Ray Daly Responds With Defeatist Tone
The other day we asked these questions:
Would you like sidewalks in Vienna?
Would you like more outdoor cafes and restaurants?
Would you like a book store in Vienna?
Would you like your basement and yard to not flood every time it rains?
Would you like entertainment in the evening at local establishments?
Would you like something more than a bank on every corner in Vienna?
Would you like to limit nail salons in Town?
Would you like to see an honest effort at reducing traffic?
Would you like to see a new & functional Post Office?
Would you like to see The Vienna Inn SAVED from destruction?
Ray Daly, a Vienna resident, responded:
Sidewalks: Yes
Outdoor Cafe: Out of anyone's control.
Flooding: Not enough info.
Entertainment: Already great and mostly out of our control.
Bank: Every town has this problem.
Nail salons: People should be free to start businesses that the market supports.
Reduce traffic: Not convinced that more can be done that is within our control.
Post office & Vienna Inn: need new threads with more detail.
With that kind of defeatist attitude it is easy to see why Robinson is often reelected. Ray Daly is already convinced that NOTHING in Vienna can be achieved.
Limiting banks and nail salons along with adding entertainment and outdoor cafes are NOT out of our Town Council's control. Good government works within private/public partnerships to create incentives to attract more than nail salons. At one time the market forces in Times Square in New York City supported a Red Light District. The GOVERNMENT changed that. This Chewbacca logic about "market forces" in a community like Vienna is antiquated and foolish.
More on the Vienna Inn? Here.
More on the Post Office? Here.
Lastly, the fact that you have thrown away all hope for traffic solutions surely points to the need for a fresh set of eyes on Town Council. What's your risk Ray? Maud says we can do nothing. Other people want to try and fix it.
Comments
Outdoor cafes are NOT out of anyone's control. When the wonderful Cenan's Bakery wanted to put a couple tables & chairs on the sidewalk in front of the store, they had to fight Maude for TWO YEARS to get approval! It's just one example of the town council's anti-business attitude and it hurts everyone.
Posted by: anne smith | April 26, 2007 09:08 AM
Well this is the exact same attitude that has been pervasive for 25 plus years.
Posted by: logic | April 26, 2007 09:18 AM
You've got to be sticking your head in the sand if you think that these things are out of our control. Seriously, I am not trying to be harsh, but that's exactly what the current town politicians want you to think, because that's their agenda. I have been at meetings when Maud states she does not like the idea of outdoor seating and outdoor cafes. She flat out hates them. So, do we get them? No.
There is no reason why we can not have them, except that it's Maud's way, and nothing else matters. I was there when the cafe on the corner of Nutley and 123 asked for limited seating, and Maud basically threw them out of the town hall.
Regarding any look and feel you wish to have Vienna adopt: banks, small shops, nail salons, etc. We can have all of these and more if the TOV would adopt mixed use code, and increase the limit from 2.5 floors on our Commercial lots to 3.5 or even 4.5 along Maple Avenue only with a skyline setback so the buildings won't detract from the skyline. This is exactly within control of the council and this is what the town considered, but just for the block just around Maud's Town Green.
But, and I mean, BUT, Maud, Lovelace, and Cole are flat out against this. They are simply against these changes for no good reason. They are wrong, and people are finally beginning to take notice.
Please Vote.
Posted by: Business Owner In Vienna | April 26, 2007 12:08 PM
Only the raccoons I feed at my house and the rats in the Marco Polo dumpsters should eat outside. Civilized patrons dine indoors.
Posted by: Maud | April 26, 2007 12:24 PM
Contrary to the headline, I reject that "NOTHING in Vienna can be achieved." Just participating in this blog is one example that I believe that things can be improved.
Another example is that I agree that Council meetings should be videotaped and made available on the web. This could be done very cheaply. I see no need to spend money to put them on cable.
And finding additional posts about outdoor eating, I am reconsidering my statement about "out of our control" relating to that issue.
My answers also reflect an attitude of "show me." I've yet to see a candidate promote a realistic proposal that reduces traffic. Incumbents and challengers say they want to "fix our traffic problems." It is just "Chewbacca" talk to me. It says nothing.
And finally, I love to walk and bike in Vienna and do so nearly every day. However, there is a parking problem that other commercial areas (Winchester, Bethesda, etc.) have been proactive about. Parking would allow Vienna to be more than just a "drive through" and would do more to change the commercial landscape than complaining about nail salons.
Posted by: Ray Daly | April 29, 2007 10:44 AM