Letter: Losing Battle For Education?
Decisions. When it comes to public policy, the decisions are never as simple as everyone would like and many times, you never really understand why people make the decisions they make. The Superintendent’s salary was increased salary increased to $244,080 ($44,380 more than what the U.S. Secretary of Education makes and $69,080 more than what the Governor of Virginia makes), and what has Alexandria gotten for that money?
Column: Bipartisan Transportation Progress and a Week of Controversy
This week brings the midpoint of the General Assembly Session and "Crossover Day" – the day that the House and Senate must finish all work on bills originating from their own chambers.
Column: Crossover Point in General Assembly
Tuesday, Feb. 14, marks what is referred to as Crossover in the General Assembly.
Letter: Keep All Options Open
In their letter to the editor last week, Nate Macek and Bob Wood, co-authors of the Waterfront Plan Work Group final report, remind readers that the Work Group "was in broad agreement that eminent domain should play no part in the acquisition of private property along the City's Waterfront."
Letter: Ideological Differences
Del. David Englin exhorts us to “Put Pragmatism Over Ideology” so as to not “balance the budget on the backs of the poor.” But an attitude against “balancing the budget on the backs of the poor” is no less an “ideology” than that of the “no tax pledge” contingent.
Column: Bringing Job Search Assistance
Valentine's Day was very special this year at the Old Presbyterian Meeting House (OPMH) in Alexandria. The church hosted the latest event in Senior Services of Alexandria' Speaker Series titled, "Staying Connected: Employment and Volunteer Opportunities for Seniors in Alexandria.”
Column: Conservatives Shape Legislation
The Virginia General Assembly has moved into the halfway point, a time of year we call crossover. During crossover, legislation that has passed from one chamber will go to the other for consideration.
Letter: Elections for Family And Community
To the Editor: We need effective, sustainable solutions. When more than 100 million Americans are living in poverty, struggling to keep their homes, when millions of Americans are unemployed and others have given up, we need jobs.
Column: "Diseased"
But not sickness. Not health, either, as last week’s column ended. At least that’s the way I characterize my having stage IV lung cancer. And I don’t know if I’m splitting hairs here, since I’ve never worked in a salon, although I do get my hair cut regularly; but I have been accused of speaking double-talk.
Column: Let’s Put Pragmatism Over Ideology
As the halfway point of this year’s General Assembly session quickly approaches, our attention has turned to the state’s two-year budget.
Column: Backsliding in Richmond
As we approach the halfway point of the 2012 legislative session, I like to take a moment to reflect on the path that we in Richmond have taken so far this year. It also makes me think of leaders that have come before like Alice Paul and Fannie Lou Hamer.
Column: Socially Conservative Measures Advance
“General Assembly: Right turn” was the heading of a Richmond Times-Dispatch editorial last week. It reflects many of the changes I mentioned in my previous article. As the editorial states: “Elections do have consequences. That’s doubly true in the state Senate, where Republicans have assumed control of committees that once bottled up socially conservative measures.”
Column: Guns, Abortion and Voter Suppression Dominates
The last week of January brought a quickened pace to the legislative process as committees worked to push bills through committee. We are required to complete all work on bills from our own Chamber by “Crossover” on Feb.14 which means they must be reported out of committee by Feb. 10.
Letter: True Champion
To the Editor: All students attending Fairfax County Public Schools and their parents owe a debt of gratitude to a true champion. While a committee of people worked to restore honors, it is due to the heroic efforts of Kate van Dyke that the School Board voted on Thursday, Jan. 26, 11 to 1 to restore all five honors courses in the fall of 2012.
Letter: Support This Living Tribute
To the Editor: Cynthia Hull, our dear executive director, has been diagnosed with terminal cancer. To those who know her, Cynthia is a passionate advocate who has dedicated her life to the service of others, most recently in her nearly five years at United Community Ministries (UCM).