Column: Protecting Residents in Tax, Road Debates
Congress finally has acted to ensure payroll tax relief for 170 million individuals and families through the rest of 2012. This additional tax relief is critical for maintaining the momentum of the economic recovery, and Northern Virginians will realize an average savings of $2,000 per household.
Column: A Raw Deal for Northern Virginia
Northern Virginia is getting a raw deal from Governor McDonnell. While we need transportation investment to support this economic engine of the state, at least $1.5 billion in transportation funds are being diverted to wasteful and unnecessary projects in rural areas. Meanwhile, the state refuses to adequately fund Dulles Rail, leaving Northern Virginia taxpayers and toll payers to foot the lion's share of the bill.
Letters: Political Posturing
My reason for writing is to express my distaste with the Senate Democrats in Richmond regarding the state budget issue. Virginia has been nationally ranked as one of the best managed states in the country because our attitude for cooperation and strong bipartisanship. Last week, however, the state budget was blocked in the Senate by the Democrats which may turn into a repeat of what happened in 2004 and 2006, where political stalemates endangered our state with a government shutdown.
Letters: More Jobs Needed
The Centreville Labor Resource Center, the 3-month-old project of Centreville Immigration Forum, is open and operating.
Bulldogs Are Getting It
In September 2008, I wrote a letter to the editor titled “Bulldogs Just Don’t Get It.” My detailed essay described my frustration with the behavior of the Westfield High School student body during various athletic events. I had no idea how many other people felt the same way I did until folks I had never met thanked me for having the courage to write a letter exposing the behavior that they, too, detested.
Spotlighting Teen Dating Violence
The George Huguely trial in the death of Yeardley Love has captivated the attention not just of our region, but of the nation. Love was 22 and a student at the University of Virginia when she became a victim of teen dating violence. Appropriately, this February marked the annual Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Month. The continuing story of Love and Huguely’s relationship reminds us that we each have a role to play in ending teen dating abuse and domestic violence in our community; the consequences are too real to be ignored. But, there is hope as our community has already made impressive strides toward a future where our youth better understand how to create healthy relationships.
Column: Black History Is American History
Nannie J. Lee Memorial Recreation Center celebrated along with other neighborhood centers, our collective American story with the annual "Black History is American History" program
Column: Keeping Focused on Economic Issues
As Black History Month comes to a close, I believe that we need to reflect on where we are as a Commonwealth and a nation. I am proud to share a slice of black history as the first African
Column: State Shirks Transportation Responsibility
Maybe we should rename our County The Bank of Last Resort.
Letter: Keeping the Potomac River Clean
Letter to the Editor
As a proud member of the Northern Virginia community who spent my high school years rowing on the Potomac River, I am very concerned about the condition of this beloved waterway.
Letter: Striving for Excellence
Letter to the Editor
As a parent of four children in the Fairfax County Public School system, I applaud the efforts of Governor McDonnell and members of the General Assembly for working to improve the quality of our education.
Letter: Supervising ‘Little Things’
Letter to the Editor
As I struggled through traffic, yet again, I was pressed to keep my sanity as I sat thinking about all the productive things I could be doing if I could just get home!
Letter: Recognizing 'Young Heroes'
Letter to the Editor
Inarguably, enlisting in the military is one of the most honorable things one can do after graduating high school. While most are planning vacations to the beach or buying decorations for their dorm rooms, the select few who have enlisted are at basic combat training.
Letter: Signs Near Burke Centre Station
Letter to the Editor
After two years of prodding, Amtrak (15 months), then Fairfax County and VDOT (9 months), to erect free signs near Virginia’s newest and fastest growing Burke Centre Station, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT) finally erected seven signs at critical intersections on the Fairfax County, Burke Centre and Roberts Parkways during the week of Feb. 12.
Column: A Budget Divide
Work on a budget for the FY 2013-2014 biennium occupied most of the General Assembly’s time this past week. Two budgets – one to complete FY 2012 and another for the FY 2013-2014 biennium – were proposed by the Governor and were introduced on his behalf in both houses of the legislature.