6-23-20 Online Public Comments
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Page 1 of 14 Online Submitted Public Comments for the June 23, 2020 Regular Meeting of the Winchester Common Council Submissions Received (Online and Directly to Staff) As-Of 5:00PM on 6/23/20 Name: Don Warren Address: 516 Fairmont Ave. (and 39 W Jubal Early Dr.) (22601) Comments Related to Public Hearing? No Comments: Regarding the possibility of renaming Jubal Early Drive; Poll the businesses that such a change would affect. See what they think. It is easy to dictate change, but even easier to overlook the ramifications and trickle down effects that such a change can cause. Please don’t do so without asking those who will be directly affected and become financially obligated by such a change. The cost to businesses will not be small... especially amid the massive lull most businesses have experienced due to the COVID-19 lockdown. Replacing all letterhead, checks, deposit slips, business cards for multiple employees, print advertising, and everything else containing the business’ address can cost a small fortune. Not to mention the labor expense involved in notifying all the business contacts. As for my personal opinion, I don’t believe in shoving history under the rug. Keeping the names of these historical figures in the public eye serves to tell the story of our past, and how we as a people have evolved. Name: Thomas Earl Hickman Address: 157 Lambden Ave. (22601) Comments Related to Public Hearing? No Comments: I do not support changing the name of Jubal Early Dr., removing historical statues, or similar actions that seek to deny Winchester's rich historical heritage. Doing so does not change the history, but it weakens our understanding of it. Name: Lynn Dale Address: Whittier Ave. Comments Related to Public Hearing? No Comments: First off, the strategic plan cited seems a stretch as far as citing Goal IV (transparency, efficiency, innovation) as directly correlating to this resolution of the Mayor’s and City Council. Getting to the issue of this resolution to rename Jubal Early, Abrams Creek Pkwy makes the most sense given the geography described. IF Goal IV IS to apply to this issue, then let’s promote a culture of EFFICIENCY by so naming a road that runs between one Abrams Creek bridge and another bridge over Abrams Creek, and that is in proximity to Abrams Creek Preserve. Let’s be EFFICIENT in identifying a road by its location. As well, it shows an EFFICIENCY in communicating directions to others as Abrams Creek and Abrams Creek Preserve are relatable reference points. Let’s also be INNOVATIVE by NOT playing pseudo-politics. Let’s be TRANSPARENTLY striving for unity over Public Comments for the June 23, 2020 Meeting of the Winchester Common Council Page 2 of 14 devisiveness. Why assuage the emotions for some by deliberately antagonizing the feelings of others on this subject. If there is to be a name change, which appears to be inevitable, then why take steps to remove offense from one population only to give offense to another population. The debate of rightness or wrongness - the discussion of varying ideals, allegiances, and priorities aside - how about truly aiming for cohesiveness by NOT playing into controversy regardless of which side of the controversy one would be coming down on. If INNOVATIVE TRANSPARENCY is with intent for a best case scenario for ALL Winchester residents, then let’s NOT just swap numbers as to which residents are being provoked by the current road name in choosing the new road name. What is the history behind the naming of Abrams? If it’s historically controversial, then opt for Winchester Pkwy. If the naming of Winchester is likewise controversial, then new suggestions need to be sought out. Truly, are you looking to knit residents together or provide an unnecessary divisive element in this city? Let’s be different and lessen where we can, playing into an agenda narrative of disenfranchisement. Let’s thoughtfully and responsibly take steps aside of hostility. Healthy race relations do not pit one against another. Rather, it is to forge an environment where there is less conflict and greater harmony. Less conflict. Not different conflict. Less. Name: Marilyn Rae Heath Address: 221 Roszel Rd. (22601) Comments Related to Public Hearing? No Comments: Renaming Jubal Early Drive: To the Honorable Winchester City Council Members: My husband, Peter Johnson, and I, though not southern by birth or upbringing, ARE FIRMLY AGAINST REVISING HISTORY to current popular misconceptions and values. History should be true and factual. The cultural belief system ot each time period should also be considered. We need to learn from history, not extinguish