Leave real estate development to private sector

Staff

Published Tuesday, June 28, 2005

Editor, the News-Herald:

It is wrong for the city of Suffolk to buy and own property that is used in any way other than for city business.

It is wrong that the city is in competition with private companies who may want to do business.

It is wrong that the city is spending my money on purchasing property, a hotel and soon a marina to try to make money.

They may think it is an investment but it may not be.

The city should not be in the business of acting like a rich developer and in competition with developers.

The city has the control to stop private developers with rules and opinions but can do whatever they want.

What if Marriott wanted to build a hotel right across the Nansemond River from the Hilton?

Is it fair that Marriott would have to pay taxes and do their own landscaping while the Hilton has perhaps a lower tax rate if taxes at all (how does the city tax itself?). And the poor judgment of the city to build over old sewage site holes with the area now settling terribly and then the millions on the bulkhead expense and problem?

It is also wrong that city bought the old Obici riverfront property.

It is wrong that the city plans to build a marina down at the Lone Star Lakes.

If anyone is upset about the continued tax increases and assessments that the city has put on its citizens just to have the city a better place for those who can afford to use the hotel, dock a boat at the up and coming marina and who knows what plans for the old Obici property, please take a stand.

We need to have on the November election ballot a referendum stating that the city must sell all of this "investment" property, buy no more and then take our money that they are spending and give it back to us.

Please sign coming petitions to get this information on the November ballot.

The city is now trying to let our tax money be used to support the operation of the Suffolk Center for Cultural Arts. Please help stop this. Please write letters to the editors, call the radio talk shows and call your city council person. We must put a stop to the city's excess spending on items that are not services necessary for safety and well being. Let stop this oligarchy.

Let's put a stop to our city spending money for such luxuries.

Niecie Garner

Suffolk

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