To the Editor:
As a resident of Alexandria for the past 55 years, I am deeply concerned about the City's future and I applaud those City Council candidates who are seeking to maintain a livable Alexandria.
Two terrific candidates -- Allison Silberberg and Boyd Walker -- as well as others endorsed by "Alexandrians for a Livable City" (Moshenberg, Peabody and Menjivar), are using their common sense to keep Alexandria family friendly.
I hark back to the days when Alexandria was a city of family-friendly neighborhoods. My husband Bob and I raised a family in Rosemont, and there was no greater place to do that -- good schools, playgrounds and parks, great neighbors and reliable city services. Boyd refers to the same experience growing up in Old Town.
I've known Boyd and his family for many years and have great confidence in his ability to get City Council to be more responsive to Old Town issues. There is genuine concern about the current Waterfront Plan generating a lot more traffic, leading to gridlock and other problems.
The Old Town residents are very concientious about maintaining their properties and they also pay some of the highest real estate taxes in the city. If they get so uncomfortable that they move out, we will lose all the tourist trade that has been so carefully marketed over the years.
No doubt, changes are inevitable in Alexandria, and some must be encouraged, such as better transportation. Yet with all this talk of the need for high-density housing (family friendly?), it's important that we all keep in mind one common goal -- a city that maintains and enhances the stability and growth of Alexandria's families.
Allison and the others are wisely seeking to maintain our affordable housing (family-friendly), which also helps maintain the City's diverse population.
Historic Parkfairfax has been Allison's home for the past 20 years where she stood with us to fight the HOT Lanes, commuter traffic and the dangerous plan for a natural gas pipeline through our neighborhood that would have gone under Charles Barrett Elementary School.
Allison has over 20 years' experience in the nonprofit sector, which she now uses to advocate for affordable housing and job creation for all Alexandrians, as chair of the city's Economic Opportunities Commission. She has worked with many community activists and groups who have accomplished much for struggling populations throughout our area, and now she wisely puts that experience to use to serve Alexandria. She recorded her experiences in her book "Visionaries in our Midst," which profiles courageous individuals who are making a difference and gives all of us great insight into what is possible. There is a reason that Allison has an extensive "brigade" helping her. We are inspired not only by her words but by her accomplishments, leadership, sense of mission and can-do spirit.
I believe that Allison's and Boyd's lives and commitment to public service show us how they would serve on City Council and that they would be a tremendous asset in keeping our city livable and family friendly.
Ruth T. Woods, Parkfairfax
Gina Baum
7:11 am on Saturday, June 9, 2012
Boyd Walker and family in the same sentence what a joke. I would hardly associate family values with Boyd Walker divorcee, because of his indiscretions, and tax dodger because he didn't want to pay his real estate taxes....Ruth if you want to support a candidate then great but don't lie to a well educated, informed electorate ....I for one won't tolerate it....and neither will others.
Bud Miller
9:52 am on Saturday, June 9, 2012
Ms. Baum's personal attack against Boyd is a sad commentary and indicator of the abject fear that local professional politicians have against this Democrat.
Regarding divorce, it is, unfortunately, commonplace in American Society. Nothing unusual there. Taxes? He paid what was due as well as penalties & interest.
Frankly, the more garbage this cadre of political mudslingers throw at him, the more popular he will get.
What I don't understand is why they went on the attack against Boyd. Frankly, his campaign really didn't generate a lot of traction--yet they've overreacted and "released the hounds" against him.
Perhaps they are afraid that he will be an effective council Member and upset their tidy little dance of special interests, real estate agents, and personal political agendas.
Their level of hatred and fear towards him is a great reason to vote for him.
Gina Baum
12:42 pm on Saturday, June 9, 2012
Actually it's the exact opposite of being effective, his own blog denigrated local leaders speaks for itself.
Bud Miller
3:38 pm on Saturday, June 9, 2012
Our current local leaders’ records of failure and arrogance are clear, which is why they need to be replaced with new blood.
Just an FYI, Justin Wilson and Tim Lovain are NOT new, just failed politicians trying to make a comeback.
Haunches
9:01 am on Sunday, June 10, 2012
The elections were moved from May to November to accommodate Wilson and Lovain, who lost handily in 2009. Instead of learning and understanding why they lost seats in 2009, the reaction from the political establishment was to change the rules.
Some of the confrontational tactics (both political and legal) coming from Council now stems from the stunning shock at having lost those seats.
E Pluribus
7:01 am on Sunday, June 10, 2012
Bud, are you a failed politician trying to make a comeback? Didn't Wilson and Lovain beat you in a previous election, and is that why you are running around the Patch slamming them?
