Virginia Beach Spending $1 Million On Damage Control

This is rich.

Not only did the mid-wits on Virginia Beach City Council go into panic mode a couple of weeks ago when they voted to impose an adult weekend curfew of 9:30 p.m. after two separate shooting incidents left more than a dozen people wounded on Atlantic Avenue, but now they’re blowing $1 million on p.r. to repair the damage.

That curfew was ruled to be illegal by a circuit court judge, so it was only in effect for two nights. But the bad publicity the city EARNED from that blockheaded decision did untold damage to tourism.

Now the knuckleheads have allocated $1 million for a propaganda blitz, to “woo” visitors to the oceanfront.

You know what would be better? If the city solved the problems of hooliganism on the resort strip that keeps tourists from returning to the Beach. That would be far more effective than spreading lies about the city being “family friendly.”

Virginia Beach isn’t family friendly. Not after dark, anyway.

Shoot, at a recent public hearing Mayor Bobby Dyer admitted as much when he said: “Before 10 p.m. you’re living in Mayberry. After 10, you’re living in Tombstone.”

No one wants to bring the fam to Tombstone.

But the way, Virginia Beach already spends $11 million a year promoting the city that has had a - let’s just say the “G” word - gang problem for years.

Here’s a better idea: Council members should order the police chief to stop handcuffing his own officers and turn them loose on the resort strip on weekend nights. Have them push through the crowds, hassle the kids who are in the street, loitering in front of businesses, smoking weed or drunk in public.

If they have a reason to believe that some gangbanger has a gun? Don’t wait till he starts shooting. Throw him up against the wall and frisk him. Let it be known that the troublemakers who scare away decent people, while spending precious little money in the businesses along the strip and scaring tourists, are not welcome.

There was a time when every Beach teenager got his first summer job at one of the tourist businesses. No more. I met with an oceanfront business owner a couple of weeks ago and he told me he wouldn’t let his own teenagers work at his business these days.

It’s too dang dangerous down there.

As a public service, we asked the listeners of “The Kerry and Mike Show” to call in with their suggestions for some slogans to lure tourists back to the Beach, to augment the millions the city is spending on public relations.

Here are a few of the best:

Virginia Beach. Bring The Gang!

Virginia Beach. We Aim For Tourists!

Virginia Beach. Give It A Shot!

Virginia Beach. Not As Bad As Chicago!

Virginia Beach: There’s a Level 1 Trauma Center Nearby!

Let’s hear yours.