Mount Vernon Column: Hosting 6th Annual Amundson Institute
Commentary
Recently, I recognized the sixth annual Amundson Institute scholars on the floor of the Capitol in Richmond. The Amundson Institute provides an educational opportunity for high school juniors and seniors who live in or attend a school located in the 44th district on the role of the Virginia state government and top government relations professionals. We had two students from Mount Vernon High School and two students from West Potomac participated in this year’s program.
Mount Vernon Column: Electronic Textbooks and Other Bills
Commentary
As we pass the mid-point of this General Assembly session, many bills are moving.
Mount Vernon Letter: Postal Service Response
Letter to the Editor
The Postal Service would like to respond to a customer’s letter to the editor [“Mail Delivery Failures,” The Gazette, Feb. 18], which we believe deserves acknowledgement.
Mount Vernon Letter: Wrong Side Of the Issues
Letter to the Editor
Once more, this week, state Sen. Scott Surovell has demonstrated that he is out of the mainstream of even his fellow Democrats.
Mount Vernon Letter: Mail Delivery Failures
Letter to the Editor
The following open letter was addressed to David E. Williams, chief operating officer and executive vice president, U.S. Postal Service.
Mount Vernon Letter: Unconscionable Lack of Communication
Letter to the Editor
Recently the Virginia Citizens Coalition for Police Accountability, Inc. (CCPA), a Virginia nonprofit corporation, proposed that the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors appoint a Citizen Complaint Oversight Board, comprised of Fairfax County citizens who would accept and investigate citizen allegations of police abuse or misconduct and report its findings and recommendations to the Chief of Police or the Board of Supervisors.
Mount Vernon Column: Regional Gas Tax, Digital Divide, and Identity Protection
Commentary
The fifth week of the General Assembly Session brought some long days and nights as we rushed to complete work on bills before our mid-session deadline called “Crossover.”
Mount Vernon Column: About the Potomac Oil Spill
Commentary
Over the last several weeks, our area has been subjected to an oil spill fouling the Roaches Run waterfowl sanctuary and the Potomac River. Dominion Power claimed responsibility for a 13,500-gallon spill of mineral oil from the Crystal City substation, of which about 500 gallons contaminated the Potomac River. It is working with the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and US Coast Guard to clean up the remaining oil.
Editorial: Freedom of Information on Life Support in General Assembly?
Last week, the Assembly passed SB 202, which undid a major push eight years ago to ensure that all of our public spending was ‘online’ and searchable by ordinary citizens. This, of course, meant disclosing the salaries of public employees over a certain income level.
Editorial: Fairfax Presses Ahead with Diversion First
When police encounter someone in mental health crisis, they can transport them to Merrifield Crisis Response Center instead of jail.
Natasha McKenna died a little more than a year ago on Feb. 7, 2015.
Mount Vernon Letter: Legalized Extortion
Letter to the Editor
Thank goodness we have the Dillon Rule in Virginia. That rule precludes localities such as cities and counties from taking any actions not specifically authorized by the state legislature. The House of Delegates and State Senate have both passed Bills (HB 770 and SB 549, respectively) the intention of which is to place limitations on the ability of localities to extract unreasonable proffers from property developers.
Mount Vernon Letter: Beware of Scam Artists
Letter to the Editor
Beware of IRS impersonation scammers. I received a telephone call in mid January 2016 that IRS was filing a suit against me and to call a call back number provided for more details.
Mount Vernon Column: Coal Ash Bill Fails, Other Bills Move Forward
Commentary
As we move towards the midpoint of the General Assembly Session called “Crossover,” we are required to finish work on all bills in our respective chambers. Things are picking up in Richmond.
Mount Vernon Column: State Should Pursue Education Initiatives
Commentary
Having grown up in the Fairfax County Public School system and with a daughter at West Potomac High School, ensuring Fairfax County students receive the highest quality education is a top priority of mine. Education is an investment that we make in our children to ensure that they are given the tools and opportunities to live up to their potential. We are fortunate to live in an area with a school system that is recognized for its excellence.
Editorial: Limiting Local Authority
Assembly rushes bill limiting proffers without addressing who will pay for infrastructure.
In Virginia, a Dillon Rule state, local governments have only the powers explicitly granted by the General Assembly. And what the assembly gives, the assembly can take away.