Obviously, No Celebrations Will Be In Order

At least it was pretty exciting and it was nice to see a first time candidate beat an incumbant for once.

Springsteen will make a great Council member. The simple minded antique blue hairs who do the voting in Vienna elected a union thug car mechanic. Vienna will apparently never escape its redneck roots. And I love the part where he raves about his roots in mob-controlled North Jersey. Great. What a slime.

For what it's worth, here's my two cents...

Time to shut this site down. Not a lot of traffic, and only the same few people responding under different names.

HV was set up initially to "document the inconsistencies within the Windover Heights Historic District," which is a confined area within the NW qaudrant. The original "Blog Master" has left the Town of Vienna, and the website utterly failed to post the result of the dismissed lawsuit filed by those citizens against the Town. That would have been the MOST important issue, yet when posted for only one day, it was immediately retracted.

There are few posters, and probably 30% of those who post live outside the Town (Anne Smith being one of those...)

I say shut it down. Close it up. It's silly and irrelevant - The [...] of "Vienna Mommy" should be filling out their [...] by now. It's embarrassing to go on.

So, bet this won't be posted, which proves my point...

There's really not so much to say here now anymore, is there?

I'll sign my name, push "Send" and see what happens...

...Dare you.

Deborah Brehony

Result of the elections? Same old keep the present system going vs. same old dumb growth Yuppification. Looks like Yuppification won.

Doesn't Brehony sounds bitter. Yes, we all know Brehony gave up. She was not anointed to be on Council and left. Yes, I am sure people want this blog closed down, then the truth would go back to being buried in Town Hall closets. In terms of lawsuits -- are they over Brehony?

Keep HV going. What is the alternative? Getting censored news, pro-Seeman opinion, and taxpayer funded PR in the Slime-Gazette.

Nothing needs to be defended or taken down: traffic numbers on HV are nearly at the highest they've ever been.

Is there anything here that can't be done on Fairfax Underground?

The walk on the hill will be interesting this year. We have not heard anything about the demise of the Salsbury House in the town newsletter. I guess it was too insignificant. Counting on HV to keep us informed about this comedy. Deborah, you should stay in town long enough to enjoy this event. Oh, when you leave, would you take Maud with you.

Why does Brehony care about this site anymore? She made her decision to leave town already. Sounds like she's feeling ill will now that she realized this site probably helped some of the new candidates win and she already made the decision not to run. This site usually spoke well of her. Why the hard words for a website that many people in Vienna turn to for information they can't get through the current system? She certainly can't have too much love for the previous council after they turned their back on her and she can't care too much about Vienna now that she's leaving. I wonder how well she'll do moving into such an old established neighborhood with its own established way of doing things.

Keep HV available for the peoples! Traffic may have slowed down and its orginal "raison d'etre" may no longer apply, but as folks have already noted, it's still the only place to go to find out and discuss what's really going on in the town, even if you don't agree with some of the opinions.

Back to the topic at hand, the election was close and new council members were elected, which has to be considered to be at least a bit of progress around here... if not cause for outright celebration.

Brehony was on the commercial ARB. She was starting to raise valid issues. Maud took her into a back room and dressed her down. She ran to the corner, did not stand up, and now quits on Vienna. Brehony, let's face it, never really tried. She was more interested in power as opposed to doing the right thing. In terms of Vienna's historic district...is that the same district that allowed the so-called most historic house (Salsbury) to be torn down and replaced with a 10,000 sq ft house? Brehony is a quitter. It is the Vienna memory of her.

Wyltn get with the program. Walk on the Hill already happened (April 26) this year.

I don't agree with closing the site down but I stopped coming here because it got too difficult to get good facts from in-between the PILES of mud slinging, and diatribe.

Horrors now that Maud will be leaving what will you all talk about? OH yeah it's the brave souls that took office. POOR THEM!

JKMR? is right we should be celebrating the 1st real change we've had on the Board in years.

People of Richmond have fun with her!

ooohh is it you Vienna Mommy now running the site? Way to edit out comments! LOL

Since several of you feel the need to bring me up, I am not the issue at hand. The issue is our newly elected officials. Will they use their power for good or continue evil that pervades this town (so to speak).

Will they seek to finally give us a cable channel? Will they finish their sidewalk priority list? Will they address zoning?

But, once again, attack something random to take attention away from any real issues.

Interesting comment I found on Fairfax Underground...I hope this is more to your liking...

Re: Town/city elections today
Posted by: Mrs. K ()
Date: May 06, 2009 03:05PM

I bullet voted for DiRocco. I wanted to be sure some fresh blood got on that TC.

