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Traffic solutions require sacrifice
Illegal immigration, foreclosures and fear of terrorism are not the biggest threats to the quality of life in Loudoun.
What is? Well, in case you haven't guessed while drumming your fingers atop the steering wheel waiting for the car in front of you to lurch forward -- it's traffic. And the only way we can start addressing this problem is for elected officials to find the courage to raise taxes. As for us residents, we need to stomach this much-needed sacrifice.
A plan to generate more than $300 million annually for road improvements throughout Northern Virginia was in place and working. But after legal challenges by Del. Robert Marshall (R-south-central Loudoun) and the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors, the state's Supreme Court stripped away the taxing power that the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority had enjoyed since Jan. 1.
Since 2007 was an election year for supervisors and state lawmakers, politics obviously played a large role in the battle over the NVTA and whether it should be levying taxes on residents. Lawmakers didn't want to be labeled "tax hikers." And supervisors wanted to position themselves as defenders of the local taxpayer.
But now what? With rail to Dulles imperiled and the NVTA's dedicated revenue stream shot down, Northern Virginia's traffic outlook appears woeful for the foreseeable future.
For this to change, additional money must be dedicated for roads and public transit. Be it at the state or local level, taxes must be raised.
Stop your whining
Two months into the tenure of this new Board of Supervisors, the complaining by one board member has grown tiresome.
On several occasions, Supervisor Stevens Miller (D-Dulles) has griped about the pace of board meetings and the heavy workload placed upon supervisors.
"No one told me you had to work this hard," he said at a recent board meeting.
Earlier this year, Miller even had the gall to tell the Loudoun Chamber of Commerce that supervisors deserved a raise. Quite a statement to make considering that supervisors' salaries nearly doubled when this board took office in January.
Yes, board members are probably overworked. But Loudoun is a diverse, growing and now economically challenged community. So hard work is necessary, and demanded by residents. Nobody forced Miller to seek this position.
Simply said, Miller's whining is inappropriate and it must stop.
On Sup. Miller...A County that has grown so fast with so many issues is one that needs full-time administrators. The only people that can run for office are those that are a) independently wealthy, b) self-employed, or c) retired.
I commned those that have chosen to serve and are trying to tackle the challenges we face. Surely, the elected Supervisors who make circa $40,000 a year are as deserving as Dr. Hatrick ($200,000 plus per year) and his top heavy executive staff that are well over $100,000 each.
Don't shoot the messenger on this topic.
Posted by BTO
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BTO this editorial is right. It isn't like the money or the schedule is some big tight secret. Maybe it was funny the first time or two but the longer it goes on the more it sounds like he means it. Maybe if the newspaper takes him to task he'll shape up and get to work because it is a very big job and not one anybody in their right mind takes for the money or the workload, and if that is the only reason to take it then woe to Loudoun County!
Posted by observer
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'Simply said, Miller's whining is inappropriate and it must stop.'
I guess this is all we can expect from a publication that actually endorsed Miller's predecessor, the 'dis'honorable Steve Snow. We now have a Board that is accomplishing good, instead of sowing discord and ruining the County. And this paper complains because Miller has the audacity to speak the truth! Your readers would be better served by editorials that are more in touch with reality instead of skewed viewpoints. I hope Supervisor Miller (and others) will continue to 'whine' all they want!
And oh yes, I'd suggest putting comments by officials or anyone else for that matter, in their proper context instead of over-reacting with knee-jerk editorials!
Posted by eyewitness
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