Back in the Spring of 2012, Mark Granville Smith proposed a Comprehensive Plan Amendment (CPA), again, on land in the Rural Crescent.  And although his CPA was going to fail, again, the result included an additional ending.  This time, the proposal from Marty Nohe, Coles District Supervisor, was to study the efficacy of this very critical land use tool while denying the CPA.

Thus began the genesis of our current journey into the long term viability of the Rural Crescent.

As part of Prince William County’s rural preservation study, the planning office will host a public meeting at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 1 in the Nokesville Elementary School gymnasium at 12625 Fitzwater Drive in Nokesville.

The public input session on the area of Prince William County known as the Rural Crescent is part of a study that began June 4. Since then, staff introduced a consultant team and noted that there would be several opportunities for public input.  The purpose of the study is to review rural preservation policies, identify additional rural preservation tools and make recommendations regarding possible amendments to the county’s rural land use planning policies.

On its face, land use sounds SO incredibly boring, but folks, I am here to tell you, land use is where all the action happens.  It is, at its very core, the driver of any community’s quality of life.  Land use will predict how much tax payers invest in the infrastructure required to support its citizens.  How many dollars will be spent  on  schools,  teachers,  intra-county connectivity,( whether it be roads, buses or trains), police officers, firefighters , social workers, libraries, parks (active and passive), hospitals, etc etc.

Land use is the driver, baby, don’t ever think otherwise.

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I just want someone to tell me why extreme right wing Republican men continue to talk about their belief that women who are raped don’t get pregnant.  SHUT UP already.  Cause let me tell you, I know someone, someone close to me, that became pregnant after she was raped.

Right now, right now in this country, in the 21st century, once again, Republican men in congress, behaving like their religious belief system must be legislated, i.e. forced upon women (hmmm, sounds like Sharia law to me) are at it again.  Their intent on outlawing ALL abortions beyond 20 weeks has begun.  Now let me say here, once again, for the hard of hearing, no one WANTS an abortion, it isn’t an easy decision, nor it is an easy procedure.  But this just in, women have sought abortions throughout the ages.

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The more I think about this road, a bi county parkway know by many names, the more irritated I become. Seriously, who thinks that bisecting an entire county with a road intended to bolster someone else’s economic base is good for PWC citizens? Who thinks that opening up rural land for high density housing development is a good idea? Not me, and apparently not a lot of other people also, including the majority of state delegates that represent PWC, at least three of our BOCS, and Congressman Frank Wolfe.

For the first time in a LONG time, citizens are having am impact on bad land use decisions. Let’s remember, this road doesn’t just start in western PWC, it’s beginning point is all they way in Woodbridge, at 95 south! Get ready for a six lane highway pushing itself through the entirety of our county. Get ready for massive truck traffic headed towards Dulles and beyond. Get ready to be a cut through county to benefit OTHER counties. Get ready to have your tax dollars, over a billion of them, wasted on road that primarly benefits developers, frothing at the bit, eager to get buy up cheap land in the rural crescent and then bless PWC taxpayers with paying for all the subsequent infrastructure.

We do believe in economic development, smart 21st economic develop that benefits everyone, not just one county, and certainly not for special interest real estate tycoons. There are smart solutions, they just aren’t being implementend.

What I find fascinating is that the lead up to the Iraq war, with the complete fabricated threat of “yellow cake” and “centrifuge” tanks or whatever they supposedly were, but were actually NOT, was never even a blip on the radar screen to republicans.

Cohen wrote a great op-ed, tongue and cheek, on the Benghazi Syndrome.  Anyone remember all the investigations into  Clinton?  Is this the path we are headed down?  Benghazi was a horrible tragedy, their has been enough investigations, we know there was a screw up and it isn’t about stupid talking points, it was about lack of security.

Benghazi Syndrome is a grave malady of the noggin, the symptoms of which are a compulsion to grossly exaggerate matters and to compare almost anything to Watergate (see Watergate Syndrome, DSM-IV). Patient Zero in this regard is Sen. Lindsey Graham, a usually affable Republican from South Carolina who has suggested that the Benghazi episode warrants an investigation by a special congressional committee, just like Iran-contra and — drum roll, please — Watergate.

As a nation we invaded Iraq under false pretenses , sacrificed thousands of American lives, spent untold BILIONS, and for what?  To spread democracy.  How is that working out, really great in Egypt, where the religious Muslim Brotherhood is now in control.  Fabulous, just fabulous.  To this day, I remain shocked that the Republicans showed NO interest in finding out how such a colossal mistake was made, how we ended up invading a country that had NOTHING to do with 9-11.

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Finally common sense may prevail for Manassas City Republicans, I wish they could export some of that to Congress!

Since when was investing in your “home” a waste of money?  We invest in new appliances when they break, new cars when they begin to cost more money then what they are worth, new roofs when they leak, etc etc!

Since when is allowing your community to fall apart a conservative value?  Good for the Manassas City Republicans for advocating investment.  Keeping your community first class requires money, requires forethought, and requires a plan of action.

The Manassas City Council passed 4-2 one of the city’s biggest real-estate tax increases in years on Monday, generating dollars to begin a series of capital construction projects city leaders say are needed.

The $100.3 million fiscal ‘14 operating budget, which the council approved, will pay for sidewalk widening in the town’s historic Old Town business district, a new elementary school and drainage improvements, among other projects.

