Letter to the Editor: Moral and Ethical Issue
A Letter to the Editor in the Mount Vernon Gazette (July 18 – “Investigation Not Complete”) strongly criticized Del. Scott Surovell (D-44) for his comments on his blog calling for the resignation of Gov. Bob McDonnell.
Letter to the Editor: Use Hensley For Robinson?
The St. James unsolicited proposal to build a sports and entertainment complex where Hensley Park exists today may have been unsolicited, but it was neither a new idea nor one lacking proponents at city hall. In 2005, Alexandrians for an All City Sports Facility approached the city with a similar request to build expansive sports facilities on Hensley Park. Kerry Donley, David Speck, and other community leaders, then and now, promoted this plan. Funding shortfalls stymied this idea, in the end.
Letter to the Editor: Much To Consider
It is important to note that the "Stand Your Ground" argument was not used in the Trayvon Martin case. It was decided on other grounds.
Letter to the Editor: Ensure Healthy City Parks
On Sunday I tended a small pocket park in the heart of Old Town and for the first time found a syringe among the cigarette butts. This park is poorly lit at night, the azaleas are diseased, and were it not for some attention, would be covered in weedy vines. This park has been a collective effort of the neighborhood florist, the city and myself, which after three years is finally a space that people kindly remark on and relax in.
Letter to the Editor: Passion and Caring For Officer Laboy
The words “passion and caring for the community” can best describe the effort put forth by Arlington resident Karen L. Bune. Ms. Bune has been in the forefront of a region- wide fund raising campaign to provide relief and support for Alexandria Police Officer Peter Laboy and his family. Earlier this year, Officer Laboy made a traffic stop after a report of a person acting suspiciously in the Old Town section of Alexandria. Before he could even get off his motorcycle, he was shot in the head by the suspect. Fortunately, due to the rapid response and quick assistance from Alexandria Fire/EMS units on the scene, Laboy survived. However, his life and that of his family will never be the same. He has had to undergo myriad and expensive medical procedures. In the aftermath of this terrible incident, many public safety agencies and the community in general have bonded together to provide support and financial assistance to Officer Laboy.
Letter to the Editor: Problem: Cars, Not Bicycles
Bicycles are not the problem. I was stunned when I observed the debate over bicycles in socially "progressive" Old Town Alexandria. Let me get to the point: cars and the failed — not best practices — city parking policies are the problem, not bicycles.
Letter to the Editor: Give Citizens Recall Power
The Alexandria Gazette Packet got to the heart of the matter when it pointed out that City Council’s decision to put aside its established priorities to consider a public-private partnership proposal shows that, city hall’s diversionary rhetoric to the contrary, this deal to give public land to a private for-profit entity is already a “done deal” not necessarily because the deal has already been cut, but because most of the current incumbents (other than Councillors Silberberg and Smedberg) are favorably disposed toward doing business this way. Did, for example, City Council recently discontinue earmarking funding for open space precisely because city hall wanted to signal that open space would no longer be a priority to pave the way to erase 15 acres of open space for the right price?
Letter to the Editor: Failure of ‘What Next Alexandria’
I originally welcomed the opportunity to participate in a series of meetings to improve public participation in city governance. The “What’s Next Alexandria” initiative was billed as a conversation on civic engagement, how Alexandrians can best participate in public decisions that shape the city and reach agreement on principles that will guide civic engagement
Letter: Ideological, Not Dietary
A letter in last week's Gazette from dietitian Hope Warshaw supported Delegate Surovell's recent call for Governor McDonnell's resignation. Ms. Warshaw claimed that her position was solely based upon her opposition to the use of a dietary supplement promoted by the person involved in gift-giving to Governor and Mrs. McDonnell that forms the basis for Delegate Surovell's resignation request.
Letter to the Editor: ‘Induced Demand’
The Gazette published Phillip Boughton's letter on July 24, in which he advocated easy solutions to the congestion on Route 1. In essence, he advocated making Route 1 eight lanes wide from the Beltway to Fort Belvoir.
Letter to the Editor: Missing Hardison
We have lost a real advocate for keeping our youth safe and drug free. Cliff Hardison was a member of the board of directors for the Unified Prevention Coalition of Fairfax County, and he was committed to working with youth and the community in efforts to discourage and prevent underage alcohol and binge drinking, and marijuana and prescription drug abuse. His West Potomac High School was among the first to have students join our UPC Youth Council, and his leadership and support will be greatly missed. Our UPC board will be considering an appropriate way to honor Cliff’s memory.
Letter to the Editor: Reunion’s Success
The Fort Hunt High School Alumni Association is extremely proud of our alumni, former teachers and administrators and parents for their enthusiastic participation in the school's 50th Anniversary Celebration. Two solid years of planning ensured a great event, but luck had something to do with it as well. Our 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. event had a thunderstorm at 5:12 p.m., after most had left. The success of the three-day, 10 location event is the result of dozens of volunteers and their hard work. Special thanks go to Terry Alers, Patti Miller, Harriet Singleton, Lisa McDonald, Tom Harvey, Jocelyn Folsom, Jim Erb, Jim Carmalt, Bob Suggs, John Harris and dozens of other volunteers and sponsors. The Fort Hunt High School Alumni Association
Editorial: Enjoy Tax Holiday, Donate School Supplies
Good timing to help those in need.
It is debatable whether recurring tax holidays for different seasonal needs are good policy. But since this weekend is Virginia’s tax holiday on school supplies and clothing, it makes sense to take advantage of the savings, and to spread the wealth around. The savings are more significant this year with the new sales tax increases in effect as of July 1.
Opinion: Enjoy Tax Holiday, Donate School Supplies
Good timing to help those in need.
It is debatable whether recurring tax holidays for different seasonal needs are good policy. But since this weekend is Virginia’s tax holiday on school supplies and clothing, it makes sense to take advantage of the savings, and to spread the wealth around. The savings are more significant this year with the new sales tax increases in effect as of July 1.
Letter to the Editor: Why I Love America.
Last evening, Monday, July 22, I went with our Ugandan guest, Tom Kitandwe Kisolo, to our local McDonald on the corner of George Mason Drive and Wilson Boulevard here in Arlington for a coffee and conversation, and stayed till 11 p.m. I was tired when I came home, went to bed, got up this morning and looked everywhere for my wallet. It was missing. I was sure I had brought it home. After searching everywhere, I decided to pass by the McDonald just to check if anyone had seen it.