Mt. Vernon Terrace $619,900
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Spring 2014 HomeLifeStyleHomeLifeStyle Style Inside Life Mount Vernon’s Hometown Newspaper • A Connection Newspaper March 13, 2014 wLww oc.Caolnn Meecdtion ia CNeowsp nnaepcerts.c ioonm LLC Moonunt lin Vee rno at nw Gwaze wt.cteo n❖ n HeocmteiLo ifnenSetywles Sp apprinerg s2.c 01o4m ❖ 1 Home A Debt to Society Local governments use debt as a tool to build for the future. By Michael Lee Pope ing economy that will enable them Photo by Photo The Gazette to pay off the debt.” Fairfax County has the largest ack in the 1920s, Harry debt by far, almost $4 billion. But Byrd became governor of Fairfax also has more people than Janelle Germanos Janelle B Virginia on what he called any of the other jurisdictions. So a “pay-as-you-go” platform. Byrd the county’s per capita debt bur- had an almost pathological hatred den is actually lower than Arling- of debt, fueled in part by mount- ton or Alexandria. Financial re- ing debt problems of his family’s ports show that local governments business. Now, almost a century across Northern Virginia have /The Gazette later, leaders across Northern Vir- been taking on increasing debt in ginia have a very different view recent years, and some believe about the role debt should play in that trend might accelerate in the balancing the books. Local govern- near future. Because Congress is ments across Virginia have taken considering eliminating some ex- A view from the top of the landfill in Lorton. If the new application is approved, on more than $8 billion in debt. emptions for income tax on mu- the landfill will operate until 2040 and will be home to a green energy triangle. “Some jurisdictions are having nicipal bonds, local governments to be more careful with their debt might consider taking on larger load as they are small and have a amounts of debt in the near future Green Energy Or Closed Landfill weak real estate base,” said to take advantage of lower inter- Stephen Fuller, director of the Cen- est rates. thority not reversed its commitment, we wouldn’t ter for Regional Analysis at George “There are some clouds gather- Community members, be sitting here today. It’s that simple.” Mason University. “Others see that ing on the horizon that will impose According to Bill Lecos, who is working on be- having high quality infrastructure significantly greater increases in stakeholders debate half of the EnviroSolutions’ green energy proposal, is the best way to support a grow- See Local, Page 20 liability was the main issue at stake. future of Lorton Landfill. “ESI is not equipped to manage the liabilities By Janelle Germanos associated with people mountain biking down the Mr. Horejsi The Gazette property,” Lecos said. In 2010, when it was clear to him that the park was out of the question, Mehan said he went to n Thursday, the Fairfax County Plan- Goes to Richmond the South County Federation to discuss possible ning Commission is set to make a alternative uses for the landfill. recommendation to the Board of In the fight for social justice O “I also talked about the fact that we had just Supervisors on whether gone through a horrific recession. For the con- EnviroSolutions should be permitted to continue with patience and persistence. struction industry, it was a depression, not a re- the operation of the Lorton Landfill until 2040. cession. I told them we would By Victoria Ross for the socially disadvantaged. Along with this operation not be able to fill up the site by The Gazette Part Mr. Smith Goes to Washing- comes a green energy park the time it was set to close,” ton, part Don Quixote tilting at that proponents say will push “Not all renewable Mehan said. very year, dozens of high- windmills, Horejsi is regarded by Fairfax County forward in Around this time, priced lobbyists descend on many lawmakers as a man of con- terms of renewable energy. energies are suitable E EnviroSolutions was ap- Virginia’s state capitol. viction and persistence. But many opposed to the proached by a Washington Gas Some tantalize with promises of Those traits often give him the application, including some for every site. We representative about putting business investment and jobs; oth- credibility other lobbyists lack, members of the South wind farms on the landfill. ers represent important campaign when his idealistic — and some- County Federation, believe support renewable “As these conversations were contributors, while some say they times naïve — pleas for social jus- that promises were broken in energy, but this going on, there was also a can deliver votes from key con- tice collide with more powerful the past. These feelings stem county effort to identify where stituencies. and persuasive agendas. from a previous application needs to be done in there were public-private part- They are often joined by Vienna And like Jefferson Smith — the in which EnviroSolutions was nerships available and how resident John Horejsi, 71, who of- character