Comments on: LETTER: Public Spaces Should Not Be Privatized

By: Dana Lascu

Dana Lascu — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 21:45:39 +0000

I am grateful to the Cape Charles Wave for publishing interesting thought pieces and information that we otherwise would not have the time and willingness to seek, and for creating a venue for a spirited dialogue – one that is mostly unfiltered. The filtered alternative would be your bland and witless regional paper, a “legitimate newspaper” that is, in effect, crap.

This letter to the editor has produced quite a reaction and I too take issue with it. “We the people” voted for our Town Council, and Town Council members voted to sell the School based on what they perceived as their mandate: to represent our best interests. I too hoped we could have held on to the building and the lots. But this is a done deal and it is time for us all to move on, drop the lawsuit, and cease the tirades. It is also time to remove the eyesore signs in the heart of the town and tone down the accusations of discrimination and segregation – accusations we are not particularly entitled to make when we send our children to white schools. At minimum, let us follow John Lennon’s direction and “imagine all the people living life in peace….”

By: Susan Bauer

Susan Bauer — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 13:41:32 +0000

If you want to blog, then blog. If you want to be taken seriously as a journalistic endeavor and “follow the principles of a newspaper” as you claim, then educate yourself on the ethical and legal responsibilities of a newspaper, which includes not disseminating undeniably false information. All legitimate newspapers establish a policy of editorial review. As an attorney with 27 years of experience practicing law, trust me, their legal counsel would insist upon it.

By: Marita Patterson

Marita Patterson — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 12:56:02 +0000

“Nor does the Wave edit readers’ comments that are dripping with sarcasm. — EDITOR”

This sentence should have stopped after “comments.”

By: Susan Bauer

Susan Bauer — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 12:04:04 +0000

Right again, Bob. Even structures as iconic as historic Chesapeake Bay lighthouses have been lawfully auctioned by the US Coast Guard to private bidders who turned them into (gasp!) vacation homes. There is very little information in this letter to the editor that is not patently false. I am starting to wonder about the editorial review of letters submitted to this fine piece of web journalism.

A word of explanation regarding the policy of the Cape Charles Wave seems to be in order: Letters to the Editor are accepted on any subject relevant to Cape Charles. The Wave does not subject a letter to “editorial review” of the opinions expressed, although letters may be edited for length and clarity. Nor does the Wave edit readers’ comments that are dripping with sarcasm. — EDITOR

By: Bob Panek

Bob Panek — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 03:11:53 +0000

You are correct, Kathleen. My comment was simply addressing the absolutely incorrect statement made by the author. It was in no way intended to imply that the building should be sold because of its history as a segregated facility. That is a separate issue. I think it is important to occasionally take issue with the outlandish statements of this author. The premise of the letter that public property should not and cannot be sold is another flight of fancy. The Code of Virginia authorizes localities to do so. At the Federal level, GSA has disposed of about $3 billion of real estate since 1987, two thirds of it sold to private parties.

By: Kathleen Fraas

Kathleen Fraas — Wed, 22 Aug 2012 00:27:20 +0000

I’m confused…I thought this was a forum for a response to the letter to the editor in which the writer (and I use the term loosely) clearly states that the building in question was free to enjoy by everyone for 100 years. History proves otherwise was all I was pointing out. I don’t mean to diminish anyone’s memories. With all due respect I do not see that building as an asset to this community in its current state nor do I want to sign on to paying for any million dollar renovation on our tax dollars.

By: Susan Bauer

Susan Bauer — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 23:46:11 +0000

If the developer paid $10.00 for that building, in my opinion it was $9.99 too much. The town is relieved of the burden of renovating and maintaining an 18,000 square foot building that is neither architecturally unique or historically significant. Even tearing it down and carting away the rubble would be an enormous expense that the town avoids by unloading the school on a private developer.

By: Jean Johnson

Jean Johnson — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 16:16:28 +0000

I have no former affiliation or good or bad memories of the Cape Charles School. However, as a local resident I feel the school was highly undervalued in the deal that was struck with the Richmond developer. The townspeople deserve more from this asset.

By: Susan Bauer

Susan Bauer — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 15:29:48 +0000

“a place where everyone could go”

Not hardly. Many current residents of this town do not share your fond memories and nostalgia for the “Old School,” as they only recall being forbidden to attend it.

By: Lisa Harman

Lisa Harman — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 14:26:48 +0000

The old school in Cape Charles is an asset of the community. It is part of the history of this town. One hundred years ago the school was segregated but was desegregated at the same time as other public schools in Virginia and remained so until the last graduating class in 1987. I don’t feel that we should give away our public assets because at one time they were segregated. If we did, we would not have any old public buildings in the state. Unfortunately we cannot change history but we can learn from it and not repeat it. I attended Cape Charles Public School from 1966 to 1978 when it was an integrated school and have many fond and dewy-eyed memories alongside both black and white students. It is a shame that Town Council is giving away, to a private business, not just the old school but also the basketball court and the parking for the playground. This is just wrong.