 

TEA Party politics has no place in running government.  Is there some waste in government, well yes, no one denies that reality.  But TEA party politics has a false foundation that a society can survive with little to no government intervention.   Get rid of the EPA, get rid of the federal income tax, get rid of investment in science and medicine, stop funding the ARTS, allow bridges and roads to crumble, allow healthcare to be a privilege as opposed to a right, etc etc.  What is left to ensure that a community can thrive?

Here are the questions I have.  What makes a cohesive society?  What are the values of  a “community” and how are those values outwardly expressed?

How do we ensure that individual progress can also support community success ,which, in the end, benefits everyone!

 

 

 

 

There has been a lot of press lately on the Bi-County Parkway/North-South Corridor.  The reasons to oppose this wasteful road are many.  You can read all about it on the Prince William Conservation Alliance website,  Myth vs Fact.

In a nutshell, this massive highway will save commuters 9 minutes while costing tax payers over one billion dollars and causing irreparable damage, fiscally and environmentally to Prince William County.

Yep folks, in exchange for decimating our county, using it like a cut through to benefit the Dulles Corridor commercial base, we get to save 9 minutes of commute time.  Does the state really think that is a fair trade?  Aren’t PWC citizens worth more?  Apparently not, apparently our price tag is pretty cheap.

Corey Stewart is prancing around as Sean Connaughton’s new buddy.  Maybe he forgets how much Sean despised him when he was first elected as Occoquan Supervisor.  Maybe Corey forgets that he once was on opposing sides of Sean.  Maybe Corey needs to understand that HE has now turned into the man he once reviled.

It isn’t too late for citizens to fight for what is in the best interest of not only Prince William County, but  also the state.  This Bi-County Parkway is simply irresponsible on so many levels.

The citizen meeting is tonight, Bull Run Middle School, 7 p.m. , cafeteria.

The Holocaust Museum celebrates twenty years.  I remember my first visit there, I was overwhelmed.  Reading about that time period is just not the same as being handed a “passport” of human being that went through the holocaust and not knowing til the end of the “tour” whether your new identity survived.

I have been several times since that first time, and I am probably due for a  visit.  I haven’t been since having children, and I imagine, my feelings will be different, evolved as a mom, as a Jewish mom.

It is obvious to me though that human beings haven’t changed much since that time period, and as the survivors of the concentration camps die, the responsibility of us all to learn the lessons and pass them on become more critical.

The Holocaust Museum is the testament to evil that man can do, but it is as strongly a tribute to the those who stood up against hate, sometimes, at the cost of their own lives.

As we reflect upon the lessons of the Holocaust, ask yourself, what would you have done?

I invite you to watch my Grandmother’s cousin story, Izzy, an Auschwitz survivor. The password is Izzy.

http://vimeo.com/19904869

 

Don’t miss out on this fabulous home grown event sponsored by the Prince William Conservation Alliance!

What a wonderful opportunity, at no cost, to enjoy the beauty of Prince William County.

http://www.pwconserve.org/merrimacfarm/bluebellfestival/

Bluebell Festival at Merrimac Farm April 7, 2013, from 10:00am to 4:00pm

Please join us to welcome spring and view the spectacular display of Virginia Bluebells that carpet the floodplain along Cedar Run for nearly a mile. In the words of one visitor, it’s like walking through Oz.

A bake sale and a hand-painted rain barrel raffle will benefit stewardship projects at Merrimac Farm will round out the event. Concessions and food from N.C. Ribs on Wheels will be available for purchase.

Schedule of Events

Tours last about 90 minutes and take an easy one-mile walk through the floodplain. Each tour has a special focus, although leaders also cover other interesting sights you see along the way. Bring binoculars, cameras and the kids!

Passover is the most ritualistic dinner in Judaism.  In my home, I lead the Seder.  Every year I try to make the story of the exodus relevant not only for me, but especially, for my children.  It is a time to reflect upon what freedom means.  It is a time to remember that as a participant of a civilized society, one must remember to lift up our fellow “travelers” in this often complicate world.

The Story of Passover is about faith, bravery, kindness and redemption.   A life lesson that never loses it’s relevance.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/no-longer-centered-just-on-readings-many-passover-seders-have-creative-twists/2013/03/24/cf41e9c2-91d6-11e2-9cfd-36d6c9b5d7ad_story.html

This year we will have wind up frogs that jump on the table, masks of the 10 plagues, chocolate covered marshmallow locusts and frogs!

 

 

You know, maybe it’s time for a little fun and relaxation, time to take a breath and remember that life is short and children can be our best way to ground ourselves.

There is a community easter egg hunt being organized by the Coles District, via Supervisor Nohe.

Look, in my house, the non denomination Easter Bunny comes every year, he leaves baskets full of goodies at the front door for my kids.  I LOVE watching their faces as they delve through the basket.  I have to get my plug in though for fair trade chocolate here.

Here is the information if you are interested in attending!

Bring your Easter basket and camera and join me for a new event, the Coles District Easter Egg Hunt. The event will feature Easter egg hunts for all ages, games, prizes, refreshments and a visit from a very special guest. The event is free for all Prince William County families, but pre-registration is required. For more information or to register, click to attend this event, call my office at (703)792-4620 or send an e-mail to [email protected]. I hope to see you on March 16th!Read More