Letters to the Editor

'Diversity' Used to Refer to Income, Race

Editor,

After reading your front page story about the Spectrum being ready to sprout, I was pleased to understand now why the name was changed from The Pavilion...according to the development firm, the Spectrum will "embrace diversity."

Presumably, given the luxury price tags on these condos, the diversity will range from Pottery Barn to Williams-Sonoma, with perhaps a bit of Neiman Marcus thrown in. This is about as diverse as a bag full of oranges and tangerines.

It is sad to see the concept of diversity, which once referred to communities encompassing rich, poor, working class, black, white, Asian, now twisted into a description of the subtle differences in lifestyles of the upper class. But then I don't have a "chosen lifestyle" to "highlight" as Waterford puts it. I just have a plain old life.

Providing 8 of 189 units (4%!!!!) as "affordable" once again shows how our political leaders keep selling out to developers all across this region. More and more working people, even with two incomes, cannot afford housing, while more and more luxury units go up.

Chris Raymond, Falls Church

Here's Some Idea of How Fast FIOS Is

Editor,

You mentioned that the greater Falls Church area has three wired options for Internet access. The DC area, including Falls Church, was one of the first two locations in the country to have "Wireless Broadband Internet Access" from Verizon Wireless. ( San Diego, the home to Qualcomm who developed the technology, was the other location.) This service, which has been commercially available here since late 2003, uses a PC card in your laptop to give you, according to Verizon Wireless, 300 to 500 kilobits per second (300-500kbit/s). This is roughly 10 times faster than dial-up and give you the ability to access the service anywhere in the coverage area (which now covers most major US markets). So, you are not limited to a single location, like the wired options.

In regards to FIOS, terms like "fiber to the premises" and "fiber-optics services" may not mean much to the general reader. Let me give you an example of how fast the FIOS Internet service really is. From the Microsoft website, I downloaded a Media Player update, which was 12 million bytes (12M) -- a very, very large file. If I had used a dial-up Internet access and achieved a very respectable 49 kilobits per second (49kbit/s), it would have taken over 30 minutes to download the file. With my newly installed FIOS service, the 12M file downloaded in 10 seconds. For someone who works from home, this quality and speed of service is very important to me.

Roger Wilson , Falls Church

Urges Letters In Support of Judge Alper

Editor,

In a perfect world, children and teens would automatically be protected from harm by those entrusted to their care. Unfortunately we do not live in a perfect world but we can live in a world where we do our best to save our young people.

The Hon. Judge Joanne Alper took the abuse of a City of Falls Church young person to heart by sentencing a teacher who not only broke the law, but broke the sacred trust of that student and of an entire community.

Our community must join together, writing letters to thank Judge Alper for her strong stance in the battle against child sexual abuse. Judge Alper sent a message that child sexual abuse with any minor, of any gender or race will not be tolerated in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

The City of Falls Church must recognize that as difficult as it is to believe, there may be other walking wounded students, afraid to come forward in a city that praises, even glorifies the perpetrator. We trusted a talented actor who gave the performance of his life, betraying us all.

Jon Mosely, Esq. of Ashburn last week asked you to write to Richmond opposing Judge Alper’s reappointment. Now I, June Beyer, a citizen of the City of Falls Church— a mom, teacher and sadly an adult survivor of child sexual abuse- ask that you join me in writing letters in appreciation of Judge Joanne Alper to the following addresses— General Assembly Building- Members of the Senate Courts of Justice of Virginia, PO Box 396, Richmond VA 23218 and Members of the House Courts of Justice of Virginia, PO Box 406, Richmond VA 23218

Perhaps a donation to ChildHelp of Virginia may also redeem the status of our fair city as one in which children and teenagers are heard and loved. An almost perfect world.

June Beyer , Falls Church

Enjoyed Chamber Gala; Wishes F.C. Had Venue

Editor,

I had the pleasure of attending the Greater Falls Church Chamber Of Commerce Gala and Silent Auction this past weekend. What a wonderful event it was. The Ritz Carlton in Tysons Corner is a magnificent place. I only regret that we do not have a quality venue like it in our city to hold such wonderful affairs.

Gary LaPorta, Falls Church

Letters may be sent to Letters to the Editor, c/o Falls Church News-Press, 929 West Broad Street #200, Falls Church, VA 22046 or may be faxed to 703-532-3396 or emailed here.