As a feature editor, I have had the ability to disagree with Virginia News Source’s front page and Editorial staff. Unfortunately for Mayor Will Sessoms, VNS continually criticizes and maligns anything he says or does. This vendetta will undoubtedly continue in perpetuity.

Follow up:

For example, VNS front page link to Virginian-Pilot’s (May 1, 2009) article Aging Beach animal shelter harbors deadly dog virus contains the teaser “IF DOGS AND BLACKS DIDN'T CONTRIBUTE TO HIS CAMPAIGN.... Integrity-challenged Virginia Beach Mayor Sessoms is concerned about building new animal shelter and sanitary utilities for Burton Station blacks, but not enough to short-change multi-million $$$ projects for his special interest friends". This is a total and unwarranted attack on a Mayor who is in a leadership roll and exercising concern for too many special interests chasing too few dollars.

In the case of the aging pound, it is easy to pander to all the animal activist heart-throbbing requests at the budget hearings; especially, if you are coming up for re-election. However, Sessoms is correct, in that plans for a recreational area accessible to socio-economic deprived areas of the city are long overdue and a higher priority. Empathizing with those expecting the city’s long undelivered promise, putting Fido in front of a child’s social and physical development may hint to racially motivated overtones. I commend the Mayor for his broad understanding of the whole picture and the consequences of misdirected priorities.

On-line comments to the Pilots article wrongly had the tone that the animal welfare is the responsibility of the city. The “animal lovers” depict “the city” as cruel and uncaring. The truth of the matter is that it is the responsibility of animal lovers like me to contribute to the care and welfare of needy animals. If animals are being neglected, it is a consortium of foundations and volunteers that must bear the burden for the cost, care, and well-being of homeless animals.- NOT local government.

Mayor Sessoms is right-on in this case. He needs to expose those council members shirking budget management responsibility by pandering to special interests.