DATE: Sunday, November 2, 1997              TAG: 9710310264

SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN             PAGE: 10   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letters 

                                            LENGTH:  115 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - SUFFOLK

I am president of the Rosemont Lloyd Place Civic Association, and I am writing because we are very concerned about the impact of the Finney Avenue Connector project on our community.

This connector will have a very negative impact on the African American community, and it does not have the support of our community.

We feel strongly that the City Council acted inappropriately by approving this project ``study'' without significant community involvement.

Several options should have been presented to the community for review, with adequate time for discussion prior to the selection of a particular project location study.

The Finney Avenue Connector will destroy the East End community and will have a major impact, directly or indirectly, on homes and businesses in this community.

Secondly, we feel strongly that the proposed connector will not ease traffic problems on East Washington Street, but it will bring significant truck traffic through this community, along with diverting other traffic through our neighborhoods.

The Finney Avenue Connector as currently designed is unacceptable.

The citizens of the community are not supporting it, and we urge all members of the City Council to vote to cancel this project.

In their elected roles as City Council representatives, they are responsible for representing the concerns and wishes of the citizens in this community and ensuring that our tax dollars are used in a manner that serves the entire community, and not a select few.

This project does not represent the solution to the current traffic problems in this community.

We are eager to work with the City Council to find solutions to this problem, but we will not accept any proposal that will destroy our community.

Our civic association and concerned citizens in the surrounding area are available to meet with the Council and its consultant to develop a plan that meets the needs of all.

T.C. Williams

North Division Street

Suffolk He'll vote Democratic, no more split tickets

I have always voted Democrat for President. But in local elections, I have split my ticket.

No more.

I can remember the Hoover days, when people lost homes and bank accounts. Roosevelt took over and, as he set out to save the country, he was opposed by the Republicans. They opposed the 25-cents per hour minimum wage and the 40-hour work week. Social Security and Medicare were bitterly opposed by the Republicans.

They are still trying to destroy Social Security, and massive fraud is hurting Medicare.

Only President Clinton is keeping the radical Republicans from doing a hatchet job on the programs that help millions. The tax cut this year helps mostly the well off.

The State of Virginia is on the same course. The sales tax, especially on food, hurts a lot of poor people.

The car tax removal is another move for the well off. The Republicans want charter schools, vouchers for private schools and, of course, no gun control.

I really think that Don Beyer is the man for governor - a solid businessman and no lawyer. I would not vote for anybody Pat Robertson supports.

I say vote Democrat for the House in Virginia, to protect the people.

The Republicans will shift the tax load to the poor and middle class.

A lot of money needs to be spent. People need and want services which must be paid for, so grin and bear it. Pay your taxes.

The Republican leaders seem to not care if businesses pollute our rivers.

Look at Smithfield Packing and chemical companies. The Democrats are more for the masses.

Sam L. Callis

Sleepy Hole Road

Suffolk Remember the track

Chris Jones is running for elected office again. Whoa, Chris! You've got some explaining to do.

Remember how you repeatedly refused to listen to your Suffolk citizens and Chesapeake neighbors when we requested you to reconsider building your race track within a mile of our homes? Remember how you smugly looked down on the hundreds of us who appeared before you, while you turned a deaf ear to any of our concerns each and every time?

How arrogant you are now, Chris, to think that we don't remember your disregard for our neighborhood. How self-serving you are to ask us citizens of Suffolk and Western Branch to believe that suddenly you care about our children and our welfare.

You can certainly count on us as good citizens to cast our vote this election. It will surely be a vote for anyone other than Chris Jones!

Voters, beware! Don't be fooled.

Lou DeToma

Wild Duck Crossing

Chesapeake High standards

Michelle Degnan is a candidate for the House of Delegates for the 76th District, which includes portions of Chesapeake, Suffolk and Isle of Wight County.

I met Michelle in 1993, when I became a member of the Chesapeake School Board. She was then serving as president of the Chesapeake Education Association, and during her tenure as the leader of this organization she addressed the School Board at nearly every meeting. In her leadership position with the teacher organization she was an advocate for (1) safe and orderly schools, (2) parental and community involvement in the schools, (3) mastery of basic skills and (4) preparing students for the jobs of the future.

Michelle supports rigorous academic standards, and she wants all children to succeed. However, she feels that, to meet the new state education standards, the state will have to do a better job of funding its full share of the cost of education.

Bravo! Michelle's experience gives her the knowledge and ability to voice our education concerns in the legislature. I urge the voters of the 76th District to support Michelle.

James M. Reeves

Mobile Drive

Chesapeake

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