Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, November 4, 1993 TAG: 9311040038
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ray reed
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
I found using public property to promote a religious point of view to be absolutely unacceptable, and I don't see this being done at other public buildings such as courthouses.
I would like you to investigate and find out by what stretch of constitutional interpretation a public building can be used to promote religion. P.T., Blacksburg
A: The airport terminal's public nature is the very reason those materials are displayed, said Mark Courtney, planning and marketing director. It's free speech under the First Amendment.
The American Civil Liberties Union director for Virginia, Kent Willis, said such brochure racks become unconstitutional only if groups are excluded. Legality depends on the airport's policy, Willis said.
Courtney said access to that rack is regulated by a permit process and is open to noncommercial printed material from any philanthropic, religious, benevolent or other public-interest group that requests a permit.
Willis said brochure racks can be compared to libraries that have not just books but newspapers, periodicals and brochures as well. The legal test is whether the racks' contents are inclusive, not whether they're religious.
Your comparison to courthouses may be a good one. However, most courthouses don't have any brochure racks for public use, and that's legal, too, Willis said. If a courthouse did have such a brochure rack, it would need a defined policy making the rack open to all groups, Willis said.
A Supreme Court ruling in June 1992 forbade the Hare Krishnas from soliciting cash contributions in airports, but it did allow them to continue giving out leaflets. That ruling, though, is less relevant to your question than the inclusiveness of the airport policy, Willis said.
\ Landfill's late; bill's due
Q: Since the new landfill opening is being delayed 60 days, why don't they delay the $30 rate increase for commercial haulers for 60 days, too? R.B., Vinton
A: The loan payments are due, even though the landfill isn't ready.
Oct. 1 was the first installment on the $33.8 million bond issue that financed construction of the trash operation.
Rates for businesses that dump at the landfill went from $25 a ton to $55 to finance those payments.
The landfill's opening is projected for Dec. 6 if weather cooperates, said John Hubbard of the Roanoke Valley Resource Authority.
\ Clinic floors confusing
Q: Why does Lewis-Gale Clinic identify floors as Lobby, M, 1, 2, 3 instead of just 1-2-3-4-5? V.H., Elliston
A: Clinic floors 1, 2 and 3 correspond with the adjoining hospital floors of the same number. This saves confusion when people move between clinic and hospital.
The lobby and mezzanine floors in the clinic are below the hospital's first floor because they're on a sloping site.
Got a question about something that might affect other people too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Maybe we can find the answer.
by CNB