it. As they say, if you do not know your history you will tend to repeat it. Where we were educated, the mid-west and west, we were taught that the Civil War was mostly started as a state's rights issue that incorporated slavery. Just because Winchester happens to be in the south (on the side that lost the war which, thereby, freed the slaves) and has quite an astonishing and admirable civil war history, especially having changed hands over 75 times, does not mean we should take away all that significance from public view due to some present day people being offended by it. The statues, names on buildings and street signs, and other honors given to these people at an earlier time was done to honor the person (or event) for many good and admirable accomplishments and traits. WE CANNOT TAKE OUR PRESENT DAY SECULAR CULTURAL VALUES AND IMPOSE THEM ON A TIME PERIOD LONG AGO. Much has changed over the years that have helped all races of color. We are all one race, just different shades of tan. There is more to be done, but that is mostly done by working on relationships with each other, really sharing our hearts and thoughts, and working on things that need adjustment. It is time to get rid of the hatred and division in our country and communities and come together as a united front to preserve the freedoms and history of our nation. Values and things like hatred are often taught and passed down from generation to generation. We should not fall prey to victimhood mentality and infringe on others with differences of opinion. Taking away America's proud heritage, the good and the bad, leads only to a nation without an identity or freedoms and opens us to a socialistic Marxist existence which will doom us. Why do you think other people from other nations want to live in America-the home of the free? Public Comments for the June 23, 2020 Meeting of the Winchester Common Council Page 3 of 14 It appears that this is a knee-jerk reaction due to an uproar over the slavery issue. All sides and thoughts should be addressed such as slavery has been around for thousands of years (not just black people enslaved and during the Civil War time period there were black slave owners as well), confusion over the slogan "black lives matter" (don't all lives matter?) and the Marxist organization Black Lives Matter, and other issues like the fact there is a high abortion rate of blacks so why do not unborn black babies matter?? The list goes on and on. Time to get back to the real crux of the matter-it is all a heart issue. What do you expect from a morally declining Godless world? So count us as a LOUD AND STRONG 'NO CHANGE' TO RENAMING JUBAL EARLY DRIVE OR ANY OTHER PRESENT DAY CIVIL WAR RELATED ENTITY. The same goes for removing or "hiding" them, such as memorials, elsewhere. We should tell the true facts of our history, warts and all. All are teachable moments. Name: Robert Patton Address: 1352 Ramseur Ln. (22601) Comments Related to Public Hearing? No Comments: As a homeowner in Winchester, I strongly urge keeping the street name (Jubal Early) as is. History should be appreciated, not rewritten, especially in its time context. Additionally, the cost of signage change plus the cost and stress of address change for property owners (homes/business) is incalculable without any appreciable benefit. KEEP the name! Name: Taylor Floyd Finley V Address: 3172 Valley Pike (22602) Comments Related to Public Hearing? No Comments: This comment is in regards to the discussion of the renaming of Jubal Early Drive. In light of recent events and with a man such as Early , why not replace the street name with a great African-American man with strong ties in the Winchester community? Taylor Floyd Finley, worked as one of the black communities only practicing dentist starting back in 1928. He was born in Winchester and stayed here his entire life while being a teacher and running a recreational center. One of his grandsons Donald Finley, Sr. was the first African-American man elected into Winchester City Council. And his son Donald Finley, Jr. is a well-respected and known police officer for Winchester. Many of Taylor’s decedents still live here in the Winchester area. Here is a link to the Taylor Finley Memorial with more information, that is in Winchester that you may have already seen before in our great city : https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=96111 This suggestion isn’t simply an African-American related to the civil rights movement like some others. But one based on a man who had strong ties to the community, so much so he spent his life here and wanted to make it a better place despite the likely hardships he faced through discrimination/segregation at that time in history.