I think it's hysterical that Howard and Dan are so close, because you couldn't pick two more different guys. Regardless of the one comment that Dan made about "undesireables," he seems to be a fairly decent and even-tempered guy. He seems to care about doing the right thing, and I've never seen him be disrespectful to anyone. I really thought that once Maud Robinson was gone, Dan would emerge as a next generation leader on the TC.

On the otherhand Howard clearly has some mental health issues, along with an explosive temper. I've seen him go off on random people at various functions around Vienna and at the firehouse. The people he works with at his Fairfax Co. job all think he's nuts, too -- and they are afraid of him. He's done some things in front of the police that would have gotten other people arrested, but he has some immunity with the Town Police due to his brown-nosing of Maud Robinson, and because he is head of the volunteer fire dept.

Brehony is the first to involve children below the age of seven in her political agenda. She is a fool.

The fact that I do not even know when the so called "Walk on the Hill" takes place reflects the importance of the event to me and probably many others. I suspect that most of the attendees are out-of-towners conned into thinking they will see something special. And to bolster my contention that the town is hiding information I remind you that I have not read anything post "WONTH" anywhere. Does anyone know what the reaction to the missing "salbury house" was at the WONTH?

PLEASE keep HV on-line !!! I do not want or need a slimey skank like Scott McCaffrey spoon feeding me TOV news via lightly rewritten press releases in the Sun Gazette from Seeman's office.

Wyltn, 5 years from now the house that replaced the Salsbury house will be called "historic"! Of course, none of this has anything to do with history or historical preservation. It is a small group of people, in control of a political machine, who use the word historic to gain and then use power. Does that sound crazy and perhaps hard to believe to normal people? Yes, I am sure it does, but if you have ever seen the idiocy that is the decision-making at a Vienna Town Council meeting, if you ever seen Maudasaurus dress down someone publicly for her cheap thrills, you would know how gross Vienna politics is. Sadly, some Vienna people actually think 2 new people were elected. Two new people were appointed by Maud. When she is dead or comatose, maybe we will be onto something new in Vienna.

Stop! Please stop! I quit!I quit! Just give me five minutes to put a bandaid on my ego and you can start in on me again....

There is always a place for intelligent, civil and respectful political discourse. There is a means to addess policies and politics without tearing down people or personalities.

For the site to be relevant and resepcted by more than just a few, the name-calling, backbiting and bickering needs to be put aside to allow for honest communcation and conversation, where citizens can freely discuss without fear of what in some cases amounts to cyber-bullying.

VM is right in her post that the issue is our newly elected officials. The question is, can the issue be discussed in a manner that draws more people in, or will some posters at HV continue tactics that repel rather than attract others?

Dellinger sealed his fate when he (along with Kelleher and Polychrones) voted to let the meals tax surcharge expire. Maud was furious, calling their action "penny wise and pound foolish." Dellinger's fear-mongering over the bike trail also hurt him, but standing up to Maud was the fundamental reason why he lost.

HV should continue to exist with the mantra: never lie.

I too voted for the only two people that deserved anyone's vote - the non-incumbents! The rest of the candidates showed nothing that deserved our vote, especially incumbents. I thought Gadell was the most qualified candidate given his background, but when has Vienna ever elected anyone that’s qualified? The fact that he didn’t win shows we still have a problem because the Town citizens didn't show up in the numbers that would have resulted in a "fair" election. I have no clue who DiRocco is or whether she will truly represent the entire Town, but anything new has to be good. This Town is mis-managed and it's costing us in terms of taxes that are not well spent. It will be interesting to see if the two new members of the Council have any intellectual fortitude to be independent thinkers and to make sure the right direction for the Town is finally achievable. As for the people infected with the Maud syndrome – she’s no longer an elected official. If the Council does anything right, they should think on their own. Maud has no influence on them any more. She’s retired and should be treated as a retiree.

I think HV serves a purpose and should remain online. But Deborah is right that the name-calling & bickering should stop. I'd still like to see HV create a real coalition to accomplish something--like supporting a serious candidate for town council. We've missed at least 2 elections since I started reading this, but there's always next time.

Dan's macaca moment, "undesirables", was what sealed his fate. He tried to "backpedal" but it was too late. Read http://www.examiner.com/x-2429-DC-Bicycle-Transportation-Examiner~y2009m5d4-Vienna-Council-candidate-Dellinger-says-he-meant-undesirable-cars-not-people?cid=exrss-DC-Bicycle-Transportation-Examiner

I really don't think enough people cared or noticed the "undesirables" comment. The simple fact is the "powers that be" wanted Laurie and Howard on Council and they made sure it happened.

