Alexandria should leave boat club property alone Re: “Alexandria waterfront plan: Who should pay?” July 28
We are opposed to having our city government pursue an eminent domain action against the Old Dominion Boat Club to obtain a small number of private parking spaces on the Strand and to remove the boat club’s easement for Wales Alley. It is wrong in every way — and provides no public benefit for citizens or tourists.
The city claims the land and the rights to the alley are worth $150,000. The boat club is undoubtedly correct that they are worth much more. Whatever the true monetary value, obtaining this private land and reserving the right to impede the alley has no public value. The sole beneficiary would be the owners of the Virtue Feed and Grain restaurant, whose patrons could continue to dine in the alley in violation of a court order and perhaps use the parking spaces now reserved for boat club members.
The citizens of Alexandria would be paying for something of no benefit to them. In fact, reserving part of the alley for a private use contravenes a stated objective of the proposed waterfront plan, which is to open up historic alleys to provide more connections to the Potomac River. Wales Alley adjoins the oldest building in the city and is part of the Colonial-era legacy we in CAAWP are pledged to preserve and enhance.
Andrew Macdonald & Boyd Walker
Co-chairmen,
Citizens for an Alternative Alexandria Waterfront Plan
Tea Party needs to compromise on debt ceiling
Had a foreign power threatened to destroy this nation’s economy the way the Tea Party Congress has, it would be considered an act of war and dealt with accordingly. Instead of condemning this “crazy Congress” for their irresponsibility, the right-wing media machine continues to encourage them as we move closer to a financial and social meltdown.
Do they know that the vast majority of debt they’re so worried about was run up during the Bush administration, or that taxes — especially on millionaires — have not been this low in decades?
The puppet masters behind the Tea Party have taken valid concerns and used them to elect candidates wholly owned by the most powerful business interests who could care less about the welfare of this nation. It’s time for the Tea Party members to wake up and realize that they have been had and demand their representatives compromise for the good of the country. I only hope its not too late.
Donald Castle
Chandler, Ariz.
Gay marriage is symbol of doomed civilization
All week long, New York newspapers have published articles celebrating gay marriage, with front-page photos of men (or women) kissing each other. Marriages between a man and a woman were long considered the bedrock of civilization, but civilization as we know it is now doomed because what was foundational is being destroyed and redefined. Instead of congratulating ourselves on being open-minded and tolerant, we should start worrying about the confusion and emotional trauma we are bestowing on our children.
My family was expelled from Germany at a time when Hitler had perfected the art of propaganda. They knew that if you tell a lie often enough, it eventually becomes accepted as truth. This is happening in our country now. Lies are proclaimed as truth, and any opposing voice is silenced.
I pray that the many people who still believe in right and wrong will have the courage to express themselves publicly on this important issue. We need a national referendum to decide whether we want to return to the time when our nation put its trust in God.
Johann Christoph Arnold
Senior pastor.
Bruderhof Church Communities
Rifton, N.Y.
