Opinion
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This Thanksgiving, all of us at Potomac Local News want to extend our heartfelt thanks to you — our readers, supporters, and members — for being part of this community and for trusting us to tell the stories that matter in Prince William, Stafford, Fredericksburg, Manassas, and the surrounding region.
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Stafford County’s emerging practice of routing media questions for elected officials through government staff is not just a change in communication strategy — it is a direct threat to transparency. It creates a wall between residents and their representatives, insulating leaders from basic accountability and weakening the democratic norms that make local government work.
This gatekeeping did not appear in a vacuum. It followed weeks of questions surrounding Garrisonville District Supervisor Dr. Pamela Yeung, who abstained from a major data center vote on October 22 without offering any explanation. Residents spent hours speaking at that meeting. The standards were described as some of the strongest in Virginia. Every supervisor present either voted for or against them — except Yeung, who opted out and has never said why.
The city of Manassas Park wants everyone to celebrate its new $35 million Virginia Railway Express parking garage — but it doesn’t want anyone to see what happened inside it just two weeks after the ribbon cutting.
When Potomac Local asked to view photos or reports documenting the vandalism and “donuts” that occurred inside the brand-new garage, the city refused. The Police Department cited an exemption under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), claiming the incident is part of “an active criminal investigation” and that releasing the records would “interfere” with it.
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.
I was proud to be part of PWEA under its previous leadership — a team of board members and reps who genuinely cared about educators and worked tirelessly for members, not for show. They listened, they answered, and they put people first. What we have now under VEA control couldn’t be more different.
This trusteeship has turned into a blatant power and money grab disguised as “rebuilding.” It’s not about supporting educators — it’s about control. The VEA can’t even answer the office phone or respond to emails, yet somehow finds time to cash our dues checks. That’s not leadership — that’s greed.
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.
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The debate over student free speech and political club access in Prince William County has now spiraled far beyond its original scope. What began as a discussion about whether students could form a conservative Turning Point USA club at Patriot High School has exploded into a controversy involving personal accusations, party politics, and public trust.
Brentsville District School Board member Erica Tredinnick says she was threatened and intimidated by Tracy Blake, the Neabsco District’s representative and current School Board Vice Chair, following the October 1 meeting. In a detailed post on Facebook, Tredinnick alleged that Blake shouted profanities, invaded her personal space, and made a remark involving her husband before security escorted her to her car. Potomac Local News has independently confirmed several key details of the confrontation.