Now that the 2015 General Assembly Session has concluded, I wanted to take the opportunity to share with you the result of our work.
Despite all the gridlock in Washington these days, we actually get things done in Richmond, on time, responsibly, and in a conservative manner. I hope you agree with me that this is how government should work.
The Prince William County School Board’s abdication of responsibility in this current budget cycle shows their refusal to manage our crucial investment in our students’ future and is an outrage to county families.
Every year, citizens of Prince William County pay almost 60% of their property taxes to educating the children in our county. Educating the next generation is perhaps the most important responsibility of this county that will determine our future. We have an obligation to do the best job possible to prepare students for college or vocational opportunities.
A JMU student reached out to our Potomac Local staff about a recent article written about the issue of homelessness in Prince William County.
Dear Editor,
A JMU student reached out to our news editor, Stephanie Tipple, about her recent article regarding the increase in fees for the Stonewall Park Swim team.
Dear Ms. Stephanie Tipple,
One of the biggest challenges any local government faces is how to prioritize spending with limited resources. Localities have to strike the right balance between paying for the core services of government and allowing families to keep more of their hard earned money. Every dollar spent should be debated and evaluated against other expenses.
In Prince William County, we have many high priorities facing the Board of County Supervisors. Each year, our classrooms become more and more crowded, we continue to struggle to hire enough police officers and firefighters, our social services seem to be at a breaking point, and too many people sit on roads that are at the brink of capacity.
With so much in the news these days regarding community policing and the appropriate level of engagement by members of local law enforcement, I felt compelled to forward a note of thanks to the Prince William Police Department (PWPD). Last weekend the Woodbridge Alumni Chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. hosted a panel discussion with officers from Prince William County Police Department and area students enrolled in the fraternity’s Guide Right Mentoring Program. The hour and a half panel discussion took place in the foyer of the McCoart Administration Building in Woodbridge.
The officers were most generous with their time and candidly engaged students on a host of topics that included: campus leadership, the pitfalls of bullying, inappropriate text messaging, suggested protocols in the event of a traffic stop, career options in law enforcement, and a day in the life of a Prine William County Police Department officer. There were great exchanges all around and I tip my hat to local law enforcement for understanding the power of community partnerships.
To the Editor,
The article, “Moser: Our Neighborhood Stuck Together in Good and Bad Times” was a great example contradicting the current belief that most people don’t know their neighbors any longer. It is refreshing to know there are still communities out there that look out for each other and participate in solidarity.
The Board of County Supervisors votes on the Rivergate Apartment proposal on October 14. This is the wrong type of development for Woodbridge.
This will open the floodgates for up to 10,000 apartments along the Route 1 corridor. Will these apartments bring economic prosperity? No. They will put additional pressure on our already crowded schools, put additional cars on our congested roads, and increase emergency response times of our police and fire personnel.
Since I took office in 2008, we have worked together to transform our community and create what I call a New Woodbridge – a smart growth community that attracts high-paying jobs, reduces traffic congestion, and preserves residential neighborhoods. As a result of our efforts, over $1 billion in public and private investment is now coming to our community.
Think back five years ago. Who would have thought that we would have our own Wegman’s and Apple store at a place called Stonebridge at Potomac Town Center? As the economy continues to improve, we will see much more construction in the Woodbridge District.
This past Tuesday, I had the distinct honor to introduce eight former students of mine at the County Board of Supervisors. These students are all currently seniors and attend Gar-Field, Woodbridge, and Potomac High Schools. These six students are planning on attending college after graduation, but most importantly, all of these seniors have felt the direct impact of our county’s unwillingness to provide “world-class” funding to our public schools.
As a former teacher, I had the responsibility to educate my students, while also assisting in their personal growth and development. Because of this, I could never forget the students’ voices; they ring out loud and clear every day. Unfortunately, many of our elected officials have failed to realize how important it is to hear from students on key issues facing our school district.
