Letter: Vision for The City
To the Editor: Some have questioned why Andrew Macdonald, the independent candidate running for Mayor of Alexandria, resigned his Vice-Mayor position in 2007. And can we count on him to remain in office if he is elected. The answer is plain and simple. As Mr. Macdonald stated then and continues to say, he voluntarily stepped down because he needed to take care of his elderly mother as well as other family matters. Being his mother’s sole caretaker, Mr. Macdonald felt his family responsibilities would take his attention away from his obligations as a City Councilmember. I believe that stepping down was the responsible thing for Mr. Macdonald to do.
Letter: Visit Local Schools
To the Editor: The fact that a superintendent of a small school district has to advertise school system information as "No Politics, Nothing Personal, No Rhetoric" should be a cause for concern in itself. Here are a few counterpoints to the "ACPS facts":
Letter: Value Those Bicyclists
To the Editor: I am writing to respond to a letter, "Bike Share Now Needs City Money," printed in the May 24 Alexandria Gazette Packet. As chair of the Alexandria Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (BPAC), I was asked to attend the Waterfront Commission Meeting where the Capital Bikeshare station options were discussed. For me, this letter raises three concerns.
Letter: Bikes Reduce Traffic
To the Editor: In a lengthy letter published in your May 24 issue, Townsend A. Van Fleet presents arguments against the Bike Share program planned for Alexandria. Among his various objections, a central theme is that Bike Share will somehow exacerbate “traffic problems in the Old and Historic District.” This seems a rather curious point of view. Van Fleet makes much of what he terms Alexandria’s “narrow streets already crowded with pedestrians, tour buses, metro buses, dash buses, delivery trucks, trolleys, garbage trucks, skate boarders, joggers, and cyclists.” What is remarkable about this impressively comprehensive list (“garbage trucks” to “pedestrians”) is that it omits the word “automobiles.” It may be helpful to reflect for a moment on the fact that a primary objective of the Bike Share program is to reduce the number of automobiles on our city streets. As I am sure most fellow residents recognize, cars remain the principal source of congestion on the streets of Old Town. While I appreciate Mr. Van Fleet’s frustration at being impeded in his driving by the growing number of pedestrians, joggers, and cyclists on our city streets, programs like Bike Share that aim to reduce downtown traffic can only enhance Alexandria’s reputation as an exceptionally friendly and livable community.
Letter: What’s Best For the City
To the Editor: It is clear that an antidevelopment bloc has developed among the Democratic candidates running for City Council.
Letter: Memorable Experiences
To the Editor: MetroStage specializes in “memorable moments” on stage. This season that ensemble cast in that Bronz bar in "Savage in Limbo." Memorable. Broadway parody, Tiny Tim singing “I’m Going to Walk Tomorrow” (think "Annie"), irreverent, but wickedly funny holiday entertainment in "Broadway Christmas Carol." Memorable. Josephine Baker and her banana dance, Maurice Hines’ choreography, fabulous songs from gospel to blues in the world premiere of "Josephine Tonight." Memorable. "Escape from Cuba," treacherous waters and a moonless night, mojitos in the lobby afterwards, shared stories by others about their own escape to freedom following "Be Careful! The Sharks Will Eat You!" Memorable and very emotional.
Letter: We Don’t Own The Problem’
To the Editor: The title says it all; that’s the response nearly 30 Alexandria residents living on a street adjacent to the playing fields at Patrick Henry Elementary School received when they contacted ACPS School Security to complain about the illegal use of said playing fields.
Letter: Affordable Housing
To the Editor: The vanishing amount of affordable housing in Alexandria has been a frequent topic of discussion in the City in recent weeks. It is a complex topic that has people confusing “market-rate” affordable housing with “dedicated” affordable housing, which differ significantly.
Letter: Planned Or Inadvertent?
To the Editor: My opposition to the Beauregard rezoning’s height, density, and Arlington-style out-of-character land use is almost beside the point. Instead, consider what city hall would like folks to believe versus what went into this rezoning catastrophe:
Letter: Determining Transit Priority
To the Editor: Although a goal of the Beauregard Small Area Plan Draft is to create a modern transit-oriented community, most of the attention has been focused on a traffic ellipse that is not part of the proposed Bus Rapid Transit corridor. The Draft Plan barely mentions the Mark Center Station, the prospect of VDOT approving the I-395 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) ramp or proposals for a transit station at Southern Towers. These changes are significant and should be addressed in the Draft Plan.
Letter: Deserves Being Elected
To the Editor: Why I endorse Donna Fossum for City Council and why she should be elected:
Letter: A Matter Of Respect
To the Editor: Memorial Day is often taken for granted; too many don’t give a thought about what it means. The freedom so many hold so dearly and yet so close to heart came from the many who gave their lives for our country.
Letter: Potomac River, Chesapeake Bay and Dyke Marsh
To the Editor: Anyone who spends a few minutes examining scientific texts, journals, papers or historical literature on the natural history of the Potomac and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed can recognize that these once great ecosystems are mere remnants of what they once were. The Potomac watershed covers four states and D.C. It is over 400 miles long and is 11 miles wide where it flows into the bay. The Chesapeake Bay watershed (the area of land that drains into the Bay) is 64,000 square miles and has 11,600 miles of tidal shoreline, including tidal wetlands and islands. The watershed encompasses parts of six states: Delaware, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia, as well as Washington D.C. The problems in the Potomac and the Chesapeake Bay are magnified by their scope which is a reason why they are "most endangered." Unfortunately there will always be those people, who are operating at a very superficial level, who demand that everything scientific be both dumbed-down and rigorously argued to them.
Letter: MVCCA’s Success
To the Editor: Last week, Martin Tillett attacked me for mentioning (without any elaboration) in my prior letter that the MVCCA supports the proposed off-leash dog area (OLDA) at Westgrove Park. Mr. Tillett noted my numerous prior letters that have been critical of the MVCCA. What Mr. Tillett didn't mention that I have consistently supported the principle of the MVCCA and have reserved my criticism for its recent leadership and the way it typically conducts business. My position in these regards is unchanged. In the case of the debate concerning the proposed OLDA, in fact, the MVCCA operated in a manner closer to appropriate than usual.
Letter: Reaffirming American Dream
To the Editor: I recently attended a Patrick Murray event in the Mount Vernon area. Murray is back a second time, running to represent the 8th congressional district in Virginia. With his new campaign comes more emphasis on responsible government spending and job creation.