Op-Ed

The Truth Behind Purcellville’s Finances: exposing misinformation and fiscal ignorance

October 30, 2024

By Kwasi Fraser, former Purcellville Mayor It was my intention to step away from politics after serving you for four terms as Mayor, but I still live in this town, and what I see happening compels me to speak up. Misinformation is being spread by individuals who clearly lack even a basic understanding of finance.…

Proposed annexation of Valley Commerce Center expected to increase Purcellville traffic 

October 2, 2024

By Lloyd Harting The number of commercial trucks passing through Purcellville will increase significantly if the pending application submitted by 17110 Purcellville Road LLC for annexation of its 117-acre property along Purcellville Road is approved by the Purcellville Town Council and results in the construction of a 1.2 million square foot industrial/commercial Valley Commerce Center…

Small town values and miracles

October 2, 2024

By David Eno and John Payne David Eno and John Payne have been friends for forty years. They have some things in common and others not in common at all. They both moved to Purcellville, but were raised in other states. David in New York, John in California. Both worked at one time or another…

Dear Purcellville: How much more traffic can we take?

October 2, 2024

By John Ellis The citizens of Purcellville love their beautiful small town, as do many others like me who live nearby. However, we do have some complaints, including our frustration with traffic congestion. And, unfortunately, that particular problem keeps getting worse.  So how do we fix it? There are two general approaches. The “go to”…

Greenlin Park—the Board needs a backbone

October 2, 2024

By Charles Houston On October 16 our Board of Supervisors will vote on yet another rezoning request by JK Land Holdings, the biggest land speculator in the county and a frequent recipient of the Board’s favorable votes. The owner of JK Land Holdings has probably made a billion dollars on its land deals. (That amount’s…

Purcellville’s financial legacy at risk

October 2, 2024

How Mayor Milan’s policies could undermine years of fiscal responsibility By Kwasi Fraser, former Town of Purcellville Mayor For starters, I want to make clear there is a policy prescription for what ails our town. I fully endorse and ask the citizens of Purcellville to elect Christ Bertaut for Mayor and, for Town Council, Ben Nett, Brian Green, Susan Khalil,…

Skyscrapers and affordable housing

September 4, 2024

By Charles Houston Land use, housing, sprawl and property rights have been studied to death, and I don’t think many of those studies have found any universal truths. One recent attempt is from James Barr, an economist and professor, who has just published a book titled, “Cities in the Sky, The Quest to Build the…

A sincere thank you to the three most senior slow growth planning commissioners

September 4, 2024

By Kwasi Fraser, former Townof Purcellville Mayor First and foremost, I extend my gratitude to each of the three planning commissioners, Nan Forbes, Ed Neham and Nedim Ogelman, whose terms expired on August 31, and were not renewed by the council majority. Your unwavering dedication over the years in revising our 2030 Comprehensive Plan based…

Mayberry vs. Metropolis

September 4, 2024

By Ben Nett My name is Carl Benjamin Nett, but everyone calls me “Ben.”  My name on the ballot for the upcoming Town of Purcellville election is Carl B. “Ben” Nett, in keeping with the naming options available by state law. I’ve been known by a great many names and monikers over the course of…

Collective bargaining will disenfranchise citizens and harm kids

August 13, 2024

By Daniel A. Brubaker On Tuesday, August 13, the LCPS board will vote on whether to finalize unionization of our Loudoun school system, which already eats up roughly 2/3 of the county budget. Are the union people doing it for the kids? No. The teachers? Actually, no. President Franklin D. Roosevelt once wrote, “All Government…