Minutes 09/29/1970 - Laserfiche WebLink

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September 29~ 1970 On motion of Mr. Smith(R) received as information. 70-417 - The following letter from Leonard D. Lindauer, President, Portsmouth Senior Citizens Club was read: "The Portsmouth Senior Citizens Club has a membership in excess of 500. At its regular meeting on Tuesday, September 14, 1970, there were 154 members present. At this time, our club voted unanimously to op- pose vigorously the Sunday sale of beer in the City of Portsmouth. We urge you to reconsider your action in submitting this to a referendum vote on November 3, 1970. We fu~thar urge you to take all possible steps to keep Portsmouth Free of Sunday beer sales." 70-418 - The following petition signed by Mrs. M. A. Lamb and ~others was read: "I am opposed to the ~ale of beer and other alcoholic beverages in our city on Sunday. I am not in favor of this matter appearing on the ballot in November unless it is there as the result of a petition signed by thirtypercent of the registered voters of Portsmouth as provided in the City Charter. I urge you tO rescind your action of August 25 relative to this matter." Signed 70-419 - The following petition,signed by James E. Bright and others, was read: "I am opposed to the sale of beer on Sundays. I am opposed to this matter appearing on the November 3 ballot." 70-420 - The following letter from Nicholas J. Brown, Jr., Coordinator, Concerned Citizens opposed to Sunday Beer Sales, was read: "We, fhe Concerned Citizens, respectfully request that two representatives from our group be allowed to address you at your September 2R meeting in regard to the placing of the Sunday sale of beer on the ballot in Nove~ber. The speakers will be Mr. Evan Walter Lewis and the Reverend Dr. q~omas J. Powers." Walter Lewis and Dr. T. J. Powers spoke. 70-421 - The following letter from George R. Walker was read: "Please place my name on the list of those citizens who wish to speak to the issue of the Beer-on-Sunday Referendum at the time that agenda item is discussed during the September 29, 1970 sessio~ of City Council." Mr. Walker spoke. 70-422 - The following letter from James A. Sherrill, Athletic Director, Woodrow Wilson High School, was read: "As you know. high school football is a way of life in Tidewater and especially in Portsmouth on Friday nights. I feel that certain steps must be taken by our City Govelulment if the continuity of this wonderful entertainment is to be insured. The verythought of discontinuing football in the City High S~hoal would cause strife within the school and co~nunity. The values learned from participation in sports are too great to have anyt~hing jeopardizing them. The football teams of Wilson and Cradock have proven that black andwhite can work and play side by side. To switch the games from night to day would not only ruin us from a financial standpoint but in other parts of the country where this has happened reports have indicated that~has all but killed the sport. In the face of conflict and controversy, we must take astand and dig in deep to keep those values which have been a part of the history of our great city and country. ~In view of what I have ~ried to put forth, I strongly encourage our City. Council to pass an ordinance making it unlawful to loiter outside a stadiumwhile an athletic event is going on, andalso lallawful~ to parade inside the stadium while the event is in progress. I have observed gangs of people walking around the playing field and through the stands while the game was being played. I feel that an ordinance similar to what Chesapeake has in regards to athletic events could help save~, Friday night football~ and at the same time make the job of the police who supervise these games much easier." Motion of Mr. Turner to refer to the City Manager for investigation and report, was adopted, without dissenting vote. 70-423 - The following letter from Dr. Ethe!yn R. Strong, President, I. C. Norcom PTA was read by Dr. Strong: "I am writing as a parent, as a PTA officer and as a Portsmouth resident re: the shootings and.the killin~ of JOhn Bettamy, jr., on Saturday, September 19, 1970. It is distressing that the Chief of Police dad not seek to establish factual information about a victim before publicly expressing himself. One fact that would have been easy for him to obtain was young John Bellamy's age. Yet, he disputed newspaper reports and isisted, in full view of television listemers, that John Bellamy, Jr., was 20 and not 16 years of age. Where did he get k~is informatimn? From his police officers, or from witnesses? The Health Department or the Public Schools could have furnished him with this information since Bellamy was born in Portsmouth and attended school here. Is this the way that our law enforcement agency operates in Portsmouth? If so, how can thecemmunity respect it? When an individual is under investigation for whatever the cause might be, he is generally withdrawn from active duty until the case is completed. Several instances Of this nature are already a matter of .public record in the Portsmouth Police Department, and the charges were not as grave as that of which Officer Ennis is re- portedly accused.