An informed public?
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Leesburg Mayor Kristen C. Umstattd, in a letter last week to the Loudoun Times-Mirror ["Editorial left the wrong impression"], took the editor of this paper to task saying that the June 24th editorial, “Election Season Influenced Crosstrail Vote,” was based on incomplete factual analysis. I disagree. This editorial was spot on, as was Supervisor Steve Snow’s Aug. 1st letter, “Loudoun residents are real Crosstrail losers."
The mayor tells us that elected officials “are supposed to do what the public asks of them.” True, but the public must have the facts in order to make an informed decision, and not be led like lambs to the slaughter by politicians with hidden agendas. Lobbying by elected officials is, in fact, illegal in some jurisdictions. Closed meetings with only one point of view presented are inappropriate.
In the case of Crosstrail, Kelly Burk led an intense propaganda and lobbying campaign directed by the mayor. At public expense, the Burk/Umstattd team visited almost every homeowners association in Leesburg with a half dozen or more staff to denounce Crosstrail. They often silenced citizens who rose to speak with a different point of view or asked them to leave. This happened to me at an Exeter meeting, and at a town-sponsored meeting with a group of seniors at the Senior Center in Leesburg. There Kelly Burk told me, “This is my meeting and you may not speak.” At Exeter I was asked to leave, but then was given a chair with the understanding I would remain silent.
The mayor (who once advocated closing the Leesburg Airport), in her attempt to scuttle Crosstrail, became its biggest champion, rallying the small-plane pilots into a frenzy. After the final vote she sent one pilot, who maintains an e-mail list of more than 350 pilots, a congratulatory letter. She thanked him for organizing the pilot protest. (This e-mail appeared in The Washington Post.) The vast majority of these small-plane pilots do not live in Leesburg or Loudoun.
So what’s the real reason for the mayor’s flip-flop and Burk’s tax-supported lobbying? It was all about control. If the town had annexed this land, as was recommended by Bob Zoldos’ annexation committee five years ago, there would have been no pilots’ revolt, and the town would be delivering water and sewer service to Crosstrail. Unfortunately, Mayor Umstattd, Marty Martinez and their followers killed this opportunity.
Jim Haynes
Leesburg
As a southeast Leesburg resident who has to sit in the Sycolin Rd. gridlock every day, I say HOORAY that Crosstrails was defeated! If this was such a good proposal for everyone, why didn't our BOS rep, Jim Clem, bother to meet with any of the HOA boards to spread the good news about Crosstrail? Every single HOA in SE and SW Leesburg attempted to get Mr. Clem to attend meetings, but he either never responded to phone calls or emails, or was just "too busy". Well Mr. Clem, our residents will be "too busy" to vote for you next election! As for Mr. Haynes above, who likes to vent about how unprofitable the airport is, well sir, some of us remember the wheeling and dealing you did years ago with certain occupants of same airport, which is why there are no profits today!
Posted by Waya
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