Archive for 'Your Views'

When city residents get together, good things happen

When city residents get together, good things happen

To the editor: Perhaps you’re one of the 5,872 donors who contributed to Spring2ACTion, Alexandria’s giving day, on April 17. If so, you helped make dreams possible for thousands of children, families in need and low-income, [...]

What is a literacy coach? Our educational system has no idea

What is a literacy coach? Our educational system has no idea

To the editor: To combat illiteracy, American public schools employ literacy coaches. But it is nearly impossible to find a job description that is consistent across schools and districts, if at all. Why do I care? [...]

Changing Redskins to Redtails is no improvement for NFL team

Changing Redskins to Redtails is no improvement for NFL team

To the editor: Starting this year, the Washington Redskins mascot’s moniker has been under relentless siege. Slings and arrows have been aimed at it by D.C.’s mayor — while dangling a possible stadium deal — and [...]

Adding more roads just 
feeds the congestion beast

Adding more roads just 
feeds the congestion beast

By Jonathan Krall Everybody wants to fix traffic congestion. “Our roads are congested! We should do something about it,” say otherwise-sensible adults all the time. And otherwise-sensible community leaders reply by saying they are working on [...]

A parking spot is a parking spot, except when it’s not

A parking spot is a parking spot, except when it’s not

To the editor: Katherine Viar pulled the rug out from under City Hall when she pointed out that its much-vaunted parking study counted illegal spots as parking spaces even though the city tickets motorists who park [...]

A second chance

A second chance

It occurred to me recently that I am the recipient of a rare second chance. I say this because I’m reliving the childhoods of my two oldest boys, Jack and Flin — who are away at [...]

Help feed area children

Help feed area children

To the editor: In the midst of spring, it can be easy to forget those long, hot days of June, July and August. But now is the time to start planning to feed hungry children when [...]

Landmark Mall redevelopment plan ignores education

Landmark Mall redevelopment plan ignores education

To the editor: A couple of weeks ago, I was one of the many who crowded a meeting at Landmark Mall to hear of the desolate facility’s redevelopment plan. While the presentations made sense and showcased [...]

Earth Day may be over, but our job is just beginning in Alexandria

Earth Day may be over, but our job is just beginning in Alexandria

To the editor: With the momentum of Earth Day and the arrival of spring, our thoughts turn to the small ways we can help the environment: filling our recycling bin; turning off lights when leaving a [...]

City’s police force is getting robbed in proposed budget

City’s police force is getting robbed in proposed budget

To the editor: As the Alexandria City Council ponders the budget — and the changes to health care and pension plans that will hurt police officers and firefighters — let’s remember those famous words: “We sleep [...]