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June 18, 2008
Victim of Vienna Fire Remembered for Years of Service Comments (0)
From the Sun Gazette:
An 86-year-old woman who was a longtime Vienna resident died on June 13 after her house caught fire in the early morning hours, Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department officials said.Virginia Casey, who had lived at 308 Plum St., S.W., since 1953, was found dead at the scene, officials said.
"The last thing she did on this Earth was to come save me," said her son, Richard Casey II, who also lived at the house. "She woke me up. I thought she was behind me, but she wasn't. The smoke was down on the floor. It was evil, poisonous."
Firefighters responded to the blaze at 4:20 a.m. Upon arrival, they encountered heavy fire coming from the rear and sides of the one-story house. The home and a nearby shed were fully engulfed in flames, fire officials said.
Firefighters sounded a second alarm, which brought more than 60 emergency personnel to the scene. Fire crews extinguished the blaze in about 40 minutes, officials said.
A smoke alarm sounded, which allowed two of the house's occupants to escape with non-life-threatening injuries.
Two men were displaced by the fire, which also killed the family's dog, an Australian shepherd named Dexter. One man was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital and the other the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
Fire investigators said the blaze caused about $300,000 damage and that the house is a complete loss. The fire's cause is under investigation.
Casey's death was Fairfax County's fourth fire fatality this year.
Casey was born Virginia Clark in Arlington on Oct. 13, 1921, and graduated from Washington-Lee High School. She later graduated from the Washington School for Secretaries and served as a secretary for the U.S. State Department during World War II.
She and her husband, Richard Casey, married in Hutchinson, Kan., in 1945 after his discharge from the U.S. Navy. They had a son, Richard Casey II, and a daughter, Margaret Casey, who died 10 years ago.
Virginia Casey worked with the American Textile Association and later for the Resource Recovery Administration, from which she retired in 1992 after her husband died.
Casey over the years was active in the Lions Club Auxiliary, American Legion Post 180, American Association of Retired Persons and the Holland Point Civic Association in Anne Arundel County, Md., where the family had a beach cottage.
Casey enjoyed genealogy and had belonged to the Church of the Holy Comforter in Vienna, said Martha Clark, her sister-in-law.
Vienna resident Shirley Martin said Casey was an outgoing hostess who reached out to help others.
"She was very interested in everything," Martin said. "She read [about] everything that was happening. She had some strong opinions about things, which was good."
Vienna Town Council member George Lovelace said Casey frequently spoke with him about issues affecting the town.
"She became my conscience for quite a while," Lovelace said. "I'll definitely miss her charges, her directions to me."
Council member Dan Dellinger called Casey "a great lady" and said Vienna had lost one of its great citizens.
In addition to her son, Casey is survived by a grandson, Troy MacDaniel, and two great-grandchildren.
There will be a visitation on Friday, June 20, from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at Money & King Vienna Funeral Home. Burial services will be held at 2 p.m. that day at Quantico National Cemetery in Triangle, Va., where her husband and daughter are buried.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks well-wishers to donate to their favorite charities.
September 26, 2007
Jammin Java Safety? Comments (6)
An article submitted by a reader:
Picture it... a standing room only late night crowd; loud music; low lighting; one entrance cluttered with tables, chairs, railings, flower pots, bar-b-que grills, and assorted other hardware store debris; maybe an exit in back if you can find it; and a hardware store next door stuffed to the ceiling with combustible merchandise... is Jammin Java a fire trap?
Answers?
Submissions Comments (2)
We welcome article submission for main posts from anyone. Well written, provocative, interesting...is the way to go.
June 15, 2007
Vienna Relay for Life Comments (0)
Matthew Stich passed along information on the Vienna Relay for Life:
$360,000 collected.
1. http://www.kintera.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=190021
2. Pictures
3. http://www.cancer.org/docroot/par/content/PAR_1_Relay_For_Life.asp
4. http://www.relayforlife.org/relay
March 15, 2007
Vienna Resident Speaks Out Comments (4)
A resident of Vienna recently put forward this letter to the editor:
I have had enough of the tax increases, ill-advised spending, projects that do little to improve our life in Fairfax County and Vienna, lack of meaningful information, and general waste. Now, we find that the Town of Vienna has conducted another self-serving pay study to inflate Town employee salaries beyond reasonable. Imagine employees of the Town with salaries approaching $140,000. Anyone who has dealt with the Town knows that the employees are certainly not over-worked.
January 07, 2007
Historic District Defender Howard Uman Whines for Relief Comments (14)
Here is an example of the fine minds supporting the continuation of the historic district scam:
We will not tolerate these types of nutbags abusing property rights. This guy in the video even created a website at one time called "Preserve Windover" with this mindless mission statement:
"The goal of this site [preservewindover.com] is for the preservation of the Windover Heights Historic District in Vienna, Virginia. There is another site dispelling information about the historic district which claims to be purely factual. There are gaps and inferences made on this web site which are not facts."
