Golf club
Re: “City solicits golf-club buyers” (A1, Nov. 14): Virginia Beach National Golf Club will never be the same if City Council allows big chunks to be amputated for hundreds of apartments. It should be preserved because:
1. It turns strangers into friends, creating bonds across the city. No price can be put on these ties.
2. It is something special. Visitors tell me so when I am paired up with them, adding to our reputation as a great place to live.
3. It makes a place for everyone. Differences of income, status, job, age and race evaporate when you stand together on the tee box.
Years ago, this land was farmed, then sold for a thousand-acre development called Lake Ridge. But the developer went bust. The City Council stepped in, buying the raw land to prevent housing over-development. Now it is a mecca for thousands to play not just golf, but softball, football, baseball and soccer. That farsighted investment has multiplied many times over. Today’s council would be short-sighted to start nibbling away at that vision and purpose. Will the nibbling stop after the golf courses are diminished?
Which adds more to the quality of life of our city, another apartment complex or preserving Virginia Beach National?
Dennis Hartig, Virginia Beach
No guns allowed
I don’t understand why store owners believe that posting “No guns allowed” signs will in any way protect their stores or anyone in their businesses. What that sign really says is that no law-abiding citizens are allowed to carry their weapons. No criminals obey the laws or rules. What the sign tells criminals is that no one will be able to stop them. This business is an easy target, and that emboldens the criminal to attack. Just like in school, the bullies never jump those who are able and willing to fight.
Denis A. Crisp, Virginia Beach
Epstein scandal
There is little doubt that both Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives, were involved in the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
The Republicans used every strategy they could think of to stop the release of the Epstein files and it is obvious now that they will do anything to redact and delay the release.
Democrats have pushed hard to have all of the files released, finally getting a congressional order to do so.
Democrats want to know who the pedophiles were no matter who they were. The Republicans on the other hand want to protect any Republicans or conservatives who were involved in this insidious behavior and name only the Democrats or liberals involved.
I never, ever thought that one of the differences between Democrats and Republicans would be that one party wants to know who the pedophiles were no matter what and the other party wants to protect their ilk.
How sad.
Maury Neville, Chesapeake
Lies
Has anyone noticed all the lies that the president and his lackeys keep telling us?
We hear that tariffs are bringing in so much money from other countries. The fact is that the money that tariffs bring in comes from us, the American consumers. We hear that prices are going down. The fact is that prices are going up, and affordability is a big issue for many Americans. We hear that Republicans have a plan to improve Obamacare. We have never seen even a hint of this plan. Instead, it looks like health care costs will skyrocket for many.
New lies are in the works every day concerning the Epstein fiasco, the Department of Justice’s attempts to prosecute political enemies for questionable crimes, sending the military to cities to handle fake crises, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s brutal treatment of immigrants, many of whom are legally here. Where is the outcry for transparency and truth? Our democracy is in danger.
Vivian Moberg Reynolds, Newport News
