DATE: Friday, July 25, 1997                 TAG: 9707230142

SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON   PAGE: 09   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letter 

                                            LENGTH:   70 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR-BEACON

The ever increasing tax burden, the school flag poll incident, the school budget incident and the reckless spending that has been going on in recent months are part of the ever-increasing number of incidents during the past year or two that have caused me to doubt the veracity of our city government.

Recently there have been two revelations that should sound all kinds of alarms for city tax payers: the housing at Lake Gaston that the tax payers are paying for and the City Council buying the development rights on Councilman Baum's acreage for $849,963.

It seems to me that it is too much of a coincidence that the very person who helped create a program is a big recipient of that program. Personally, I feel that the whole program is a big rip off and, as usual, the tax payers are footing the bill.

Getting back to the Lake Gaston housing, how many other secret deals are hidden in some of the City Council's projects? How often have money or favors been passed under the table at tax payers' expense?

Though it may not be fashionable today, I think it is about time the citizens of Virginia Beach started getting some responsible, honest government. This present attitude of the government of keeping citizens in the dark, spending the people's money like there's no tomorrow, and then taxing them to death is for the birds. It's time for a change!

R.A. Remington

June 25

I am writing about a concern I have at the way some of your officers treat some of the citizens who visit your city.

On Wednesday July 1, there was a concert at the G.T.E. Amphitheater. My son and some of his friends attended this concert. They were asked to leave after one band played. In the confrontation, the police were called. I was not at this concert, and I know how things can get out of hand, but from all accounts, one of the young men was handcuffed and put in the police car.

The other four young men said they were told he was being arrested and that they could not wait around for him, they could pick him up at the police station.

They proceeded to the police station to wait for them to arrest him and bring him to the station. After a long wait, they left to see what was happening. The first young man was walking along the road near the police station. It seems he was released after all at the amphitheater without a ride and with no way to get in contact with the other young men he was with. He had to walk to the police station.

Is this the way you treat young people in your city knowing that they will not protest as much as an older person? Do you feel that this is proper police procedure?

No matter what the circumstances, if they did not have grounds to arrest him, should they not have made sure that he was not stranded without a ride?

Jan Upton

Hampton Students performance professionally done

I have spent a great deal of time in Amherst, Mass., studying the life and work of the 19th century poet Emily Dickenson. Many times I have seen stage portrayals of her life as ``The Maid of Amherst'' but, never have I had the privilege of seeing this better done than by Mary Fraser Wunnenberg at Cape Henry Collegiate School.

Her timing, facial expressions - white dress costume and complete mastery of Dickenson's home life were professional.

Her transitions and inclusions from memory to her poetic lines was a marvel. This drama department junior, with her approximately two-hour, one-person performance, was a credit to her coach and the entire drama department. She is truly a ``Jewel in Our Midst.''

Jason Lester Atkins

July 12, 1997

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