THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 22, 1996 TAG: 9602200054
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 07 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Long : 115 lines
The power of referendum
As a petitioner and an organizer of the referendum on the stadium project and the Nauticus project, I support the limited use of plebiscites prior to authorization of significant general capital improvement projects in the city of Norfolk.
Local or municipal governments must be allowed to expand to meet growing needs and to maintain a standard level of services. But any expansion should proceed with the full consent and support of an informed electorate. Referendums place the onus of explanation on elected city officials and their administrators.
At the local level, unlike the federal or state government, all legislative and executive authority is concentrated in the city council. Additionally, local government operates without benefit of a system of checks and balances. The federal and state process, though time consuming and often tedious, encourages and permits public input and debate between two legislative chambers or branches. The public's interest is protected.
Since local government directly affects the lives of more people at more points than any other level of government, local affairs are run by local people who are responsible to their electorate and to no other political authority. By way of functions, it is closer to the people than either the federal or state government. Its constitutional autonomy can only be altered by amending or repealing the statutes and codes that define its charter.
Within the ever-increasing sphere of operations guaranteed by the law, city council governs according to their interpretation of the desires of the electorate. The next election presumably determines whether they have interpreted local opinion, demands and needs correctly or not, as the Supreme Court of Virginia ruled in the case I was a party to. Of course, such a presumption is unfounded.
The more often local elected officials have to go to the people, the closer the control the people would be able to exercise over their government and their representatives. But regular elections of city council are both costly and unpopular.
How do we collectively preserve the effectiveness and independence of our local elected government and provide an informed electorate a degree of self-determination? Considering the peculiar character of local government, without a definitive separation of powers nor a direct system of checks and balances, it is incumbent of our elected council to make every effort to include their constituents in the decision-making process, especially when allocating significant public funds or lending the good name of the city to promissory notes of the same.
A vote of confidence directs city council to proceed with full knowledge that a majority of the electorate is in ``lock step'' with them. That vote of confidence is the referendum.
William E. Swindell Jr.
Alexander Street
Tire-eating storm drain
I would like to know what is a citizen to do when he does all the right things, reporting a hazardous condition that has not only affected me but numerous other citizens?
I have torn up two tires going into a Mobil gas station at the intersection of Wyoming and Princess Anne Road, on a storm drain that has concrete broken off. The storm drain has been reported by me twice, during the summer and also in January. The managers from the gas station have also reported this to the Public Works Department on behalf of others who have had their tires torn up. Also, a deputy city attorney met me at the gas station on Jan. 22, looked at the drain, moved the barricade the Public Works Department had placed on the sidewalk, and put it right on the storm drain itself. It was still there as of Feb. 1.
But I received a letter Jan. 31, telling me, ``Our investigation of the above unfortunate incident fails to indicate that the city or any of its employees were negligent. Therefore, it will not be possible for this office to process your claim for reimbursement.''
If this isn't negligence on the part of the city of Norfolk, Public Works Department, Storm Drainage Department, then whose responsibility is it? Someone has to be accountable for this not being fixed so other people don't tear up their tires trying to get into the station to purchase gas - not gas and a new tire.
Melvin P. Johnson Sr.
North Ingleside Drive
Oaks feeling slighted
The students and athletes at Norfolk Collegiate School have noticed a trend in the way The Compass sports page is handled. Recently, Norfolk Academy has gained the privilege of being in the headlines.
On behalf of the Oaks swim team, we also feel the need to point out an error in the Feb. 8 issue. The headline said that the Bulldog boys were favored to win their 12th consecutive TCIS meet. This fact is quite false. It will not be No. 12 in a row for Academy. In 1992, the Oaks won the meet.
As captain of the varsity cross country team and of the varsity swim team I feel that something must be done to show unbiased information about the three private high schools in the city. Sports editor Vicki Friedman should know that the favoritism she shows for Academy is being noticed and needs to be stopped.
At Norfolk Collegiate, we do not pride ourselves by whining when we get beaten. Norfolk Academy is a fine institution. However, when the media twists information and makes another group look superior, something needs to be said.
David M. Craft
Huntington Place
In praise of Hindmarsh
During my recent visit to Hampton Roads, I was delighted to read the article about Connie Hindmarsh and her teddy bears.
My children grew up watching Miss Connie on ``Romper Room,'' and now their children go to all the marvelous plays she directs for the performing arts repertory. Norfolk public schools is indeed fortunate to have a teacher of such high quality working for the system.
I understand that the article appeared in the Beacon, Clipper and Compass. It was good that all of Tidewater was treated to the story about this amazing woman.
D.B. Brown
Alexandria, Va. by CNB