To the editor:

Alexandria Academy started amidst much hype but ended insolvent before finishing its first year. Now some of its teachers are in court seeking their unpaid salaries and its headmaster is in court denying he ever served as their employer, as if the headmaster of a private school has as much authority as a janitor or worse, the headmaster has only authority, but not responsibility. 

Lest short memories beguile us, only a year ago City Hall was prepared to look the other way and allow Alexandria Academy to start up without the requisite zoning waivers. Thanks almost entirely to the Alexandria Times front-page coverage of this egregious abuse, City Hall had to back off and Alexandria Academy had to wait until the city council rubber-stamped its special use permit.

City Halls approach to Alexandria Academy is similar to its approach to a lot of things. They tripped over themselves applauding Alexandria Academy and apologizing for holding up what proved to be a failed venture. And City Hall had a failure of judgment. 

So when the government tells folks to trust their judgment over more complex matters such as their waterfront plan, it should not be surprised if folks fail to do so in the face of its track record.

Sound intuitive judgment is about seeing through consultants projections to figure out how they will really work out 10, 20, even 50 years from now.