Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 9, 1993 TAG: 9310280318
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A14 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
Evidently we have some sloppy people in the commonwealth here. With all the natural beauty in the valley, you would think citizens would care enough not to throw their trash onto our streets and yards.
I live in a nice, older neighborhood near a public park. I see people throw bags full of trash out car windows, without regard to the mess it makes in streets and yards, and seemingly not caring. When my brother and I were very small, our father would kick our rears for dropping trash. And I guess we grew up with a healthy respect for keeping our neighborhoods clean.
Every morning, I, along with some neighbors, pick litter up from our streets and yards. Please, if you care about our environment, don't throw litter from your cars, and don't drop it while walking the public streets.
To our esteemed city leaders: Please enforce anti-littering laws and help to make our city cleaner and healthier.
BOB GREGORY
ROANOKE
Hanging in for pension benefits
SO ANOTHER congressman is fed up with the mess in Washington. Rep. Timothy Penny of Minnesota announced that he is quitting at the end of his sixth term next year. It's strange that senators and representatives don't get fed up until they get in 12 years. He's not quitting; he's retiring. Here is a relatively young man who will be drawing a fat pension for the rest of his life. He will cost taxpayers more for the rest of his life than he ever cost us during his 12 years in Washington.
There is no other job on the face of the Earth that pays a lifelong pension after 12 years of work. This is absolutely crazy.
Even our own Bob Goodlatte, who I voted for, promised during his campaign that if elected he would only serve six terms. Translated: I will quit as soon as I am eligible for a big, fat pension.
A. FRED LANDIS
ROANOKE
Paid consultant wasn't necessary
THE CITY Hall duo, namely City Manager Bob Herbert and Mayor David Bowers, seem to be using wooden slats instead of two-by-fours in their thinking of what is good for the city of Roanoke and its people. Why would anyone go all the way to Connecticut to find a consultant to tell the city manager whether he should try to enforce a takeover option of a private utility that has given this city exceptiona service for more than 100 years.
The $60,000 consultant's fee could surely have remained in the city's account if the city manager had done some reasonable thinking and consulted the citizens of Roanoke about his intentions.
And he could have been assured of the backing of the citizens against the takeover of one of the better private enterprises in the state.
The turmoil Bowers and Herbert have generated among the citizenry is unparalleled in the city's history. If these two gentlemen could have listened to some of the anger expressed in various gatherings and on sidewalks, their surpris would have been phenomenal, to say the least.
ALLAN TURNER
ROANOKE
Ed Shamy: crusading columnist
THE ROANOKE Valley is fortunate to have Ed Shamy living here. We all remember his enthusiasm for the scenic license plates, and we've had interesting reading and laughs from his columns. That same enthusiasm has now taken a serious note - his crusade about drivers with suspended licenses who keep driving.
I had the privilege of hearing Shamy speak at a safety meeting recently. The figures he gave about the number of drivers who continue to drive with suspended licenses were shocking. His message of "personal responsibility" was astounding.
It is rewarding to see someone pursue an issue they believe in with the degree Shamy has with this issue. The legislature has taken notice and changes are promised as a result of his work. The Roanoke Times & World-News can be commended for the message he has sent to the area.
CAROL T. WEEKS
TROUTVILLE
Terry has some explaining to do
I WOULD like to know how Mary Sue Terry thinks that building nine more jails will solve, or at least curtail, crime? This is campaign rhetoric and innuendo.
Next, where will the money come from? Gov. Wilder has already stated that for a 1994 balanced budget there will have to be some more budget cutting and departmental "slicing." She emphatically states she is against increased taxes and has distanced herself from the Clinton administration.
Ms. Terry, please tell the voters how building more jails will solve the ever-increasing crime problems in Virginia?
GEORGE M. SPINNETT
HENRY
Don't lower the standards
MY UTMOST gratitude goes to Roanoke's fire department for the excellent duty it performs for us every day. The standards and professionalism are high and should be. Their job is vital to our community.
However, it alarms me that admission standards might be lowered to accommodate people who otherwise would not make it. That would be unfair to other applicants who, even though they performed better, may not be chosen because they might not be the right gender. This would be reverse discrimination at its highest, and I truly hope it doesn't happen in Roanoke. Being politically correct in a situation like this could lead to death for an innocent victim.
JOSEPH BURTCH
ROANOKE
Macy gets in a Yankee's hair
IN RESPONSE to Beth Macy's Sept. 2 column, "'Nice' place to let your hair down":
Who is she to judge the entire Yankee population? That's just as bad as saying that all Southerners are rednecks.
I'm from New Jersey, and a lot of Virginians try to fight the Civil War when they find out where I'm from. I'm an individual and deserve to be treated as one.
PAMELA N. HILL
BEDFORD
by CNB