By Holly Hazard: NEW ORLEANS — “You can’t lead the people if you don’t love the people,” said Sen. Cory Booker in his keynote speech Friday at the Netroots Nation Conference in New Orleans. He had this challenge to conservative values:…
Category: Social Issues
Time to vote for politicians who support gun safety
By Karen Kirk: “VOTE THEM OUT” was the rallying cry of speakers and protesters as more than 100 people gathered outside of the NRA Headquarters in Fairfax Saturday in support of gun safety. “This nation breathes the oxygen that is…
Fairfax County struggles with high level of hoarding
By Susan Laume: Imagine sitting on your porch enjoying the gentle breeze of a pleasant summer evening… then being driven inside by odors when your neighbor opens his garage door… He’s a hoarder. What can be done? That’s a difficult…
Fairfax NAACP Recognized as Best Branch in USA
By M. J. O’Brien: The Fairfax County NAACP has been named the top branch in the country by the national organization. The branch will receive the prestigious Thalheimer Award, given annually to the branch with the most outstanding achievements, next week…
Photo Essay: Thousands rally to bring families together
Tens of Thousands of demonstrators rallied Saturday in Washington, D.C. to protest the Trump administration’s “zero-tolerance” immigration policy and separating children from their parents. On a sweltering day in the capital, the crowd gathered at Lafayette Square across from the White…
It’s cruel but not unusual for Virginia to execute the seriously mentally ill
By Paul O’Shea: The last person executed in Virginia was mentally ill. Yet Virginia, which has executed more people than any state except Texas, has no law protecting the mentally disabled from capital punishment. It’s time to change that. When…
School Board votes on sex ed changes June 14 amid controversy
By Robert Rigby, Jr.: The Fairfax County School Board meets on Thursday June 14 to vote on changes to the Family Life Education curriculum that are more inclusive of transgender students—and have attracted a national media campaign of opposition from…
Fairfax County could cut immigrant arrests by 90% say experts
By Brad Swanson: Fairfax County could cut the arrests of undocumented immigrants from its jail by more than 90% by refusing to cooperate with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to a panel of immigration experts who spoke…
ICE deportations are up dramatically in Fairfax County
By Diane Burkley Alejandro: Under the Trump Administration, detention for suspected immigration violations has increased dramatically – not just nationally but right here in Fairfax County. Most deportations are due to Fairfax County law enforcement’s initial detention of these individuals…
School Board weighs changing sex ed to make it more LGBTQ inclusive
By Karen Kirk: The Fairfax County School board heard spirited comments both for and against changing the public school sex education curriculum to make it more LGBTQ inclusive at its regular meeting Thursday, May 24. The discussion was a precursor…
Candidate Question Time: Should undocumented aliens have a path to citizenship?
Each week until the Va-10 congressional district Democratic Party primary election on June 12, The Blue View will ask all six candidates to respond to a key question on an important issue in 100 words or less. This week’s question: Should undocumented aliens…
Immigrants have been a big part of Virginia’s success
By Karen Kirk: Immigration has helped Virginia rise from poverty to affluence, notes Sen. Tim Kaine. Kaine does the numbers: In 1968, only 1% of Virginians were immigrants and the state ranked 38th in income per person. Today, immigrants make up…
Candidate Question Time: How would you respond to the opioid crisis?
Each week until the Va-10 congressional district Democratic Party primary election on June 12, The Blue View will ask all six candidates to respond to a key question on an important issue in 100 words or less. This week’s question: How should Congress,…
Civilian Panel Targets Abuse by Fairfax County Police
By Jim O’Connell: Steve Descano goes out night after night looking for trouble. Not trying to start some, he’s trying to resolve it. Descano is a member of the Fairfax County Police Civilian Review Panel, which reviews complaints of abuse…