News-Press Editorial

Right to Free Speech Hit By Political Bullying

The Mayor has chosen the word "disingenuous" to describe Lou Mauro and his petition drive to bring important policy matters relating to development before the Council. As was referenced at the Monday, July 26, Council session, the word disingenuous is a pointed adjective, used to describe a person as someone who is deceitful or lacking candor depending on your dictionary. Not satisfied to have the characterization reported in the News-Press, the Mayor characterized Mr. Mauro again in this manner during the Council meeting.

Many of us are deeply concerned about the current development paradigm and its effect on the long term well being of our city and its schools. The points in Mr. Mauro's petition were valid, substantial and the 400-plus informed citizens of our community willingly signed it. The Mayor, however, complained that the petition wasn't balanced to his satisfaction: Well of course not, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mauro doesn't agree with you on the substance of this issue and he's not going to embrace alternative positions in his petition. To do so would eclipse his right of free speech, inhibit free debate and result in his submission to a form of political bullying.

As Council Members, we are elected public officials and elected officials should enhance and encourage the opportunity for free, uninhibited debate without personally criticizing those who differ with us. Let's f0cus on what is right or wrong for our city, rather than characterize who's good or who's bad. It is for this reason I felt I must speak out.

Sam Mabry; Falls Church City Council

Fairness & Clarity Key To Petitioning

I think that everyone on the City Council - most particularly the Mayor - is absolutely committed to free speech and public participation in the issues facing our community. These are principles that this City lives by and I think that claims to the contrary are absurd. We all have disagreements, but when you lose on an issue that doesn't mean that you didn't have a chance to be heard and have your views seriously considered. If anything, the process on the Diener proposal is clear evidence of the power of public participation. Input from the neighbors, among others, absolutely made that project better.

The Mayor can address his own specific statements - but he had a point about the petition being bad. It really didn't tell me very much about what the signers wanted. It was very broadly written, undated, and did not reference which of the many Atlantic proposals it was addressing. It also contained loaded and incorrect statements (I don't know what "next new school" means, and the site was previously rejected as being too small for a school anyway). In short, I think one can criticize the preparation and execution of the petition without being anti-democratic.

If 450 people in this town have input on an issue then I really want to know what that input is. However, if you want to collect signatures for something other than show and politics then please be clear about what you are asking people to sign and make sure that the document is stated in a balanced and accurate way. That constitutes real informed input into our political decision-making.

David Chavern; Falls Church City Council

I’m Not Poor, But Can’t Afford Anything in F.C.

What I have witnessed--and read about--is an appalling shortsightedness and indeed, selfishness, among the City's homeowners. This city's residents like to pride themselves on their progressive politics, but their actions speak a different view: Yes, they say, we support affordable housing--but not on my street, not on this parcel, not here, not there. Frankly, it is a bad joke that the luxury condos and townhouse developments going up have maybe 2% of their units "affordable."

It must be nice to live in a mental universe in which 98% of the population is well off and can spend half a million dollars on a condo. I am not poor by any standard, and make a decent salary--but I cannot afford to buy anything in Falls Church. Zilch. I am in my late 40s, so a group home purchase is not an option--nor should it have to be. So poor me....but it is not just me. Think of all the people who service the well off in this city--the clerks and baristas and cooks--where are they going to live

I guess us worker bees in Falls Church should get together and dig a big tunnel under Cherry Hill Park, put in latrines and cots, and disappear from sight once we are finished providing services to the people who don't want us to have affordable housing because "their park" will be diminished. The elderly who need affordable housing? Gee, get with the program--do what the Eskimoes do, and find an ice floe to drift away on.

Chris Raymond; Falls Church

Feels Latinos Not Welcome in Falls Church

I, for one, will not drive through Falls Church if I can avoid doing so. Nor will I shop or attend a social event in Falls Church. My brother recently paid almost $300 in fines and "court costs" for driving 30 mph on a Falls Church street with a 25 mph speed limit. That was completely out of line with the seriousness of the offense.

What is even more shameful was when we showed up in court to protest the fine we saw that the majority of those in the courtroom were Latinos and Latinas who were there for the same type of minor traffic violation.

The obvious message that the Falls Church government is sending to Latinos and Latinas is that we are not welcome in Falls Church. Therefore, I am more than happy to shop, dine, and attend social events elsewhere in Northern Virginia.

Laura Velasquez; Arlington

Lesson Learned Coping as Verizon Digs Up a Yard

Verizon and their sub contractors have arrived in the City of Falls Church. During the first week of June, they came to our area (unannounced) and started digging trenches and holes 36 inches deep to install fiber optic cables and cement junction boxes. The grade in the easement area behind our house was drastically changed. Water flow was redirected toward the house. After seven weeks of phone calls and complaints, the Verizon sub contractor has agreed that the "problem area" needs correction. We live with sandbags at our back door wall! Re-grading should start soon.

This has been a disturbing and time consuming experience. I now pass on what I have learned:

1. Take pictures before, during and after the work crew is on your property. This will verify any changes or damage to the area;

2. Utility and service providers (such as Verizon) have "the right" to be on easement areas. They also have the obligation to restore the area to its original condition;

3. Homeowners should not be responsible for clean up, or, disposal of shrubs & branches cut down by the sub contractors;

4. Ask questions. Get the name and phone number of the sub contractor. Ask for the 1- 800 problem/ complaint phone number for the sub contractor. Use that number to register complaints. After making several calls to Verizon, I realized that they defer to the sub contractor;

5. Be persistent and don't be bullied;

6. Get your Homeowners Association involved;

7. For unresolved problems, call the city offices for help. The environmental engineering department was most helpful in our situation. A call to the City Managers office also warranted a timely response.

A. Bowman; Falls Church