Letters To The Editor: Singletons’ Generosity Made School Possible

Singletons' Generosity Made School Possible
Editor, Times-Dispatch: The article regarding the philanthropy of W.E. and Dale Singleton was a very nice one. Staff writer Zachary Reid should be commended for recognizing the generosity of the Singletons to George Mason Elementary School and other institutions in our community.

However, there was a significant omission. St. Michael's Middle School -- currently located on a 40-acre tract of land on Hobby Hill Road in southwest Richmond -- was made possible by a gift of land from the Singletons. The entire campus complex was named in their honor.

Among the facilities enjoyed by the students of St. Michael's Episcopal School is a 10,000-square-foot gymnasium constructed with the help of funding from the Singletons. In fact, this facility is named The Ellen Passmore Singleton Center.

Our entire community is blessed that W. E. and Dale Singleton have chosen to support a wide range of people and causes. We are all grateful that they choose to use their resources to help so many others. Edgar O. Hubbard III, Headmaster, St. Michael's Episcopal School.


Richmond.

Democratic Candidate Is a Leader
Editor, Times-Dispatch: In response to Donald Rakes' letter, "Time for Leadership; Republicans Are Ready": I would like to correct a few of his statements. Right off the bat he starts with a fallacy: "Democrats nominate and vote for politicians while Republicans nominate and vote for leaders." The truth is the Democrats did not nominate their politician, Creigh Deeds. The voters did. That's called democracy. The Republicans didn't vote for their candidate, Robert McDonnell. He was nominated by the party.

As for the comment, "Democrats believe that they can buy their way into public office," Rakes, once again, is ignoring facts. The biggest story about the Democrats' primary was how much money Terry McAuliffe raised and spent. The voters voted against this tactic and McAuliffe lost. Deeds raised and spent the least amount of money and he won. So far, McDonnell has raised close to $9 million. He also outspent Deeds 2-to-1 in the attorney general's race four years ago and won by only 360 votes. Who's trying to buy whose way into public office -- again? So while McDonnell is out on the campaign trail "grasping Old Glory in one hand, the Republican banner in the other, and saying a prayer to the good Lord," Deeds will be out on that same trail talking about the economy, education, health care, and renewable energy. It is not hard for me to discern which one is the politician and which one is the leader.

Lori Krenik.
Richmond.

Close by, Peeples could visit the VCU School of Music, where he'll learn what business ideologue Bill Singleton did for that school. Just last week, Singleton made a generous donation to restore a local playground.

Further west, Peeples should visit the University of Richmond campus and see what the Gottwald, Robins, Weinstein, and other generous families typecast by Peeples as ideologues have done for that school.

One could fill the newspaper and perhaps a book or two with the good things done in the Richmond area by business people.

Yes, some avaricious business ideologues contributed mightily to our current economic situation. They didn't do it alone. Politicians in Peebles' noble public service trained their community reinvestment artillery on the banks and threatened to tie their hands and stifle their growth and expansion if they didn't make subprime loans. When Treasury Secretary John Snow asked Congress to regulate Fannie Mae more strictly, he was rebuffed. Some borrowers took out loans that they knew they couldn't pay, perhaps hoping that continually rising real estate prices would bail them out.

Peeples should know better than to jam all business people into his preconceived pigeonhole without recognizing individual differences.

Walter Dunn Tucker.
Henrico.

The needs of Americans should drive health care -- not the insurance company profits.

Marie Stella.
Midlothian.

In Virginia, the picture isn't quite as rosy. The elections of 2007 resulted in the House of Delegates being composed of mostly anti-choice legislators and the Senate composed of mixed-choice legislators. NARAL Pro-Choice America has given us an F grade with regards to choice legislation.

As we embark upon the election of a new governor this November, let's keep in mind a few facts about the Republican candidate, Bob McDonnell. He had a 100-percent pro-life voting record during his 14 years in the General Assembly. He was the sponsor of legislation in 1997 that required informed written consent for abortion and a 24-hour waiting period. In 1998, he was a patron of legislation that made one specific abortion procedure illegal. He has said that he opposes abortion except in cases where the mother's life is in danger. He opposes abortion even in cases of rape or incest.

McDonnell's long socially conservative record speaks for itself. With his help, legislators in Virginia have chipped away at access to abortion. While McDonnell may try to portray himself as middle-of-the-road, he is far from it.

For those who respect a woman's right to choose, this is not the time to be complacent. We need to elect a governor who will protect a women's reproductive rights and who will move Virginia forward.

Christie Brooks.
Chester.