Woodbridge, Va. –– Babur Lateef says he’s focused on redeveloping brownsfields.
Vying to become Prince William County’s next At large Board Chairman, he says Woodbridge, especially along U.S. 1 near the Occoquan River, has plenty brownsfields (once developed areas that have lost their luster) that are ripe for redevelopment.
The Democrat says a new type of business and the introduction of Metro would reverse years of blight.
“When you go up and down Route 1, where they’re talking about this new [U.S. 1 widening/improvement project] look at that, it’s terrible. So I have a couple ideas: We don’t have enough party halls in this county, for people who want to throw a graduation party or a prom. Where do our schools take their prom business to? Fairfax,” exclaimed Lateef.
Lateef, a doctor of Ophthalmology, moved from Ohio to Woodbridge 10-years ago to start his own practice. This is his foray in politics, running against the often outspoken Republican and current Prince William Board Chair Corey Stewart, and Independent candidate John Gray.
Lateef so far has more campaign money than Gray, raising $150,000 versus Gray’s $10,000.
By redeveloping blighted areas, Lateef says it will attract new small businesses, and professionals in the medical field, who as of late have chosen Stafford County.
“When you look at physicians, a lot of them when they want to open a second office, they’re coming down from Fairfax (County), they’re skipping us and they’re going to Stafford. Prince William has a reputation of not being a great place to work,” said Lateef. The opening of the Stafford Hospital Center drew many physicians away from doctors offices in Prince William, as well as drew doctors from Northern Virginia, he added.
So what will bring the jobs and qualified candidates to Prince William? Extending Metro to Woodbridge, he said.
“When I drive up to Gaithersburg (Maryland), they have Metro going all the out to Shady Grove (Maryland), and look at all those towns and they way they’re built. They’ve got a lot of homes right around the Metro, a lot of high-rise buildings and a lot of folks who can live there and work in D.C. and we don’t have that here. With [the Base Realignment and Closure] coming to Quantico and Belvoir, and we don’t have Metro, that doesn’t make any sense,” said Lafeef.
He did not say how he would fund a Metro extension, but the extension is a popular idea among area Democrats.
A recent report from GreaterGreaterWashington.org likened an extension of Metro to Prince William County to “transit sprawl.”
Voters will go to the polls November 8.
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FXBG Advance: The public was first made aware of the possibility of data centers in Celebrate VA when Mayor Devine added the topic to the July 9, 2024 Council agenda, giving the public no prior notice that the topic was to be discussed. Well before that announcement, council members had toured data centers in February, two at a time, to avoid public notice.
Also, prior to the July 9th meeting the City Manager initiated discussion with a developer to provide land for data centers.
In September the City Council supported the expenditure of $200,000 to study the infrastructure needs to provide power for data centers in Celebrate VA. A cost that should not be the responsibility of the city but by either Dominion Power or the developer. When questioned about this City Manager Tim Baroody confirmed it was not the city’s responsibility but explained that it was being done at the direction of the City Council.
Looking for a hands-on experience with cutting-edge technology? Don’t miss the 3D Printing Workshop at the Manassas Park City Library on January 16th at 5:30 p.m. Open to teens and adults ages 12 and up, this free workshop will teach the basics of Tinkercad and give participants the opportunity to ask questions about 3D printing. Explore the possibilities and take the first step into the exciting world of 3D printing!
Do you have an event you’d like to share with the community? Submitting your event is FREE and easy! Simply fill out this form with your event details. It’s a great way to spread the word and engage with local residents. Don’t wait—get your event on the calendar today!
Start 2024 on the right foot by prioritizing your mental health and well-being. At Peaceful Mind Solutions, we understand how challenging life can be—whether it’s managing stress from work, family dynamics, or navigating the complexities of the world around us. Our team is here to help you create balance and find the peace you deserve.
We’re offering a free 15-minute consultation to help you explore how therapy can work for you. Whether you’re feeling overwhelmed, looking for support, or just want to talk things through, this is the perfect opportunity to take that first step toward a healthier, happier you.
Scheduling is simple and convenient. Choose the option that works best for you:
Experience the passion and drama of Puccini’s “The Girl from the Golden West”.
Featuring special guest musicians from The Chesapeake Youth Orchestra, this performance brings Puccini’s masterpiece to life with an extraordinary cast.
Featuring:
