Letter: Honoring George Washington
I commend Mayor Euille for proclaiming February 2012 as a month-long celebration to mark George Washington’s 280th birthday and the Birthday Committee for planning and facilitating the events and activities throughout the month.
Letter: Say Thanks in the Budget
Scott Gordon wrote a very moving tribute to our Alexandria First Responders in his Feb. 16 letter entitled "Say Thanks." He's right; the spirit of his letter and his recommendation to just say thanks are both spot on.
Column: Marking Time
As much as I don’t want to be ever-mindful of today’s date – relative to when I first learned of my diagnosis, that Thursday three years ago this very week, when my Internal Medicine doctor called me with the results of the biopsy (confirming the malignancy); and of course all that had preceded it and all that has happened since.
Column: Looking Ahead Despite Disappointments
The 2012 General Assembly has passed “Crossover,” when each house must complete action on all of its legislation that is to "crossover" to the other body.
Trust Deficit In FCPS
Once again, I would like to thank you all for your dedication to the students, parents and teachers of Fairfax County Public Schools. It
Letter: Unfulfilled Master Plan
To the Editor: Susan Palmer ["Valued Local Park," The Gazette, Feb. 9-15, 2012] responded to my suggestion that the Lamond Park, now named after former Mount Vernon Park Commissioner Gil McCutcheon be sold and the proceeds be used to fund creation of the proposed Park at North Hill
Letter: Fight To Save Waterfront Continues
Three citizens who filed a Protest Petition on behalf of over 200 waterfront homeowners and commercial property owners along the Potomac River have won their first victory. The Council was forced to delay a second required vote to rezone the waterfront at their meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 14 until an appeals board reviews the matter later this spring.
Letter: Concerned With Vacancy
On Tuesday, Feb. 14, , Alexandria City Manager Rashad Young presented his fiscal 2013 budget recommendations to City Council. Until Council approves the final budget on May 7, the City's Budget and Fiscal Affairs Advisory Committee (BFAAC) will be examining the budget, hearing the concerns of citizens and making it's own recommendations to Council.
Letter: In Need of A Statesman
To the Editor: Even as we examine the most iniquitous chapters of American history, even among those days and times characterized by the most reckless of evils, we find that hope has always prevailed over despair.
Letter: Say Thanks
Police officers chase criminals, walk up to dangerous situations without hesitation, fight crime and protect our families. Our firefighters and EMS do the same, they walk into burning buildings, save lives, risk their own every day and more often than not, they do all of this without the hand shaking and hand clapping of the citizens they serve.
Letter: Focus on People In Beauregard
Recent diagrams by City of Alexandria staff used to explain the proposed Beauregard Corridor relies on dots and circles. What is overlooked in the maps, are realistic proposals or guidelines connecting the dots — people to destinations within the plan area.
Letter: Losing Battle For Education?
Decisions. When it comes to public policy, the decisions are never as simple as everyone would like and many times, you never really understand why people make the decisions they make. The Superintendent’s salary was increased salary increased to $244,080 ($44,380 more than what the U.S. Secretary of Education makes and $69,080 more than what the Governor of Virginia makes), and what has Alexandria gotten for that money?
Column: Bipartisan Transportation Progress and a Week of Controversy
This week brings the midpoint of the General Assembly Session and "Crossover Day" – the day that the House and Senate must finish all work on bills originating from their own chambers.
Column: Crossover Point in General Assembly
Tuesday, Feb. 14, marks what is referred to as Crossover in the General Assembly.
Letter: Keep All Options Open
In their letter to the editor last week, Nate Macek and Bob Wood, co-authors of the Waterfront Plan Work Group final report, remind readers that the Work Group "was in broad agreement that eminent domain should play no part in the acquisition of private property along the City's Waterfront."