The "other" website pf course is HistoricVienna.com. Here is Mr. Ponytail in action at Vienna Town Hall:
To paraphrase, "Mrs. Mayor, I thought I could harm others' property rights with no consequence! They fought back. Help me please!"
December 06, 2006
Vienna Gadfly Props Up Chad Bishop's Hypocritical Life Choices Comments (4)
In response to this post, we got this feedback:
Get real! You all are lambasting Chad Bishop for trying to do something more for the community, when all you do yourself is sit behind a computer and blog about it. You attack his credibility and you call him ignorant when you actually know nothing about his motivations or background. As a lifelong resident of this area, with many family members involved in several community organizations, isn't it possible that this man is simply trying to be civic minded and change a downward spiral?? If you knew Chad at all, you would know that the last thing this guy is after is political power. The Town of Vienna is a gem in Fairfax County and the suburban sprawl that is Northern Virginia. What is so disgusting about a young member of the community trying to find away to help protect that? Before you point a finger, maybe you yourself should do some research. And oh, by the way- are you really going to attack his credibility as a Church Minister Because he involved with local politics? Selling his soul? Come on. One would think that having a person with a soul get involved is just what this town needs and applaud Chad's attempts to make a differnce [sic]- however naieve [sic] they may be. Besides, his political and religious convictions have nothing to do with one another- ever heard of the First Amendment? The Bishops are model community members who are doing everything they can to ensure that their children can experience Vienna and all of its charm the way it was when they grew up here themselves.
Whoever wrote the above is either a moron or pretending to be one. Bishop is making the community better by sitting on a corrupt Board that he himself admits is wrong? Explain that to us. To your other points:
1. We know his motivations because he has made them clear.
2. His background is right here.
3. In one breath you say he is not after 'political power', but then say what's wrong with being involved in "local politics". Which is it?
4. The Windover Heights Historic District doesn't have anything to do with sprawl or preventing it. The feedback above sounds like a notorious Knoll Street resident who drinks the Maud Kool-Aid.
5. Religions are all about doing the "right" thing in life. If Chad wants to be a youth minister, supposedly showing young people how to lead a proper life, we say that those same young people should know that Chad is a hypocrite in his Vienna political life. Please keep trying to separate Chad's actions in your mind.
6. You spend the time to write a rambling Chad Bishop defense, but then call Chad naive. That is a hoot!
November 07, 2006
Charles Brewer's Plan to Effectively Marginalize Women Voters; His Response Comments (3)
Over the weekend we posted comment about Chuck Brewer's plan to give each household in the Malcolm Windover Heights Civic Association a single vote. Chuck, who is an avid reader of this site, responded to our criticism by sending out an email (with a "screen shot" of our post) to every member of the Civic Association. He also said this:
Yesterday, we sent a notice about: 1. Proposed amendments to the Association By-Laws 2. A membership meeting, Nov. 16, 2006, 7:30PM, Vienna Community Center to discuss & vote on these amendments. As you can see from the screenshot below, at least one person has read the proposed amendments. The MWHCA_ByLawsNov06Explained.pdf contains explanations of why the Executive Board is proposing the various amendments. I hope you will take the time to read them, and then plan on attending the Nov. 16 meeting. Whether you agree with any or all, please consider sharing your opinion with us at the meeting. These amendments will be voted upon at the meeting, and any amendment lacking a majority vote will obviously not go into place. --Charles Brewer
Isn't amazing how fast our web criticism can make a weenie like Brewer crawl back into his hole? He is already backtracking. Feedback about Brewer:
Chuck, if you need me to pay my dues for BOTH my husband and I, fine. If I'm a registered voter in this freakin' country, I get my own vote in the civic association. GEESH! Man, now I'm fired up to vote tomorrow!
Did we forget to mention Chuck also sits on the Vienna Board of Zoning Appeals? Yes, he really is one of Maud's weenies.
October 17, 2006
Safeway-Park Street Cut-Through Now One-Way Comments (2)
Feedback from a resident:
124 Park Street SE has painted their lot 'one-way only' to effectively close the very convenient cut through between Park St. and the Safeway parking lot. If drivers honor this new traffic flow, all Safeway traffic wanting to exit east on Park St. must now exit onto Maple or Glyndon and circle around to travel east on Park. This will divert that traffic onto busy Maple, across the lot in front of Jammin Java, and/or onto Echols to the very busy and dangerous 3-way 1-stop intersection at Echols and Park. This is unfortunate since that cut-through was very convenient and helped to spread the traffic pressure around. Do they really expect drivers trying to exit Safeway east toward Park to STOP and turn around when they discover the cut through has been painted one-way only? Either they physically close the cut through or remove the one-way markings, imo. And how can they force 124 Park customers to exit via Safeway, but not allow Safeway customers to exit via 124 Park? And that cut-through is a breeze most hours of the week... why shut it down 100% of the time? And what about the Echols/Park intersection... isn't time for the Town to put a traffic light there... AT A VIEWABLE LEVEL?
