Put it to a vote
By Sandra Canepa
Daily Press
December 10, 2005
It is time to put the Bayfront Initiative under the Buckroe Master Plan before all Hampton citizens for a citywide vote. The vote should be whether the former Buckroe Beach Amusement Park sites known as "Lots B" are to be a city park for now and future generations or high-density, high-cost residential housing for a very few who can afford homes on those lots.
The proposal for this citywide vote on the Bayfront Initiative, although requested of the City Council several times in the past by one or all of the "Green Space Ladies," was finally suggested also by Councilman Charles Sapp at the council meeting on Nov. 9.
I encourage every Hampton resident reading this, particularly those who want a city park on Lots B, to notify all Hampton City Council members that you want a citywide vote on the Bayfront Initiative. In other words you want your voice to be listened to, and you want your opinion to be heard.
Additional information and the e-mail addresses for all the council members can be found on www.buckroebeach.org.
Sandra Canepa
Hampton
Sandra's original letter prior to being edited by the Daily Press is below:
PUT IT TO A VOTE
It is time to put the Bayfront Initiative under the Buckroe Master Plan before all 147,000 Hampton citizens for a citywide vote. The vote, for eligible voters, should be whether the former Buckroe Beach Amusement Park sites known as “Lots B” are to be designated and designed into a world-class city park for our now and future generations or whether those lots are to be filled with high-density, high-cost residential housing for a very few who can afford purchasing homes on those waterfront and near waterfront lots.
The proposal for this citywide vote on the Bayfront Initiative, although requested of Council several times in the past by one or all of the “Green Space Ladies”, was finally suggested also by Councilman Charles Sapp at the City Council Meeting on November 9.
After the presentation to Council of 9,312 signatures from Hampton residents on the petition to say “NO’ to condos and other residential housing and industry on those lots and hearing there were still several hundred recently received signatures that will be given Council at a later date, with more signatures coming in on a daily basis, Councilman Sapp said, “You have 9,000 signatures and 9000 deeds (sic. every Hampton resident owns Three Square Feet of the former Buckroe Beach Amusement Park sites) but there are 136,000 we haven’t heard from, and they have opinions too.”
Vice Mayor Joe Spencer, Councilman Rhet Tignor and Councilwoman Angela Leary all commented they could not ignore 9,000 signatures. Vice Mayor Spencer then said that one has to listen, and if you don’t listen you never get anywhere.
Mr. Spencer’s comment proves Council is finally listening to the voices of the people expressed by their signatures on the petition, but Councilman Sapp now wants to hear from all Hampton citizens who have, or have not, signed the petition.
While I doubt Council will ever hear from the babies, children and those under 18 who are part of the remaining 137,000 Hampton citizens, I have no doubt whatsoever they will hear from the majority of the almost 85,000 registered Hampton voters when the City of Hampton puts the Bayfront Initiative on a citywide vote asking whether Hampton citizens want a park or residential development on the former Buckroe Beach Amusement Park sites, or Lots B as they are now known.
I cheer Vice Mayor Joe Spencer for wanting to listen to all Hampton residents, and I applaud Councilman Sapp’s request that he wants to hear the opinions of the remaining 136,000 Hampton residents who have not signed the petition.
Both of their comments are excellent and prove it is now time to put the Bayfront Initiative of the Buckroe Master Plan out there for a citywide vote. Councilman Sapp wants to hear everyone’s opinion, and a citywide vote is the only way, the only fair way, anyone is going to hear opinions from all citizens of Hampton about what they want to happen on Lots B, i.e., “their property.”
I encourage every Hampton resident reading this Daily Press Letter to the Editor today, particularly those who want a city park on Lots B, to notify all Hampton City Council members that you want a citywide vote on the Bayfront Initiative. In other words you want your voice to be listened to, and you want your opinion to be heard, by Mayor, Vice Mayor and Council members alike.
Additional information and the e-mail addresses for all Council members can be found on www.buckroebeach.org.
Sandra Canepa, Hampton
