April 9, 2007

Norfolk City Council

810 Union Street

Norfolk, Va.  23510

Dear Members of the Norfolk City Council,

I have been directed by the Willoughby Civic League to write this letter of concern.  The Willoughby community has once again been asked for our yearly donation to the Festevents Ocean View Summer  Festival  series.  We feel that the artistic and cultural events that Festevents sponsors are worthwhile.  Therefore, we  have increased our yearly donation by twenty percent.,  We do so, however, with some reservation and concern.

 We note, that despite the astronomical increases in home assessment values throughout the Willoughby Spit area and the resultant tax revenues collected from the residents of the spit, that  the city of Norfolk’s funding  level for this series of events has remained stagnant.   WHY???  We feel that the city should have, at the very least, increased its funding of the Festevents.  By doing so, it would be giving something back to those communities that have shouldered a disproportionate share of the tax burden and have received no recognition nor improvements for their ever increasing taxes. 

We would like to take this opportunity to voice our position regarding this issue.  We are not only being asked to give more and more revenue to the city in increased taxes while receiving less and less for OUR tax dollars, but the various communities are also being asked to give donations to fund Festevents activities.  In light of the above, we would like to request that at least a portion of the sizable tax revenues, generated by the Spit, be used to directly benefit the residents of the Spit.  The city’s contribution to Festevents should be significantly increased, thus giving SOMETHING back to OUR community. 

Sincerely,

Jeffrey A. Jasmin

Willoughby Civic League

April 9, 2007

Department of Police

Second Patrol Division

2500  N. Military Highway

Norfolk, VA. 23502

Att:  Lt. J.P. Baron

Dear Sir:

Thank you for your recent letter concerning gang activity in our area and  addressing our concerns about the traffic problems that we are currently experiencing  between Fourth and Eighth View streets.  Your prompt response to our request was a  breath of fresh air, not often seen in dealing with city officials.  In our hectic life styles, we seldom take the time to acknowledge when someone goes above and beyond their assigned duties.  Your officers J. M. Williams and  M.L. Warren are doing an outstanding job in responding to the issues affecting our community.    In fact, I wish to thank the entire second division for the stepped up patrols and police presence in our community.  I have received many favorable comments from the residents of Willoughby about the stepped up patrols.   People are feeling somewhat safer knowing that your officers are patrolling our neighborhoods.

Summer will soon be upon us, which brings additional problems to our community with the young people being out of school and the increased traffic that will affect the Fourth View intersection.  In light of  these anticipated problems, we would like to know if the community can do anything to assist you in addressing these issues?  We would much prefer to work with you in addressing these problems from the onslaught rather than have your officers bombarded with complaints from residents who can’t get through the intersection during the summer months, thus taking up your valuable time.

Again, I would like to express thanks from the residents of Willoughby for your continued efforts to make our community a safer place to live.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey A. Jasmin

President Willoughby Civic League