Hampton can learn from Jacksonville
By Sandra Canepa
Daily Press
October 30, 2005
If any Hampton citizen didn't have time on Oct. 21 to read the Daily Press, I would like to call your attention to one of its front-page stories about Oceana Naval Air Station and quotes from Mayor John Peyton of Jacksonville, Fla. Peyton's issue and his decision regarding his city's Cecil Field tracks identically with the Buckroe Beach bayfront issue here in Hampton.
Peyton, mindful of strong community opposition and the feedback he received, said it was clear that his community does not want the master jet base to return to that area, and he was abandoning the effort to reopen his city's Cecil Field. Peyton said he did his job by making sure they had the chance to consider a great economic opportunity (12,000 more jobs), but at the end of the day, the quality of life for residents of the area was the most important thing.
I suggest Hampton leadership carefully consider Peyton's issues and his choice to listen to and stand beside his community and their wishes when the time comes for a vote on the Buckroe Beach bayfront initiative.
The quality of life for all Hampton citizens will be greatly improved by designating the bayfront property as a world-class city park for our now and future generations. Hampton's quality of life should be Hampton leadership's primary consideration, and not the feelings of a very few developers and investors. Virginia Beach leadership listened to a few developers and investors, and look at the mess they are in now with regard to Oceana Naval Air Station.
The petition drive to say "no" to condos on Buckroe Beach's bayfront property continues and will not end until every Hampton citizen has had the opportunity to sign it if they so choose. Our Hampton community needs also to make our choice for those lots clear to our city leaders, and your signature on the petition, which currently has more than 8,000 signatures and is climbing in numbers, is making a powerful statement. For more information, visit the Web site at www.buckroebeach.org.
Sandra Canepa
Hampton
