Spending on Senior Housing Makes No Sense

Editor,

You had two articles in the March 11-17, 2010 edition of the News-Press: one dealt with the proposed enormous increase in real estate taxes and significant decrease in City services; the second article concerned the Council's preliminary approval of $2 million loan from the City (plus special zoning exceptions) for the construction of a public housing structure in the City designated for senior citizens.

Thus, we have (1) gigantic increase in City real estate taxes and (2) decreased school budgets, closure of the public library on Sundays, etc. At the same time, the City will spend taxpayer dollars on a public housing project that that will most likely benefit residents of Fairfax and Arlington counties (and not City residents) AND remove valuable commercial property from the market (thus no new commercial tax revenues!).

Does this all add up? The need to help the elderly is applauded, but it should not come at the expense of the children and working citizens of the City - especially in the current economic environment. The poor management of citizen dollars strongly suggests that the City must have new leadership.

Mark Kaye

Falls Church

Huge Impact Of 2 Trash Bins Per House

Editor,

The News-Press recently reported on the city's decision to outsource trash pickup. Included in this article it was noted that each home would be required to use and store, not one, but two, 65-gallon carts for garbage and recyclables. Has anyone considered the impact of this decision on all homeowners? I live in a townhouse with no place for storage of such containers inside or outside. This decision I'm sure is unacceptable to other city residents in similar situations. I am requesting that the city reconsider this decision and evaluate the options with respect to ALL residents.

Diane Mularz

Falls Church

Proposed F.C. Tax Hike is 'A Little Steep'

Editor,

Being unemployed (I do have a part time job consisting of 20 hours a week at $8.50 an hour), I find a $0.20 per $100 of assessed home value a little steep, even with the drop in home values. And that is from one who believes in paying for the social extras that make our Little City great.

I live on Hillwood Ave. and have a radar gun I use for determining pitch speed at baseball games. I have used it to find the speed of cars going up and down the street. Even though the speed is posted at 25mph, I clock plenty of drivers going in excess of 40. Since I live on Hillwood I would find it embarrassing to get a speeding ticket so I go 25, only to be tailgated. I think a solution to both problems would be to put up radar speed cameras. Speeding drivers should not look at them as big brother or an infringement upon their rights (what about the rights of people who live there?) but as an excessive speed user fee.

Jay Rubin

Falls Church

Hails School Board for Stand On Cuccinelli

Editor,

Kudos to the Falls Church School Board for taking a stand against the ruling by Va. Attorney General, Ken Cuccinelli.

The arrogance of an elected official trying to force discriminatory rulings on independent bodies of learning passes belief. Does one infer from Cuccinelli's actions that unless one is a heterosexual Christian one cannot be afforded protection from the public office he holds? More troublingly the AG displays bigotry and an anti-democratic thrust that is deeply troubling. "We the people", does not come with conditions and exceptions.

James Oglethorpe

Falls Church

Appreciation for Speaking Out on Cuccinelli

Editor,

Most Friday evenings I stop by the Long John Silvers in Falls Church on my way home to Arlington from work in Fairfax to pick up my Friday fish meal and read the Falls Church News-Press. I love the mix of local news and the NYT editorials. I get my fix of Paul Krugman and Maureen Dowd, as well as your biting social editorials and local political analysis. Thanks for your creative efforts at keeping local communications alive and interesting.

I've been pleased with your quick and active response to our ridiculous attorney general's appalling and inflammatory behavior (though he has helped the progressive cause, as you rightly pointed out!). Thank you for speaking up and getting the word out as you have.

Thank you for all you do!

Laura Schmitt

Arlington