October 06, 2006
Dave Marsden Memorial Comments (2)
Visit memorial site to make a donation.
Unfortunately, Maud Robinson quashed this memorial after signing off on it first. Nothing surprises us anymore.
October 02, 2006
'Slum Houses' Complaints Comments (16)
A reader wrote in:
Shouldn't the Town take a more active role in ensuring homeowners keep up their property? What about that "slum house" next to the post office. Not objecting to the color (to each his own, can't legislate taste...), but the broken door, tall grass and junk in the yard. Who owns that? I hear it’s a rental?
This reader's point about whether there should be guidelines or rules is a good one. That should be explored.
However, the home in question is 'protected' by Maud Robinson and the historic district ordinance. Vienna leaders consider that home special. That house is also party to a lawsuit seeking to have the historic district overturned. Until the lawsuit is handled, and of course the Town controls the speed of that process, not much will likely change with this particular home.
September 28, 2006
Special Pickups View Comments (5)
The following was submitted by 'Town Green':
Stop Special Pickups and Save!
I propose that the Town stop its free special pickup service and start charging a fee. This will encourage people to put their trash in a can instead of just throwing it on the ground in a big pile a couple times a year. Our streets will not look so trashed out year round. It's more cost efficient for the Town to remove this trash with conventional trash collection instead of sending a crew of men and a front-end loader around to watch one guy load each pile into a dump truck... while damaging pavement, curb, and lawn. And the Town could shift most of the special pickup expense to those who actually use or abuse the service. Less trash piles, more efficient trash collection, and savings for those who don't consume so much in life and who know how to put their trash in a can. Look around... do you see any other local governments providing free special picks and sending a crew of men and construction equipment all around town to pickup up trash that could very often have been put in a can? Stop piling up the trash in Vienna.. throw it in a can or pay as you go! I figure $75-100 a pickup ought to tidy up Vienna in no time. Should even encourage neighbors to coordinate pickups, further reducing the special pickup trips the Town is required to make.
September 26, 2006
Open for Submissions Comments (6)
While we welcome comments to posts, we also welcome submissions as topics. Feel free to submit posts as main articles. We only ask that you spell check it and make sure punctuation is proper. If you can't do that, we won't post it as a main article.
September 24, 2006
Ben Andrews Outlines a View Comments (2)
At this post, Vienna resident Ben Andrews recently commented:
"I am curious why this article accuses Maud Robinson of limiting elderly, young, and minority residents (pesumably because they cannot afford to live here because of a lack of afordable housing) yet an article on the same page ridicules the town for allowing an affordable motel to remain in the community. I admit I am one of those town residents who has never stayed at the Wolftrap, mainly because, well, I have a house here, but I certainly would not advocate tearing down a motel because it is affordable enough for "manual laborers" to stay."
Is he recommending that young people and minorities spend $2100 a month ($69 a night) to use the Wolftrap Motel as condos? $2100 a month is affordable?
A community with a median income exceeding $90,000 a year can do better than a dive motel. The big picture view should have Vienna leaders pursuing some form of basic economic development, not holding on to a dead end past no longer worthy of prime time. Andrews sounds like someone dying to defend Robinson, but with little ammo to do so.
August 23, 2006
New Movie About Vienna Underway Comments (5)
We were recently contacted by a group of UVA and VCU film students. Self-described as "disaffected 20 year-old residents making a feature length film about the Town they grew up in." Any help or insight they need, they are going to get it from us. Michael Moore, Super Size Me, etc. the world has seen what can be done on a limited budget.
More to come on their project soon.
August 22, 2006
Fear Mongering Comments (10)
A comment came into another post on the site today. It said in part:
So, as long as no one is studying, planning, and actually improving our local transportation network, it is absolutely ridiculous to propose higher density redevelopment in our existing neighborhoods. The current-trend infill development and the buildups now targeting Tysons Corner and the Metro train stations are going to bury us alive with traffic congestion... We don't need to be converting single-family residential lots and the odd Seven-Eleven or two into higher density multi-tenant projects just so a handful of people can make more money, retire, and move away. They may say now 'if it's not 22180, we won't go', and sincerely mean it... but Vienna is between a rock and a hard place... if the Town does not hold the line against higher density redevelopment within its borders, we will all be going to live some place more tolerable.
