YOUR VIEWS

Wind project

Re “Avangrid’s Kitty Hawk answers only raise more questions” (Other Views, Dec. 18): The Protect Sandbridge Beach Coalition continues to miss the mark on the facts. Avangrid’s Ken Kimmell was right to point out in his Dec. 10 opinion column that a successful Kitty Hawk wind project will have immense local and regional economic benefits. It would be a massive driver for the development of Hampton Roads into an anchor for a Mid-Atlantic offshore wind industry. For companies such as McLeskey, where I work as vice president of development, the project could be the catalyst for a pipeline of offshore-related development work over many decades.

But there is also direct economic value on the table for Virginia Beach and Sandbridge, including millions in local taxes and other benefits that will provide a critical stream of revenue to city services.

Protect Sandbridge makes several provocative claims regarding impacts to tourism, property values and existing business. However, it provides absolutely no evidence that the project (36 miles off the coast and beyond the horizon), cable route (buried several feet underground encased in concrete), or construction of the route (primarily during the winter months) would leave any negative long-term impact on the community.

As no vote or decision has yet been taken on the Kitty Hawk wind project, I urge City Council to keep an open mind on Avangrid’s proposal and take a broad view of the direct benefits it offers Virginia Beach.

— Chris Wood, Virginia Beach

Immigration

Re “Borders needed” (Your Views, Jan. 1): Immigration is not just a problem here; Europe is overrun with people fleeing poverty, war and crime. A border between Arizona and Mexico was closed, but that did not last long because the border also brought in tourists and trucks transporting goods, which is the same for Texas’ border.

If the writer thinks migrants coming here are for the benefit of votes for Democrats, they are in for a long wait. Citizenship is a long process. In the spring, two female House representatives, one from each party, submitted a bill on immigration reform, the news was in the newspaper, but I haven’t seen anything on those bills since.

Congress this past year only passed 27 bills, which speaks for itself. Republicans spent time dealing with the House speaker and (now former) U.S. Rep. George Santos, and the House ended the year by making the big decision to serve whole milk along with low-fat milk in school. They are now holding Ukraine money hostage. We will see what 2024 brings.

— Gloria Ross, Virginia Beach

Too expensive

Re “Virginia Beach Trail gets federal grant for construction, will include pedestrian bridge over Independence Boulevard” (Dec. 27): The issue with this “vision,” getting almost anything the city thinks will help its citizens, is cost “overruns” could double for this “trail” project. Environmentalists could push litigation. And let’s add a people-mover machine to it, so that its required repair will prohibit its usage.

— Larry Smith, Virginia Beach

Violent TV

Re “First Pooh, now Mickey. In public domain, early Mickey Mouse version will star in horror movies” (Jan. 2) and “Oregon project could boost youth mental health” (Other Views, Jan. 3): Disney’s control over Mickey Mouse has expired, and the horror movies are already underway. The column describes the Oregon project, spending millions of dollars to address children’s mental and emotional problems.

Does not anyone else see the connection? Try to find a pleasant TV program without violence or find a movie without foul language and think about the effect on our children, who are bombarded with these examples as the way to behave. Go to the source, as well as the remedies, please.

— Barbara Fleming, Virginia Beach