EDITOR’S NOTE: Manassas officials canceled October’s First Friday after a downtown killing. The letter below is from Dan Maillard of Manassas. The views are the writer’s.
Although happy to see that the City of Manassas has some shred of dignity left, per usual, it seems not enough. I am speaking of the terrible death of Ashley, but worse, the seemingly lost leadership of this town and even the Commonwealth.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Question 1 on the Nov. 3 ballot is officially titled a “Right to Reproductive Freedom” amendment. If approved, it would write a constitutional right to abortion into the Virginia Constitution (codifying abortion in Virginia’s constitution), while allowing the state to restrict abortion in the third trimester except when a physician judges it necessary to protect the pregnant person’s life or physical or mental health, or when the fetus is not viable. Early voting begins Friday, Sept. 18.
Early voting starts Friday. On the November ballot, Virginians will decide whether to write a right to abortion into the state constitution.
To the Citizens of Manassas,
I am Colonel (r) Ulysses Xerxes “Xerk” White, United States Army. Many residents of Manassas know me from my years of military service, my time on City Council, my work on the VA Commission Transportation Board, my involvement with the Manassas Rotary, my time worshiping at First AME Church, and more importantly a devoted husband. My life has been shaped by service, and Manassas has been one of the places where I was blessed to continue that calling.
Chairman and Members of the Stafford County Board of Supervisors,
I urge you to reconsider the proposed sale of the 10 acres of prime real estate at the former Moncure Elementary School site. Quite simply, selling this property under the current arrangement is not in the best interest of Stafford County.
Virginia’s economic progress over the past four years did not happen by chance. It was the result of deliberate, disciplined choices that delivered measurable benefits for families, workers, and communities across the Commonwealth.
During that time, Virginia attracted record private investment, added hundreds of thousands of jobs, reduced regulatory burdens, and generated strong revenue growth. Notably, this was achieved while providing billions in tax relief and increasing funding for education, infrastructure, and public safety. These outcomes mattered locally, including here in the Fredericksburg region, where affordability, job growth, and a stable tax base are everyday concerns.
As someone who helped manage my father’s MA coverage, I saw how even modest funding changes can drastically impact access to care. Reductions in MA funding can lead to higher out-of-pocket costs, narrower provider networks, and reduced supplemental benefits—changes that hit our seniors the hardest.
This is also a pivotal moment for lawmakers, especially those who consider themselves conservative champions of senior voters. Adults over 65 are among the most consistent and influential voting blocs. They pay close attention to which elected officials safeguard their healthcare access, and which ones threaten it by supporting cuts or failing to speak out.
Turning opportunity into results is one of the biggest challenges facing any town—and Dumfries is no exception. Ideas aren’t the problem; execution is. That’s why so many Virginia communities have created Economic Development Authorities (EDAs): to turn readiness into results.
An EDA is a public entity established under Virginia law to help towns attract investment, manage development, and implement projects more effectively. It doesn’t make policy or replace elected officials. It serves as a capacity tool to support execution, allowing towns like Dumfries to move faster and smarter when opportunities arise.
We Back Blue stands with Virginia’s officers—the men and women who risk everything to keep our communities safe. That’s why the Virginia Police Benevolent Association’s (VAPBA) endorsement of Abigail Spanberger for Governor is not just disappointing—it’s a betrayal.
Hundreds of law enforcement officers, retirees, and their families have reached out to We Back Blue, sharing their outrage and heartbreak over this decision. Many have stated they’ve canceled their memberships in protest.
Regarding the October 23 article about Monica Gary’s domestic violence charge, I feel it was extremely inappropriate and irresponsible, both as an individual reporter and as a publication, to open the article with reference to her previous employment as a stripper. It is very clear that intent of this statement, based on its delivery, was to condemn, degrade, and disqualify the quality of character of not only Monica Gary, but of strippers and sex workers as a whole — especially female strippers and sex workers. I will not stand for that in my community.
For this letter, I am using the terms “sex work” and “sex worker” broadly to encompass the various types of sex work including but not limited to stripping, pole dancing, prostitution, pornographic film acting and modeling, escort services, erotic massages, etc.
Dear Editor,
The Virginia Education Association (VEA) owes an immediate and transparent explanation to its largest local, the Prince William Education Association (PWEA). For over three years, PWEA has led all VEA locals in record-breaking member recruitment. It operates with a nearly million-dollar annual budget, maintains $500,000 in savings, owns its office, and carries no debt—unlike the VEA, which rents its headquarters outside Richmond.
