Karl Greten, of Gainesville, speech at the June 27 Prince William Board of County Supervisors meeting: “I am Karl Greten, and I live in the Gainesville District. We are against the Digital Gateway CPA on Pageland Lane and its associated rezoning.”
“Chair Wheeler’s statement about the next Chair making statements about MAGA is completely accurate. Wheeler has not listened to the statements from PWC citizens that the underlying issue is to make PWC great, make VA great, and Make America Great. Wheeler, what do you want? Make Russia or China, or Iran great? This is what Wheeler has not understood. Perhaps you were trying to make another locale, state, or country great. PWC citizens are working to make PWC great and to not bulldoze it.”
“For the rest of the Democrat BOCS members, we are watching your comments, voting stance, and your financial gains.
“Prince William County has made amazing progress over the last three and a half years, and all Democrats and independents must all come together to ensure that continues,” Wheeler has said. This statement is true because Republicans, Democrats, and Independents came together to vote Wheeler out.”
“We will follow the developer and data center bulldozer money as Wheeler passes funds on to other Democrat destroyers.”
“Supervisor Angry: you narrowly won your primary election contest. Congratulations on winning with just over 100 votes. Your opponent is a newcomer to the PWC election process so this shows you may not be on the firmest ground.”
“Kenny Boddye: you have said, ‘This is an opportunity to say, Hey, we hear that there needs to be more care and caution when it comes to data centers and where we put them.’ Where have you been for the last two years? This is what the citizens have been pounding on you.”
“’You’re going to have a whole host of Democratic activists, advocates, and volunteers who may have sat out of the primary who are definitely going to be energized in the fall,” Boddye said.”
“Kenny, you got this wrong. Republicans, Democrats, and Independents came together to vote in the primary to oust Wheeler. Now county-wide issues such as the economy, violence, transgenderism, schools and grades that have declined during Democrat rule, abortion term limits, affordable housing, and the socialist agenda will be the issues between the Republican and Democratic position of the BOCS Chair in the election voting in September. Republican and Independents will now vote on multiple issues other than just data centers.”
“The citizens have spoken, and the county has heard us. Even though there was apprehension during the primary, the citizens of PWC knew what the outcome would be. There is no surprise.”
“The largest surprise is how far-reaching the results have resounded. Associated Press reports are coming in from Canada, Illinois, Oregon, Florida, Alaska, Georgia, Oklahoma, and Texas, and these are just a few.”
“Vote against the Digital Gateway CPA on Pageland Lane and its associated rezoning.”
Editors note: Potomac Local News aims to share opinions on issues of local importance from a diverse range of residents across all our communities. If you’ve recently spoken at a Board of County Supervisors meeting, send us a typed copy of your remarks for publication to [email protected].
Democracy only works if you exercise it. Talk is cheap, but votes are powerful.
In the past 20 months, county residents have been encouraged to push back against a government that rode roughshod over its express wishes. That encouragement paid off on June 20 with the upset defeat of Board of County Supervisors Chair Ann Wheeler in the Democratic primary.
The ousting of Chair Wheeler is a thunderclap that will reverberate far beyond Prince William County and whose effects will become clearer in the weeks ahead. At a minimum, it sends a powerful message that communities will fight back against reckless development that threatens their quality of life and that public servants who do not serve will be held accountable.
The cliches are irresistible. Truth is powerful. Justice prevailed. Right made might.
What does this stunning rebuke mean for the future of Prince William County Government? For starters, it ought to shine a bright light on the public’s disdain for the “pay for play” politics that has been ruling this county for too long. Ditto for divisive leadership, obstructing transparency, neglect of due diligence, and suppression of public input.
Congratulations to Deshundra Jefferson, who had the courage to stand up to a Democratic organization that had doubled down on a flawed status quo. It’s time to start making over that organization in the image of the principles it is supposed to stand for. It is the people, not the money, that sustains it.
Democracy in. Wheeler out.
Bill Wright
Gainesville
PLN accepts letters to the editor on issues of local importance. Submit your letters to [email protected].
The chair of the board, Ann Wheeler, is running for re-election against another Democratic candidate Deshundra Jefferson. Here are some facts to consider when you go to vote.
Wheeler’s campaign is funded by special interest groups, including the data center industry, developers, and landowners that stand to make millions from the sale of their rural land for use by the data center industry. Wheeler has ownership in data center companies, yet she failed to ask if these personal financial interests represented a conflict of interest when she voted to approve favorable tax rates and approve the development of more land for these companies to build here.
