Letters to the Editor

We were disappointed to read your account of the status of the proposed Falls Church City Center in the October 14, 2004 issue. We remain extremely confident, committed and actively engaged in the transformation of downtown Falls Church into a distinctive, vibrant, mixed-use community center. Your suggestion that Akridge and the City may be ready to “go our separate ways” is inaccurate and counterproductive.

Upon winning the competitive Master Developer bid process, Akridge was tasked with helping the City realize the general city center concepts developed by StreetWorks. The first order of business was to formalize a detailed development plan for the designated four-block area. The details therein would affect changes to zoning, usage overlays, traffic patterns and design guidelines. Not until these details, including specific heights, density and uses are agreed upon, can fair market value for those affected land parcels be established. Additionally, though a wide array of options has been identified, it would be premature to discuss specific acquisition strategies and/or necessary municipal actions without an approved development plan.

We believe the citizens of Falls Church are extremely fortunate to have such a talented and diligent City Manager and planning staff, willing to take the time necessary to carefully consider these issues and not underestimate the lasting social and economic issues they will have on the entire Falls Church community. As you reported, the plans for the first block slated for redevelopment (Block “A”) are well underway. In fact, for that block alone, Akridge is in active negotiations with several landowners and prospective retail tenants. The financing commitment is ready to be finalized, and Akridge remains 100% ready and able to begin development as soon as the Council and the Planning Commission approve an overall development plan.

Finally, your article incorrectly suggests that there has been a change of course with Akridge’s involvement at The Spectrum. From the time the site was slated for residential development, we have continued our partnership with Waterford, and both groups have made significant contributions toward the realization of the project. The fact that the project has now moved into the development phase is a sign of a successful venture.

For the past thirty years, Akridge has worked cooperatively with municipalities throughout the Washington region to create successful developments that meet the needs of their surrounding communities. We are very proud that our ongoing relationship with the Falls Church Mayor, City Council, Planning Commission, City Manager, and planning staff will continue this fundamental business practice.

Joe Svatos, Senior Vice President Akridge Company

Editor,

As residents of the city for 11 years now, my wife and I feel pretty positive about referring to Falls Church as our home. It is where we bought our first and only house and where all three of our kids were born. We are proud and thankful for the small town feel of the city and the high caliber educators who teach our children.

We also happen to be fairly conservative in our values and vote Republican almost all of the time. This means we are often frustrated by the dominant political ideology that controls the city and, especially, by the extremely one-sided nature of this the city's one and only newspaper. We work hard, nonetheless, to teach our kids to take pride in what is their “hometown” and to respect the rights and views of others; even when they are significantly different from our own.

This is clearly not a value . . . the value of tolerance for someone who is different . . . that some fellow citizens who are obviously of the opposite political/ideological persuasion share or, perhaps, feel important enough to teach to their children. I say this because, unfortunately, for the second time since we have lived here, the other time being four years ago during the last presidential election, someone has seen it fit to vandalize political signs in our yard. (I am sure you have guessed that they are Bush/Cheney and Lisa Marie Cheney signs.) These were signs that my kids were very proud of and excited about . . . they were learning a little bit about how this great nation's political process works.

Everyone, even those of us in the city of the minority political stripe, should have the right to express ourselves and our political preferences without fear of aggression being directed at us. Whether Bush or Kerry win, we all lose when one side practices or teaches such hostility and hatred. People who are voting for Kerry/Edwards/Moran, supposedly the more liberal-minded folks, are supposed to know this better than anyone . . . certainly better than us Neanderthals on "the right."

If you are one of them, please do what you can to help make sure Falls Church City is a place where all children are taught to respect the views and beliefs of others, and to understand how it diminishes everyone when anyone's rights are violated.

Name Withheld By Request

(Ed. Note - The News-Press has also received complaints of pro-Democratic yard signs being stolen in Falls Church City.)

Editor,

For more years than I care to mention, I have struggled to get my City of Falls Church automobile registration sticker off the windshield of my car.

Last year, I resorted to going to the gas station I regularly go to. The man who does the state inspections was not busy, so I asked him if he could remove my sticker. His reply was that was not his job. I then asked if I could use his scraper, but alas, he does not let people borrow his tools. I then went inside to the owner, who said something to the inspection man who got his scraper, sat in my car and with one swipe the sticker was gone. Simple, if one has the appropriate tools. I thanked him, handed him a $5 bill and was on my way, already not looking forward to repeating this scenario in October 2004.

Imagine my joy upon opening the Falls Church News-Press only to be greeted by a notice stating that the City would remove my sticker for free. Monday, Oct. 18, I called the phone number provided, and got a voice mail (natch), so I left my name, home and work phone numbers, and thought, oh well, that's that.

In less than an hour I received a phone call from Tom Clinton, the Falls Church Commissioner of the Revenue. We had a brief chat and agreed to meet at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19, at City Hall. Done! It is now 8:50 a.m. I am at work (obviously not working) and there is a pretty cardinal on my windshield. Thank you, Falls Church City.

Deborah P. Holland Falls Church

Editor,

In Mr. Barton's exercise at responding to his critics on the second Amendment he hints at understanding, then crashes and burns. While he claims to a certain logic, it is flawed.

“...just as the first amendment does not give me the right to shout fire in a crowded theater, the second amendment does not prevent regulation of the use and ownership of weapons to promote public safety.” This almost sounds reasonable but, the correct analogy would be: shouting "fire" in a crowded theater vs. firing a gun into the air in a crowded theater. Both are illegal acts. The other analogy would be: regulation of the use and ownership of computers (or other means of communication) to promote public safety vs. the regulation of the use and ownership of firearms to promote public safety.

By Mr. Barton's logic, we should muzzle and gag all people that enter a theater to prevent them from illegally, negligently use their voice. We should also regulate ownership of computers to ensure that no life threatening documents are published. Of course after a government background check, training and licensing, Mr. Barton would be allowed by the state to type on his computer as long as he kept it concealed.

An “overly broad interpretation” of any rights is preferable to having those rights granted by bureaucrats. When the latter happens, they are no longer rights.

Perhaps Mr. Barton will deign to explain how control of the rights of law abiding citizens will be “a step the right direction” for controlling criminals.

We could start this control by passing all of his correspondence through a government censor, just to insure that no "assault thoughts" are published.

Dennis Hannick King George, VA

Editor,

Keep up the good work. Your newspaper is terrific, and it seemingly is growing leaps and bounds. I noticed a distinct upturn in advertising as soon as you went to color. Thanks for running columns by Maureen Dowd, Helen Thomas, and Jim Moran. I appreciate their words and humor. Thanks to Nick Benton, a real throwback to the old times newspaperman. I love the baseball scores when Little League is being played. And lastly, thanks for the delivery of the paper each week. I support your advertisers and thought they should know it.

Dave Rofman Falls Church