Hampton referenda
By Sandra Canepa
Daily Press
April 14, 2007
I could not help but compare the recent favoring by Hampton City Council of a referendum in November on whether Hampton should support the state's new transportation bill with the council's outright refusal in 2005 of a referendum on the Buckroe Master Plan's Bayfront Initiative.
When the council believes the public is behind it on an issue, it has no objections to requesting a public vote on the issue. The same was true for the 2002 referendum.
On the other hand, back in 2005, the council knew a significant number of Hampton residents were not behind the city's plan to cut up and sell off Buckroe's Lots B to developers for upscale housing.
The council was fully aware the majority of Hampton residents wanted Lots B developed into a magnificent bayfront park for our current and future generations, and the council knew that if Hampton residents were given the opportunity for a public vote on Lots B, the council and city staff would not get what they wanted for Buckroe's Lots B.
I do not want Hampton readership of the Daily Press to think I am beating something to death by bringing up Buckroe's Lots B again. I only request they view the two issues objectively when I say the Hampton City Council plays with different sets of rules when it comes to really wanting to hear from Hampton residents.
Sandra Canepa
Hampton
