‘How shallow’
Re “Virginia Beach mayor rebuts criticism of City Hall” (Other Views, Nov. 5) and “NFL Hall of Famer Bruce Smith says Rudee Loop proposals raise questions of cronyism, ‘backroom deals’ in Virginia Beach” (Oct. 25): I just read Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer’s rebuttal of the so-called criticism by Virginia Beach resident Bruce Smith. Dyer directs his concerns to Smith about “his aligning with a group of self-anointed community leaders who empower their existence by stroking the flames of racism while expressing contempt and mistrust for our police force.”
Pray tell mayor, name names of these organizations and individuals. Inquiring minds want to know. At the “town hall” meeting Oct. 22, attended by members of the Tidewater Libertarian Party, Virginia Beach Tea Party, the GOP and Democratic Party, not once during Smith’s presentation did he mention race. Perhaps Dyer would be kind enough to accept an invitation by the same collective group of concerned and highly intellectual citizens who are concerned about the lack of transparency, integrity and trust that the mayor is trying to cover with a veil of racism. How shallow. Dyer’s synopsis is coming across like a self-licking ice cream cone.
Robert K. Dean, Virginia Beach
Hold on
Although I understand the reasoning for drawing new districts in Virginia Beach, I don’t understand why the people in newly drawn districts have no representation at all. I live in the newly drawn District 5 in Virginia Beach. Because it is a new district, we have no say in the election of City Council or School Board for two years. The Rudee Loop project is a high priority to me and others who live in Shadowlawn, which is very close to it.
I would ask the council to hold off voting for any projects on Rudee Loop until the residents of District 5 have an opportunity to elect a council member to represent us. This also should apply to the School Board. Any major changes made by the board should wait until all districts are represented.
Judy Gray, Virginia Beach
Solar panels
Virginia needs more clean energy to combat climate change, create more jobs, improve air quality, and more. One way to achieve this is through electrifying our schools and adding solar panels to their roofs. By investing in solar energy and moving away from fossil fuels, schools can make their buildings and communities healthier and safer, all while saving money for the school system.
Here in Hampton Roads we are lucky to have a number of school buildings with solar panels, but they seem to be concentrated in just a few districts. In Virginia Beach, schools such as Ocean Lakes Elementary and the Renaissance Academy are realizing the benefits of solar panels. With the Virginia Beach public school system spending millions of dollars on electricity costs alone, having net-zero schools that produce their own electricity will allow them to save money on energy costs and put that money toward other things like staff salaries and educational materials for students.
Viewpoints
Schools in Virginia are able to get solar panels at little to no upfront cost, so why haven’t more schools in Hampton Roads gone solar or put solar on in their plans? Our schools could be saving millions of dollars all while reducing our carbon footprint. It’s past time for our schools to utilize the empty roof space.
Stephen Hackney, Virginia Beach
Nurse practitioners
Re “Patients in peril: Demand for medical services grows in Virginia, but number of doctors doesn’t” (Oct. 23): The article failed to consider advanced-practice providers including nurse practitioners as a solution to access-to-care issues. Nurse practitioners are advanced-practice registered nurses who have master’s, and often doctorate, degrees and extensive clinical training in the diagnosis and management of common and complex medical conditions. More than half of Virginia’s 13,000 nurse practitioners practice in primary care. As a Tidewater-based nurse practitioner and certified diabetes care and education specialist in a large independent primary care practice, I focus on caring for my patients’ health needs and educating them about healthy living and disease management.
The article cites a June 2020 study by the Association of American Medical Colleges showing a shortage of 21,400-55,200 primary care physicians by 2033. At the same time, the Bureau of Labor Statistics is projecting more than 50% employment growth for nurse practitioners by 2029. However practicing as a nurse practitioner in Virginia can be challenging because of a legislative environment that is not as supportive as other states for nurse practitioner-delivered care. While some legislators see eliminating medical residencies as a solution to access-to-care issues, others recognize the value of nurse practitioner-delivered care. Based on physician-shortage trends, making nurse practitioners part of the solution will be essential to the health of all of Virginia’s citizens.
Olivia Newby, president, Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners, Virginia Beach
Nawfuk
Re “How do you pronounce Norfolk? The NorVa wants to help.” (Oct. 24): I’ve pronounced that city across the Hampton Roads as “nawfuk” for more than 70 years. My mother and her siblings also pronounced Norfolk as “nawfuk.” When I went to live in Western Maryland, I tried to proselytize my friends into pronouncing Norfolk as “nawfuk.” When I went to college, most of my friends said, “Nor-folk,” but some did not. I guess now it is a test of who is a transplant from the North and says “Nor-folk.”
Robert T. Neely, Newport News