Re “NFL Hall of Famer Bruce Smith says Rudee Loop proposals raise questions of cronyism, ‘backroom deals’ in Virginia Beach” (Oct. 25): Rudee Inlet, the last piece of land where you can see the ocean. Developers want this property to put another hotel on the Oceanfront. Yes another hotel, like we need it. It’s all about greed from the developer and the Virginia Beach City Council.
Why can’t this small piece of land be made into a park so people can enjoy the views of the ocean, watching the fisherman fish and just enjoy?
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This will never happen. Council members have made up their minds.
So, so sad.
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John Byrum, Chesapeake
Suffolk is on the verge of approving a 7-Eleven convenience store and service station at the corner of Harbour View Boulevard and Champions Way in an area the city once referred to as its “gem of the city.” I’m watching 200-year-old trees being cut down as I write this.
Forget about the fact that this facility is being constructed at one of the most dangerous intersections in the city. Forget about the fact that it’s going to sell alcohol on a corner where students wait for their school bus. Ignore the fact that the culture of this area is doctor and dentist offices. Don’t consider the fact that 6% of the armed robberies in the United States are at convenience stores. Try not to worry about the thousands of gallons of flammable fuel being off-loaded and stored at the facility. Focus instead on the fact that this station will likely be venting benzene associated with this flammable fuel storage 24/7 from underground storage tanks within 150 feet of a vibrant school and day care facility. Benzene has been shown to cause cancer. Some areas have laws restricting these facilities to outside a 1,000-foot perimeter because of this.
As more service stations than ever are closing, causing urban blight, whose decision was this? No one wants to accept responsibility for it.
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Mark Downing, Suffolk
Re “Missy Elliott” (Your Views, Oct. 25): The letter from Carol Hood referencing Missy Elliott was right on the mark and echoes what I have been saying for years. The lyrics of these rappers is grossly obscene. Do they have the right to this? Of course. Free speech is guaranteed in the First Amendment to the Constitution. However, that does not mean these rappers should be held in high regard, lionized by the press and entertainment media. Just because something is legal in the eyes of the law does not make it right.
As Hood suggested, google these rappers’ names and then type “lyrics,” as in “Missy Elliott — lyrics.” You will read, firsthand, what your children and young people are listening to. And the city is naming a street after her? There are many heroes and people of good character and service who can be chosen to have streets, buildings, schools, etc. named in their honor.
Good people of Portsmouth — speak out and stop this travesty. Evil will flourish if good people do nothing.
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Thomas A. Bender, Yorktown
Support for electing the president by national popular vote is increasing among voters, according to an August Pew Research Center article. This is because most voters believe the principle of one person, one vote is essential to the future vitality of American democracy. A constitutional amendment is not required to have a National Popular Vote for president; we can repair our broken election system with the National Popular Vote agreement. The National Popular Vote compact will guarantee the presidency to the candidate who wins the most popular votes in all 50 states and Washington, D.C. When passed by states with at least 270 electoral votes, the National Popular Vote winner will win the presidency every time. The bill has already been passed in 16 jurisdictions.
Doris A. Overton, Virginia Beach