Who in Vienna is proposing condos in the middle of residential neighborhoods? This is fear mongering. The only legitimate place for condos is in the commercial area of Vienna. And unless we want a business area of only 1-story banks, gas stations and nail salons, we better find a way to get a mixed used development going that has people actually living, working and walking in Vienna's commercial areas.
Of course, we all know there is an old 7-11 in Town set for "something", but how can that be extrapolated to the whole Town? That piece of property is zoned commercial and from what we have heard the residents don't want condos in the middle of single family homes. It would not make sense. Commercial area condos down town, however, are a whole other issue.
August 14, 2006
Time to Do More with Less Comments (0)
Susan Stich thought readers would find this letter to the editor from Ron Corso (PDF) worth reading.
June 18, 2006
Who's Next on the 'Historic' Chopping Block? Comments (2)
Maud Says, "Put Your Blind Fold On & It Will All Be Fine!"
Since the historic district lawsuits were filed in 2003, the following Board members have disappeared (i.e. resigned) from one or more Town Boards or Commissions:
Laine Hyde
Connie Stuntz
Thomas Kamstra
Steve Bukont
John Scheib
Ed Umbrell
Who's next to be blindfolded and forced to defend the historic district? Steve Bukont resigned nearly six months ago and they still can't fill his seat. Anyone out there want to fill his vacant seat? The perks are great. You can curse out residents with no repercussions! There must be more people out there with oversized egos looking to exert false power over their neighbors?
Seriously, we can't figure out why Town residents don't want to sit on the historic review board, attempt to defend the indefensible and then end up on this web site looking like they were bought and paid for by Maud Robinson. One way or the other the leftover Board members still playing games with Town residents will be profiled here soon.
May 26, 2006
John Shults Says, "Thanks...Nutbags!" Comments (6)
Breathe Deeply When Encountering "Nutbags"!
Feedback in today from John Shults who is none too happy with this site:
"Just wanted to thank you for your website. A neighbor told me I should check it out due to a high level of unintentional comedy. Boy, does your site deliver! What our Town has been missing is a bunch of nutbag flamethrowers who publicly and personally attack everyone they disagree with over petty issues. You are meeting that need (and then some!). The result is that the rest of us feel more unified as "non-crazy" people. Now I can look at almost anyone I encounter in Vienna (except for you all) and think "Hey -- we've got something in common: neither of us is a bitter nutbag like the people who run that website! Wanna grab a beer, neighbor?" Yes, the venom on your website is having a beneficial (if unintended) effect on Town unity. So as a non-crazy person, I say "Thanks...nutbags!"
It wasn't hard to figure out that John Shults lives five houses down from the Mayor's opinionated son-in-law. Imagine that? Wonder if Colbert, Seeman's son-in-law, was the "neighbor"?
There is a suspicion, for example, that if John was at the brunt end of the Vienna Town Council abusing his rights in some form or another, he might not be so cavalier with the use of the word "petty". John you are off in your use of the phrase 'nutbag' though. Are you sure you did not mean this fellow was the 'nutbag'?
As a follow-up we sent an email to ask John, "Can you clarify the 'petty' issues you spoke of?" The response received:
"Petty or no, most find that your public personal attacks on people are way over-the-line. The irony is that, for all I know, some of your complaints might be valid (can't say I know too much about them -- but I strongly favor personal property rights). Instead of trying to win people to your side, you focus on attacking everyone's integrity, calling their family members racists, making fun of them, etc. Is this really necessary? On another note, I apologize for calling you "crazy nutbags." Yes, I strongly disagree with the way you have led the discourse on Town issues, but for someone who thinks the personal attacks are too much, I should not have said that. I am sorry. Please accept my apology, and if you would have the grace to remove my e-mail from your site, I would appreciate it. (Frankly, I did not know my comment would launch me into the mix of this Town soap opera of which I want no part.)"
No part of it John? You posted a comment here with the full intention of it being publicly seen, we did not solicit you! If people like the Mayor want to be in the public eye as a public servant, take the heat. Pointing out strong political differences or pointing out outlandish behavior by politicians is not personal.
John, we did not create Tom Seeman's racist web site and we do not post there. The fact that it exists should be troubling to you. Perhaps, instead of 'shooting the messenger' of this web site, you might write the Mayor of Vienna and ask her to cease participation in it. Maybe even ask her to have it turned off? As you may or may not know, Tom Seeman is a political appointee in the Town of Leesburg. He is no innocent.
Our site has definitely attacked the integrity of certain individuals. Not all by any stretch, but definitely some and deservedly so. This site does use humor to point out the 100% hypocrisy employed by certain Town Council and Town board members. That will not stop. Next time when you want to "accuse" people of "something", get specific or someone might just call you a not-so-nice name like "nutbag".
