Letters To the Editor

Controlling Growth Wasn't A Dangerous Idea After All

I wonder whether our former and most current Board of County Supervisors members still remember us telling them we needed to control growth in Prince William before it was too late. We were just "radical activists," our board members would say. Who knew best of the needs of our county than those who were (mis)managing it at the time?

So build on, our supervisors gleefully said, as they voted to please every developer who would pad their campaigns. Only our supervisors in their infamous wisdom knew what was best for their constituents. By allowing any developer to build giant subdivisions if they would promise enough in proffers (to supposedly take care of the roads and other infrastructure needs created by their development), all would be fine.

But then the dirt stopped flying and the houses stopped being built in various stages of development. One good example is Port Potomac on Route 1, where new homes once sold for $750,000 and up. As I drove through Port Potomac the other day, I saw homes listed for $300,000 and less, some much less. The streets were unfinished, homes partially built and street drains plugged with brick and stones, most likely because the sewers were not finished.

Where does all the runoff go when it rains or snows? How about those proffers to finish the streets? Who will end up taking care of this mess? Well, the answer is easy: It will be the taxpayers who will pay again just because Prince William County, like so many other localities nationwide, got stuck because of simple greed.

Had we initiated the controlled-growth policies we "controlled-growth freaks" had asked for, our county wouldn't have so many partially developed subdivisions or vacant houses.

But what do the radical controlled-growth folks know, anyway? Probably only enough to realize that our county wouldn't be so broke or full of empty dreams and broken promises had our political representatives from both parties listened to their constituents rather than the jingling coins in their campaigns' deep pockets. I wonder how deep those pockets are now.

Keith Kessler

Dale City

Cuts to Senior Transit Have a Serious Impact

I read with great interest your July 9 article "Senior Transit Program Retooled; Budget Cuts Force New Approach" [Prince William Extra]. My mother, who is 80 and has vision problems, went to the Woodbridge Senior Center on a daily basis. She enjoyed the social interaction that the center provided and felt comfortable with the senior center bus drivers. The new voucher program leaves a lot to be desired and is not in the best interests of the senior citizens of Prince William County.

Although my mother's income is way below the threshold, the county coupon allowance would cover less than two round trips by taxi per month. Given her age and her conditions, taking the county bus system is not an option, and she doesn't feel comfortable using a taxi.

Although the article makes the program sound good, it is not what our seniors need. I hope that the county reconsiders its budget priorities and does a bit more for our seniors. I realize that times are tough, but we can't relegate our seniors to a lonely life in a house or apartment with little or no social interaction. I am sure there are other programs that can be reduced, resulting in less impact to our society as a whole.

Warren J. Lopez

Dumfries