To the voters of Newport News, May 1st is your opportunity to shape the course of your City and School Board for the next 4 years with your vote - use it wisely, get out and vote!

In the Central District School Board race you have the opportunity to re-elect a proven leader, Betty Dixon. She has brought common sense, fiscal responsibility and a voice of reason to the Board during her first term; her work is not done, she needs and has earned another 4 years. Our children and our school system need her on the Board - Vote Betty Dixon!

PRESENT: All the Justices
EDDIE DEERFIELD, ET AL.
OPINION BY
v. Record No. 111144 ELIZABETH A. McCLANAHAN
April 20, 2012
CITY OF HAMPTON, ET AL.
FROM THE CIRCUIT COURT OF THE CITY OF HAMPTON
Westbrook J. Parker, Judge Designate

The dispositive issue in this appeal is whether appellants, Eddie Deerfield, Joan Charles, Sandra Canepa, Shirley Gellis, and Mary Ashley, comprising the Committee of Petitioners of the Buckroe Beach Bayfront Park Petition (the "Committee"), had standing under the City of Hampton Charter (the "City Charter") to institute the instant declaratory judgment action against appellees, the City of Hampton (the "City") and POH 2010 LLC ("POH"). In its complaint, the Committee sought an order (i) declaring that POH's proposed development of a certain residential subdivision located in the City was unlawful, and (ii) enjoining such development. We conclude the Committee lacked standing to bring this action based on the limited authority granted to the Committee by the City Charter.

In any campaign season and debate there is sadly a great amount of mud slinging, half truths, and general statements. This regular course of events has again found itself in the midst of the 2012 Hampton mayoral election.

As someone who has not missed a single Candidate Forum in Hampton, for what it is worth, I would like to tell you what happened at the Pastor's Forum last night. Hopefully you will not permit a repeat at your forum. The incident was an embarrassment to many of us in the audience as well as to some of the other candidates.

Last night's forum was the first forum the Pastor's Group had ever sponsored (and it showed) , most specifically when Will Moffett, Molly Ward's representative , verbally assaulted Donnie Tuck each time Moffett got up to reply to a question.

Over the years I had heard school board members refer to NNPS as one of the best school systems in the state, if not one of the best in the nation. I thought that was pretty high praise. So, I decided to compare the academic performance NNPS with the academic performance of the other schools in our region. Many factors go into rating a school system, but academic performance the most important.

There was a bit of back and forth Wednesday night between members of Hampton City Council and the 17 citizens who signed up to speak in support of recently deceased citizen activist Frank Ottofaro. Several members of Council stated information in the following letters may contain "misinformation". The citizens stated they had "not been misinformed."

Item 1: NN Public School Budget-I speak for Retro (Real Estate Tax Relief Organization)

I support the public school system and know they have had to make cuts.

For a number of reasons, I wasn't given the opportunity to speak today at the Trayvon Martin Rally in Norfolk. Be that as it may, I think this is an important, transcendent issue for Virginia and the 3^rd District. So I am publishing a transcript of "The Speech That No One Heard."

David Dietrich is actively engaged in politics for the first time, running for a seat on the Hampton School Board. He is a retired military officer with worldwide service in two wars and is now attending school full time. He has a wife named Michelle and two children: Hans and Carl. Mr Dietrich is an adult leader in the local Boy Scout council. Mr Dietrich feels that it is the irresponsible behavior of our elected officials that is contributing to the downfall of our education system and national greatness.

I am here tonight to speak on behalf of Frank Ottofaro. You all knoe him because his land and two homes were taken from him in 2000 because he wouldn't settle with the developer Cordish, but then the city stepped in and condemned his land along with the Davis family because your intimidation didn't work.

Ms. Johnston, Mr. Ashby, Dr. Kilgore and Board Members:

1. This is the fourth year I’ve come to address the fact that there is a budget item for $90-100,000 for a lawyer when the city will supply one for free, as the case has been until 4 years ago.

The York County Board of Supervisors is looking at cutting Public Safety to the Bone. York County Administrator James McReynolds Tuesday laid out a new 2013 budget proposal that cuts $6.64 million and 58 positions from his original proposed budget released last month.

Rebecca Geller on the new mandatory ultrasound bill.

I am asking those religious among your readers to end this religious war on women's rights. In the (R) Congressional hearing I saw religious men, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish and others, arguing against women's reproductive rights under the guise of religious freedom. I am asking that those religious among your readers stand against the clerics whose houses of worship they enter.

Just a few short years ago, York County officials determined that the county was at least 62 Fire Fighters short in meeting the Minimum Staffing Levels required set for in the National Fire Protection Agencies 1710.

Last night, the York County Board of Supervisors met to discuss budget cuts for the 2013 budget. One of the suggestions was to CUT TWELVE full time Fire Fighters which could result in at least one fire station closing and much higher response times to emergencies.

Ah, politics. It never disappoints to disappoint.

Could Obtain Control over His/her Supervisor or Constitutional Officer

It has always surprised me to find so many people in this area who live in one area of Hampton Roads, but commute to their employment.

As President of the Newport News Retired Teachers I’m again conveying the views of our 155 members during this budget development time. We continue to feel that the cutting of aides, cafeteria workers, teachers and supplies before you cut the expense of a $90,000 to $100,000 lawyer is unconscionable. The City Attorney’s office will provide an attorney for free. The school system does not need to continue to overpay a retired City Attorney and deprive our students of support that they need, especially during this time of tight money.

We are also appalled that the teachers in Newport News are no longer required to give spelling tests or drill students in their math facts.

It is in my opinion Mitt Romney is the worst choice for limited government in both the March and November elections.

IN HONOR OF DR. CURTIS W. HARRIS, AN AMERICAN HERO!

RE: A SAD DAY IN THE CITY OF HOPEWELL AND THE COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA by Andrew Shannon

“Opponent petitions to have Harris removed from City Council”

I have been reading our local opinion section of the Virginian Pilot and the Daily Press (yes some people still do read newspapers but I sometimes wonder why.). I have come to the conclusion that the myths perpetuated by those writing the OP-EDs (articles in the opinion/editorial section) are just as confused and misguided as most of our elected officials in this Country.

I am a wife and a mother of three wonderful children. More than anything, I want to secure for them an America that is governed by the people, according to the Constitution, and with a future where their God given rights and freedoms are held in the highest regard above any party’s agenda.

I hope someone will give VA Delegate Bob Marshall a primer on lightbulbs as he doesn’t appear to understand how most current electricity suppliers pollute the air with large amounts of toxic mercury.

I have just seen the big announcement that PeopleExpress is coming to Newport News.

While we may have many God given Rights not listed in our constitution, our Federal government was constitutionally charged with protecting only some of these. Our government is charged with protecting certain rights and has some limited power to this end, but charity is not one of them.

Power wants more of the same and no matter what his supporters say, Obama has turned out to be like his predecessor, Bush. Citizens have woken up to some degree because of the Bush and Obama administrations and we see Dr. Ron Paul surging in the polls now that many have finally been allowed by Big Media to hear his message.

Letter is sponsored by Hampton Open Government PAC. The PAC supports Donnie Tuck for Mayor of Hampton.

Master real estate developer, Edwin Joseph, worked his way into being one of the top 100 wealthiest men in Virginia through a combination of hard work and manipulation of government and investor funds. Perhaps that made him a good business man according to his bank account, but it was a drain on taxpayers.