began as a subdued hum of conversation quickly became a constant din of noise. People showed a total disregard for everyone involved, often turning their backs on the speakers to carry on their own conversations.

No one was spared having to shout above the roar, including Mayor Ward and William Whitehurst, the keynote speaker, who limited his talk to a very few words. Several times Mayor Ward asked for quiet and was completely ignored.

I have never seen such a public display of bad manners and rude behavior. What has happened to common courtesy? We complain of the behavior of our youth. Can we blame them when this is the example set by adults?

Joyce O. Thacker

Portsmouth, Oct. 1, 1997

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