May 24, 2006
J. McMahon Says, "Anti-Paranoia Medication!" Comments (1)
Feedback in today from J. McMahon:
"Who ever runs this site needs to get on some anti-paranoia medication. You are so non-constructive here. Why not get elected yourself if you think that the citizens are behind you?"
Thanks, we are calling to get our prescriptions refilled now.
May 19, 2006
Rants from the Angry Crowd Comments (1)
These two posts from a very angry crowd were seen recently:
- To me, the Historic Vienna website exists to harrass [sic] and not to provide serious reflection. If the site authors have real arguments to make, they are hard to parse out from the sad, comic relief they provide. I feel pity for the people behind the Historic Vienna page because they are tilting at windmills and I feel sorry for any people who really think it made a positive difference for the challengers or advanced any hope of bringing other viewpoints into the arena of debate about Vienna and its future. I do think there is a place for new ideas and viewpoints, but try losing the attitude and maybe your fellow citizens might listen to you and not react to you so negatively.
- No, the citizens of Vienna aren't stupid or duped by Maud or Jane. It is just possible that they see you for what you are and reject it. But you are too blinded by the millions that you want to make. That is why you spend so much time and money on lawsuits, maintaining web sites, attending and taping and photographing meetings. Of course it's worth it, for all of the profit that you want to make. Yes, the profit does matter. No, that doesn't make us weak minded, just intelligent. Perhaps we also see you at the grocery store, school, soccer, the park, in your neighborhood or any number of other places. We are everywhere. You are isolated literally and figuratively.
We can't wait for the Hooters office tower to open. We are going to be so rich!
May 18, 2006
Scottie, Beam Me Up! Comments (2)
Historic District Supporters Come In All Shapes and Sizes
This post brought these responses:
"I [based my understanding of the majority view] on things like civic association votes, opinions of residents and the number of posts on this sight [sic] that seem to oppose your tatics [sic], question your motives and generally disagree with you."
Response: Civic association votes? When was this? You don't mean that crazy meeting from 2003 where this letter was read? Are you the author of that letter?
"All your rights aren't "inherent". Have you ever been a member of a homeowner's association? They dictate and regulate tons of things you can and cannot do (e.g. some of them ridiculous). I see the district in the same light."
Response: Ok. Let's follow your logic of a civic association comparison. What are the rules? Please be specific.
"Your logic is that the district is flawed so let's leave it or do away with it. That's logical?"
Response: Flawed laws, like Plessy v. Ferguson, are abolished. You don't "improve" or "fix" bad laws. At this late stage of the game don't you wonder why the Council has taken no steps to resolve? One minute they say it is a problem, next minute they say it is not.
"Some of your supporters/residents were involved in creating the district and it's ordinances (or lack thereof) - they should be the ones to point fingers at as they helped creat [sic] this mess.
Response: Those party to the lawsuit did not create the District or the current disaster. They have not supported any of the nonsense that has unfolded since 1979. The District was created by the Vienna Town Council and assorted Town busy bodies.
"Has anyone tried to get them fixed by any constructive method?"
Response: In the past people petitioned for removal when abuses started and the Council obliged. Why don't you petition to be included in the District so YOU can fix it? You have already stated you live near the border, why not be included? We are sure your house, wherever it is, has as much historicity as any other house in the District.
May 17, 2006
Lobotomy Patient Adds His 2¢ Comments (1)
'Lobotomy Bob' Chimes In About Hotels
This blog has become a breeze to maintain. The wonderfully poetic diatribes, ripe for dissection, just keep coming! Consider this ditty from some random pro-Maud Machiner:
"You all paid millions of dollars to buy up acres of real estate to build "Windover Heights Fine Homes" (oops, where did that page disappear to) or is it now "a nice small upscale hotel" so often mentioned by [Blair] Jenkins and [Susan] Stich in their campaign literature and then cry when the town and the citizens say "I don't think so". Your vague rantings about "unconstitutional laws" and "corruption" are wholly unconvincing. You never get beyond these few catch phrases. Perhaps that is because there really is no basis for your position. Architectural restrictions exist in communities everywhere."
Is this person acting purposefully dumb to scare the over 90 set or is the author just plain dumb? Either way, our retort.
1. Unconstitutional laws? Read.
2. Corruption? Read.
3. The current Vienna Wolftrap motel is a rattrap. It is gross. It is a haven for gang meetings and other illegal activities. Vienna Police know the problems with this place. A nice 4-5 story hotel in Vienna, that we can all feel proud about, is a great idea. It's not a good idea if you have had a frontal lobotomy, require a drool pan and never leave your house.
