Letters to Editor - bLetters

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. The Virginian-Pilot welcomes letters to the editor on all topics, although concise letters (150 words or less) on public issues will receive priority. Letters may be edited for length, style and clarity and writers are limited to one published letter every month. Please add your name, city, street address and daytime telephone number for confirmation.

The other way is to comment on the published letters in this blog. In this online forum, you can comment as much as you want by using the comment box at the end of each entry.

By e-mail: letters@pilotonline.com

By mail: Letters to the editor - P.O. Box 449 - Norfolk, VA 23501-0449

By fax: (757) 446-2051

Category: Readers' Opinions

■ 09 July 2010 | 5:00 AM

Downtown is No. 1 in growth

RE 'NEW GUYS on the block ready to storm Norfolk City Council,' Hampton Roads, July 1: Newly elected councilman Tommy Smigiel was quoted as saying, 'Downtown projects don't bring families to Norfolk.' Such hyperbolic comments may be useful during political campaigns, but they are not accurate.

Over the last decade, the city's greatest increase in residential population has been in downtown Norfolk. The growth in residential population is a direct result of the city's commitment to creating a thriving urban center. That's not to say that Norfolk's outlying areas should be ignored, but the entire region should be thankful that downtown is a great place to visit, work and reside.

I hope that Smigiel quickly gets out of campaign mode and demonstrates he cares about all of Norfolk. Cities without vibrant urban centers tend to have aging populations that don't generate enough tax revenue to invest in citywide projects. Ignoring the contribution of downtown (and its residents) would be a step backward, to the detriment of the entire city.

Kevin R. Murphy

Norfolk

View 3 comments Link to post

COMMENTS ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here; comments do not reflect the views of The Virginian-Pilot or its websites. Users must follow agreed-upon rules: Be civil, be clean, be on topic; don't attack private individuals, other users or classes of people. Read the full rules here.
- Comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules, click the report violation link below it.

agreed

Submitted by 2cents on Fri, 07/09/2010 at 11:02 am.

Norfolk's problem is the less than stellar school system. Busing started white flight but policies that have pandered to lower standards for 30 years have cemented the idea that Norfolk is a black city, all others should find somewhere else to live. Until the schools have a policy of excellence for all, instead, "oh....they are poor and hungry and can't learn" therefore we can fudge the testing, hide the dropout rate, and bury the violence against teachers and fellow students, then the families will not locate in Norfolk.