Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, October 4, 1993 TAG: 9310060324
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The state Department of Education apparently spent tens of thousands of our tax dollars to assemble an impressive public relations team, videos, teleconferences, a 25-person speaker's bureau and a travel budget to market their plan.
The deeply disturbing element of this carefully orchestrated power play by our state's highest education officials is how they attempted to intimidate and silence their critics. Throughout they have resorted to character assassination and name-calling, instead of discussing and debating the issues.
Until the governor took his belated action, OBE was on the "fast track" in Virginia and would have been implemented, no matter what parents and taxpayers wanted.
Remember the same Democratic Party that brought us this boondoggle in education is the party of Mary Sue Terry. It's high time we throw these rascals out, including their Department of Education and their appointed state School Board.
Vote for George Allen. He won't let this kind of foolishness ever get started again!
CAROLYN REAS
MONETA
\ Revive religion to stop abortion
IN ONE OF President Clinton's recent town hall meetings, he said that those who are pro-life should adopt babies to save them from abortion. It would be good if pro-lifers would do this, but it would not solve the immorality problem that results in millions of the unborn being aborted. This, as well as abortion, brings on God's judgment.
I believe the abortion issue will never be resolved in this country, unless there is a great religious revival or the second coming of Jesus Christ takes place. It would be helpful if Clinton exercised moral leadership, which he has failed to do so far, and do what he can to bring this nation to its senses.
ROBERT S. McCORMICK JR.
LEXINGTON
\ Working on that city eyesore
REGARDING Virginia Mitchell's Sept. 5 letter to the editor, "Raze downtown's eyesores," on the condition of Salem Avenue and the Williamson Road intersection:
We are currently in the process of renovating the old Wright Furniture building, and it has not been an easy matter, due to the condition of the property when we purchased it.
Because of the building's location, we have had to go to a great deal of time and expense to meet the Architectural Review Board's requirements. And they have been great to work with. Now that approval has been given for improvements that we wish to make, completion should be by Nov. 1.
At least our part of this end of Salem Avenue, added to the backing on Salem Avenue and facing on Campbell Avenue, will add to what has been accomplished in this area in trying to make the historic location in downtown Roanoke anew.
What is being accomplished is only a small part of the big picture, but so very important. We are putting in four personal rental apartments and two 2,000-square-foot retail spaces, as well as a parking lot.
The next time you're downtown, check out what we've done.
SPANKY MACHER
Manager Partner, Relish Realty
ROANOKE
\ Allen voted against U.S. 58
DON'T FALL for Republican George Allen's attempt to rewrite history regarding his opposition to U.S. 58.
While a relative backbencher in the House of Delegates, he squarely cast his lot against Southwest and Southside Virginia by refusing to support efforts to four-lane U.S. 58 from Lee County to Virginia Beach.
Ignoring calls by proponents that it would boost economic development and help create jobs for Southwest Virginians, Allen voted no twice.
Allen is running another ad on television attacking Mary Sue Terry who grew up on U.S. 58 in Patrick County. The announcer challenges voters to look closely at the record of a politician when they ask for a new job.
By George, let's. When it came time to be counted for jobs and expanded opportunity for Southwest Virginia, Allen voted no. While he talks like a backer of U.S. 58, remember how he voted when it really mattered.
MARK R. GRAHAM
ABINGDON
\ Roanoke gets on the tour
CONGRATULATIONS! Roanoke will host a stage in the Tour DuPont bicycle race next spring.
A vote of thanks to Councilman "Mac" McCadden for his diligence and effort in this regard.
This is a giant step forward for Roanoke and could put the city on the map for future national events.
ARTIE LEVIN
ROANOKE
\ Tobacco tax nauseates
REFERRING to the lead editorial in the Roanoke Times & World-News on Sept. 27, "A tax to make you feel good":
It does not!
As usual Hillary, Willie and your tax-and-spend crowd obviously hope for additional excuses for more and more taxes and spending to provide for the longer lives you say will be the result of a health tax on cigarettes.
And, of course, no matter what the cost in jobs, the same tax-and-spend group will be eager to spend to help farmers and those out of work.
As I hear the clamor for sin taxes, have any of you heard of the Boston Tea Party, which helped start our nation? Or calculated the point when such taxes would provide the incentive to pa tronize bootleggers?
The feeding frenzy of un-nicotine-stained hands is, in the mildest terms, nauseating, and could also be fatal in its promotion of big-brother-knows-best.
At least some of us still believe in choices. Anybody need a light?
STANLEY W. REEDER
MONETA
by CNB