I'm wondering if Dan knew it was coming?!

I realized only moments ago that I don't yet know the final results of the town election. Google indicated that this site could be appropriate. So, for the first time in my 30+ years as a town resident I was struck by the pungent stench of some truly mean and nasty people.

If you truly believe there's been prosecutable wrongdoing by Council members take your complaint to the Commonwealth's Attorney. It's easy to infer from your on-line blivet that you think some of the candidates ought to be in jail, but you appear barely educated enough to stay away from actionable libel.

I see you seem to want "new" people and to be relieved of the obligation to pay taxes. Well, have "new" people in the National government so if you'd move east a few miles you could be nearer to them and Vienna would be free of the closest thing I've seen to a political "machine."

Please don't let the door hit you on your way out.

Dick Letaw
Blackstone Terrace

Well, I didn't vote for Dellinger solely due to the "undesirables" comment... so that' one less vote than he would have had.

In a margin that small, I don't think the result can be solely attributed to a "powers that be" conspiracy. He'll have to take some of the blame himself.

oh dear Dick, TSK TSK TSK hold on to your hat you're in for a very bumpy ride. Good luck man.

Well, Dick glad you woke from your 30 year golden slumber to pontificate on issues you clearly have no clue -- the corrupt machine that is Vienna politics. And guess what Dick, machines are generally not prosecutable. Does that make them right? Are you really a clueless loser who has never seen the nasty and mean Vienna Town Council members in action? Seriously, you are emblematic as to why Vienna falters - people living in la la land.

And "disgusted" when Maud is 6ft under -- she will be without power. To say otherwise is foolish.

If people out there want to go start another Brehony "happy" web site, only to see it die within a week, be our guest. While you waste your time this site will continue the fight to expose the truth that is the corrupt Vienna machine. So please Dick, and whoever else wants to sing Kumbaya, go right ahead. This site will continue to fight with both hands against a government that has no problem throwing a dirty punch.

Bottom line, Brehony kissed so many rings and begged for power for years, playing the game because she thought she could do an end around, and got tossed out like garbage. Gee, surprise her technique did not work. Maud ain't dumb, she and the rest of the Vienna Town Council are political animals.

Is that bizarre to say about a small Town? Sure is bizarre. Is it true? A quick 15 minute spin around this site is all you need.

Anne, when a political action committee raises north of a few hundred thousand dollars -- a challenge can be mounted. Until then, when time and money are precious, this site does its best.

Lost,
It can't possibly cost 6 figures to run for town council of a town with a pop of 15k. What on earth would such funds be spent on? A campaign jet and TV ads? It takes volunteers and legwork to win a small town election and these do not cost great sums of money.

Anne, there are no volunteers, except machine players. No one cares at this level like on a national level. You need competent, disciplined workers who get politics and who are playing to win. That costs money. You don't need smiley faces and yellow everywhere like Brehony's effort a few years back. You need dedicated political winners and that ain't free. Ask yourself: what is the the true $ number the Vienna Town Council uses in tax dollars to stay in power? It ain't small.

Take, but for one example, the notion of "small town". It is an absolute crock of BS, but through careful and consistent messaging, the VTC has convinced near dead people who come out of their house once a year to vote, that it is spring time during Eisenhower's reign. That kind of messaging needs money to battle. Or we just wait for them to all die. This much I know, and the machine knows it too, the people buying the new homes will in the long run not put up with what the current blue hairs put up with. The blue hairs in power are bitter and angry government workers on fixed incomes. Oh, sure, there are some progressive retired federal employees in Vienna, but not many. As crazy as it is for many in Vienna to perhaps digest, the Vienna Town Council for 30+ years has reveled in class warfare. It is a unique political stance considering Vienna sits in the middle of Fairfax County! The new people, the ones buying all those new 1.2M homes are not on the same page as the blue hair voters...it's just a matter of when and how does the power shift occur.

I wish to speak for myself, and clarify what others have said about me.

This has not been an easy trip. I DID totally want to and intended to run for Town Council in 2009. My decision not to do so was in great part due to the negative "push-back" that I got from current Town Government electeds/appointees. It was made apparent to me that I would not be welcome as a member on the Council.

That being said, I hold no ill will.

I deeply resent the one poster who defined me as a "Quitter." And it is childish to make fun of my name, as in "Phoney Brehony."

If my happiness upsets you, "Lost Dick," and you resent the color yellow, I'm just not quite sure what to say on a public wed-site.

