THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 17, 1996 TAG: 9603150014
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J4 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 37 lines
``IRS, ABC raids prompt suit'' (MetroNews, March 7) finally reveals some of the gross misuses of power propelled at Norfolk and Virginia Beach restaurants, managers and owners.
My wife was a manager at the Norfolk Jewish Mother when law-enforcement agents suddenly closed the restaurant in a storm-trooper-like manner. Before the raids, the staff and owners had established a successful restaurant by building a reputation for quality food, service and entertainment. In minutes, that favorable reputation was destroyed. In the wake, ABC officials continued harassing the restaurants and made it impossible for the Norfolk restaurant to hold a liquor license. The Norfolk Jewish Mother had to close, leaving more than 30 people unemployed, including my wife.
My wife lost a job, the kind of job hard to replace because it was a job she loved. Norfolk lost a popular restaurant and venue for live local and national music. The owners were terrorized and humiliated. The Jewish Mother name, probably, will be forever tarnished. And the only action the IRS and ABC took to remedy their mistake was to issue a statement to say the investigation was over and there would be no charges. This unjustified abuse of power frightens me. It should frighten every American.
America was founded on the fundamental priciple of checks and balances in power. It appears the balance of power in these agencies has shifted uncomfortably away from individual rights. This abuse of power should not be tolerated.
MARK ZAWISA
Norfolk, March 8, 1996 by CNB