DATE: Saturday, August 30, 1997             TAG: 9708290001

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B6   EDITION: FINAL 

TYPE: Letter 

                                            LENGTH:  139 lines

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT

The Aug. 17 article on prostitution in Ocean View evidences how futile it is to try to stop the world's oldest profession and other vices. Since enforcement has so obviously failed, we are now resorting to blaming property owners for the problem. And if they can't solve it, their property can be demolished at their own cost! Has anyone on the City Council or in the House of Delegates ever read the Constitution?

Randy Wright and Thelma Drake should drive a little farther west in Ocean View to realize why they don't see this activity any longer. Then, maybe, they will understand that prostitution and vice don't cause crime. The laws against prostitution and vice make these people criminals, and criminals tend to stick together.

And guess where they are now? Thanks, Randy and Thelma!

James Cain

Norfolk, Aug. 18, 1997 SLICE OF LIFE Looking at lives behind the pizza box

I really enjoyed Jeremy Hulatt's ``Slice of Life'' stories recently in the Daily Break. I've often wondered what the pizza delivery man thinks when he delivers pizza to our hurried home.

As the school year begins, and with it the after-school sports practices, Cub Scouts, piano lessons, etc., pizza delivery becomes essential for us. Now I know for sure that at least one pizza delivery man does think about the lives behind the delivery box.

It just goes to show that every job has its opportunities for growth and entertainment. I hope Mr. Hulatt's college career takes him into the arts. He has a sensitive eye.

Kate Johnson

Virginia Beach, Aug. 22, 1997 CAMPAIGN FOP had sense to endorse Beyer

The Virginia Fraternal Order of Police isn't buying James Gilmore's hollow accusations that the Democratic nominee for governor, Donald Beyer, is ``soft on crime.''

During Gilmore's term as attorney general, he did nothing to fight crime on Virginia's streets and ignored industrial polluters who broke countless environmental regulations, making federal intervention necessary.

On the other hand, as lieutenant governor, Beyer strengthened domestic-violence laws, promoted the sex-offender registry, created crime-prevention plans, helped put 105 new troopers in the state police and supported 1,000 more officers in community policing programs. Wasn't that Gilmore's job?

I am glad to see the nonpartisan FOP endorse Beyer, along with L.F. Payne for lieutenant governor and William Dolan as attorney general.

Patrick Miller

Virginia Beach, Aug. 24, 1997 HISTORY Tucker columns recall the past

For years George Tucker was the highlight of Sunday's newspaper. Now it's Monday's paper.

As a teacher of history I often used excerpts from his articles to generate interest in the classroom.

Thank you for carrying his articles that have taken time to research for the forgotten tidbits of days gone by.

Mary Jo Ward

Chesapeake, Aug. 15, 1997 HATE CRIMES Society can't hide behind badges, labels

Some weeks ago, when the president formed a commission to review and to have a dialogue on race relations, I was one of the many skeptics who said that talk is cheap and will amount to very little. My opinion has since changed.

In the wake of the brutal murder of G.P. Johnson, an African-American man, at the hands of his ``friends,'' and the sexual battery of a jailed Haitian immigrant, Abner Louima, by New York ``peace officers,'' there is a need for dialogue.

The sheriff in the small southwestern Virginia town says that the murder of G.P. Johnson was not racially motivated. From the scenario as described in news articles, one would be inclined to believe that this was nothing less than a hate crime or racially motivated. The manner in which G.P. Johnson was murdered brought to my mind the atrocities of days gone by.

The Haitian immigrant was taunted with, ``It's Giuliani Time, Dinkins is no longer in office.'' What caused the ``peace officers'' to allegedly become breakers of the peace? What was it that caused the other officers who were in the building and in earshot of Louima's screaming to do nothing?

It is the responsibility of a civil society to be alarmed and to speak out against such acts of incivility. We must show those who would feel that such acts will go unnoted or unpunished that they cannot hide behind badges, labels or secret societies.

David L. Ollison

Chesapeake, Aug. 21, 1997 EASTERN SHORE Group isn't opposed to farming

The headline on your Aug. 15 article, ``Environmentalists seek to curb tomato farming,'' can be misinterpreted.

Our organization, Citizens for a Better Eastern Shore, mentioned in the article, has long supported agriculture on the Eastern Shore, and we are not opposed to tomato farming per se. We do have a serious concern about the adverse impacts of runoff on water quality and shellfish production in adjacent tidal-water creeks from fields where plasticulture is used to grow tomatoes.

We are hopeful that the interested parties can continue to work cooperatively toward a satisfactory solution.

Norman D. Nasson

President

Citizens for a Better Eastern Shore

Eastville, Aug. 19, 1997 VIRGINIA BEACH Machines destroy a piece of history

I sit here writing in what used to be a quiet room. Now it moves with the sound of trees being torn up by the roots, and the feel of huge machines tearing up the earth in my back yard.

I live in Ocean Park, a historic area of Virginia Beach. The YMCA camp used to be where Pelican Dunes, Aries and Water Oaks are now. The area is the last remains of a park, a natural habitat of 100-year-old trees and dunes.

I grew up in Norfolk and spent many summers at the YWCA camp, now Westminster-Canterbury on Shore Drive. At the end of each two-week stay, we would have a dance at the boys' Y across the Lesner Bridge, which has now become my back yard.

It is a crime to tear out 100-year-old trees for more houses. What happens to the animals that call that home? Owls were seen here just last week! How can the city justify building more houses? What about the oxygen the trees supply? The natural sound barriers?

I have no gripe against development, just the destruction of things that man had no part in developing.

Linda Prince

Virginia Beach, Aug. 16, 1997

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