Griffin: County Is Prepared
Fairfax County Executive Anthony Griffin briefed members of the Board of Supervisors and the public on Oct. 7, about the preparations the county has made in light of the recent sniper attacks.
"Our tactical squad was already deployed this morning," he said. "We do have extra officers deputized to the schools to provide security."
Griffin also said that county police was working closely with police in Maryland.
"There's just no way to be too reassuring," said Board Chairman Katherine Hanley, noting that a 13-year old Prince George's County boy was shot that morning.
"The safest place for kids right now is in school," said Griffin.
Fairfax GOP Rejects Tax Increase
The Fairfax County Republican Committee announced Oct. 7 that it would oppose November's referendum on a sales tax increase for transportation. Republican committees in Arlington and Loudoun counties have already announced their opposition to the tax.
"The message from our committee members was loud and clear," said FCRC Chairman Eddie Page in a statement. "They want to send a signal to the voters that the regional sales tax increase is a bad deal for Northern Virginia."
The county GOP endorsed a resolution that said that "imposing this tax on local sales, while neighboring counties to the west and south escape it, will discourage shoppers from purchasing big-tickets items here, thus hurting Fairfax County businesses and diminishing local sales tax receipts."
South County High School Builder Chosen
After issuing a request for proposals in May, the Fairfax County Selection Advisory Committee has chosen a joint proposal by Clark KSI to build the South County High School. Two other companies sent in bids to build the school which will sit on land once owned by the Lorton Prison. The school is set to open in September 2008, meaning that the county and the company will have a relatively short time to build the facility.