Why did I post that original Post on this site, about "shutting the site down?" Look at that prior Post - "Simple minded antique blue hairs, union car thug mechanic, Vienna's red-necked roots and mob controlled New Jersey?"

Talk about "bitter!" Do you remember that old Saturday Night Skit ---

"HAVE YOU LOOKED AT YOURSELF?"

Chill out on the negativity! It ain't helpin'!

I am far from being "dressed down" by Mrs. Robinson or anyone else - In fact I stand clothed in Full Armour - And I stand strong in my corner ready to respond to any and all punches that you wish to throw. Have at it. You seem to be having a great time!

By the way...I DO think
that there is a RAT in the PANTRY....Not sure WHO, but there is a definitive Poster on HV that slams ME in particular. Everything from claiming that our company picks up illegals at the Cedar Lane Shopping Center to too much parking in our own backyard....Same MO as "Quitter" and "Fool."

I'll take my punches -- but there's someone here who's been dissin' JP and me since the day we moved into Town....

Who and Why and for What Reason? What's the motivaiton?

I agree with DB and Dick in the sense that it is unproductive to resort to name-calling and demonization. Moreover, none of that is needed to make TC look bad. Where TC really falls down is in their commitment to democracy. In the past, poll taxes, literacy tests and Grandfather Clauses were all used to reduce participation. May elections and the absence of broadcasts or podcasts of TC meetings are the modern-day tactics. TC, now is your chance to show your support for democracy. Make it easier for all to participate.

The Sun-Gazette just put an informercial on-line about a large local law firm. Only place we can turn to for real news about Vienna is HV.

This has not been an easy trip. I DID totally want to and intended to run for Town Council in 2009. My decision not to do so was in great part due to the negative "push-back" that I got from current Town Government electeds/appointees. It was made apparent to me that I would not be welcome as a member on the Council.

There it is in black and white. If Brehony could not be appointed to Vienna Town Council (like all the others are), she would not *run*. In Vienna you don't *run*, you get put there. Thank Brehony, a former partial insider, for at least admitting how the game is played in Vienna. Have you ever heard a candidate for Congress say: "They would not welcome me, so I didn't run"? Say why? Are you kidding me? No, not kidding Dorothy, this ain't Oz, its political brass knuckles Vienna. There are no elections in Vienna. There are dog and pony pageants put on by the machine to fulfill State law. And as we have seen in years past if things go a little sideways, even on election day, the machine will break State law in the election booth to make those victories.

The "Rat in the Pantry" is undoubtedly a Machine Member out to sabatoge those who dare dream to bring change to our Noble Little Town. Beware the messenger, a Trojan Horse has been posting here for some time...

Look, we all know Brehony is 100x better than Spring-fool. No Name calling? Sorry, no can do. If the guy is a Maud-goon, now appointed to TC, whose skill set is working with wrenches and lug nuts - well it sure shows you how powerful the machine is. Brehony, quirks aside, has good taste and understands appropriate re-development - something Vienna needs. Spring-fool? I assume he wipes down a mean fire engine, but that is not exactly a qualification for leadership. It is a qualification for being a member of the volunteer fire department. Flame me as you must, but the truth doesn't need any special polish - it just needs to be thrown out there. Maybe next time we can elect one of the guys who picks up the trash? I am sure the machine could spin that away as 'sanitation engineer' - then shazam - instant TC machine member inserted on Council! Maybe if Brehony cleaned toilets or dug ditches her resume would have met the Maud cutoff for excellence.

Hey Lost Dick- It was a funny moniker for a few days, but we all get it now...

You really don't know me so well, and I don't know that I can communicate that well with you on a Blog...But....

I'm not the queen/princess that some imagine - In fact - I HAVE cleaned more toilets than a lot of people - I worked for a janitorial staff in my summers, and yep, been there, done that. No shame, just tryin' to make a living.

The guy who picks up the trash is a pretty cool dude too -And we need him to help us. The guy who wipes down and maintains the fire engine is important as well.

We shouldn't judge by occupation - Everyone does what they can and what they feel called for. A community organizer may become President of the United States. A sanitation worker may become Mayor, and a cat can look at the King.

There's nothing inherently wrong with wrenches and lug nuts.

Let's withhold judgement and see how he does.

"Flame me as you must, but the truth doesn't need any special polish - it just needs to be thrown out there."

That is precisely the point. The unadorned truth is ugly enough.

A gentleman changing a tire placed his lug nuts in his hubcap which he managed to tip into the river. He inquired of a passerby where he could purchase new lugs. The gentleman said Sir you do not have to go buy lugs, simply remove one lug from each wheel and you can use them to hold on the fourth wheel. The man asked who this person was and he said he was from the insane asylum on the hill. He was surprised and told the man so. The man retorted: I'm crazy not stupid.

