THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1997, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 26, 1997 TAG: 9701240145
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 26 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letters
LENGTH: 172 lines
Would mergers of the cities of South Hampton Roads bring the improved cooperation needed to solve some of the region's problems?
Editorial writers in South Hampton Roads lament the lack of area cooperation as compared to Charlotte, N.C. When I look at a map, however, I easily find a city named Charlotte. But no matter how I try, I cannot find a city named Hampton Roads.
There are five cities in South Hampton Roads, none of which can stand on its own. Since three of them were created specifically to divide the region, the only way to change that is to merge the cities.
One natural merger would be of Norfolk and Virginia Beach. That should help solve the problem of the resort city's water supply and smooth the way for the light rail system to facilitate travel between Virginia Beach and the naval installations in Norfolk - and be a source of regional pride.
Another natural merger would be of Portsmouth and Suffolk. That should ease Portsmouth's problem of non-taxable federal real estate and Suffolk's problem of buying water from Portsmouth.
Chesapeake could fit well with Norfolk and Virginia Beach, but the Western Branch area, logically, should be joined with Portsmouth and Suffolk.
Might such mergers improve cooperation, provide for more economical public administration and result in logically placing future sports arenas, air terminals and other regional complexes? Probably, but it will never happen.
Edward F. Unser
Oyster Bay Lane
Suffolk No tax rate increases? Check on assessments
A statement in the Jan. 14 edition of The Virginian-Pilotthat Suffolk last raised taxes in 1989 is about as close to falsehood as an honest person can be - with all due respect to the city manager.
Whether by increased tax rate or as a victim of the assessor, taxes have increased for most residents.
I live on the same, unchanged property that I occupied in 1989, when my real estate tax was $1,644.16. By 1996, my taxes were $2,182.57 - an annual increase of more than $538, or almost $45 each month.
There was no increase in services, only assessments. Is that not a tax increase?
City Council has failed to demand that property assessments reflect the true value of the properties. Taxes will continue to increase until the council decides to manage with common sense and demands the same of the city manager.
Growth must be controlled and directed to add to, not detract from, living conditions of Suffolk residents.
It is not the responsibility of City Council to ensure that every property owner sell his property for a price considered fair by the owner. Nor is it council's responsibility to ensure that every developer make a profit on land that he develops.
Despite all the rhetoric, developers do not give a tinker's toot about low-income families. They want to build as many houses as possible on a given piece of property because that is their way to increase profits.
It is council's responsibility not to allow developers to use low-income housing as an excuse to build cracker box houses on postage stamp lots. If the population of Suffolk doubles as is now projected, let it be more Cedar Points, not engineered slums. Let other cities provide for their own.
The proposed proffer system to cover public costs is a drop in the bucket.The added cost will fall upon the taxpayers.
Unless City Council makes a concerted effort to control development, property values will decline. Continued increase in taxes will not allow the city to grow in a way to make a living here or to attract the industry necessary for Suffolk to prosper.
G.E. Gaddis
Kings Highway
Suffolk Why hurt businesses to support SPSA?
As a businessman, a member of Virginians for Effective and Efficient Public Services (VEEPS) and a citizen of Suffolk, I oppose a number of proposals being considered by the Southeastern Public Service Authority (SPSA).
I believe SPSA seeks to monopolize waste collection in Southeastern Virginia.
I oppose a new fee being considered by SPSA for all citizens and private industry to cover SPSA's cost of operation and to service its debt. Businesses in Southeastern Virginia would be forced to pay this unfair tax whether or not they used SPSA services.
It seems government's first response to declining revenues is to increase fees and/or taxes instead of weeding out inefficiencies. Why not privatize the services it cannot deliver cost effectively?
SPSA is also considering monopolizing waste collection in the region by forcing private haulers out of business within five years.
The actions being considered by SPSA would dramatically increase costs for businesses and consumers and have a stifling effect on economic development, while giving SPSA complete control over an essential service and forcing area companies to pay monopolistic prices.
SPSA should be able to compete on a fair basis with the private sector and price its services accordingly without imposing any fees. SPSA has many advantages, including paying no taxes and the ability to borrow money at rates lower than those afforded the private industry.
SPSA's staggering multi-million dollar debt will not be paid off by the time the current landfill reaches capacity.
What will they do then, expand the landfill and continue operations, which will add to the debt?
Another major concern is a recent proposal by SPSA and its major advisory committee to prevent the public from attending committee meetings. SPSA is supported by public funds, and its business should not be conducted behind closed doors.
The goal of council and SPSA should always be to provide the most cost effective and efficient services to the public as possible. I urge city council to oppose proposals coming from SPSA that would stifle competition and drive up costs for businesses and citizens.
Richard R. Harris
Sleepy Hole Road
Suffolk An office at your service
The 16 full-time and six part-time employees of the Suffolk Sheriff's Office begin 1997 looking for new and innovative ways of improving our service to the citizens of Suffolk.
During the past year, 46,823 civil papers were served, 87 levies made, 16 sales conducted, 398 evictions held and 298 property pick-ups made for local merchants.
Bailiffs provided security for five courts, totalling 9,490 hours. There were 491 juveniles and 103 mental patients transported, totalling 1,321 hours. Assistance to other local criminal justice system agencies and city offices totalled 2,598 hours. Community service programs and other activities amounted to 2,468 hours.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to those citizens who made special trips by my office to receive civil papers. I would also like to offer a special thanks to those citizens providing jury service during the year for their cooperation with the Suffolk Sheriff's Office.
Our employees sincerely appreciate the opportunity to serve the community and welcome any input to improve those services. We would like to wish everyone a safe and prosperous new year.
Raleigh H. Isaacs Sr.
Sheriff
City of Suffolk A scrapbook treasure
Our children had the honor to have articles written by Mr. Bill Leffler while playing in the Baker Damron Eye Center Junior Tennis Tournament, held at Elizabeth Manor Country Club.
His reader-friendly polished style, while including pertinent information, was recognizable to even a novice reader of sports.
We feel privileged to have had Mr. Leffler's name on articles written about our children, which they have saved in their scrapbooks.
Thank you, Mr. Leffler, and we wish you much happiness and sports enjoyment in your retirement.
The Grover Family
Deerpath Road
Suffolk Trailer remark off base
Quoting James Carrville, ``Drag a hundred dollars through a trailer park, and there's no telling what you'll find,'' this remark was made in connection with the case of Ms. Paula Jones versus President Clinton.
I find this remark in questionable taste, if not demeaning and uncaring. I was always under the impression that the Democrats consider their party the champions of the ``working masses'' or ``blue collars.'' Many of these folks live in trailer parks. Not everyone can afford a so-called regular house, especially at today's prices. Does that automatically make them second-rate citizens?
In my own experience, inborn dignity can be found in the simplest of folks or what used to be called ``working stiffs,'' and it is not exclusive to the rich and highly educated. Wake up, Mr. Carrville! No one knows better than this European-born American citizen that America is a colorful quilt of many kinds of people.
Some of them live in trailer parks, go to work, raise their children and pay their taxes. They deserve better than such thoughtless remarks.
Perhaps it would be well for Mr. Carrville to remember the words of Jesus of Nazareth, ``The poor shall always be with us,'' and, as we know, not always through their own failings.
Renate Brady
Sadler Drive
Suffolk