4. Can you define what the architectural restrictions are exactly? What are the rules? No answer? We figure that if there were actually rules, Bukont never would have had his infamous meltdown. That meltdown happened because he could not answer basic questions about the restrictions you say exist.
5. We already covered the real development plan to make people rich here. Pay attention Maudites!
April 23, 2006
Feedback from Area Citizen Comments (2)
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...
1) This is a "blog" for Vienna discussion but it's censored? "Comments need to be approved before they will appear. Until then, they won't appear on the entry. Thanks for waiting." Who is this governing body that must approve the comments? How do we, the readers know, if both sides of an issue are being represented if the discussion is censored?
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.
March 17, 2006
Vienna Citizen Sounds Off Comments (1)
Random and unsolicited feedback arrived yesterday in email from a Vienna citizen named "Rob". Below you can see the contents of his email and our responses:
"I was directed to your website and have enjoyed some of the content. Some is, quite frankly, ridiculous. For example, the original VPC [Vienna Presbyterian Church] building, now the chapel has stood on that corner since 1879. Anyhow, there is no reference to who “historicvienna.com” is. Don’t you think it would make you more credible if you disclosed your identities?"
We responded back in email: The fact that you can read, listen and view the content on historicvienna.com and come back with the statement that the content is "ridiculous" makes us wonder what exactly you refer to. Now, we can tell from your web site that you are details guy in a details business. If you wanted to drop off a quick rant offering no specifics, other than the VPC mention, that's fine. If you want to be taken serious or if you are looking for a serious debate, say something that actually counters the overall statements that are presented on historicvienna.com.
Rob responded back in email to our above email (we have interjected responses into his email response):
"Dear HV: It is obvious that your statement that there is 'nothing historic about Church St.' is incorrect. Pointing to a much needed expansion of a church, attached to a structure that has been painstakingly preserved by the members of VPC is at best a cheap shot and, yes, ridiculous."
It seems that you are responding to this post about "historic" signs on Church Street, but why don't you address the specifics of what we actually say? Why don't you have the church put on a national register then? Why not ask to have it put into a restrictive historic district that regulates what "painstakingly preserved" actually means? Or do you only want the ability to preserve things as you see fit with no governmental intrusion?
Rob continued in his email:
"I did not want to shoot off a 'quick rant', in fact, unlike you, I don't want to 'rant' at all. I happen, for the record, to agree with the overall point you are trying to make about the 'historic' district, its 'rules' and, quite frankly, the completely random way in which the Town's building ordinances are 'enforced.' There are numerous projects going on around town now and in the six years we have lived in Vienna that are clearly in violation of lot coverage restrictions, etc. If you are certain builders and grease the right skids, apparently you can do whatever the heck you want. As an American and property owner, I am deeply concerned about the continued erosion of our property rights in this country. If, in fact, there is no legal standing for the 'historic' district, its review board, etc. to exist, then clearly it should be eliminated."
It seems we have some common ground here. That is positive.
Rob continued in his email:
"I am in violent agreement with much of your content, however, the tone is one of something well beyond your garden variety anger and more like pure unadulterated open hostility. In fact, it is that hostility that led me to ask the obvious question, who are you guys at HistoricVienna.com? Apparently, you don't want to reveal your identity. The fact that you don't, I think, makes your site less credible."
Looks like the common ground may be crumbling! By hostility, for example, do you mean the verbal tirade launched by the former Chairman of the Historic Review Board? Is that what you mean? The intent of this website is not to punish the citizens who have recorded and posted the phony historic politics played out in Vienna. In the real world, political leaders exposed as corrupt typically seek retribution. And that is the real issue: Why are you not more concerned about the corrupt actions of numerous Vienna leaders? If you were actually in the firing line of having YOUR property rights abused by Maud Robinson, and this was more than just an intellectual exercise for you, would you be perhaps "hostile"?
Rob continued in his email:
"What axe do you have to grind with these people?
Let us get this straight. After reading this entire web site, after watching all of the videos, after telling us you are an advocate for property rights, you ask the question about what axe we have to grind? Are you not the least bit worried it's the other way around? The question is, 'what axe does the Town have to grind?'
Rob continued in his email:
What financial interest(s) are you trying to advance or protect?
Did it ever occur to you in your life that there is right and wrong? We fully understand some people can't comprehend standing on principle. For example, it's difficult to point out, in the face of seemingly wide-spread support, that a leader such as Maud Robinson is dishonest. However, the evidence is clear. Perhaps, Robinson runs her life in such a way that the historic district is her only contradiction. Perhaps, it is the only area of government where she abuses citizens and their rights. If that is true, it is even worse. That means she is using her "good name" to take actions (and give her cover) against a few.
