ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Friday, April 4, 1997 TAG: 9704040012
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-8 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
City parks need residents' concern
I READ with interest your March 9 article (``Problems in the parks''), the March 11 editorial (``Roanoke is ill-serving its neighborhood parks'') and letters to the editor concerning Roanoke city's funding of its public parks.
Though I agree that some of our parks need major improvements, I think an unfair indictment of the Roanoke City Parks and Recreation Department has been levied. Let me give a differing perspective.
Roanoke's park system (as was its school system) was developed at a time when color and class were part of the criteria in distributing goods and services by our city. In that vein, there are parks in dire need of catching up to acceptable levels. It's critical that our city administration and City Council consider that as they prepare our 1997-1998 fiscal year budget.
Our parks department, along with the Roanoke Neighborhood Partnership, needs to conduct a thorough review of what acceptable levels should be. Then, send a proposal for funding to the city manager and to City Council for evaluation and consideration.
This doesn't exonerate the public from doing its part. We can volunteer to clean up our neighborhood parks. Several neighborhood organizations have ``adopted'' their parks. I adopted Staunton Avenue Park, and used it as a project for two students I tutor.
Adopting a park isn't an effort that requires tremendous amounts of time. The parks department certifies an individual or group as the adopter, supplies trash bags and safety vests, and picks up the trash after the cleanup.
This is an issue that affects, and should involve, all of us. Instead of griping, we should - as some have already done - work with the city to correct imbalances that exist in our parks.
MAC McCADDEN
ROANOKE
Editor's note: The letter-writer served on City Council from 1992-1996.
Incompetence is rife in public service
WHERE ARE the rolling heads?
A Roanoke citizen faces exorbitant fines for tearing down dilapidated houses when the city had granted permission. That the permission was an employee's mistake points out the callous attitude that people are the servants of the government, and that Big Brother never makes mistakes or is ever responsible for them.
The arson squad cannot find arson in a burning store where flammable liquids show up in places they should not. The Internal Revenue Service wastes $400 million on never-never-land computers. It elicits only "Oops!"
A mental patient at Petersburg State Hospital spent her last 300 hours of life in solitary, strapped to her bed by "public servants.'' Sadistic, idiotic, incompetent or all of the above?
And how many heads have rolled? In the private sector, miscreants pay for their sins. In government "service," apparently there is no sin. Certainly, there is no punishment.
How long do we who pay the salaries of these servants have to watch the abuse of our money, our fellow citizens and often our basic moral values?
EDMUND ARNOLD
ROANOKE
Powers' projects have been positive
REGARDING your March 7 news article, ``City sues over demolished Gainsboro houses'':
The city should review and change its system for issuing permits, then proceed to do positive things for the Gainsboro neighborhood instead of wasting effort and money bogging down the court system.
Your newspaper should give equal space for the positive things developer Calvin Powers is doing for our community. For example, our offices are located beside the former ``adult XXX'' Lee Theater, and it's a pleasure to see how well-maintained the building is. A thriving business and residential apartments occupy it. This is just one of several buildings on Williamson Road that Powers has salvaged for the betterment of Roanoke city.
If our great city had multiple Calvin Powers, then the new buzz word would be progression!
DANNY TAYLOR
ROANOKE
Editor's note: This letter was signed by two other people.
Social Security funds are safely invested
IN HIS MARCH 4 letter to the editor (``Social Security fund is long gone''), Robert Terry stated that ``all that remains of the so-called fund is a nonredeemable, noninterest-bearing note." He basically says there is no Social Security trust fund.
Social Security indeed has a trust fund. By law, the money in it is invested in U.S. government bonds, just like the bonds being bought by financial institutions, corporations, mutual funds and individuals. These groups and individuals consider U.S. bonds and notes among the safest investments available.
Certainly, financial and investment institutions do not consider their bonds and notes as nonredeemable and noninterest-bearing. Why does Terry think Social Security bonds are any different? These bonds represent an obligation on the part of the United States.
An obligation to Social Security's trust fund is no different from the obligation to millions of private investors who personally hold treasury bonds. In fact, the trust fund earned $35 million in interest alone on the bonds in 1995.
Much discussion is now going on at all levels as to whether the trust fund should be invested in other than U.S. government bonds. During these discussions, everyone needs to rely upon correct information, not hearsay and misinformation.
FRED S. AYSCUE
District manager
Social Security Administration
ROANOKE
Capturing the spirit of Franklin County
I AND many Franklin County residents appreciate greatly two unrelated news articles in your March 2 edition.
Your Extra section article (``When the prognosis calls for prayer'') described the courageous and inspirational struggle of Dr. Tod Stilson's family. They chose to meet the tragedy of cancer with traditional medicines, research and prayer. Indeed, it's their commitment to the power of prayer and their unyielding faith that moves us all to see more clearly the true measure of the value of each moment we live.
Your news article (``Old friend finds its way home to Rocky Mount's fire station'') was a wonderful article about one man's quest to restore and hold onto a valuable part of Franklin County history. It described Rocky Mount Fire Chief Posey Dillon's successful attempt to find and restore the county's first fire engine.
Both articles display what we in Franklin County have always known - that our county is rich in history and faith. We're bound by both.
Too often we feel The Roanoke Times is too quick to cover embarrassing events that take place in our county. Your readers need to know that Franklin County's various communities and governmental bodies are composed of people who are dedicated to the larger community of faith, history and hope for the future, as was beautifully covered in your March 2 edition.
WILLIAM D. ROBEY
FERRUM
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