Cut the red tape
I am writing to ask why our local government treats the south side citizens as though we are second class. We would like all of the amenities that they allow on 29N. The south side of town has a billion dollar interstate highway with a multimillion dollar interchange, Fifth Street, where people want development and where people from Staunton, Waynesboro and points east have an easy access to send lots of their spending money and generate taxes for our educational and service systems. If we aren’t careful and do some developing, such as Coran Capshaw’s retail proposal [“Red tape for Capshaw,” 7 Days, The Week, July 27], we are liable to lose our town’s business to Short Pump. This interchange has been available for use for 50 years and still the County planners cannot seem to use its potential.
David Breeden
Albemarle County
Clear the air
I think it’s quite interesting that you use Ted Turner as your front story about media being too big [“Read This First,” August 10]. He is a huge benefactor of media consolidation and ownership across the board on cable television. Furthermore, the comments you and your staff continually make about Clear Channel are disrespectful to the hardworking local members of your community who work at Clear Channel, as when you tell the population, “When you want information on where you live, look to the little guys who face their neighbors everyday.”
I’m sickened by your attitudes with regard to Clear Channel, and the fact that you frequently misinform your readers. Both my husband and I work for Clear Channel. I’ve worked with the company going on eight years and, yes, Clear Channel is a huge media company and not everything they say and do on a national basis I agree with. But we lived in Forest Lakes and now own a house in Palmyra. We buy our groceries, pay daycare, shop in and are involved in our community just as much as any other broadcast company employees, or the employees of the C-VILLE for that matter.
We have a local staff of over 35 people. Clear Channel employees outnumber our local broadcasters employees by practically 3 to 1. We are in the community, we do visit our neighbors; we buy our groceries and pay our taxes. We are your neighbors! I wish you would print something besides negativity every time this comes up. In the time I have worked for Clear Channel in Charlottesville I have seen our stations come together and our listeners have helped us to raise thousands of pounds of food each year for the Jefferson Area Food Bank. Annually we raise $50,000 for UVA Children’s Medical Center. Country 99.7 works with St. Jude’s and over the last two years has raised nearly $100,000 for medical research to aid for children’s research. Ask the community if these things matter to them.
Somehow there’s never anything positive from your publication and I think it’s fair time that you tell the other side. It’s just not fair that you consider us non-neighbors and non-community partners!
Barbara Purtee
Palmyra
The heart of the Matt-er
You were forgiven for overlooking Matt Damon in favor of Ted Turner for C-VILLE cover honors. But when your review of The Bourne Supremacy noted that the The Bourne Identity was released in 1992 (not 2002, the actual release date) [Film, August 10] I felt a debilitating sadness that shook me to my core.
Everyone knows that in 1992 Damon starred in School Ties, a film which proved to be a launching pad for the talented young actor who would go on to shine in Good Will Hunting and The Legend of Bagger Vance.
Your mistake can be corrected by considering Mr. Damon for future C-VILLE cover honors.
Shawn Decker
President of the Charlottesville chapter of the Matthew Damon Admiration League