played by Jimmy to build a park on the land- the right way and in that could positively impact the fers legislators, a simple, singular Stewart in Frank Capra’s timeless fill after it closed in 2019. county’s sustainability goals,” opportunity: to do the right thing See Fightingh, Page 18 EnviroSolutions says that the right places.” Lecos said. The green energy due to liability issues, they — Catherine Ledec, Friends of components include three wind 3/14/14 are unable to take ownership Huntley Meadows Park turbines, three acres of solar home in Requested of the park. material. panels, geothermal infrastruc- “We were required to build Time-sensitive ture, and methane conversion. Postmaster: the park. The park authority would own the land, Attention and we would not be part of that,” said Conrad #482 Permit SOUTH COUNTY FEDERATION members, Alexandria, VA Alexandria, Mehan, EnviroSolutions’ director of government PAID See Green Energy, Page 19 Postage U.S. relations. “At the end of the day, had the park au- STD PRSRT www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ March 13-19, 2014 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ March 13-19, 2014 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette Editor Steven Mauren News 703-778-9415 or [email protected] Fairfax County detective, Sex Trafficking in Our Backyard trafficking victim testify at Congressional hearing. By Janelle Germanos The Gazette ince its creation in October 2013, the human trafficking unit of the SFairfax County Police Department has received over 70 tips and leads about human trafficking in Northern Vir- ginia. “Fifty-two percent of those leads involve juvenile sex trafficking cases,” said Detec- tive William Woolf, lead investigator of the Fairfax County Police Department’s human Photos by Alex McVeigh by Alex Photos trafficking unit, at a House Commerce-Jus- tice-Science Appropriations subcommittee on Feb. 26. In his testimony, Woolf addressed the need for stricter penalties on those respon- sible for human trafficking and the ways Fairfax County is addressing trafficking. “We’ve taken on a very victim-centered approach. Our number one priority is re- U.S. Rep. Frank Wolf (R-10) speaks at a forum on human trafficking at covering these young people from these ter- the McLean Community Center in May. Wolf is chair of the House Com- rible situations. The problem with that is it merce-Justice-Science Appropriations subcommittee, which hosted a is extremely resource intensive,” Woolf said. Detective Bill Woolf and Del. Bar- hearing on human trafficking on Feb. 26. bara Comstock (R-34) speak about THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING UNIT is human trafficking at the McLean taking a three-pronged approach of educa- worked day and night, leaving Vu respon- raped by her trafficker in front of her home. Community Center in May. Woolf tion and awareness, prevention and inter- sible for her younger siblings but with little “At this point I had finally had enough. testified at a sex trafficking hear- vention to reduce trafficking in Northern supervision. At just 15 years old, I was ready to give up ing on Capitol Hill on Feb. 26. Virginia. “I was free to go on dates with this charm- on life,” Vu said. “This particular crime is something that ing, older boy. I was searching for some- Vu was hospitalized after the rape, and affects all communities. It’s a crime that Since 2011, 42 defendants have been thing in life and he looked like the answer, was soon sent to Northern Virginia based does not discriminate on race, ethnicity, prosecuted for trafficking related crimes in filling my loneliness and my young heart’s Youth For Tomorrow, 3,000 miles from her gender, socioeconomic class-it’s something Northern Virginia, Detective Woolf said, the desire for love and romance. But I soon home. that has the potential of touching each and Underground Gangster Crips case being one learned though that he was a ‘wolf in She is now advocate and advisor to Youth every community and each in every state of the more notable cases. sheep’s clothing,’ who intended on turning for Tomorrow and Shared Hope Interna- here in the United States,” he said. In this case, female adults and juveniles me into a product to be devoured,” she said. tional, also located in Northern Virginia. Woolf said that a nation-wide anti-traf- were being trafficked for more than six For some time, Vu said it seemed her Woolf said that more resident treatment ficking awareness campaign is necessary to years in Northern Virginia by Crips gang dreams had come true. centers are needed across the country, as prevent this crime. Fairfax County recently members. The gang used Facebook and “He said he loved me and wanted to survivors such as Vu have to travel nearly launched the “Just Ask” Prevention Project, local malls, bus stops and metro stations to marry me; he bought nice things for me and 3,000 miles to receive the treatment they which includes a website and is intended recruit young girls.