Fix potholes
I’m fed up with the government-created bone-and-suspension-jarring roadway “potholes” throughout Virginia Beach. Most of these holes have been carelessly created by the same folks responsible for repairing them.
Sewer and other access covers are sunken an inch or two below the surface of the pavement. Unbelievably this is the case even with some newly paved roads. Simple fix for this problem is to shim (raise) the covers up so they’re flush with the pavement. The quality of repair work is lacking. Repair material is sloppily applied so that it creates uneven, bumpy surfaces. I’m not referring to roads that are under construction.
There is no excuse for it. It’s very easy to do the work properly. Who in public works accepts sloppy road repair, made by their own department? Who negotiates contracts for this kind of work? Who approves funds disbursement to contractors who are doing this kind of work? Where is quality control? Is this incompetence, or is there some other reason contractors are paid for sloppy work?
A few of many locations include: Great Neck Road (man and other access holes) and near Virginia Beach Boulevard, sloppy repairs; and Shore Drive, Lesner Bridge to Great Neck Road, Virginia Beach Boulevard near Lowe’s Home Improvement, and Virginia Beach Boulevard eastbound off the ramp to Laskin Road, all sloppy repairs.
I’ve memorized the locations of defects on the roads I regularly drive so I can steer around them.
What’s so difficult about getting this right?
Tom Perkins, Virginia Beach
Take a hard look
Re “Campaign finance” (Your Views, June 12): Brandon Wrobleski, an attorney, extols the bipartisanship and civility of Del. Steve Heretick, who recently lost his bid for reelection in a primary. In that same letter, he refers to state Sen. Louise Lucas, a sitting state senator since 1992, as “swamp creature state Sen. Louise Lucas.”
One might think that as a graduate of Regent University School of Law, with its emphasis on the biblical perspective in the teaching of law, Wrobleski might be familiar with the adage appearing in Luke 4:23 — “Physician, heal thyself.”
Jim Grandfield, public defender for Suffolk, Virginia Beach
Oppose Youngkin
Re “To beat McAuliffe, Youngkin should focus on finances” (Other Views, June 12): I have to differ with Gordon Morse’s opinion. Glenn Youngkin is exactly what Virginia does not need now or in the future. His obfuscation of his meager upbringing, Norfolk Academy, Harvard Business School and Rice University by way of “flipping eggs” and basketball practice tells one pretty much all one needs to know. And anyone who thinks an endorsement by a former disgraced governor, Bob McDonnell, is an advantage, is badly misinformed. Another millionaire Christian, telling Virginians or anyone how to live their lives is the wrong approach.
Former Gov. Terry McAuliffe will continue to lead Virginia on the right path and keep the Democratic Party where it should be, in charge and moving forward.
Susie Rixey, Virginia Beach
‘Wrong doorstep’
Re “Democracy in peril” (Your Views, June 13): The only thing about this nonsensical blather that is clear is this person’s hatred for the GOP. He not only lays blame for a failing democracy on the wrong doorstep but must think that anyone who read his take on the state of this country’s affairs is dumb enough to believe anything he says.
Think AOC (Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez), Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Rashida Tlaib, and Rep. Ayanna Pressley (The Squad). The last time I checked these people are about as far left on the Democratic ticket as you can get (i.e. progressives), and if they have their way about things, you can forget about any kind of democracy at all. They would have us living in a suppressive, socialist regime such as Venezuela.
John R. Gebhardt, Virginia Beach
Jan. 6 riot
Re “Protect America” (Your Views, June 14): Jimmy Pappas’ last paragraph that members of Congress “have taken an oath to protect and defend the United States ‘against all enemies, foreign and domestic,'” and that “any official violating that pledge should be impeached and removed from office,” should start with the leaders of the insurrection that occurred on Jan. 6 where the Capitol was attacked and Americans died.
It was not a peaceful march or tourists walking through the halls of the Capitol with blood on their minds. Maybe the ones who voted not to do anything should be the first in line.
Secondly, unless you get money and impose term limits on all members with all the pay, pensions and insurance offered for this job to stop when they leave office, then you won’t get people who are going there for service to the country.
Ray Patel, Chesapeake
Income taxes
We are back to normal now. You can tell by the increase in complaints about billionaires not paying taxes. I’m not a billionaire, but I can figure out why they don’t pay much in income taxes. They have accumulated wealth, and they don’t need income. The government taxes income, not wealth. When you hear a billionaire act like it’s wrong that his secretary paid more in taxes than he did (Warren Buffet), then he is trying to look like he’s all for paying more in income taxes. But, if you don’t take any income, you still won’t pay any taxes, you’ll just look cool.
Jim King, Chesapeake
