Explore: another government power grab

Roanoke County residents don’t have to look to Washington for examples of elected officials promoting big government and intrusion into the private sector. On Wednesday, the county announced that its parks, recreation and tourism department is taking over Explore Park.

While this supposedly ends many years of frustration with the appointed Virginia Recreational Facilities Authority, it again shows that the ICLEI-supporting county board believes that government operation is the answer to all our problems.

Two main reasons provided for this move are stability and resources. These items are really identical — county taxpayers, who will be called upon to sacrifice diminished services by diversion of existing austere resources, or face inevitable tax increases.

Alternatives of returning the property to the commonwealth or sale to private enterprise have been rejected in supervisors’ zeal for local control through their power to tax you and me.

This issue should be discussed in campaigns for county supervisors this fall. This decision should be delayed pending election of three board members in November. Residents should voice their opposition to expanded direct governmental operation as competition with private enterprise during upcoming hearings on Sept. 10, 19 and 24.

MAX BEYER

ROANOKE

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