Biscuit Run road rage
It is an interesting quote from Mr. Blaine in the C-VILLE Weekly under Development and Biscuit Run [“Biscuit Run: More Complaints,” Development News, December 26] that cites his “help” in providing the necessary infrastructure to take this high volume of traffic off of the Fry’s Spring Neighborhood streets that is a current problem due to the development south of Azalea Park via Old Lynchburg Road (OLR). I believe those of us who were in attendance at the last Albemarle County Planning Commission meeting did not see any relief being given to this neighborhood and, in particular, the high volume of traffic currently being endured on this city’s residential street of Old Lynchburg Road, which has a safe speed posted of 25 mph, which many of the current, daily average of 5,300 vehicles who use this residential street systematically ignore on a daily basis…before more development goes in south of Azalea Park.
I believe if you go back to your notes of this last meeting, you will remember that Southwood Estates Connector merely brings Biscuit Run traffic through the proposed developments of Biscuit Run and the Habitat Community directly onto OLR—already heavily burdened. I believe that one of the proffers being offered by Mr. Blaine is a traffic signal at the intersection of Sunset and OLR as well as this earlier described “Connector,” neither of which takes the heavy burden off of the residential streets of FSN and, in particular, OLR.
Looking further at the maps that were used in Mr. Blaine’s presentation, he refers to the City of Charlottesville as “the business district” rather than a system of neighborhoods that are to be upheld and protected—not overloaded and trashed by greed in the pursuit of money.
As I stated at the last Albemarle County Planning Commission meeting, ”What is the plan?” The nonplan is not a plan conducive to the health and longevity of the neighborhoods that currently call the City of Charlottesville home.
What are the proffers being offered by Mr. Blaine that show responsibility toward the neighborhoods to take the high volume of speeding traffic off of our neighborhood streets? Mr. Blaine needs to go back to the “drawing board” if he wants to say that his proffers are helping with the needed infrastructure, and the leaders of Albemarle County, the City of Charlottesville, and the University of Virginia need to find their voices to require such. There is a “Window of Time” to correct this ill designed plan, and our leaders need to step forward and lead.
Responsible development without being at the expense of others should be the goal for this area.
Jeanne S. Chase
Charlottesville
Goode gripes grow
Virgil Goode
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When a U.S. Congressman (Virgil Goode, Virginia) goes into a frothy panic just because a Muslim-American was elected to Congress [“Goode Makes Complete Ass of Self,” Government News, December 19] and then uses the threat that other Muslim-Americans might also be elected someday as an excuse to cut legal immigration, one can almost smell the crosses burning. “Circle the wagons,” he’s telling us, “the barbarians are coming!!” Well, which are the barbarians—legal immigrants or the xenophobes who think like Mr. Goode? It’s a pity Mr. Goode never learned that what makes America great is that it’s home to all peoples of the world, not just to members of one ethnic clique who believe that they are the only true Americans. It’s also a pity that the voters in his district chose to elect a hate-mongering bigot to represent them. That’s their right, but the Germans did the same thing 75 years ago, and it didn’t turn out well. If America is to avoid a similar fate, we all must demonstrate that jingoistic nativism is no longer popular and refuse to support candidates who promote bigotry in order to get votes.
Robert Hayman
Seattle, WA
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Representative Goode’s letter questioned the allegiance of Representative Ellison. Yet, what about Representative Goode’s allegiance? The congressman has a history of switching his allegiances, having transformed himself from a Democrat to a Republican, from a Presbyterian to a Baptist, and from a supporter of the Civil Rights Movement to a promoter of religious intolerance. Now, I learn he has the Ten Commandments on his office wall. He is scheduled to retake the oath of office again this January. That means he will swear “that I will support the Constitution of the United States.” But will it be the Constitution or the Ten Commandments that takes precedence during his next two years in office? Or will both be jettisoned as he continues down the path of appealing to people’s more base instincts?
Heather Rowland
Charlottesville
Congressional chorus
Thanks for spotlighting the Common Ground Chorus [“The long and winding road,” Plugged In, December 26]! I’m only sorry I had not set our dates in January before you went to press. The chorus will have two “Open Sessions” this month before getting started in earnest in February: Tuesday, January 9 and Tuesday, January 16, from 7pm to 9pm at the Charlottesville Friends Meeting House at 1104 Forest St. Both sessions are open to curious singers.
And what a hopeful suggestion that Congressman Goode might enjoy singing with our chorus sometime. I’d welcome the chance to sing with Mr. Goode. A singing teacher of mine once observed that every legislature in the world would do well to sing in harmony together each day before attempting to write any laws together! Perhaps our congressman could pick up a piece suitable to sharing with his colleagues. And maybe he’d have an old gospel chestnut to share with us.
Craig Green
Afton
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