Rob continued in his email:
"Knowing these things would allow a more thoughtful consideration of what you have to say. As it stands right now, it is obvious you are angry, perhaps with good reason, but without this information, you are just an angry coward. After all, I could have not used my firm email with my signature and url but I am not trying to hide my identity like you all apparently are. Too bad, because I think beneath all the invective, you make some good points. Kindest regards, Rob M."
The facts are not enough for you? You need "more" than just the facts?
Rob is a middle of the road guy. He is for property rights he says, but if you attempt to protect your property rights, if you attempt to point out corruption and cheating in governmental leaders, than by Rob's logic you are a coward. Amazingly, Rob is perfectly "hedged". He can go left, he can go right, but he has no true principle upon which he stands.
January 31, 2006
George Biles of 108 Oak Street Comments (0)
George Biles of 108 Oak Street in Vienna wrote to the Vienna Planning Commission in a letter dated January 25, 2006 regarding the recent petition by a property owner to have their property removed from the Windover Heights Historic District:
"My attention was recently brought to a website at the address of www.historicvienna.com. I was able to gather from what I read that property owners in the Windover Heights Historic District (WHHD) wish to remove themselves from the WHHD covenants. From the material on the website, it seems that standards and definitions for homes within WHHD are lacking, weak and/or inconsistently applied. I then reviewed Council meeting minutes from past years and it seems issues regarding WHHD have been long simmering. I would implore the Council to appoint a blue-ribbon panel to identify and summarize issues as they exist today, and provide recommendations for the Town Council within a very short timeframe. The citizens of WHHD deserve no less."
There are no covenants Mr. Biles. We are dealing with an unconstitutional law regularly and intentionally applied in a different fashion to different citizens. This web site documents the facts from A to Z. Biles continues in his letter:
"However, a larger issue was evident in my perusal of this website. I was shocked at the harsh words and treatment of members of the Town Government, and citizens who volunteer for its boards. Some of the content was so personal in nature, that it left me saddened for those serving ALL of the citizens of Vienna, and a wary eye for the intent of the publisher(s) of the website. Having said that, I would suggest the blue-ribbon panel also ascertain the intentions of those pursuing removal of their properties from the WHHD. My suspicions are that their underlying intentions are self serving and/or self enriching -- and NOT for the consistent application of WHHD covenants...I implore the website owners to tone down their rhetoric against fellow citizens."
Biles then concludes:
"I would cast my vote to oppose the petition [for removal from the District]."
Mr. Biles should be commended for his 'rhetoric'. Unfortunately, Biles has an agenda as evidenced by his "vote". Let's address his points:
- George Biles clearly implies that our "underlying intentions" are suspicious, "self serving" and "self enriching." We wonder if Mr. Biles ever entertained the thought that, maybe, just maybe, the petitioners merely want to have the same unencumbered property rights that he has, i. e., the same rights that all of the Town Council Members and substantially all "volunteers" on boards, commissions, etc. have? As to Mr. Biles being "shocked at the harsh words and treatment" of Town officials and the like, perhaps he might be more forgiving of this website's wording (much of which are quotes and the like by Town officials), if he and his property rights were given the WHHD/Town treatments complained of.
- As to the petitioners' property, which resides between a large industrial property, namely the Vienna Post Office and a private club that meets in an ex-church, it has no historical attributes.
- Citizens volunteering to be on Board and Commissions is a good thing. However, citizens who volunteer should not be allowed to lie and or manipulate facts and circumstances to the detriment of other citizens' property rights. Just because you "volunteer" doesn't entitle you to act in any manner you see fit. And since these Boards and Commissions are the primary feeder lines for the next grouping of Town Council members, volunteer or not, many are obvious politicians pushing agendas that harm basic property rights.
- Without the existence of this website, the citizens of Vienna would have never known this type of behavior was taking place. Biles blames the messenger (this website) for reporting the personal attacks of Vienna Board members, but conveniently ignores their behavior in his letter.
- Biles' letter speaks to "underlying intentions" and uses the phrases "self serving" and "self enriching" to describe citizens who have broached legitimate issues regarding the WHHD. Biles complains about so-called personal attacks then, without knowing any of the citizens involved in defending their basic property rights, launches his own attack.
- What do you think the "intentions" were of the Vienna Town Council when they proposed to ban the videotaping of meetings against State law? This very website that you slam was/is instrumental in exposing the video evidence at the very heart of the disaster that is the Windover Heights Historic District.
What really puzzles us about George Biles' letter: How can he not be concerned about the "intentions" and actions of a government that can abuse their citizens and destroy property rights without a second thought?
