Storm water should have been the priority

Storm water should have been the priority

How can our local politicians look at us with a straight face?

Roanoke just dumped (wasted) millions of our tax dollars to wreck a beautiful inner-city park and construct a giant cement hole in the ground and new bandstand at Elmwood Park (the only upshot of which will be that now more vendors can sell Coney Dogs and Slurpees).

The money for the Market Building makeover was wasted on the hideous renovation of the food court, which no one visits anymore. Politicians are quite literally giving away our downtown properties to developers for $10. (I can think of half a dozen private companies that would have paid good money for the YMCA building alone.)

Now the same politicians want to raise our taxes to fund “storm water run-off” projects, which all common sense tells us is a priority core city responsibility that should have been funded with the money wasted on the politicos’ pet projects. Vote them all out.

CARL FREDERICK
ROANOKE

McAuliffe’s the one who’ll help S.W. Virginia

Kitchen-table economic issues are of greatest importance to Southwestern Virginians in search of the best candidate for governor in November.

Terry McAuliffe favors the coal production and employment state tax incentives, he favors construction of the Coalfields Expressway, and he favors expansion of the Medicaid program to provide health care to thousands in the region who now go totally without coverage.

Ken Cuccinelli opposed new funds for construction of the Coalfields Expressway earlier this year, and he opposed expanding Medicaid coverage to thousands of elderly and poor citizens of Southwestern Virginia.

The foregoing issues are first and foremost in my mind, and in the minds of most of my friends who read this newspaper. These views are shared by many.

Common, kitchen-table economic sense demands McAuliffe, the practical businessman, to be the best candidate for economically challenged Southwestern Virginia in 2013.

BOBBIE MORRIS
BIG STONE GAP

Weather Journal

2 days ago

1. Britney Spears spotted at Lynchburg restaurant

2. Roanoke resource officer's quick action saved young girl

3. One person injured in Friday night shooting in Roanoke

4. East Carolina poses new challenge for Virginia Tech football 

5. Captive in Roanoke County describes harrowing time with angry friend

6. Lowe's tapes may hold clues to Roanoke woman's death

7. William Byrd stuns Salem in football win

8. Roanoke County electrical short quiets 5 Wheeler radio stations

9. Concert review: Timeless Willie Nelson plays to appreciative crowd

10. History says this one will matter for Virginia Tech