January 28, 2004

What's In Your Cup Joe?

Clearly Joe Kennedy just doesn't get it.

After two years of being in the midst of Roanoke's stadium issue one would think that he would have figured out that for the vast majority of folks who want to save Victory Stadium, "looking back into their rosy memories" has absolutely nothing to do with it.

Let's take Mr. Kennedy's recent column from top to bottom.

"A handful of Roanoke politicians are turning back the clock, casting their eyes longingly toward a time of peace and prosperity . . ."

A handful? Hey Joe, where were you when City Council held it's dog and pony show at the civic center in an effort to sell its citizens on the new stadium. Of an estimated 1200 people in attendance 35 spoke in support of renovating Victory Stadium, while 3 people spoke in support of your position. That's over ten to one. There were less than 20 people in the room in support of the city's plan, and that's being generous.

The citizens group in opposition to the new stadium has over 5000 signatures on its petition. These are people willing to stop and put their name and address on the line in an effort to be heard by their local representatives. And I've got news for you Joe - they aren't a bunch of old curmudgeons bemoaning the loss of their glory days. These are men and women of all ages and economic, social and political backgrounds who know a good thing when they see it as well as a overpriced turkey when it rears its ugly head and starts gobbling their tax dollars.

The vast majority of citizens in Roanoke apparently don't agree with you Joe, so in your own words, "get over it."

Someone else who doesn't agree with you is the national stadium consultant that THE CITY hired to review the plans for the new combination amphitheater / sports complex and wrote a report strongly recommending AGAINST its construction. You might not know about this report and guess what? You wouldn't be alone. It was received by the City Manager and never given to Council prior to their final 4-3 vote. Smell something fishy Joe? It's not that new beard you sport like your pal Bill Bestpitch, nor your poorly conceived column. (Though it reeks to boot.)

Ouch. That sounds like a personal attack, doesn't it? Well, it was. And its written in response for the thousands of Roanokers whom you attacked in your column by belittling their memories as well as their lives. I've got a tip for you Joe. Don't personally attack your readers. Not only are they the ones who decide whether to buy the paper you write for, but generally speaking, they are the men and women who built Roanoke - who have helped create a solid community with a wonderful balance of opportunity and quality of life. A people who have preserved landmarks like the Hotel Roanoke, The Higher Education Center, The Grandin Theatre and the Jefferson Center. And in doing so have created a city unique in character and charm in lieu of one that bulldozes its history to build sterile concrete cookie cutter facilities. We're not Charlotte Joe, and a great many of us don't care to be.

One more tip Mr. Kennedy. You might also want to reconsider statements like the one you made in reference to the Mayor:

"That's like pouring your paycheck into an old clunker of a car when you could drive a Cadillac like his . . .."

"A Cadillac like his?" Did you use this analogy in an effort to imply to your readers that "he's not one of us" because he drives a Cadillac? Would that be a completely "classless attack based on class" or am I imagining all of this? I'm glad you wrote it. I suspect it reveals who you really are.

Joe, if "looking forward" is conceiving a plan that spends twice as much to create a facility twice as small, located between the three busiest roads in Roanoke, with no traffic study, no environmental study, with incomplete funding data, against expert consultant's recommendations as well as 80% of your constituents while you demolish a beloved brick landmark that is the largest off-campus stadium in the state, then I guess I'm not thinking progressively enough.

But maybe the strongest reasoning for supporting the renovation of Victory Stadium can be found at the end of your own column :

"They need to turn away from the mirror and think about the even more dramatic changes that will occur in the next 50 years, and they need to ask themselves if they really believe the old ball yard can be renovated to meet the coming generations' needs . . ."

So, 50 years from now when our children and City Council are discussing the Greater Roanoke Valley's ever expanding population and the fact that we don't have a large enough venue for a growing number of events, you think they'll be saying, "Well, one things for sure - I'm mighty glad that in 2005 Roanoke City ripped down that historical 28,000 seat facility next to the river that would have cost 40 million to build back then and five times that now . . ."

Who's looking back Joe? You? Or Brian Wishneff and Sherman Lea and the vast majority of Roanokers who know that the best road to our future is one that sensibly honors our past.

Wake up and smell the coffee Joe - or whatever's in that cup.