The 7 Magistrerial District Plan is unacceptable as written. That plan guts the Westgate/Sudley Communities like a catfish. The divide line runs right down Sudley Manor Drive on the Splash Down side of rt 234. One side of Sudley Manor Drive, closest to 66 and all streets running off it will remain with the Gainesville District and vote at Stonewall Middle School. Even those houses 100 feet from Sudley School will not vote there.
Equally disturbed are those that live on the Manassas City/Lomond Drive side of Sudley Manor Drive, which includes a whole chunk of Westgate. Those homes in Westgate will be in the Sudley precinct. (makes perfect sense–Westgate is the new Sudley?) Those homes are cordoned off by Strasburg and Sudley Manor.
It makes no sense for neighbors on one side of a street to vote in one district and for those right across the street to vote in another district. United we stand, divided we fall takes on an entirely new meaning when we hear rattlings every so often about opening up Sudley Manor Drive, a neighborhood street, to through traffic. One grows especially suspicious when listening to idle chatter about the Dulles Corridor Tri-County road that some in this county want to get through. It would be mighty convenient to have that neighborhood divided, now wouldn’t it? A nice ramp off of that puppy could run up Sudley Manor Drive and the neighborhood would be too divided to fight it. That plan of course, is pure conjecture. However, a divided neighborhood is never a good thing.
The 8 District Plan makes much more sense. Those communities surrounding the city have a great deal more in common with each other than they do Gainesville, rural crescent, and mid county issues. I see no reason why a chairman is even necessary. That is a position that could easily be rotated. Each of the 8 could take a half year and save the county a bundle of money. Of course, that would strip a little power away from at least one position.
I am curious what having a chair really does for us anyway? All I have seen is it gives more press time to the person sitting in that position. The people of PWC shouldn’t be footing the bill for that also.
Meanwhile, the people of Westgate and Sudley will probably howl over this proposal of gutting their community. It’s one thing to divide a main road. Its another thing to split up a community–especially a community that has had the problems that Westgate and Sudley have had. Those issues of make them communities of interest. A strong case can be made to DOJ regarding splitting up these communities and I know a few people who are getting ready to do just that. Let’s just say politics makes for strange bedfellows.
8 Districts-0 Chairman…I like this plan.
I’m still trying to absorb all the changes. The most disturbing is WestGate and Sudley both being split, not to mention they are a community of interest. This will not set well with the residents of these two neighborhoods. I hope the county is prepared to hear plenty of public input.
I was asked on another blog why I thought the 7 district plan was BS. Here’s my reply.
Riley,
My number one issue with the 7 district map is the fact that neighborhoods as well as communities of interest are split. The plan calls for neighborhoods dedicated and built at the same time to be split. Major roads are not where these neighborhoods get split either. For example in WG the neighborhood will be split using a side street as a guide for the split. WestGate and Sudley neighborhoods are to be split. Furthermore, WG/ Sudley are VERY much a community of interest and this has been true since the mid 60’s to the early 70’s when WG and Sudley were built. Let’s not forget just 10 years ago the Manassas(PWC) neighborhoods made up the vast majority of the Gainesville district. Now, some it’s to be thrown into the Coles district. The growth in the Gainesville and Brentsville over the past decade far surpassed other areas of the county.
The 8 district plan only calls for one additional precinct. The county has seen tremendous growth and will continue to grow over the next decade. Our supervisors are part time and the fewer residents they represent/serve the better.(imo) The supervisors approved additional staff that was last year. I’m now questioning the timing of that addition. That could have easily been put off until the new districts had been drawn. It really looks like it was a ploy to inflate the cost of an 8th district more costly than it is. Frankly, I would much rather see that $6M+ over a decade spent on a new supervisors office, than the BoS pissing it away on their pet projects.
I would like to add that the $6+million figure is one that’s been thrown out there on the blogs. This is an inflated number. I think it’s been thrown around to distract attention from the 8 district plan.
Every time someone says something new, they bring up new important points.
Lafayette, I would not mind if the entire community went with another district but I do mind that the community is split. You are right, these are communities of interest, made even more so because the recent immigration issues that received national attention. Our very own politicians have called attention to the problems that exist in those 2 communities.
Are they just begging to bring in DOJ? Is this redistricting just another way to split up people who have been pains in the ass? Are we busting up ground zero?
I would think the DOJ would have some questions about “Ground Zero” be split in two. Not only will the two neighorhoods be divided, but there would be two supervisors representing one neighborhood. Our supervisors do NOT agree on everything, and certainly not the hot topic of immigration. Let’s just suppose for a minute…Stirrup and Nohe remain as supervisors in their districts. There no doubt in my mind that these two do NOT view immigration issues the same. Add to that the fact that I doubt Nohe has very little experience dealing with the neighborhood issues that Stirrup has had to deal with in his district over the past few years.
I would like to add I’ve gotten some responses from Stirrup’s Office and Ms. Gordon on redistricting.
There will be Town Hall Meeting for the Gainesville District next Thursay night 3/31/11. The topics will be redistricting and transportation. Those pesky bi-ways/parkways are to be discussed. More info from the email from Stirrup’s office.
Reminder – Gainesville District Quarterly Town Hall Meeting, March 31st
Supervisor Stirrup invites you to attend his thirty-first Town Hall Meeting to be held on Thursday, March 31, 2011 from 7:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at Bull Run Middle School , 6308 Catharpin Road , Gainesville . Topics for this meeting are Redistricting and Transportation Update.
Eight districts without a chairman at large sounds good to me. I’d be interested in hearing what the problems were in the past when the BOCS elected a Chair among themselves. An elected at large Chair just seems to give someone a platform for running for higher office. Why not concentrate on our county’s problems instead?
Our neighborhood has been split between two magesterial districts for a decade (?). If the neighborhood is united about an issue, having two supervisors to represent us helps. If the neighborhood is split over an issue, having two supervisors of opposing views offers each faction a mouthpiece.
There are only two jurisdictions in VA that have our form of government, Albemarle Co and us. For us to “lose” the BOCS Chair would require the VA Legislature to approve.
See all forms of Govt. here… http://bit.ly/haipwT
We’re authorized 3-9 “members” Since the code allowed PW to have and “at large” chair by referendum I suspect one would be required to do away with the “at large” position.
@Bruce
I think that code is following me since I am an Albemarle County person by birth. How did that little twist get into the works? How can you get a chair that you can’t get rid of?
This sounds like a nightmare and like something that just cannot be undone. Why do we need a chair?
Blame Mooooon, blame Mooooon!!! This “curse” is all your fault. 😉
@Lafayette You must be right. Blame Mooooooon.
@Bruce, please repost the link. Why did we get involved in a plan we cannot get out of. I don’t believe things are forever. What are some master plans to undo this mess.. I can’t really see much point in having an at large member of the bocs.
Mr. Lafayette says I’m ALWAYS right!!
If he says that with a straight face, he may have a future on the BOCS.
@Mom
LOL-He most certainly does say that with a straight face. I think it’s very wise of him. 👿