Feedback from Area Citizen

The truth makes some people very angry. Case in point? We received feedback tonight from a citizen living outside the Town limits posted to this blog entry. Here is the feedback with a response:

So let me get this straight...

2) With all of the "holier than though" rants I've read so far you still find it acceptable to steal music and distribute it illegally? The link "Mrs. Robinson" is to a MP3 file that can be downloaded by anyone. So you are promoting the theft of music.
Larry B.

Larry your "uncensored" contribution is live. Now would you perhaps offer something of a substantive rebuttal to the content on this site...instead of a whine? We are all ears. What's the other side you want to promote? In terms of the 12 second sample of 'Mrs. Robinson', it adds levity which can be useful in telling a story.

Feedback was posted in the "comments" link for this post by a Town resident. We repeat it here:

"LarryB - Public discourse can be messy... personalities differ, the meaning of words vary, intentions can be confused, emotion intervenes intellect, etc., etc., etc.... this all gets worse with asynchronous, blind postings on a blog. But don't let these pitfalls dissuade you from participating, expressing yourself, making a contribution, raising a concern, reading between the lines, and staying above the fray. If you have something to say, say it and be heard within the bounds of what is acceptable to this community as maintained by its host. And know that if the host abuses this privilege, this community will eventually move on to another more equitable outlet, but it will not go away. This blog has already had a positive affect on Vienna Town government... I sense it! Democracy is a good thing and it is not just about one vote per person and then accepting the spin and obfuscation of politics. The representation you are afforded here on this blog already exceeds that which you get from traditional politics. Don't be so quick to overlook its value to you just because it may be imperfect. At the very least, the new candidates for Town Council are to be commended for their advocacy for frank communication between Town government and its residents."

Larry B. responded (personal issues removed):

"If the only people responding or allowed to post are those that agree totally with the content, are we really seeing an open & frank discussion on an issue? I certainly welcome open & frank discussions. But I have yet to see an outline here of the key issues, the incumbents stance and what the new candidates propose instead. What I have seen is attacks on specific issues that seem to stem around a "historic district" that appears to be driven by home/land owners within that area seeking a change. It would appear that this has been before the council multiple times and they have consistently voted against these home/land owners. As for some topics that have been mentioned on the site: The “Windover Heights Historic District” – Since all other avenues have been tried, challenging the situation in court seems like the prudent stance. So if I understand the threads correctly there is a lawsuit pending on the matter. Then that is the forum for reconciliation. Asking a sitting council member to discuss something that is under litigation is inappropriate. There are rules governing our legal system and one of the tenants of the rules is that a matter that is under litigation should not be “tried in public” by the parties involved. We see this all the time on TV. Once something is being litigated the prudent response is to let the courts do their job. Not try to debate a point in a public forum. The time for that is past. Traffic – wouldn’t it be nice if Vienna had a magic bullet to reduce the traffic on Hwy 123. I don’t see how that can be done without forcing the traffic to go someplace else. Traffic is a serious issue for the entire region, it’s not unique to Vienna. Please point me to any reputable study that shows how Vienna can reduce the traffic on Hwy 123. “Modernizing” the business corridor (Hwy 123) – I would love to see the buildings that are aging replaced with more modern structures. I would also love to see truly historic buildings preserved. I would like to see that this could be done without increasing the traffic on Hwy 123. I saw the examples from the Market Commons in Clarendon, VA. I didn’t see a summary of their traffic before the renovations & after. Logic would say that such renovations would increase traffic. Help me understand how building new businesses on Hwy 123 will decrease the traffic problem. “McMansions” – that’s the name the national press has given to the current trend of buying older homes, leveling them and building huge new structures. What are the controls in Vienna for this? I’m seeing these “McMansions” spring up all over the place. How do you balance a desire to maintain the “look & feel” of a community and allow the homeowners the flexibility to use their land to their best use? I don’t have the answer but I’d sure be willing to listen to any options that are presented. So let’s have an open discussion on these issues. Show me alternatives. Besides saying what the existing council members have not done, tell me what could have been done differently. What alternatives were at their disposal that they elected to not leverage?"
Larry B.

Our feedback to Larry B.:

1. Your entire philosophy appears to revolve around "keeping everything the same" and "keeping incumbents". There is a certain "trust the government" attitude to your writings.

2. Solutions for Maple Avenue are here and here. Please outline a specific rebuttal, not just rhetoric.

3. You want historic buildings preserved. What does that mean? Which ones are they?

4. In terms of the historic district, if a government abdicates their legislative responsibility they don't get a free pass to hide behind the courts. You may want to read up more on the issue if you want to debate it.

5. By your traffic logic we should leave people in office, who have already been there for years upon years, because there is no possible solution. We don't buy that. If the current crop has failed for decades, time for new blood.