THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT 
              Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Sunday, October 9, 1994                TAG: 9410070290
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON    PAGE: 06   EDITION: FINAL 
TYPE: Letter 
                                             LENGTH: Short :   44 lines

NAYS HAVE IT IN POST-CARD POLL ON PARKING

Because of the subterranean discontent I hear daily about restricted beach parking, I expected truckfuls of mail in response to my letter to The Beacon Sept. 11. I asked for a public response, yea or nay, to this very controversial issue.

Forty readers expressed their opinions. Thirty-nine were against the parking restrictions. Most sent post cards. Six sent letters. Adjectives descriptive of City Council include: ``sneaky,'' ``deceptive,'' ``outrageous,'' ``Gestapo.''

New issues raised include: (1) Will parents attending evening public-school functions at Cooke Elementary and Virginia Beach Middle get $25 parking tickets? (2) What if we get mugged walking back to the city parking lot eight blocks away from our friend's house at midnight?

One reader submitted a graphic depicting the tourist zone as a concentration camp complete with barbed wire and guard towers. Another complained that we are made prisoners in our homes at 8 every night.

While most of these responses came from the tourist zone, those in 23452 came in second. Other responses were from these areas: Shore Drive, Croatan, Shadowlawn, North End, Kings Grant, Kempsville, 23454-56, 23462 and 23464.

The one respondent ``for'' restricted parking insisted this be free to all who pay city property taxes.

Many of those who do not reside in the tourist zone still seem to think those of us who do live here want restricted parking. There is no evidence to support this. There is plenty of evidence that our City Council and the tourist-industry big boys want restricted parking - with or without the consent of citizens. Do the rest of us want to be on an 8 p.m. curfew? Not!

Why didn't I get truckfuls of post cards? The citizens are disheartened. At least that's what those who called in said. ``Why bother? You can't fight City Hall . . . until the next election.'' Maybe they're right.

Thanks to all of you who bothered to stand to be counted.

Brenda McCormick

16th Street by CNB