Mt. Vernon Neighborhood
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Mount Vernon’s Hometown Newspaper • A Connection Newspaper June 1, 2017 Police Practices Improve, Citizens Demand More Board cites progress on Police Practices improvements, but Gazette Worker/The by Andrea Photos some citizens demand more. By Andrea Worker The Gazette ohn Lovaas admitted that he was a bit of a skeptic. Speaking at the JMay 22 meeting to update Fairfax County residents on the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Commission’s rec- ommendations, the Restonian acknowl- Caycee Utley of Fairfax stands amid protest signs and edged that he hadn’t been expecting all that Supervisor John Cook (R-Braddock), as chair of the fellow members of Showing up for Racial Justice. The much to come from the 32-member com- board’s Public Safety Committee, co-hosted a public group doesn’t think any real progress has been made mission established by Board of Supervisors forum updating citizens on the recommendations to “end racism and brutality, particularly against Chairman Sharon Bulova — in spite of the made by the Ad Hoc Police Practices Review Com- minorities” and hold law enforcement accountable fact that Lovaas had actually been chosen mission. for their actions. as an alternate representative. “But I am more and more impressed by from the audience were Bulova; Supervi- had already approved and implemented or possible results. what’s coming out of the implementation sor John Cook (R-Braddock); Police Chief put in motion 172 of the 202 recommenda- stage,” said Lovaas. Edwin Roessler, Jr.; Richard Schott, inde- tions that the commission presented in its TWO NEW FORMS of independent over- Lovaas may now be cautiously optimis- pendent police auditor; Adrian Steel, Ad final report on Oct. 20, 2016. “I am proud sight for the Fairfax County Police Depart- tic, but the meeting that highlighted Hoc Commission vice chair; Shirley … that in the first year 88 percent of the ment (FCPD) were established because of progress, also subjected its panelists to criti- Ginwright, Communities of Trust chair; and recommendations have been approved,” the Ad Hoc Commission. The supervisors cism, shouts, protest signs, and a dose of David Rohrer, deputy county executive for said Bulova, stressing that the board had recently named nine members — chosen expressed disbelief from many in the small, public safety. taken the commission’s findings seriously, from more than 140 applicants — to the but vocal audience. Bulova opened the session at the Govern- and worked in collaboration with the Civilian Review Panel, to be chaired by To provide the update and take questions ment Center by announcing that the board Sheriff’s Office, as well, to ensure the best See Police, Page 16 Community Rallies Around Pool Renovations New pool facilities bring out sense of community. By Mike Salmon remain a focal point of her neigh- The Gazette borhood. “I’ve made a lot of friends com- icking off Memorial Day ing to this pool,” she said. Kweekend, Willa Denton, The sense of community is one 15, was happy at her job thing the neighborhood was pre- sitting behind the front table at the serving when they came up with Stratford Recreation Association the idea for a new pool house, Photo by Mike Salm Photo (SRA) pool, a community attrac- locker rooms and dressing rooms tion where she’s lived practically to go along with other improve- her entire life. The pool is a social ments they’ve made over the last spot in Stratford and with the few years including a new wading newly completed renovations, will See Community, Page 6 on/The Gazette 6/2/17 Requested in home in Requested material. Time-sensitive Postmaster: Attention Permit #482 Permit Alexandria, VA Alexandria, PAID Cutting the ribbon marked the beginning of summer at the Stratford Recreation Asso- Postage U.S. ciation pool. STD PRSRT www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ June 1-7, 2017 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Mount Vernon Gazette ❖ June 1-7, 2017 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Mount Vernon Gazette Editor Steven Mauren News 703-778-9415 or [email protected] Photos by Andrea Worker/The Gazette Worker/The by Andrea Photos State Sen. Jill Vogel (R-27), Sen. Bryce Reeves (R-27), and Del. Glenn Davis (R-84) answer questions posed at the Lieutenant Governor’s Candi- The Democratic candidates seeking the position of Lieutenant Gover- date Forum at George Mason University. nor: Justin Fairfax, Gene Rossi, and Susan Platt. Party platforms and civil discourse highlight Debate Can Be Civil, Too forum for Lieutenant Governor candidates. By Andrea Worker reform, attracting “21st century jobs, mod- Davis said he voted six times against ex- “start their financial lives sooner … buying The Gazette ernizing education” and cutting “govern- panding Medicaid, stating that the monies homes, starting families and getting the ment red tape.” spent on Medicaid in the Virginia