Letters to the Editor

Falls Church’s Plans Leave Nothing That’s Affordable

Editor,

I am writing in response to your editorial from March 24th’s edition of the News-Press entitled “The Future is Us.” I am wondering who is "Us", and how this “Future” applies.

Of all my concerns on the local level this is probably the greatest, because it is very soon going to affect me more directly than anything else. Often times during my four years in college I have come home, read in your paper or seen with my own eyes, the changes going on in town. Then I would return to school, (only a mere 70 miles north of here) and would realize the incredible contrast between my two homes. As someone who has gotten a job in Arlington County after I graduate this May, who will move out of my Falls Church home this summer and be forced to find a place to live, I have serious concerns about finding anything in this area that I can afford.

I know many people who live 70 miles north of here but commute all the way down to D.C at least a few days a week or more because of this reason. How will I and hundreds of my fellow young adults from the metro area who are just getting out of college, or have been working in the area for a while with or without college, be able to afford any housing in this area? Whether we are starting a career or working a regular job, most of us won’t be living at our parents home any longer (whether by choice or not). So where are we going to live? And this brings me specifically to the “downtown” part of Falls Church. As long as it keeps increasing commercially, bringing in more people (because it is a crossroads or whatever), you can probably say goodbye to places like Brown’s Hardware (or Franks, which is already gone) as they get sold out to useless “high class” restaurants or otherwise yuppie clubs. And of course these places will have fancy names more fit for New York City, not Virginia; where of course, we can go buy $6 drinks. This, in turn, leaves even less money in our pockets for a place to live. And if they don't go toward some fancy “user friendly, aesthetically pleasing” means of nightlife they go for expensive condos. We have already lost countless important businesses' or otherwise affordable property for the sake of money. Additionally, I can’t think of too many bicyclers who like looking at giant parking garages in the middle of “town.” Falls Church will inevitably end up like Vienna, Fairfax City or any of those other areas that were independent towns at one point but sold out to commercialization, money, and suburban sprawl.

I don’t have to have lived here for the past 40 years to see it, and realize what is going on. And guess who won’t be living in Falls Church or virtually anywhere in Northern Virginia? Anyone who makes fewer than six figures for sure. Where are all the young people going to live?

I will be working in the area but I am going to have a hard time finding affordable housing (or even an affordable rent). So I guess you will probably find me miles away where I can afford to live.

Peter M. Corbino , Falls Church

Water Fund OK Just 5 Years Ago

Editor,

It is interesting that in the front page budget article of the March 17th paper, City Manager “McKeever cautioned that ‘dramatic action is needed' to prevent the City’s Water Fund from running out of money by 2009. With a current balance of over $20 million...”

Yet in the same issue, the “5 & 10 Years Ago in the News-Press” column notes that the water fund was flush (so to speak) with money. A mere five years ago, the water fund had a balance of $50 million. And, in the this week’s “5 & 10 Years Ago in the News-Press,” we learn that around 23 March 2000, the City Council said it would “follow a ‘balanced approach’ to tapping its $50 million water fund, ensuring ample resources for maintaining and upgrading the expansive City-owned water system while avoiding rate increases for the foreseeable future.”

In 2003, your paper reported that the Council approved rate hikes for 2003 and each subsequent year through 2008, I guess the “foreseeable future” is three years

Roger Wilson , Falls Church

Kaine, Kilgore Plans Will Kill School Funding

Editor,

We only need to take a look at the effects of real estate caps on real estate California to realize how reckless the proposals are by either of our gubernatorial candidates: Once the golden state for education, Proposition 13 sent local school districts into poverty requiring school boards to slash art, music and other “fluff” subjects from school budgets and to drastically reduce library holdings.

At the same time, class sizes were hugely increased allowing for needy students to fall through the cracks and for teachers to have little chance for individual contact with any of their students. A close friend, who taught Spanish for 30 years, was subject to having up to 50 students in her classes, while my sister, a public school teacher, was forced to place her sons in private schools in order for them to receive a decent education.

We own our home here in Falls Church, and we would be very happy for our property tax to be capped. Who would not? But given our limited taxing opportunities on the local level and the equally limited return of our tax dollars from Richmond, I see little choice but for things to remain as they are.

Catherine Wiant , Falls Church

Local Business Already Provides Reliable Access

Editor,

In the past few weeks, Verizon has claimed attention with its rollout of broadband Internet service. A fair question by Fall Church residents is, “What’s taken you so long?”

For three years now, discerning Falls Church business owners have been getting affordable, reliable high speed Internet access from Degree Six Inc. a local information technology firm with a community-based dedication to service. Condo owners are now receiving the same broadband access, made possible by secure, state-of-the-art wireless technology. The cost and quality advantages of our high-speed, low-overhead strategy are clear, as our customers will attest.

So while Verizon’s new FIOS service may sound impressive, and while Cox promises competitive products, Degree Six has been delivering results while their plans were still on the drawing boards. These Big Boy competitors are late to the game, and they still haven’t caught up in delivering consumer value. But it’s always nice to welcome newcomers to town.

Frank Noone, President Degree Six, Inc., Falls Church

Dr. Laura Says She's Misquoted

Editor,

In Wayne Besen’s article, “If it Quacks Like a Duck,” (March 24, 2005), he states, “Dr. Laura Schlessinger, the controversial talk radio host who once referred to gays as ‘biological errors,...’ As I have stated innumerable times, even in an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times, this is a complete fabrication. I have never called any human being a “biological error,” gay or otherwise. This is an ugly lie that seems to keep getting repeated in spite of my continuous efforts to correct it. Frankly, I wonder about Mr. Besen’s intentions...does he just not do his homework and regurgitates hearsay? Or would telling the truth about my positions get in the way of his agenda. I don't know. Thank you for the opportunity to again correct this misinformation.

Dr. Laura Schlessinger , Sherman Oaks, CA

Learn from Machiavelli About Politics

Editor,

Regarding Nicholas Benton’s column last week, the Republican Party would be a small minority party if they only attracted those who benefit from their policies. In order to become the majority party they had to bamboozle “the mob” into voting them into power.

To find out how they did it, I suggest you read one of Karl Rove's favorite books: “The Prince” by 16th century political strategist: Niccolo Machiavelli.

Kirk Muse , Mesa, AZ

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.