BMX venue
Re “BMX or skateboarding?” (A1, Oct. 9): I think it’s great Virginia Beach wants another sports venue at the Oceanfront. The city is interested in the growing interest in action sports, e.g. BMX or skateboarding? According to the Neilsberg Research Report, updated Feb. 22, approximately 25% of residents would fall into the age group (10-30) who would be able to engage in skateboarding or BMX, if they in fact chose to do so.
I understand the city wants to attract out-of-towners to come and skateboard here but they already do that; it’s called the Jackalope Festival. Last year during unfavorable weather conditions we attracted about 50,000 people. Wasn’t that a successful skateboard and BMX competition?
What do we do for the other 75% of residents who pay personal property tax (automobiles), real estate tax, food tax for groceries, registration tax, etc.? Let’s build a sports park that we can enjoy, with pickle ball courts, bocce ball, cornhole, lawn bowling, washer toss, walking and flag football. Let’s include tables for more intellectual games and supply chess pieces — dominos, mahjong. When you’re over 40 (I’m 82), it would be nice to able to exercise and associate with friends in a non-break-your-neck sport.
Howard Shmuckler, Virginia Beach
Not qualified
Re “Stolle seeks a fourth term as top prosecutor” (A1, Oct. 8): The article about the Virginia Beach commonwealth’s attorney’s race between incumbent Colin Stolle and challenger Suzanne Richmond skipped over something that omits a key fact.
“Stolle’s days as a clerk, however, ended long ago. After passing the state bar exam, he was hired as an assistant commonwealth’s attorney …”
Stolle “passed the bar exam” without attending a single day of law school.
That’s right, the current commonwealth’s attorney for Virginia Beach, the chief prosecutor of Virginia’s largest city and the third-largest local jurisdiction in the state, does not have a law degree. Stolle managed to skip this crucial component of his legal education by going through the “law reader program,” a reckless shortcut that should have been abolished long ago.
Now Stolle makes critical decisions about the lives and freedom of thousands upon thousands of alleged offenders and the protection, legal rights, support, assistance and healing of thousands of victims. The fairness and efficiency of our criminal justice system rests in his hands.
Lawyers without law degrees lack the three years of intensive classroom education, the consistent teaching and grading/evaluation of numerous professors, and the comprehensive knowledge of all important areas of the law necessary to serve the public.
It’s just embarrassing that Stolle is allowed to represent our city as its commonwealth’s attorney. He’s not qualified.
Susan B. Potter, Esq., Virginia Beach
Evictions
I have been following the gubernatorial candidates’ views on the issues in preparation for the coming election. When it comes to eviction notices, Democratic nominee for governor and former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger favors extending notice from five to 14 days. Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears says this puts undue hardship on landlords.
To this, I would like to share this personal experience. Due to a computer glitch on my landlord’s part, my autopay rent was not deducted from my account. It was straightened out but not before the auto-generated notice was sent out stating I had five days to respond. This was dated and postmarked from Newport News on the 6th. It did not go to Hampton but Richmond where it was postmarked in Richmond on the 8th. I did not receive it in my mailbox until the 14th, making it impossible for me to respond in time.
Fourteen days would have allowed at least some time to address the issue. Fortunately, this has not been an actual legal issue, however, it does show me whose side the candidates are on.
Barbara Harvey, Hampton