"I think HV serves a purpose and should remain online. But Deborah is right that the name-calling & bickering should stop. I'd still like to see HV create a real coalition to accomplish something--like supporting a serious candidate for town council. We've missed at least 2 elections since I started reading this, but there's always next time."

Anne, it would appear that you've missed more than just the last two elections. If you don't live in the ToV, as Mrs. Brehony points out you don't in her first post here, you miss ALL town elections. And that would explain why you wouldn't tell Charles Rossi where you live, as well as why you didn't know there was bus service from Vienna to Metro.

Granted, you are of course free to post whatever you want, but only people that can vote in town elections should be worried about who's running. Unless that's all you've got to worry about. The only candidate who got my vote came in fifth. How about you?

Mark, you are wrong when you state that out of town residents have no interest in who is on Council. Over half the users of the community center are out of towners. The sports programs are overwhelmed with outsiders. The list goes on. Also, outsiders are looking for shopping direction the same as Vienna residents and who is on council effects how business is conducted. Check out the proportion of Vienna residents who use the Bowman House facility. And the list still goes on. Are Vienna police responding to calls in the County?

No, "Wyltn", you're wrong. First, that's not what I said. And you're presenting a very limited argument. Saying "outsiders are looking for shopping direction the same as Vienna residents and who is on council effects how business is conducted" makes about as much sense as your personal fetish with the ToV building the Abbotsford Dr. cut-through. It ain't gonna happen. Never was. And for one simple reason: ABBOTSFORD AIN'T IN VIENNA! Obviously, people outside the town use the community center, their kids use the sports programs. Or may even walk on the bike path. But all those things are unaffected by who's on the town council. So I can assume that you don't live in the ToV either? Hence your fixation with that Abbotsford thing?

If Abbotsford had been extended, it would have passed though Northside Park, which is in TOV. Apparently, TC fought it so that traffic (and wallets) would continue to go through TOV. TOV residents and non-residents alike have been negatively affected by this decision. (Many non-residents are also affected by TC's opposition to a bridge or tunnel where the W&OD crosses Maple Ave. A DC cycling blog actually celebrated the defeat of Dellinger.) Much as I enjoy Northside Park, Abbotsford should have been extended.

your personal fetish with the ToV building the Abbotsford Dr. cut-through. It ain't gonna happen. Never was. And for one simple reason: ABBOTSFORD AIN'T IN VIENNA!

Abbotsford not going through has everything to do with the TOV. This is a comment made by someone who is a recent arrival to the Town. The Robinsons were instrumental in its defeat because they [wrongly] believed it would be the demise of Vienna's business corridor.

Just as the TOV had everything to do with crushing what would have been a Reston Town Center-like establishment at Vienna Metro. Now, instead of a multipurpose facility, we just have tons of condos/townhomes. Talk about poor use of land.

Abbottsford connections are kind of a mute point at this time since Fairfax County approved those homes that block the future connection route across the W&OD and they also don't support connecting the road for environmental reasons. F.C. is probably against it more than the town by now. Perhaps this road will be connected many years from now, but I doubt things will change in at least the next 10-20 years.

We shouldn't judge by occupation - Everyone does what they can and what they feel called for. A community organizer may become President of the United States. A sanitation worker may become Mayor, and a cat can look at the King. There's nothing inherently wrong with wrenches and lug nuts. Let's withhold judgement and see how he does.

1. Yes, we should judge members by occupation. We should judge them by everything. He is does not have any record of experience that is needed for operating Vienna today. Zilch. None.

2. See how he does? He will do as he is told. He is a loyal machine member.

Mark, you need to go back and review some of the previous posts on HV. The town boards and council hassle applicants and then approve assanign business such as at the Southern States property. Discuss with Skorpios restauraunt their experience with the towns treatment when they wanted to expand years ago. Are we going from one extreme to the other? Talk to the businesswoman who refused to have a town sponsored "ribbon cutting" because she was angry about their treatment of her when getting board approvals. As for Abbotsford, I will put it on record here: Charlie Robinson admitted publicaly that not allowing Abbotsford to be completed was a mistake. The suggestion that Maud's influence will cease when she departs Vienna is far from the truth. She is trying hard to assure her influence will continue and the PC zoning is her first step,

Abbotsford would not have gone through Northside Park but through two properties next to it that the town owned. The town sold the properties for houses to be built with the notion that it would insure that the construction of Abbotsford would be blocked.