budget capital to start and grow their own busi- t the May 23 lieutenant gover- ON THE DEMOCRATS’ SIDE, Justin have already doubled in less than 10 years nesses.” nor candidates’ forum at George Fairfax is a former assistant U.S. attorney and needed to be reined in. On the subject of collective bargaining AMason University (GMU), there and businessman. Regulating utilities like Dominion Power and Virginia’s Right-to-Work laws, the three was none of the verbal fireworks Gene Rossi spent 27 years as a federal is not to their liking, either. “Competition would support unions and changes to the or often embarrassing vitriol that has come prosecutor. Rossi told the audience that he solves the issues,” according to Davis, while laws, but none of them saw this issue as a to characterize the political debating arena led the largest investigation ever to address Vogel maintained that with government, fight that could be easily won. “Let’s con- of late. the opioid epidemic, helping to secure 200 “less is usually more.” centrate on filling the 175,000 jobs that are Instead, the six major party candidates convictions of “unscrupulous pain doctors, A simple, but emphatic “No,” was how open because our workers are not trained — three Republicans and three Democrats pharmacists, health professionals, and drug Vogel, Reeves and Davis all “voted” on the or qualified for them first,” said Fairfax. Platt — sometimes passionately, but always po- dealers.” subject of collective bargaining. agreed, saying she supported unions, but litely, fielded questions posed to them by Susan Platt served as chief of staff to “I’m flabbergasted, why would anyone realistically sees Virginia as a Right-to-Work moderator Mark Rozell, dean of the co-host- former Vice President Joe Biden and serves choose to make the state less competitive?” state. “It’s entrenched here.” ing GMU Schar School of Policy and Gov- on the Virginia Tourism Board as an appoin- was Vogel’s comment when asked if Virginia ernment. So civil toward each other were tee of Tim Kaine. should turn away from its Right-To-Work THE EXPANSION of Medicaid was an- the candidates that there were only two status and more toward unionization. other area the three firmly supported, in occasions when any of them took advan- ALL SIX TROD CLOSELY along their “I would fight that tooth and nail,” said contrast to the GOP line. “Not doing so, tage of the 30 second “opportunity for re- party’s lines. The Republicans focused on Reeves. that’s $10.4 billion lost to our economy, plus buttal rule.” economic development in the Common- “That would mean a negative outlook for more jobs and healthcare coverage for an- The fact that the forum was split into two wealth via tax reform, defending Virginia’s our credit rating,” predicted Davis. Recent other 400,000 Virginians,” said Fairfax. sessions, with the GOP hopefuls taking the “Right-to-Work” status, exploring other op- indicators that suggest a less-positive out- Rossi told the audience of his daughter’s first shift, followed by the Democratic con- tions before increasing taxes, and reducing look on the state’s future credit worthiness battle and victory over a form of lymphoma, tenders after a brief recess, may have influ- what Reeves called the “regulatory burdens is of significant concern to the Republican as well as his own more recent blood disor- enced the tone of the event. placed on businesses.” trio of candidates. der. Saying Virginia needs a brand new Reeves sees the “constant change in the When the Democratic candidates were blood supply, “and I am the candidate with THE REPUBLICANS seeking the position regulatory environment” as an inhibitor to seated for their session, the overall tenor new blood,” Rossi pledged that he would are all current office holders and they took economic health. “We need some stability,” of the forum remained unchanged. Dean “fight like a dog for Medicaid.” the opportunity to discuss some of their he said, and a process to appeal to business Rozell asked similar — and sometimes iden- All three Democrats approved of the regu- governmental accomplishments during investors. tical — questions of the second candidate lation of utilities as emphatically as the opening statements. The Democrat candi- Vogel agreed. “For the first time, more panel, with Fairfax, Rossi and Platt usually Republican candidates were against it. dates have never held elected office. people are leaving Virginia than coming agreeing with each other in principle and Solving the woes that plague Metro also State Sen. Jill Vogel (R-27) is an advo- here. We need tax reform and financial sta- disagreeing with the GOP approach offered served to highlight the differences between cate for rural economies and a supporter of bility and predictability.” during “Round 1” of the forum. the two camps, but the unity within each school choice legislation. She also intro- “We used to be the number one state for Fairfax does not subscribe to the more dire party.