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.
Column: Off Topic, Almost
If only it were that simple. And as much I’d like to turn the cancer switch off, finding that switch has proven to be extremely challenging.
Letter: Where’s Data For New Trolley?
To the Editor: It’s time to take a closer look at the proposed free Del Ray trolley service to determine whether it’s politics or data-centric analysis that is driving this $700,000 project.
Letter: Stop Ignoring The Obvious
To the Editor: Last Friday night, the Alexandria Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) voted 6-1 to ask the city to provide them with independent legal counsel as they face the city's high priced legal team in court. The city government, led astray again by the City attorney, Mr. James Banks, is determined to fight both the citizens on the BZA and the citizens who correctly filed the petition which challenged city zoning actions on the waterfront. This is worth reviewing.
Letter: Bike Share Now Needs City Money
To the Editor: On May 14, I met with the other members of the Waterfront Commission. The city’s new bike share program headlined the docket. It seems that last October the City Council voted unanimously to authorize Alexandria to join the regional Capital Bike Share Network. Rich Baier’s pilot program was to be jump started using some $400,000 of federal grant funds so we wouldn’t ever have to pay anything. However, now we find out that on April 13, 2012 the Federal Highway Administration announced that federal funds could not be used for operating expenses associated with bike share programs. Therefore, the city intends to use $186,000 out of its Transportation Improvement budget to fund bike share’s operating expenses through Fiscal Year 2013. The actual cost of the bikes is $411,000 which is funded with two other grants. This latest information was not shared with the Waterfront Commission or anyone else for that matter until the Council Docket for May 22 was published. This total lack of transparency pales the imagination.
Letter: Best for Alexandria
To the Editor: I have been following with interest some of the letters and blogs about the various PACs that have been formed to endorse candidates for the June 12 Democratic primary for City Council (Disclosure: I am part of one of those PAC’s, Securing Alexandria’s Future). The genesis of these groups is the unprecedented nature of the election: (1) This is the first time in modern history that the general election will not be in May, but in November, which coincides with the presidential election and very high voter turnout; (2) It is the first time in my recollection that the contest to decide who become the Democratic nominees is being determined by a State-run primary, rather than a party-run caucus; (3) There has never been a contest for the Democratic nomination in which 14 qualified candidates have vied for six places on the ballot; and (4) The outcome of the Democratic primary will be highly determinative of who is likely to be serving on the next City Council (that is not a partisan comment, but it is one based on the political reality of the Alexandria electorate).
Letter: Add to City Greenery
To the Editor: There are many sites in Alexandria, especially in Old Town, which could benefit from the Congressional legislation urban Revitalization and Livable Communities Act. It couldn't come at a better time. There's a new sense of urgency to develop urban/suburban greenery, from pocket parks to miles-long green ways. This is a renewal of the 19th C. movement called "lungs of the City."
Letter: Moving in Right Direction
To the Editor: Imagine the perfect boyfriend (or whatever applies as your preference). Rich. Great family. Cultured. Shares your values. Educated. Treats you like a queen. The perfect boyfriend. Problem is, due to no fault of his own he’s not perfect for you right now. You’ve got problems that you need to resolve and as a result, you are not ready to receive him. This is my issue with the Beauregard Small Area Plan.
Letter: Greening of The Waterfront
To the Editor: Over the last week, the media and local activists have tried use an environmental group’s ranking of the Potomac as “America’s #1 Endangered River” as evidence against the City’s Waterfront Plan. To set the record straight: the Waterfront Plan comprehensively addresses the major threats to the health of the Potomac River. In fact, each of the Plan’s major initiatives will substantially reduce, not increase, negative impacts on the environment.