Opinion

Future development in Loudoun must align with our values

March 26, 2024

Dear Editor: Loudoun’s Future PAC is thrilled that the Board of Supervisors rejected the proposed Belmont Innovation Campus data center project this month. This decision represents a triumph for residents who have long voiced concerns about the unchecked expansion of data centers in our area and the associated strain on our electrical infrastructure and environment.…

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There is no room for special treatment for developers

February 28, 2024

Dear Editor: I am once again compelled to address Mayor Stan Milan’s recent statements regarding the Vineyard Square project. It seems Mayor Milan may have conveniently forgotten his own involvement as a member of the Town Council in crucial discussions surrounding this matter. During a Town Council meeting with Mayor Milan, then Council Member Milan…

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Rt. 7/690 Interchange – ‘Measure twice to cut once and the divorce before the marriage’  

February 28, 2024

By Kwasi Fraser Citizens of Purcellville, let me clarify my position on the Rt. 7/690 Interchange. I once supported this proposed project based on the Loudoun County Interchange Justification Report (IJR) design.  I envisioned relief for Hirst Road congestion as documented in the IJR. My endorsement was based on an earlier design presented in the…

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Our Zoning is Fundamentally Flawed

February 28, 2024

By Charles Houston Time to nerd out a bit. At the end of this piece there’s a two or three-line, italicized bio. Yes, I was a developer and yes, I handled millions of square feet of major office buildings, from Miami to Louisville, and from New Orleans to Richmond. My biggest building was 1.2 million…

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Just Say No to the Second Largest Data Center in the Country

February 28, 2024

By John Lovegrove When you think about Loudoun County and why you settled here, what comes to mind? Is it the Western Loudoun countryside filled with horses, rich Fall foliage and sweeping views? Is it the vibrant economy of Eastern Loudoun, the state-of-the-art schools, or the beautiful suburbs and mixed-use communities? For members of our…

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Pick your poison – higher real estate taxes or higher electricity bills

February 27, 2024

Dear Editor: Supervisor Kershner (Catoctin) recently circulated a message pledging to hold down the County real estate tax rate. On the surface, that sounds great. But, unless the County also takes serious action to control its spending, his pledge is effectively a call for more data centers, more power lines, and higher electricity bills.  In…

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Let us renew our commitment to serve those who serve us

February 22, 2024

Dear Loudoun Community: Loudoun, on Friday, Feb. 16, 2024, our community suffered an almost unbearable loss. As the governing body of Loudoun County, every member of the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors understands and acknowledges the extent to which the men and women of our Loudoun County Combined Fire and Rescue System and the men…

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Del. Srinivasan shuts out parental rights

February 20, 2024

Dear Editor:  Delegate Kannan Srinivasan (HD-26, Brambleton to South Riding area) voted against a bill (HB 480) that would have protected parental rights in medical decisions regarding their children. Specifically, Srinivasan voted against the right of a parent to provide consent before a doctor withdraws life-sustaining treatment or places a Do Not Resuscitate order in…

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We deserve access to truth in government

February 17, 2024

Dear Editor: February 17 is the 224 th  anniversary of Virginia native Thomas Jefferson’s election to the Presidency. From his time in the Virginia legislature to his time as President, he consistently defended the Press as an institution, saying in a 1876 letter to fellow Virginian James Currie, “Our liberty depends on the freedom of the press…

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A Eulogy for Bad Larry

January 31, 2024

By Charlie Houston I usually write about the imperative to save western Loudoun and address land use issues. A recurring theme has been populism – the county belongs to its people, not businesses or promoters. This, though, is about a particular person. Quality of Life Everyone seems to know what “quality of life” means, but…

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