bLetters to the Editor

We welcome your opinion on public issues, in either of two ways. You can submit a letter to the editor for possible publication in the printed edition. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. Writers are limited to one published letter every month, with preference given to shorter letters. Submissions may be edited or condensed. The other way is to comment on the published letters in this blog, bLetters to the Editor. In this online forum, you can comment as much as you want by using the comment box at the end of each entry.

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Regionalism, continued

LAST JULY, IN A LETTER to the editor, I proposed that the 17 communities of Hampton Roads unite to form the greater City of Hampton Roads. I wrote that I had witnessed this region 'grapple with big-city problems without having the advantage of a big-city unity.'

The recent collapse of the Hampton Roads Transportation Authority is a prime example of the disadvantages of not having such unity.

How much do we have to lose before we follow the example of New York City and bring our communities together to form a major city? How long will it be before we all see how much there is to gain?

I wonder what Gov. Kaine's perspective would be on this proposal. Word is he's coming to our area [Newport News] on Wednesday for a town meeting. Might be a good time to ask him.

Frank L. Jordan III
Newport News


Disagree

As a citizen of Chesapeake, I have no desire to be melded officially with Newport News, or be affiliated with that city in any way except geographically. We have enough problems here, without adding yours to the mix.
Eddie Martz
Chesapeake

Follow the example of New York?

Sir, pardon me, but that suggestion is absolutely NUTS.

Why would anyone in Virginia want to follow ANY example of NYC? I was born and raised there and had enough sense to know to get out when I was 22 years old, and that was 26 years ago.

The very LAST thing Virginia needs is any more following of the examples of NY, or anywhere else in the northeast. For 20 years I fought such example following in Delaware and FLED to VA to escape what I thought I had escaped as a youngster. More than enough NY mindset is influencing the Commonwealth, enough is enough.


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