Alexandria Opinion

Letter: Endorsing Newcomers

To the Editor: On April 30, 2012, I resigned as president of the Alexandria League of Women Voters, although I remain a member, as I have been for many years now.

To the Editor: The marathon City Council hearing on May 12 for the Beauregard Small Area Plan (BSAP) was a great win for the developers and the City’s planning staff. But at what cost to the community, when the pervasive problems of traffic and transportation were ignored?

Letter: Spare No Incumbent

To the Editor: The upcoming City Council election presents both quandary and opportunity to shape Alexandria's future. The quandary is how to choose among the many candidates, fine people who are offering their services to the City. The opportunity is to find those who will reflect our best values for the future development of Alexandria.

Column: “Psycho-not-so-matic” Anymore

Whatever I thought was only happening in my head – or not, or was really happening physically – or not, is the muddled description of the thoughts and emotions that this cancer survivor/cancer patient-still-receiving-treatment feels every time I make a 24/7 self assessment (which is often).

Commentary: Taylor Run

CHURCH PARTY Parishioners at Grace Episcopal Church decided some time ago to welcome those who came to the 5 o’clock Sunday service with a little party occasionally. Mai-Lin Smith and Cindy MacIntyre were the two who organized the event. Mai-Lin’s husband Phil was there Sunday as were Sharon and Phil Hickok, Frank and Linda Waskowicz, Beth Wiggers and Dorothea Daniels. They served little ham sandwiches, little mince pies, spinach triangles, deviled eggs, brownies and other treats.

Commentary: Seminary Valley for May 9

Congratulations to our neighbors over at the St. Martin de Porres Senior Center. The Center celebrated its “Jade” anniversary — 35 years of service on April 26. After remarks by MaryAnn Griffin, director of the Division of Aging and Adult Services for the City of Alexandria, Sally O’Dwyer, VP of Community Services for Catholic Charities (Arlington Diocese), Art Bennett, CEO of Catholic Charities (Arlington Diocese) and Mayor Bill Euille, the following volunteers were recognized:

Letter: Hurrah for Alicia Hughes

To the Editor: Reading through the list of potential additions to Alexandria’s proposed budget for fiscal year 2013, we were struck by the incongruity of the modest requests for funds to support Sunday delivery for the Meals on Wheels program ($60,000) or to restore the library hours cut during the Great Recession ($50,000) as opposed to the outrageous requests to keep the King Street holiday lights on all year ($96,000) or to provide additional opportunities for awards to City employees ($500,000) or for “traffic-calming” measures (also $500,000), for example. We fail to understand what most members of the City Council are thinking. As taxpayers, we expect our elected officials to provide the necessary services for citizens, not to spend money on frivolous matters like extending holiday lights or providing unnecessary additional avenues to reward City staff or to add speed bumps instead of conducting badly needed traffic studies for areas the Council seems intent on cramming with overdense development.

Letter: It’s Time for Real Change

To the Editor: I’m generally a Democrat, but in Alexandria the Democrats that run the City now might as well be just developers. Mayor Bill Euille is an 18-year member of the Council and a developer who invests in local restaurants. Vice Mayor Kerry Donley works for a bank that invests in local developments. The June 12 primary offers residents their first chance to elect Democrats who are truly progressive, who actually think that good government means listening to all your constituents.

Letter: Campaign Signs Borrowed

To the Editor: One of our Old Town neighbors had such a burning desire to exhibit their support for Councilmembers Del Pepper and Paul Smedberg, as well as nomination aspirant Justin Wilson, last Saturday evening, that they pilfered our yard signs so they could exhibit them. That is the conclusion we came to since nobody in Alexandria would interfere with our First Amendment rights. While elated that a neighbor wished to signal their support for these outstanding candidates, we are forced to tell one and all that if they call the candidates (they are all listed in the local phone directory) they will deliver them their own signs and hence leave ours alone.

Letter: Commentary On the Budget

To the Editor: I write today about the budget city council recently passed largely for two reasons. First, the public deserves to know my views. Second, we have received numerous e-mails, some from ACPS PTSA parents and school board members urging council not to cut the ACPS budget. And third, to address concerns/beliefs that action by council to cut the ACPS budget was intended as a punitive measure to punish the school board for not firing the superintendent.

Letter: City’s Futile Legal Battle

To the Editor: You have to wonder what the City Council majority was thinking April 14 when it decided to appeal the Board of Zoning Appeal’s decision to uphold the citizens’ protest against the proposal to rezone the waterfront area to permit hotels, increased density and higher buildings. In justifying this action, Mayor Bill Euille stated that the BZA’s decision to support the citizens not the city would “set a bad precedent.” The Mayor is flat wrong. The BZA April 12 ruling sets no precedent.

Alexandria Gazette Packet