THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, January 21, 1997 TAG: 9701210002
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A16 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: 100 lines
The conversation at our house
My 15-year-old daughter, while watching the news, yelled, ``What is wrong with these people? Don't they know any better than this? I am only 15 and I know the Rhinos project won't work. No one is going to go to downtown Norfolk at night and pay $50 a ticket to a hockey game, and no one is going to shop in their mall, no matter what stores they have . . . just like no one goes to Waterside or Nauticus. What is wrong with these people?''
My 16-year-old son chimed in, ``I would go to see one of my favorite teams, if they came. I would not eat for a week to see a professional football game. I mean, we already have the Admirals and they are a good team, and the tickets are affordable. What's going to happen to the Admirals?''
I then stated, ``I think the Rhino project is a product of group think, a couple of influential people who stand to make a lot of money and have tried to shame everyone else into cooperating. It's the same as telling the emperor he is wearing no clothes.''
My husband stated, ``I don't think so! I enjoy hockey, but not enough to pay another nickel in taxes. Now if it were professional football. . . .''
Not an official poll, not accountants, just a conversation in our home, as I am sure in many others.
RENEE M. GARDNER
Chesapeake, Jan. 15, 1997
No parking for Rhinos
For the life of me, I can't understand why we are trying to support an NHL team. Norfolk already has the absolute worst parking situation in the Hampton Roads area - that coupled with three-wheeled parking police (meter maids) that are overzealous about writing parking citations.
We already have a new mall under construction that will require a substantial amount of parking. Have we considered a more open space like surprising Suffolk, where more space is offered and less congestion?
Maybe the reason there is a shortage of season-ticket purchases for this NHL franchise is because we should be considering an NBA or an NFL franchise. Hockey is definitely not for Hampton Roads.
ANTONIO A. GARDNER SR.
Suffolk, Jan. 15, 1997
No Rhino-taxes please
To the ``City Fathers'' of Hampton Roads: Please do not expect the taxpayers in each of your cities to pay the $23 million in taxes to help fund the Rhinos.
Sports fans who want to go to the Rhinos games should be expected to fund their sport, just like people who purchase alcohol pay the tax on their beverages or people who purchase gasoline or cigarettes pay those taxes. Those who do not support or have no interest in the Rhinos should not be required to pay for them.
CAROL S. PETTYJOHN
JENNIFER EGAN
KAYE WILLIAMS
PAT CLARK
AMANDA MONAHAN
MIKE EVANS
Portsmouth, Jan. 14, 1997
Let the people vote on projects
Norfolk City Council has completely distanced itself from the people it supposedly represents.
Major projects such as Harbor Park, McArthur Center, Nauticus, the Ocean View project and the new NHL arena should have been put to a vote because these projects will affect the people of Norfolk for years to come.
City Council will not put these projects to a vote because it knows the people would say ``no'' to some of these.
Norfolk has intelligent people who can make intelligent decisions. We are not all cattle grazing in the field. Let us vote!
RANDY WAYNE FANN
Norfolk, Jan. 15, 1997
Donating to Rhinos ``charity''
Considering the speculative nature of entertainment and sports events, it appears that the Hampton Roads Partnership and would-be Hampton Roads Rhinos owner George Shinn are taking far too much for granted.
Fifteen separate localities are being asked for 30 years of annual donations. However, nothing has been said about the cash return expected for each participating community. Or is the yearly assessment of $1.50 per capita throughout our region to be regarded as mandatory ``corporate charity''?
It's a sad commentary that the people who count the most, the taxpayers, have been left totally out of the equation. So much for representative - and equitable - government, thanks to the Hampton Roads Partnership!
RON BELL
Newport News, Jan. 14, 1997
First Nauticus, now the NHL
As a former resident of Norfolk, I ask: If the city of Norfolk cannot support Nauticus, how in the world can an NHL prospect make it? The price of a ticket for a family adds up to more than a single ticket the hockey fan will pay. This city or area can't even support its basketball team unless a chicken appears. Does this tell you something?
How much can your taxpayers be expected to pick up? All your spare cash should go to education right now. These children are your future. The average child, not the MVP in sports, is your next taxpayer.
SHEILA HAYES
Virginia Beach, Jan. 14, 1997