Hampton ordinance
Re “New plan has softer penalties” (A1, Feb. 13): The Hampton city manager convened a stakeholder group to review a draft ordinance regarding unhoused individuals, specifically related to camping and sleeping on public property. I was privileged to be a part of this diverse and caring stakeholder group. The article gives the impression that Hampton is failing to fully address the issue and cites the Newport News approach as a better recommendation.
The purpose of our stakeholder group was to specifically address the draft ordinance. We reached a solid consensus and recommended to the city manager a reduction of the penalty for noncompliance and a requirement that individuals contacted under the ordinance be provided available services with time for them to voluntarily comply. The intent of our group was to provide a compassionate approach to interacting with unhoused individuals while having the capability to reduce conflicts with citizens and businesses impacted by individuals who are obstructing free access to public spaces, sidewalks and public parks. I believe we achieved this. As someone who has worked on addressing the needs of the Hampton unhoused for almost 30 years, I am trusting the Hampton Police officers to potentially be the first contact with individuals needing assistance.
The Newport News Homeless Encampment Policy referenced in the article was established late last year and has a limited track record. Although it contains the same compassionate wording as Hampton’s draft ordinance, it has no enforcement capability. It is my view that Hampton’s approach is a better and, ultimately, a more compassionate approach.
Bob Harper, Hampton
‘Virginia Way’
The framers of our Constitution chose a republic because they were skeptical of democracy, which allows a small majority to crush the rights of the minority. We are seeing that play out in the current proposed redistricting amendment.
Recent statewide elections have favored the Democrats by about 55% to 45%, and our congressional delegation is split between six Democrats and five Republicans, which is fair.
But our slim Democratic majority in the General Assembly now seeks to gerrymander the commonwealth so radically that we would likely see a split of 10 Democrats to one Republican. In 2020, Virginians overwhelmingly voted for the amendment to create the independent election commission.
Driven by blind opposition to President Donald Trump, Democrats try to justify this based on redistricting in other states. They are really just disenfranchising their fellow Virginians.
Fortunately, amending the Virginia Constitution requires the consent of the people through a referendum after the General Assembly has acted.
So, I call upon the people of Virginia to be better citizens than the politicians we have put in office, and to vote “no” on the redistricting amendment. Keep Virginia’s congressional delegation truly representative of the voters of Virginia.
It’s the right thing to do, and the “Virginia Way.”
William D. Tabor Jr., Virginia Beach
Silent majority
The current use of “derangement syndrome” is real but it applies to both the extreme left and right.
The attempt to censure U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly concerning his constitutionally protected free speech and calling illegal immigrants “undocumented” or “irregular” are both deranged. The term “undocumented “implies they are not illegal, which is akin to calling the perpetrator of financial fraud an “unauthorized user.” I cringe when I hear “silence is complicity” from the far reaches of each party because each side assumes they are 100% correct.
I think each party should examine the extreme behavior of its radical constituents and the effect they have on the silent majority. The overwhelming silent majority are the voters that have the greatest impact on our elections.
Given the impact derangement syndrome has on the mental health of America, I call upon each of us to communicate through kind deeds. I do understand the irony of putting this in writing; just call me part of the deranged silent majority.
Steven S. Kast, Yorktown
