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A monstrosity is rising in Roanoke's lovely downtown

As I passed through Roanoke on Interstate 581 recently, I saw a fanged alien overwhelming downtown Roanoke, like Godzilla vs. Tokyo. It was a convoluted, artsy building blighting the once-intriguing view of downtown Roanoke from I-581. It is a building disconnected from its surroundings, sending confusing messages to passers-by.

I perceived Roanoke to be a city rescuing a valued downtown from neglect. The restoration of original buildings and advertisements was impressive, impressive enough to have lured me off I-581 and into enticing market area shops.

My perceptions must have been wrong. Couldn't this building have brought ultramodern and traditional together in a harmonious display of Roanoke's dedication to moving into a new age while staying true to its roots? Aren't entrepreneurs investing in Roanoke's historic ambience discouraged that such an illogical, incompatible configuration was approved? Or is that monstrosity a desperate, last-resort effort to resuscitate downtown?

I admit, as an outsider, to knowing neither the purpose of the building, Roanokers' likes or dislikes, nor the structure's success. So, Roanokers, you have every right to tell me to mind my own business. However, even in ignorance, I hope and pray that the substantial restoration efforts in my home city of Richmond never take such an ignoble turn.

Wrong-way thinking downtown

Now I understand the city of Roanoke's logic. I have been mystified by the changing of one-way streets to two-way, the obstacle course on Jamison and Bullitt avenues, the trees in the middle of Williamson Road and other such projects.

Bill Carder, with Downtown Roanoke Inc., made it clear with his explanation for wanting to change Church Avenue to a two-way street.

The WDBJ Web site quotes him saying, "It's great for storefronts because it slows traffic down, biggest thing is it makes your city more accessible to people, especially coming in from outside."

So, we increase traffic congestion (and reduce parking) and more people will want to come to the downtown area. For years I have thought that stores moved out to malls and other areas to make it easier for their customers to get to them (and to provide free parking).

After seeing some of the other decisions made by the city council, I'm sure it will agree with the logic of increasing business downtown by increasing traffic congestion.

Radio stations were no help in a crisis

I thank God and the firefighters for putting out the recent wildfires, and I thank the folks who work at AEP for restoring power to our homes and businesses. But where were the radio stations when we needed them? What are their responsibilities in times of extreme and dangerous weather?

My neighbors and I in Montvale could not get news from the television, since we had no power, and some of us had no phone service (thus no reverse 911 notification). But many of us had battery-operated radios, and we tuned in to various stations hoping to keep abreast of the raging fire threatening our homes. Sadly, there was no information.

I think I did hear some announcement regarding Hillary Clinton's scheduled visit to Roanoke, but frankly, I was about Hillaried out and had more important things on my mind at the time.

Perhaps the powers that be at the radio stations can get together and devise a plan to be implemented as a public service should a situation like this arise again. Who knows, they might just be saving their very own families from disaster.

Let park visitors arm themselves

I disagree with the opinion piece "Maintain limits on guns in national parks," by James Zinck (Feb. 20). The idyllic settings he describes in the first part of his article have long been tainted by the amount of crime occurring in the National Park system.

Please reference whitehouse.gov/omb/expectmore/detail/10003727.2006.html. I also read a report that the NPS was seeking to add $10 million to their budget to fight crime. It is a priority issue.

The Colburn amendment would allow citizens who have concealed-carry permits in their states to be extended that privilege while in a national park. Concealed-carry permit holders are strictly regulated in regard to carry and usage.

The author cited his four major concerns: difficultly protecting visitors from terrorism, people shooting at monuments for target practice, poaching and confusing laws. Concealed-carry permit holders are not the ones committing criminal acts or vandalizing national monuments for target practice.

Firearms used for concealed carry are not typically used for poaching, and a properly written law would be clear. The author has painted cliches that are often used against law-abiding citizens by liberal politicians and longtime bureaucrats.

The proposed legislation is common sense and long overdue.

Look ahead to when the oil runs out

Stop worrying about congestion on Interstate 81 in 2035. By that time, gas will be in the $50- to $70-a-gallon range (if you can find any). World oil production is slated to peak about 2012 and start down from there. From 2012, gas and oil will be doubling in price about every four or five years.

If we go merrily along as we have, there will be no traffic on I-81 (or anywhere else) by 2035. We need to push Detroit and Congress to get us 80-plus mpg cars to use in the interim while we develop economical electric cars.

Oil is running out. Hybrid cars made of steel will get us to only about 40 to 60 mpg. Hydrogen is 20 to 30 years away. Converting all corn grown in the U.S. to ethanol will fuel 10 percent to 15 percent of cars.

The only quick fix is reinforced plastic cars, which are as safe and cheap as steel but weigh one-third as much and get three times the gas mileage. These plastic bodies will not rust, last 100 years and be easily converted to H2 or electric. You wouldn't buy a new car, just a new drive train.

Virginia, too, has need of uranium

Professor James Kelly strikes the right note explaining how world energy needs demand further nuclear assets and uranium fuels ("U.S. has a need for more uranium," Feb. 21 commentary).

These are important facts for our lawmakers to consider. But while members of Virginia's General Assembly may weigh such large-scale, macroeconomic factors in making decisions, they are primarily charged with passing legislation that benefits the Old Dominion and Virginians.

Right now, our lawmakers are deciding whether to pass Senate Bill 525, a bill to establish a uranium mining commission to assess the risks and benefits of developing uranium resources.

Establishing this Virginia Uranium Mining Commission would directly complement the Virginia Energy Plan that Gov. Tim Kaine signed last September. This plan sets forth four objectives: increasing in-state energy production, promoting consumer education, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and boosting nuclear technology research and development.

Harvesting Virginia's uranium resources would immediately advance our state's own priorities.

By the way, as a student intern from Virginia Tech, I assisted the General Assembly in studying this same uranium mining proposal in 1982.

Nonsmokers can eat elsewhere

Being a nonsmoker, I would like to say something in favor of smokers, for a change. People blame smokers for secondhand smoke affecting them or their children. It's not the smokers affecting them, it's these people who insist on going to a restaurant that allows smoking so they can complain.

With so many restaurants in the Roanoke Valley that don't allow smoking, why must they go to one that does? Smokers don't complain or stare at nonsmokers in a nonsmoking restaurant.

My advice is get a life and get your thrills at home or another way. Leave the smokers alone. I am only talking about restaurants.