Letter: Putting the People First
To the Editor:
Good government isn’t as hard as politicians make it out to be. It’s really about putting the people first. The IRS certainly wasn’t putting the people first when it harassed, humiliated and held up the applications of conservative groups. Nor when it held off on releasing the $125 million share owed to Virginia as part of a Medicaid fraud settlement. It did just the opposite.
Commentary: Bipartisan Approach Needed in Evaluating Legislators
The 2013 session of the General Assembly was a landmark one, according to most everyone who follows politics in the Old Dominion. It passed a sweeping transportation funding package that had eluded approval for at least a couple of decades.
Levey’s Washington Revisited in Vienna
Shepherd’s Center of Oakton-Vienna hosts Bob Levey at luncheon.
Bob Levey’s 37-year career with the Washington Post spanned the eras of Watergate, Desert Storm and the rise of Internet news reporting. For 23 years, Levey wrote Bob Levey’s Washington, a personal look at the region he loves. He shared his experiences on June 10 with guests of Shepherd Center of Oakton-Vienna’s Lunch ‘n’ Life, drawing on anecdotes and perspectives.
Wolf Announces Appointments to the Nation’s Service Academies
Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10) announced the 10th District’s Class of 2017 appointments to the nation’s service academies, as well as those selected for Academy prep schools.
Letter: Alexandria’s Gentrification
Letter to the Editor:
On June 6, the Giant Food stores located on Beauregard Street and at Bradlee Shopping Center closed. A little less than six months prior, ditto for the Magruders in Seminary Plaza, when the local chain went out of business. And there was nary a word of lamentation in the local press.
Letter: Haig’s Statement Was Distorted
Letter to the Editor:
In the June 6-12 Gazette Packet, Katy Cannady challenged Councilmember Justin Wilson for "jokingly addressing Vice Mayor Alison Silverberg as 'Alexander Haig' while she was presiding at a Council meeting" during the Mayor's brief absence.
Neighborhoods
Taylor Run
WHISTLE-BLOWING Current news about a whistle-blower reminds me of my brief appearance in that role many years ago (BC — Before Computers) when I surprised myself, a Booz Allen consultant, and a Dun & Bradstreet vice-president.
Braddock/Pleasant Valley Project Details and Background
The Braddock/Pleasant Valley roads intersection is near the Fairfax/Loudoun border and regularly backs up at rush hour. Surrounding it are Cox Farms and Fairfax County Park Authority land containing wetlands. There’s poor drainage, rare plant life and utility poles that would cost about $80,000 each to relocate. And Cox Farms is in an agricultural/forestall district, which has its own restrictions.
Letter: Reinstate Dedicated Funds
The Alexandria Chapter of the NAACP has been paying close attention to the ongoing issue with City Council and the removal of the dedicated funding for affordable housing and the open space fund. In an effort to express our concerns we wrote this letter a few weeks ago and sent it to the Mayor and the members of City Council. We hope that the letter can be shared with your subscribing community. Thank you for your consideration.
Celebrating Progress
A 200-person event, organized by the community organzation VOICE, brought together Route 1/Mount Vernon/Lee area youth, parents, and faith leaders to celebrate progress to improve youth recreation facilities and programming in the area on Monday evening, June 10, at West Potomac High School.
Letter: Why Is Project Fast-Tracked?
The following open letter is addressed to Supervisor Michael Frey (R–Sully). Supervisor Frey: First, I appreciate your facilitation of the June 5 meeting with VDOT (Bud Siegel) to discuss the proposed "improvements" to the subject intersection. Special thanks to Mr. Siegel for his professionalism in his exchanges with a challenging group. As a follow on to the meeting, I look to you to ensure that there are prompt responses to the many questions posed during the meeting. I am specifically seeking clarity on the project funding:
Letter: Ensure Funds For Education
Letter to the Editor:
Congress is currently debating our country’s budget right now, but education does not seem to be a top priority.
Misuse of Federal Funds?
Residents sa.y project will worsen traffic problems
Residents who live in the vicinity of the Braddock/Pleasant Valley roads intersection have a multitude of reasons why they don’t want it made quicker by constructing a roundabout. “Once you improve it, more traffic will come down Pleasant Valley,” said Virginia Run’s Walt Dougherty at last week’s meeting. “Then its speed limit would have to be reduced to 25 mph because there are a lot of children and bikes.”
On the Campaign Trail
Turnout for Tuesday's primary was abysmally low, with only 140,000 participating in the voting.
Establishment Wins Democratic Primary
State senators beat out first-time candidates for lieutenant governor and attorney general.
Two first-time candidates had a hard time beating back the establishment this week, as two state senators won the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor and attorney general Tuesday night.
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