Guess Who Doesn’t Live in Our County?

This letter is in response to the snarky op-ed piece by Jeff Shapiro that appeared in the Richmond Times-Dispatch on Sept. 14, 2008 and was reprinted in other area papers subsequent to that. Mr. Wilburn makes some salient points and asks some pertinent questions. Excellent letter!

Published by The Editorial Board of the Danville Register & Bee and the Madison Messenger

September 23, 2008


To the editor:

Jeff Schapiro, in his column, “Uranium is a hot topic for the GOP,” (Sept. 19, page A8), was grossly negligent in not referring to the fierce opposition of homeowners, Republican and Democrat alike, to the mining of uranium in Pittsylvania County. His political arm-chair quarterbacking would lead one to believe that he knows what is good for regional Republican delegates in particular and those of us who live here in general.

At a recent forum about the uranium mining, I asked if anyone could show me studies of the economic impact mining the site at Coles Hill would have on our area. Although a number of proponents — some of whom are major shareholders in Virginia Uranium Inc., were in attendance — no one was willing to provide data demonstrating that homeowners would not be negatively affected by the “fallout” (metaphorically and realistically speaking) of this mining. Some will privately tell you that jobs will be created and county revenue will soar. If that is the case, show me a proposal that does away with county taxes, because I suspect real estate values are going to drop so sharply that reassessments will have to follow.

More often than not, perception is reality. If potential homebuyers in the county think property values will decline, they will decline. If parents of potential students at Hargrave Military Academy and Chatham Hall perceive there is a danger to their children, they will not send them to those respective schools.

I don’t know whether Schapiro has stock in Virginia Uranium or not, but I’m guessing he doesn’t own property in Pittsylvania or Halifax counties. He did sidestep the greater argument and took the easy way out when he advised the Republicans to “circumvent the House and Senate next year and wire up a study by the Virginia Coal and Energy Commission.” Perhaps he will purchase my home as an investment in energy futures.

LARRY WILBURN

Danville

http://www.godanriver.com/gdr/news/opinion/letters_to_the_editor/danville_letters/article/the_boat_ramp_the_column_a_dogs_life_and_obama/6349/