Hampton's Great Myth
''There is a great myth going on in Hampton, Virginia. It is even perpetuated by a Government Teacher that happens to be our Mayor. The myth is that the elected officials are supposed to reflect the will of the people. It's called a representative form of government. What is being taught at Phoebus High School?
''Oh, yes, it goes something like this: If you want the elected officials to pay attention to you, you gather in great numbers, and they will listen.
''Not in Hampton. You will get patted on the head for your efforts, and then be ignored. You find that Council's words are cheap.
"There is another great myth. The Planning Department is infallible. Whatever they say is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Gather their great infallible numbers, prove them wrong, and you will get patted on the head for your efforts, and be ignored. Or better yet, you will be reprimanded for "bashing the department."
"There is another great myth. You must have "eyes on the park" for the park to be safe ... even if it is a FLAT COASTAL PARK FROM WHICH YOU CAN SEE FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS.
"Can you say: Huntington Beach Park ... no eyes there. Can you say Newport News Park ... hundreds of acres ... no eyes there. Can you say Yorktown National Park ... no eyes there. Can you say First Landing State Park ... no eyes there. Can you say Sandy Bottom Nature Park ... no eyes there. Can you say Noland Park at the Mariners' Museum ... no eyes there. Can you say Gosnold's Hope Park ... no eyes there ... oops maybe the Planning Department is planning on selling property on the edges to get some eyes. Can you name ONE park in a radius of 100 miles that has "eyes?" Didn't think so.
"There is another great myth ... citizens come before developers. Yeah, right.
"There is another great myth ... 5 acres of land is going to make or break the city. Developers are going to create such a Utopia on these lousy five acres, giving an extra 50 persons a waterview, while denying 1000's of citizens a little extra space. Is Buckroe or Hampton is such dire straights? I don't think so.
"There is another great myth ... citizens have a voice at the cherretes ... by the way, how did anything ever get done before consultants and cherretes? I think they are charades.
"So what is the truth?
"Why did the Planning Department come up with bogus numbers and would not back down until it was absolutely proven they were wrong?
"Why did the Planning Department alter a design option choice diagram in a report and rush to change it only when their altered version was pointed out?
"Why did a council member say he does not like to see parking lots in a public beach area because they spoil the beauty and not consider the side streets of all surrounding residential communities are now going to become the "parking lots" for the public visiting Buckroe's public beach? (Councilman Sapp)
"Why did a council member infer people only go to Buckroe beach for the beach and not consider the thousands who visit Buckroe Beach for special large group gatherings and who never go down to the beach? (Councilman Tignor)
"Why did a council member praise North First Street as the to/from throughway for Fort Monroe when that "throughway" will run the whole length of what should be a pedestrian-friendly public beach area. (Councilman Spencer)
"Why did the motion proposed by a council member to develop Buckroe's Lots B with residential housing sound exactly like something crafted by the city's Economic Development Office? (Councilman Spencer)
"Why did the mayor mention Buckroe being so attractive that developers from far distances were contacting our city manager if Buckroe was not being marketed even before the Buckroe Master Plan was mentioned to the public over two years ago?
"Why did a council member who one would expect to be looking out for the wishes of thousands of African-American Hampton residents who signed the petition to keep residential development off of Lots B vote for residential development on Lots B? (Councilman Washington)
"Why is "eyes on the park" the latest buzz words to convince citizens that an expanded Buckroe Park is detrimental to their safety? (Mayor Kearney)
"Why would five council members vote against the wishes of over 13,000+ Hampton citizens when many are the very voters who put them in office? (Mayor Kearney, Councilmen Sapp, Washington, Tignor, and Spencer)
"Who or what is getting to them?
"Is this a pandemic and occurring all over the United States? Are city governments everywhere, like in Hampton, bowing down to developers in order to leave this world one big ball of cement for our future generations?
"Here's an interesting fact for you:
"5 acres = 43,560 sq. feet. x 5 = 217,800 sq. feet divided by 148,000 (Hampton population) = 1.4 sq. ft. per person. This is what council voted to leave at Buckroe for Hampton citizens!"
Anonymous
