Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 11, 1994 TAG: 9407120073
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
I don't know whether your accusation against North was motivated by malice, dishonesty or ignorance. Nevertheless, you do a disservice to the public, and to yourself by your misrepresentation.
DONALD W. HUFFMAN
ROANOKE
Drug-related stories aren't reported
IT'S TIME to call the media on their lackadaisical, if not inept, coverage of important truths. Week after week, year after year, readers are flooded with stories about drug busts of punks in bus stations, cocaine dealers in courthouse bureaucracies, and law officers dealing and shaking down other dealers. This insanity continues without any serious questioning of the policy, which has failed for 20 to 30 years.
Drugs continue to be exported as the value continues to rise, and corruption only fuels the crime. The ``war on drugs'' is a war on ourselves and has deteriorated into a war on the few who get caught, usually the least aggressive and powerless on the bottom of the ladder.
What has this newspaper, as well as the media in general, reported on the chief of the international police force, Interpol, who has stated in two reports that he believes criminalization of small-time possession and use is futile, and will not solve the drug problem? There's been no extensive coverage of his beliefs or speeches.
In Virginia, a man is running for senator who was alleged by a former federal agent to have been involved with a cocaine and gun-running operation. No one has the courage even to investigate these reports.
Get on the ball. Report half of what you report on Bill and Hillary's actions, so that we can have a semi-informed electorate.
DENNIS LUCAS
RINER
Taking complaints to the top cat
I READ with great interest the July 2 news article on Roanoke County's cat-corralling ordinance (``It's time to fence in those felines'' by Jan Vertefeuille), and I recall the news article when it was first passed.
Then, your reporter noted comments by members of the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors to the effect that the ordinance would be unworkable, unenforceable, wouldn't solve the problem, that few people would bother to comply, etc.
Yet it was passed 4-1, and I've never seen a retraction of what reportedly was said that night.
``C'' Day arrived, and the animal-control office closed at essentially the usual time, a normal procedure as to how our county government works. But somehow the county also suddenly needs three new employees for animal control when it was previously suggested that no additional staffing would be required. And cat licenses were selling ``briskly,'' with only 72 sold initially?
As for Supervisor Ed Kohinke buying license No. 1 on July 1, I bought them for my cats the day before, when there was absolutely no rush. Mine aren't numbered 1 and 2, however, but have rather large numbers. I don't care, but Kohinke's buying of No. 1 doesn't seem very newsworthy. Rather, it seems contrived and somewhat silly.
I enjoyed the remark by Kohinke, my district's supervisor, that Elmer Hodge or other county officials can go out if necessary to handle ordinance-related complaints.
To ensure the best level of service, and include one of those responsible for the cat ordinance, if I should have any problems, I'll go straight to the top and call Kohinke. Based on prior experience, he'd probably get here sooner anyway.
STEVE CLEMONS
SALEM
Boucher helps solve citizens' problems
I SUPPORT Congressman Rick Boucher, who is a man of integrity and high ideals, and who works harder for this district than anyone I've ever seen.
Boucher is a man of honor. When he makes a promise to Southwest Virginia, he follows through. He promised to be an advocate of the people. He's helped thousands of Southwest Virginians solve their problems with the federal government's bureaucratic red tape - problems with Social Security, Medicare, VA benefits and even getting passports.
Everyone I know who has gone to Boucher's office has left feeling that he cares about them and their families.
In this day and time, it feels good to be able to vote for a man I respect so much.
DONALD W. TRAIL
PULASKI
by CNB