Bud Miller
2:18 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Hi E Pluribus!
Actually, I've never run for City Council or any other public office.
To be frank, I'd make a lousy politician.
However, I do have the integrity to use my name when I submit a post for publication.
Drew Hansen
2:37 pm on Sunday, June 10, 2012
Several comments on this letter were deleted. For reference to Boyd Walker's blog post, see this article: http://oldtownalexandria.patch.com/articles/walker-s-gelato-shop-application-receives-final-approval
Gina Baum
5:47 pm on Sunday, June 10, 2012
Drew your sensorship on this matter is atrocious. These are the words of the candidate himself....seeking a "public Office" -- the electorate has the right to see his blog -- you have totally called into question the credibility of the Patch. In the past, the Patch willingly allowed posts that leveraged erroneous allegations against the Mayor and council members. To not allow, the verbatim words of a candidate to be posted calls your and the Patch's integrity into question. Welcome to Sensorpatch where we protect our friends at a possible cost to entire community.
Jim Miller
7:48 am on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
I don't know Bud Miller, which, as I have stated before, that we are not related, nor have we ever met, but I will say that I agree with him in regard to the entrenched 'royal' haughtiness and provincial attitude of the Alexandria Democratic Committee, which can do no wrong (pun intended), and does breed a cadre of 'professional politicians' in Alexandria which think their organization is a right of passage, a check on their proverbial political bucket list, if you will. As a Democrat I am HIGHLY embarrassed by all the hijinks and nefarious activity by some Democrats in Alexandria this past week, all who are members (currently) in good standing with the Alexandria Democratic Committee. Since there aren't but just 15 Republicans within the city limits of Alexandria, the 'good ole boy/girl' network of the Alexandria Democratic Committee has cast an overall bad light on city politics which have left a bruise on the ego of many in Alexandria who thought that Democrats in our midst would never stoop so low as to demean and ridicule other Democrats, especially Boyd Walker, who up until this week didn't have a chance to win in the primary on Tuesday. Boyd, by chance, and still a very long shot, could win, although I doubt it, but if he does, it's because voters are telling the Alexandria Democratic Committee that they've had enough of your negative politics and we demand change. I, for one, will support Frank Fannon, a Republican, who at least is an honest man and a good guy.
Another Concerned Citizen
12:26 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Jim, I am a member of the Alexandria Democratic Committee and I assure you that most of us are horrified by the Holihan campaign's attack on Boyd Walker, even those of us who pray that Walker never gets elected to dog catcher. This is a black eye to Holihan and yes, to the ADC. It makes those who have served this city long and hard look like a pack of scoundrels and we are not. I for one will be asking if there is anything we can do to censure Holihan and make it clear that we do not endorse this behavior. I have yet to find anyone who buys the "Danny did it, I didn't know about it" excuse. If that is true, Danny should be kicked out and Sean should support that.
Jim Miller
3:52 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
But, see, you try to hide yourself, especially with the tag of 'Another Concerned Citizen', who, as you state, is a member of the Alexandria Democratic Committee, yet you hide your name in shame? Hey, I realize that with the continuously embarrassing daily exposure of what Sean Holihan, Danny Barefoot, Shayna Englin, Gail Gordon (who is yet the ONLY person to publicly apologize for her ill-advised actions) and others to probably be named later, that if I were a member of the Alexandria Democratic Committee, I wouldn't want my name out in the public either. But that's just my point. I'm almost certain, despite your assertations that justice against Sean Holihan and Danny Barefoot will be vetted out by the Alexandria Democratic Committee, that quite the opposite, NO ACTION WILL BE TAKEN BY THE ADC, AT ALL, with either a public condemnation of the actions by Holihan/Barefoot/Gordon/Englin, and others, because as an organization, it doesn't have the guts or backbone to do it. The Alexandria Democratic Committee is made up of a very small cadre of the 'good ole boy/girl network' who shuns inspections of their activities by outside sources, and who act as if they own the town. And, quite frankly, with the only 15 Republicans who live in town, and 14 of them on the Alexandria Republican City Committee, they do. But the Alexandria Democratic Committee can't condone what Holihan/Barefoot/Gordon/Englin, and others, have done to tarnish Democrats in Alexandria. It's shameful!
Bud Miller
11:24 pm on Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Actually, there is a legitimate reason why people don't want to be identified: Fear.
Despite all of their statements about the wonders of Democracy, those in power do not appreciate regular people fighting their pet causes and they retaliate against us "normal folk" when we become a “fly in the ointment.”