Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 7, 1994 TAG: 9402080005
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
No bus should have to wait for a traffic light! We speak often of smart highways. In Tubingen, Germany, the bus I rode daily to the campus triggered sensors in the roadway that gave it a green light at every approaching intersection. The bus was the fastest vehicle on the street. No vehicle of mass transportation, while on its assigned route, should be treated as a private automobile.
Smart highways shouldn't begin with inertial guidance and triangulation based on orbiting satellites. They should begin with simple devices that empower mass-transit vehicles to create green lights upon their approach and to keep them green until they've crossed the intersection. That ability, in my opinion, would tip the balance in favor of ecologically and economically sound commutation.
BRUCE WALLACE
BLACKSBURG
Elective leaders isolate the valley
WE'LL HOLD elected leaders accountable for creating this annexation and consolidation monster that severely limits all future cooperation in our beautiful valley.
Deceit, trickery and continuous fighting for so many years among valley leaders completely fragmented our governmental structure. How many new industries and businessmen have decided not to invest their money or move to our valley because of fear and mistrust of leaders who are willing to change everything, even our state laws, in order to grab their neighbor's land, taxes and money? Or leaders who attempted to legally steal all the assets of Roanoke Gas, one of the oldest and most reliable industries in the city? If all the money, time, effort and millions of man-hours that were wasted had only been cooperatively utilized in solving our problems, and in luring industry to change our unemployed and welfare personnel into tax-paying employees, friendly feelings would replace hostility and eliminate most problems.
As a town, the city would be governed by a Town Council, but its members could exercise their authority and influence in all matters, as they could and would outvote county personnel two to one on every issue.
Real concern for our beautiful valley and all its people must now be shown by maintaining a healthy cooperative bio-region - unless this is impossible due to past bickering, trickery, deception, mistrust and fear that's now completely out of control.
MELVIN C. GREEN
SALEM
Warner shows courage, wisdom
VIRGINIA'S GOP chairman recently claimed, in so many words, that he had yet to run into a Republican who wasn't ``apoplectic'' over Sen. Warner's remarks about Oliver North. Here's one! I not only agree with Warner's analysis of North, I applaud his courage for being so candid and forthright so early in the campaign.
The way things are shaping up, I'm ``apoplectic'' to see so many Republicans - we're a breed renowned for our ability to think for ourselves and to make our own decisions - follow the herd and accept North at face value. It's a value that's virtually counterfeit in terms of basic qualifications to serve in the Senate, his criminal record notwithstanding.
Equally appalling is some of the rhetoric from the pro-North crowd, such as the figurative remark made by a local GOP unit chairman: ``Maybe someone should shoot him [Warner] down.'' Good grief!
Such rhetoric suggests that North already has the party's nomination and that any Republican already in office who opposes him - even someone of Warner's stature who's served the GOP and Virginia long and well - treads on thin ice.
I'm one of many local Republican officeholders and longtime party members who've worked long and hard to advance the cause of Republicanism and to bring respect and pride to the GOP's membership. I'd hate to see all of our good, grass-roots efforts go down the drain in this mad rush to put a marginally qualified convicted criminal into office. And at the same time, to be so unkind and arbitrary to those already in office who oppose him.
Regardless of who wins the nomination, I'll support that candidate. Until that time, I endorse and will support Jim Miller, a man who's highly qualified in all respects to represent Virginia in the U.S. Senate.
EDWARD G. KOHINKE SR.
Vice Chairman, Roanoke
County Board of Supervisors
ROANOKE COUNTY
Most postal patrons understood
DURING the recent record cold and ice storm, most all United States Postal Service customers were kind, patient and understanding. They realized the city and county hadn't cleared the streets for safe travel.
Jack Burke (Jan. 25 letter to the editor, ``Mail service, airport took a holiday''), who receives his mail from the Cave Spring office, had questions about his mail being delayed several days. Perhaps, as a Postal Service carrier, I can answer some of his questions. He questioned why UPS, Federal Express and his newspaper carrier came and his letter carrier didn't. Usually, those carriers have fewer stops than the Postal Service carriers. Postal routes include each and every home, have as many as 700 stops, and some walking carriers walk six or more miles. On normal days, delivery on average routes takes 5 to 51/2 hours.
During this storm, we not only had record cold and wind-chill factors, but also treacherous ice conditions. This turns a 5 to 51/2 hour route into a potential nightmare, if patrons fail to clear hazardous ice and snow from walks and vehicle runways. Patrons are required by law to clear off sidewalks on city and county property in front of their homes. They're also expected to clear a path to their mail receptacle. I'd be willing to guess that Burke was more interested in Roanoke Regional Airport clearing its runways than he was in clearing his own.
He probably failed to realize that we have to be alert to oncoming traffic and potentially sliding into parked cars. Our biggest concern, though, is children sliding into the street in front of or under our moving vehicles.
Our goal is to deliver to as many boxes as we safely can. It's hard to deliver on ice. I've fallen numerous times on ice that should've been removed by patrons. During this ice storm, I was called in on my day off to replace a fellow worker who was injured on uncleared ice.
I can promise Burke that we'll diligently do our very best to deliver the mail. It's a two-way street, though. Burke must do his best to clear his.
EDDIE J. EASTERLING
BLUE RIDGE
Despite Clinton, economy reacting
IN RESPONSE to the Jan. 26 Associated Press article by John King entitled ``Finally, his own script'' regarding President Clinton's State of the Union address:
In the article, King states that one thing the president can rightfully be proud of is the rebounding economy. You don't stimulate an economy by taxing money out of individual and corporate pockets.
Mr. King, take off your blinders. The economy is rebounding not because of President Clinton's policies, but despite them.
King also speaks of President Clinton's deficit-reduction package. This is just smoke and mirrors. According to some reputable economists, the deficit will increase by about $1 trillion during the first Clinton term of office. God help us if there's a second.
STANLEY A. KNOTT
MARTINSVILLE
On the death of John Crowe
I WAS so sorry to read the sad news of John Crowe's untimely death. In addition to his other community commitments, he gave generously of his time and talent to Artemis, serving as copy editor for its journal for the past several years.
All of us at Artemis who had the pleasure of knowing and working with him will remember him fondly.
ANN WEINSTEIN
Past President
Artemis
ROANOKE
Plentiful food for the population
YOUR JAN. 30 editorial, ``Play it safe with population,'' failed to make its case for reduced growth.
With the population, 1950-1993, merely doubling, but the supply of seafood, meat, grain and soybeans increasing three to five times, can't we assume that the needed supply could be revised downward?
It appears the doubling population rose to the occasion and not only met but exceeded its nutritional needs. I therefore found your final statement, ``Let us employ human ingenuity to figure out ways to reduce population growth,'' redundant.
MARGARET A. WHITEIS
HUDDLESTON
by CNB