January 03, 2006
Mike Gelb on Fairness Comments (0)
Mike Gelb, who lives in the Historic District, offered this 2004 statement before the Vienna Town Council regarding the proposed construction at 315 Windover Avenue. Watch Gelb's public testimony:
December 10, 2005
"Ludicrous Historic Vienna Crap" Comments (0)
After being alerted to Steve Bukont's expletive tirade, members of Malcolm Windover Heights Civic Association, Liz & Mike DiFrancisco, offered us this erudite feedback:
"I really have no interest in your harassment of the citizens of this Town. You are inappropriate...and I wish you would stop spamming me your ludicrous Historic Vienna crap."
The DiFranciscos don't live in the Windover Heights Historic District. When backed into a corner and surrounded by facts, the only recourse for proponents of the District is to lob 4-letter curses.
It also appears the DiFranciscos did not consult with Civic Association Board Member Sharon Kallio who is concerned.
December 06, 2005
Feedback Since Launch Comments (0)
Lori Beer wrote in complaining about "balanced" information. Lori wanted more information on "older" homes - whatever that meant exactly. We responded:
"Lori, that's the problem. There is no baseline. Which are the older homes? Which home in the neighborhood is original? How old is old? How do you define historic? Does old mean historic? Has the Town ever defined any of this? Has anyone defined any of this? Will your home be historic 50 years from now? Or will it just be old? Take a close read of all on the site and see if you don't see another side to the "historic" spin."
We never heard back from Lori. Imagine that, no response back when we force someone to think about the issues.
November 23, 2005
Lyn W. Beer Needs a Legal Education Comments (0)
Lyn W. Beer doesn't understand the concept of property rights. Her letter is alarming to all thinking people who value the rule of law. How does this letter connect with the inconsistencies in the Windover Heights Historic District?
We suggest, just like Chuck Anderson, that you petition the Town Council to be added to the District. As you probably recall, the Town Council allowed property to be added to the District in 1998. Your house is very similar to many of the homes in the District located on West and Windover. There is no reason why you would not be admitted to the District. We welcome you to join the District with no standards, no guidelines, no incentives, arbitrary enforcement and run by residents that ignore the very laws they push on everyone else.
A Man of Reason in Windover Heights Comments (0)
"My desire to be removed from the historic district is very simple: I am not in an historic district in any meaningful sense, since all the houses which surround me were constructed in the past 15 years. I am bounded on one side by Lawyers Road, and on the other sides by relatively new houses. Furthermore, my own home can hardly be described as old, since more than half of it was constructed in 1957. The normal zoning and engineering review processes of the Town are more than adequate to protect the existing, non-historic neighborhood in which I live, quite apart from the fact that I am hardly likely to want to destroy my own property values by some outlandish action. It seems totally unnecessary that I should have to face an additional level of review to those already in place. In other localities, where historic preservation is being promoted, there have been advantages to the preservers, such as special tax breaks for rehabilitation of older buildings, In the case of Vienna, we seem to have all the negatives without any of the incentives."
William C. Ide
February 15, 1990
November 01, 2005
Ground Rules, Site Philosophy & Mission Comments (3)
We found the following Mark Tapscott editorial in The Examiner. He sums up the mission of this web site: get rid of careerists in Vienna politics:
Neither Democrats versus Republicans nor liberals versus conservatives will define 21st-century politics. Citizen legislators versus career politicians will. The citizen legislators will win by embracing the Internet and the wisdom of crowds. Politicians in both major parties who repeatedly seek re-election to keep "bringing home the bacon" while feathering their own nests are careerists. Candidates in both parties who bring the real world to Washington to clean it up - and who can't wait to return home - are citizen legislators. Careerists thrive on the power, perks and prestige that come with being insiders. Until now, their power stemmed from a monopoly on information, which they selectively shared with the rest of us. Theirs is the world of old media, big impersonal institutions and spinning "experts." By contrast, citizen legislators thrive on the power of principle and the liberating independence that comes with being outsiders. Their power stems from their cultivation of information to the widest possible audience and the accountability that comes with such transparency. Theirs is the world of Internet-based new media and the collaborative networking that thrives there. As long as the careerists remain in power, they will continue aggrandizing themselves, while making government bigger, more costly and less able to deal with emergencies...
Seeman, Robinson try as you might, neither of you are citizen legislators.
This site serves as a counterweight to the Vienna government. The Vienna government, including the Town Council has free reign at Town meetings, always gets the last word at public hearings, controls the Town newsletter and places stories in the local press. This site they don't control or censor.
What are the site rules?
1. If you are a member of Town Council or sit on a Town Board of Commission, you are not just an average Vienna citizen. You know you are in the firing line, so don't write here whining.
2. Say something smart. Respond to an issue. Add value.
3. Don't "spin".
