By Jay Swanson: I like Sen. Chap Petersen (D- 34) a lot. One of the first votes I ever cast when I turned 18 was for him. But he made the wrong decision when he sided with the Republicans to not move Virginia’s May 5th municipal elections to November. The move had been suggested by our Democratic governor—and medical doctor—Ralph…
By Grace Aspinall: Americans historically step up to help one another in times of public emergency.and Fairfax County is no exception. For those who want to help during the coronavirus pandemic, the county has set up several websites to coordinate donations of money, materials and time. Financial contributions grace the top of the list of county needs, but supplies including…
Ed. Note: We asked the seven candidates running for three council member positions in the Town of Vienna’s non-partisan town council race to submit answers to the same four questions. Here are their responses, in ballot order. Separately, we are publishing the statements of the mayoral candidates. Update Apr. 24: The election is now scheduled for May 19, as Gov.…
Ed. Note: We asked the three candidates running for mayor in the Town of Vienna’s non-partisan town council race to submit answers to the same four questions. Here are their responses, in ballot order. Separately, we are publishing the statements of the candidates running for town council member positions. Update Apr. 24: The election is now scheduled for May 19,…
By Karen Kirk: Donald Trump has finally met a foe that he can’t seem to spin. In fact, coronavirus Covid-19 has him spinning in circles, spewing out contradictions and politicking while tens of thousands of Americans die. In a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, 52% of voters disapproved of Trump’s handling of the coronavirus compared to 44% who approved,…
Book review by Brandon Thurner: Political scientist Michael Lind warns of a new class war in America — between well-educated elites and a multiracial working class — in a new book that has garnered much attention, Lind paints an alarming picture of a divided country but also shows how these divisions can be overcome so they do not become normalized…
By Bob Leggett: In light of the pandemic, Fairfax County staff propose holding the budget for the upcoming fiscal year essentially flat, and keeping the real estate tax rate unchanged. The latest budget proposal from County Executive Bryan Hill calls for $4.47 billion in expenditures for the year beginning July 1 — only $22 million, or 0.5%, over the current…
Last in a three-part series on human trafficking in our region. Click here to read Part I and here to read Part II By Wallicia Gill: Every high school in Fairfax County had at least one case of human trafficking in 2018, while in the county as a whole more than 250 victims were identified, one third of them children.…
As businesses in our region stagger under the impact of coronavirus, the Democratic Business Council of Northern Virginia (“DemBiz”) has launched a series of short video interviews with business owners to share their experiences of dealing with the pandemic. The series, called “DemBiz Briefs,” looks into what is actually happening on the ground, how businesses are coping, what their most…
By Bob Leggett: As Fairfax County, and the world, struggle with the ravages of coronavirus, it may be reassuring to remind ourselves what a great place to live our county is, and will be again once the recovery takes hold. For this, there is no better place to look than a demographic report published by the county shortly before the…
By Rose Chu: As the unemployment rate climbs due to the coronovirus pandemic, it is important to know what options exist for continued healthcare coverage. Here are some insights from my experience as a health policy analyst, and a volunteer certified application counselor to enroll Virginians for the Federal Health Insurance Exchange and Medicaid. The Affordable Care Act (“Obamacare”) is…
By Grace Aspinall: Several important gun control measures, including universal background checks and a “red flag” law, were passed by the Virginia legislature in February 2020 as the Democratic majority installed in November signaled a shift away from traditionally lax gun policies in the Commonwealth. However, a proposed assault rifle ban failed to pass. Both pro-gun supporters and gun control…
By Paul O’Shea: Abolishing the death penalty is usually thought of as a Democratic and liberal policy, but a Republican and a libertarian serve proudly alongside their progressive colleagues on the board of Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. The death penalty is nonpartisan. It distributes its malevolent effects—racism, random selection, executing the innocent or the severe mentally ill–across…
Ed. Note: The author is running in the Democratic primary election on June 23 for US representative for Virginia’s 11th Congressional district against incumbent Gerry Connolly. The Blue View is an open platform for all northern Virginia Democratic candidates By: Zainab Mohsini I am not rich. I have never held public office. But, like millions of working people in America,…