Mayoral race
In our mayoral race we have two very qualified men, Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer and former Virginia Beach Councilman John Moss. Dyer has served the city well, not the least of which was wresting control of the office from the “politically connected.” Moss served on the City Council for many years, earning a reputation as our financial watchdog. A change in voting method, not a problem of quality service, cost us the service of such a man.
Despite my admiration for both, I reached that “fish-or-cut-bait” crunch. I am a fiscal conservative, concerned about spending and debt. Virginia Beach citizens have been slammed with increased assessments and money pours into the treasury. The excess funds are not used to pay off the debt, but to fund more and more public-private partnerships.
I was disturbed about quiet “negotiations” over our aquarium. I objected to financing parking for developers at Town Center. There is a plan to spend nearly $50 million for an Atlantic Avenue “facelift.” Not long ago, we spent a fortune redoing that resort strip.
These factors lead me to support Moss for mayor. Dyer has provided worthy service. But future fiscal stability calls for a change. Our area is relatively safe from major downturns, but I fear continued excesses are not in the city’s best long-term interest.
Martin Waranch, Virginia Beach
Vote DiCalogero
We all know that strong schools are the foundation to any community. This is why I am excited to support Sarah DiCalogero for the Norfolk School Board (Superward 6). She brings a much-needed perspective as an educator at Tidewater Community College, as well as a former Maury High School teacher and current Norfolk Public Schools parent. She has been a PTA president, an active volunteer with Engage Norfolk and a math tutor to many Norfolk children (mine included).
DiCalogero is smart, hardworking and dedicated to the success of our students, their parents and Norfolk Public Schools faculty. She understands that Norfolk’s future depends on a strong school system; moreover, she’s focused on expanding dual enrollment, career certification and strengthening early childhood education.
I personally know how difficult public service is, and I am grateful that DiCalogero has stepped up to serve Norfolk Public Schools and make our city a better place to raise a family for all.
Andria McClellan, Norfolk City Council member, Superward 6, Norfolk
All bets are off
Some Norfolk City Council members say it’s a “rescue” effort regarding the proposed casino.
So, what are we getting? A scaled-back casino that might end up a carbon copy of Portsmouth’s casino, less than 7 miles away; land size that has been reduced from 13 acres to 8 acres; patrons taking the Amtrak, one of the busiest train service in the state, having to park in 103 spaces in the planned casino parking garage; and some 800 parking spaces currently used by Harbor Park patrons to be lost to the casino. (Norfolk Councilman Tommy Smigiel has proposed patrons from all over Hampton Roads can ride The Tide, which is costing the city, according to Smigiel, about $10 million a year, WAVY reported.) And contrary to the will of some of the residents of the city to make the casino a non-smoking environment, according to Uri Clinton, executive vice president for Boyd gaming and reported by WAVY, the partner will create an “enjoyable environment for everyone, smokers and non smokers.”
A temporary casino, under a tent no less, will open in 2025. Perhaps the inscription above the casino should state, “Give me your tired, poor, huddled masses longing to breathe free but subjected to second-hand smoke.” None of this is what we contemplated in the original referendum.
Tazewell Hubard, Norfolk
Election
Who to vote for, or which party to vote for? Let’s face it, neither presidential candidate is desirable to the majority of Americans, or at least me. Maybe we put everything on hold until the parties present us with qualified candidates.
I will be voting for a certain candidate who I don’t like because I don’t like the other party’s platform. It is not a choice I should have to make or want to make.
What are our priorities as a nation? How do we reassume our position as leader of the free world if that is our goal or are we looking at going back to pre-World War II? We need to stay in NATO and build alliances worldwide, which is unfortunate because the world has not changed for the better over the centuries. It is still the same with autocrats wanting world domination.
We as a world community need to come together, not in competition, aggression or mass destruction for parcels of land or minerals. At this point in human development, the world as a whole should be looking at joining together to explore space and send out spaceships looking for other habitable worlds. That is where our resources should be spent, not on killing each other for whatever reason.
Larry Wexler, Virginia Beach