Letters to the Editor

ditor,

Last week, I was a victim of “predatory towing” and want to relate my experience to other Falls Church residents. When possible, I strive to do business with the local merchants of Falls Church. However, I will no longer shop in Falls Church until something is done about the much-too-frequent practice of “predatory towing.”

I parked in the parking lot directly behind the Dominion Camera Corporation at 112 W Broad Street and went into Brown’s Hardware, located within 100 feet of where I parked. The purchase took no more than 15 minutes and when I returned to the parking lot, I discovered my vehicle was gone. At the location where I parked, there were no signs stating that parking is prohibited. There was a towing enforcement sign that warned non-customers would be towed at owner’s expense. The sign did not indicate that you needed to be a customer of a particular business. Parked to right of me were the vehicles of two employees at Dominion Camera Corporation. Parked to my left was the vehicle of a gentleman who was attending a meeting hosted nearby. These vehicles were already parked when I arrived. In addition, another car was now parked in the spot from where I had been towed. This vehicle remained parked in my previous spot for the next 45 minutes while I waited for a ride to the towing company.

The towing truck had to be prepositioned because the distance from the towing company to the corner of Washington and W Broad Streets can not be traveled realistically within 15 minutes. I believe that I was a target of predatory towing. I paid $85.00 to recover my vehicle and my receipt had in the remarks section the following: customer parking only. It appears that my towing was the result of not being customer at a specific store. However, there were no posted signs that stated this condition.

The towing of my vehicle may be legal but it definitely was not ethical. Until I have assurance that my vehicle will not be towed again in Falls Church under dubious circumstances, I will no longer shop in Falls Church. I believe the practice of “predatory towing” will continue until the City of Falls Church takes action to correct it.

Elliott Rickenbaker Falls Church

Editor,

I am writing on behalf of the kids pictured in the News-Press last week who held a bake sale to benefit Tsunami victims. Our names are Joanne Dang, Stephanie Dang, Synneva Elthon, Aleeya Ensign, Jason Farbstein, Julia Farbstein, Rachel Hassan, Hannah Leopold, and Hannah Walker.

We all met at the library last Sunday and discussed which charities the money will go to. We have decided to split our total of $1,316 in three parts between American Red Cross International Relief Fund (www.redcross.org), Direct Relief International (www.directrelief.org) and UNICEF-USA (www.unicefusa.org). They are really great organizations that will help the tsunami victims in Asia to rebuild their countries, cities, towns and homes. Thanks to everyone who donated or bought baked goods. Your generosity is really appreciated.

Rachel Hassan Falls Church

Editor,

I am delighted to see Mary Ellen Henderson (affectionately known as Miss Nellie) as one of the individuals whose names are being considered for the new Falls Church Middle School. I believe that Ms. Henderson is the most appropriate name. Although the other candidates are outstanding Americans on a national level, none of them had any significant relationship to Falls Church.

The only candidate with strong social, political and historical ties to Falls Church is Ms. Henderson. She is the only candidate who ever actually lived in Falls Church. For nearly half a century (between 1911 and 1965) she lived, worked and contributed to the social and political life of the Falls Church community.

Ms. Henderson was a unique woman who was ahead of her time. She was a college educated African American women who combined her career with marriage, child rearing, church involvement, community voluntarism, and civic activism - all while helping to work the family farm here in Falls Church!

Among her many achievements:

#1. Ms. Henderson was a school teacher and school principle. Ms. Henderson completed a ground breaking study showing the disparity of funding among black and white schools in Fairfax County. A consummate team builder she was then able to build a coalition of white and black citizens that came together and advocated for the building of the first new school in the county to educate African American students. Prior to the construction of the new school she taught at the two room school house for 25 years. After the new school was completed she served as principal for one year before retiring.

#2. Ms. Henderson was secretary of the training committee for the Girl Scouts of Fairfax County.

#3. Ms. Henderson was the first African American woman to join the League of Women Voters of Falls Church.

#4. She was among the founding members of the first rural branch of NAACP in the entire nation. The branch was established here in Falls Church.

While all the names selected are admirable, I believe that naming the new school after a African American women would send a powerful message to the children and community of Falls Church. In a city that has a significant percentage of immigrants and ethnic minorities, to recognize Ms. Henderson’s contribution would send a bold message that Falls Church is a community where achievement and accomplishments are recognized and valued from all racial and ethnic groups.

Nikki D. Graves Falls Church

Editor,

I want to congratulate you on your editorial in the January 6 News-Press. I too, am outraged at the cavalier way in which the City Council has managed its participation in the West End affordable housing decision making. The City Council seems to not understand its role in working with hard working, dedicated citizens that are trying to further stated city goals. The overall behavior on this issue depletes the City Council's political capital for working with future groups on difficult problems.

It damages the willingness of groups such as the FCHC to take the risk to spend money and energy to work with the city if they cannot trust the City to make reasonable decisions.

Richard Maynard Falls Church

Editor,

I look forward to movie reviews in the News-Press, whether written by Nicholas Benton or Roger Ebert. Recently, many notable films have been released. One movie I urge people to see is “Hotel Rwanda.” It combines all elements that I love in a movie.

Don Cheadle leads a superb cast in a story about the genocide that took place in Africa in 1994. Here is the magic of film at its best- transporting the audience from the comfort of the United States into the chaos and destruction of the small country of Rwanda. The director is careful not to show the actual violent acts, only the sorrowful aftermath. The powerful story of love between a man, his wife and children transcends hate; the decency and action of one individual saves thousands of lives.

The movie leaves us with many things to think about. What is our role in the world? What is the role of the United Nations? In the movie after all foreign nations withdraw, the UN peacekeepers remain; the smallest source of sanity in a country devastated. The UN's programs for refugees and children are so essential. And what of the children? Are they so different from our own? What is their future in a country beset by violence and war?

These hard questions are still with us more than a decade later. The death and destruction wrought by war are with us in Iraq and elsewhere. At the movie's end when the lights go up, you may find yourself even just a little changed. And if you do... what to do? In order to change we must act.

Lois Howlett Falls Church