Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Roanoke can help incoming businesses
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Roanoke can help incoming businesses
Does Roanoke have an economic development or business development plan? Can anyone tell me what the last win for this valley was as far as a major company relocating its corporate headquarters, research center or manufacturing plant to this area? It seems all I have heard about is retail stores opening and closing.
The timing could not be any better for Roanoke to sell to companies struggling with high labor costs, high taxes, high real estate costs, high overhead and high costs of living, etc., to relocate to this beautiful and productive area. This valley comprises a talented and diverse work force looking for careers and family stability.
The secret to any business development is added value and addressing points of pain that these companies face today. Offer incentives, reduce their operational costs, give them an educated and talented labor force, help them with the logistics and make it easy to do business with our governments, and we could all win.
Take the blinders off, Roanoke, or we will have more established businesses pulling out of the Roanoke Valley.
President Source4
Take care where your bullets go
Imagine my surprise as I walked around my house doing my annual pressure washing when I found a hole in my siding. Upon further inspection, I realized it had been caused by a stray bullet, and it had gone into my attic. I live in Montgomery County. There is only one house within sight and it is next door.
I don't think it was intentional, but please use this as a reminder to use caution when targetshooting or hunting and know where your bullets end up. Remember, it's hunting season: Do you know where your bullets are?
Perriello stood by his principles
With Rep. Tom Perriello's vote for the Affordable Health Care for America Act and the amendment to guarantee that no federal funds be used for abortion, he displayed his independence and principles.
As the son and brother of pediatricians, Perriello knows that many people suffer and die because of a lack of health insurance, and he understands the need for reform. At the same time, he had serious concerns about the bill and was determined to bring his own beliefs and the ideas of his constituents back to Congress.
Along with other freshmen members, he helped to strengthen the bill in key areas, including protecting Medicare, deficit neutrality, tort reform, wellness and prevention, protecting small businesses and helping rural hospitals.
Perriello seriously believes that if we do nothing, premiums will continue to rise, small businesses will continue to get crushed by skyrocketing health care costs, and Medicare will be endangered. He has shown the courage to vote for his convictions while at the same time being sensitive to the concerns of his constituents. He is thoughtful, principled and represents his district well. Thank you, Rep. Perriello. You make us proud.
City's funds going to other projects
Initially, when I learned there would be no curb-side leaf collection in Roanoke unless bagged, I was miffed. However, after a moment of careful deliberation, I admit our fair city has infinitely more need of this money for other projects and services.
The city is set to issue $1.2 million in bonds for design and engineering work for an amphitheater that will not be built. We all are proud to own a white elephant, Countryside Golf Course. And definitely there is great need for funds to obtain consultants and studies that lead to consultants and studies.
So come on, Roanokers, pick up your rakes and plastic bags and get with the program.
Kaine did work on transportation
Re: "Kaine did nothing for transportation," Nov. 13 letter:
As I sit in traffic with Jo Ann M. Michael, I hope that she and like-minded people resolve to learn more about our form of government.
The governor is the chief executive officer of our commonwealth and presides over the executive branch, which is responsible for providing public safety, education and transportation -- within the budget provided by the General Assembly, the legislative branch.
In part, transportation problems were created by insufficient funding, which is more appropriately addressed by Del. Morgan Griffith, majority leader, Virginia House of Delegates, and Sen. Richard Saslaw, majority leader, Virginia Senate. (Good luck! These folks have never fully funded our educational mandates either.)
Regarding transportation, Gov. Tim Kaine and his predecessors did their best with what they were given. A wise person told me something years ago apropos our current transportation problems: "You can't give out that which you ain't got, no more than you can come back from some place you ain't never been."
All abortions
are wrong
Re: "Pro-choice opposition isn't about saving lives," Nov. 9 letter:
Amy Richardson is mixed up. A true pro-lifer does not say any abortion is OK. Killing is killing, whether a pregnancy is because of an accident, a rape or incest. The baby is innocent.
Kill the rapist? Well that may be extreme, but sentence him to the maximum jail term. But, let the baby live. There are plenty of people willing to adopt. Like I said, killing is killing.
Abortion limit belongs in bill
The House passed a health care bill that includes restrictions on federal funding of abortion. The Nov. 10 editorial "Flawed health reform" referred to the anti-abortion measure as "despicable" and even stooped to claiming that the bishops of the Catholic Church "virtually dictated" this provision. I find the editorial itself to be despicable.
The editorial claims that private insurers will not be able to provide abortion coverage "even to women able to pay for insurance themselves." But the article on page 3 of the same newspaper says that insurers "could sell separate coverage for abortion, which individuals would have to purchase entirely with their own money."
And what is this talk of "personal freedom" if unborn children do not have the personal freedom not to be killed?
