Letters to the Editor

Editor,

I read Robin Gardner's highly intemperate letter in last week's News-Press criticizing Councilman Mabry's “incongruous” letter in the paper two weeks ago. In his letter, Mabry presented your readers with factual information about an investigation into the city's housing policies by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Mabry's letter conveyed his concern that the News-Press story reflected a not entirely justifiable “spin” on the investigative report as an exoneration of the city and its housing policies. Mabry pointed out that the HUD investigation was undertaken as a result of a complaint filed by the Equal Rights Center. HUD does not undertake such an investigation unless it has reasonable cause to believe fair housing violations have occurred. The investigation resulted in a Conciliation Agreement obligating the city to undertake substantial responsibilities to insure fair housing practices, report on compliance with the Agreement, and undergo monitoring by HUD for a 2-year period. The Agreement contained a “no-admissions” clause -- a standard tradeoff in conciliation and settlement agreements in order to resolve problems while avoiding costly litigation. Mabry suggested that your readers go to the source for unbiased information on the HUD website and read the report for themselves, the better to inform their own opinions about the investigation and report.

According to Webster's Dictionary, “incongruous” means “not corresponding to what is right or proper.” Now I ask you, what is “not right or proper” about an elected City official urging citizens to obtain complete, unbiased information -- by reading an official Federal Government investigative report -- before forming an opinion about the important matter of city's housing policies?

For shame, Councilwoman Gardner — so mean-spirited, and so close to Christmas! I hope that Santa brings you some anger management classes and a jolly stocking-full of perspective.

Linda S. Neighborgall Falls Church

Editor,

Last week’s editorial decries the “crisis” in affordable housing in the City of Falls Church. Well, if there is such a crisis, you played a significant role in creating it and the affordable housing vs. open space conflict presented by the West End Park development proposal. With your incessant prodding, goading and promotion of high-density residential development on commercially zoned land, the City Council has consistently given inadequate weight to both affordable housing and environmental values during the planning and approval processes for the Broadway, Byron, Spectrum and 500 Maple Avenue “mixed use” condominium projects. Between 25 and 30 affordable units will be made available from those projects. If the Council had made its approvals contingent upon the developers making a mere 40 more available, out of nearly six hundred total condo units, there would be no need for a new structure on or near West End Park.

You and the Council have left no doubt about how highly you both value redeveloping “unsightly” parcels of land, creating “critical mass” for “economic” development, and increasing tax revenues. If as much concern had been shown for affordable housing and environmental values, there would be no affordable housing “crisis” for the income range targeted by the Falls Church Housing Corporation proposal and no conflict between affordable housing and open space at West End Park. So please, Mr. Editor, don't complain about a “crisis” you helped create.

Lou Mauro Falls Church

Editor,

I wish to make my utmost hope that the West End Park remains as is and that every action is taken to help us Golden Age Seniors in assuring best avenues in a rough and tough period.

Since arriving in Falls Church 40 years ago and being welcomes to the Sherwood Forest Sub-Division Community, my prime goal has been based upon peace and the beauty of nature.

Humanity across our Homeland and neighboring nations has desires for sustainability in which I fully subscribe. However, the last one and a half years have been hectic at the least.

Reading that six percent in the City can afford to buy a home here and the council members want to buy land for a park when 20% have income over $68,000 makes me quiver.

God help us as we get older with fewer resources for health care and livable homes.

Leonard S. Michalowsk Falls Church

Editor,

I would like to encourage the community to read and respond to the proposed new start times for the city’s schools. It's key for the Calendar/School Day Start Time Committee to hear our feedback on this issue that will affect each parent and child enrolled in our city's schools. You can see the plan and submit comments on the website: http://www.fccps.k12.va.us/html/calendar.html. Keeping the elementary children in school until 3:30 also means that home arrival wouldn't be until almost 4 pm for most kids, which seriously affects the ability to participate in after-school activities and then get homework done. This would seriously impact family time, as well as play and enrichment time.

I also question the assumption that the bell schedule is significantly better from a safety standpoint, as the earlier bus times would be impacted by the darkness for at most a few weeks a year. We don’t live in Anchorage; we’re only a couple of weeks from the shortest day of the year, and it’s not that dark in the morning now. Additionally, it’s the elementary children who are most likely to be supervised by adults while waiting for the bus, so it would seem safer to have them out in the dark than those less likely to be supervised.

Jennifer Sinek Falls Church

Editor,

Congressman Jim Moran weekly column in the Falls Church News-Press on December 9 was a joke, right? If you don't believe it was another one of Moran’s jokes played on his constituents, then read the N.Y. Times editorial on December 11 about the so-called Intelligence Reform Act. Then, read the so-called Intelligence Reform Act itself (see www.cspan.org for copy).

Congressman Moran not only voted for the Patriot Act in 2001, he just voted for an even worse Son of The Patriot Act. Where were the media, local and national, while Congress was working on details of this next assault on our civil liberties masquerading as “intelligence reform?” Probably working on a story about how our wonderful Congressman, James P. Moran, Jr., is so concerned about our civil liberties.

Alan Jackson Arlington