She wanted to [reduce] public comment time at County Board meetings because we, the citizens of the county who were showing up to speak up, were taking up too much of the Supervisors’ time. Wheeler was recently charged by the Virginia Supreme Court of violating the FOIA (Freedom of Information Act) by participating in a meeting with the other Democrat County Supervisors at the exclusion of any Republican Supervisors. When the ruling from the Supreme Court was released, Wheeler said the County (you and me) would need to pay their legal fees of up to $150,000.
Wheeler approved higher taxes for us with the meals, cigarettes, and real estate taxes. Yet, she refused to increase the tax on data center companies to the market rate charged by other localities. She claims to have championed our environment, yet she and her Democratic Supervisors voted for the single, largest land use change in decades by eliminating the Rural Crescent.
They approved this despite pleas from our water company, over 30 environmental groups, and our own county Environmental and Sustainability Commission. As you go to the polls on Tuesday, June 20, ask yourself, “Do you want our County to continue to be governed by a person whose interests and influence are from data center companies and real estate developers?” Did you vote for your Supervisors to make Prince William County home to the world’s largest concentration of data centers?
Let’s take the county back and elect Supervisors who represent us, the county’s citizens, and not allow our county to continue to be bought by the highest bidder.
Nancy Armour
Woodbridge
PLN accepts letters to the editor on issues of local importance. Submit your letters to [email protected].
Three years ago, my husband and I moved to our retirement home. A year later, this turmoil began. When a billion-dollar company and another multi-million dollar company come charging into your community with unlimited wealth and proceed to turn your world upside down, it truly is tragic for anyone, but especially so for my senior community of Heritage Hunt, with 3,500 people and an average age of 75, located only an hour west of Washington, D.C., our nation’s capital.
With the advent of data centers to make our world connected at intergalactic speeds, people do not realize what the adverse effects of a proposed data center alley can do to the community in which they encroach: the destruction of our environment and wildlife, the pressure on our overtaxed electrical grid; the polluted air with particulate matter from diesel-fired, backup generators; the depletion of our watershed; potential 24/7 noise from rooftop A/C systems on hyper-scale buildings standing 90 feet tall and beyond; and, most importantly, the disrespect to the thousands of Civil War soldiers buried on the hallowed grounds of the Manassas National Battlefield Park adjacent to this proposed large data center alley, the same data center alley adjacent to my retirement community. Even our Conway Robinson State Forest abuts this project.
Many of us seniors here have banded together in opposition. Letters have been written, phone calls have been made, and offices have been frequented by every local, state, and federal elected official to little avail. The political maneuvering is profound and unprecedented, especially non-replies to Virginia Freedom of Information Act requests. One after the other, rezoning and special use permits were approved for even more nearby monstrosities during the darkest days of COVID under Non-Disclosure Agreements by the majority of our elected County Board of Supervisors.
Where are the integrity, morals, insight, and foresight of what they are proposing for our county? Why have numerous studies not been ordered in advance of this new venture when there has been nothing but citizen outcry, along with the disapproval of over 30 environmental groups, county commissions, our own county offices, and even disapproval by Ken Burns, filmmaker of the famous Civil War miniseries.
We, seniors, have been around the block a few times, as they say, and we know it is a travesty that the almighty dollar has taken precedence over our cultural heritage and the protection of mother earth for our progeny and their progeny.
There are many forms of elder abuse, and I believe that corporate America has just established a new version of the textbooks by setting their sites on land adjacent to 3,500 of us seniors, causing undue stress on our health and welfare for the past 18 months with much more elder abuse to come if this project goes forward.
I just want to cry because no one is listening to me, because no one is showing any foresight because there is no undoing the devastation once done. I cry for all those who will never know the historic and beautiful Prince William County in the Commonwealth of Virginia that I have known for the past 47 years.
I will always stand by the Virginia State Seal, Sic Semper Tyrannis: Sic semper tyrannis is a Latin phrase meaning “thus always to tyrants.” In contemporary parlance, it means tyrannical leaders will inevitably be overthrown.
The phrase also suggests that bad but justified outcomes should, or eventually will, befall tyrants.
Elizabeth Martorana
Gainesville
PLN accepts letters to the editor on issues of local importance. Submit your letters to [email protected].
Now some Political Action Committee named “Moving Virginia Forward” is littering the landscape with mailers using this same deceptive tactic to camouflage Ann Wheeler’s’ feigned concern for Prince William County taxpayers.
The return address on their mailers is the UPS store in Gainesville. Now that’s transparency.
Their mailers also misleadingly claim that she “made data centers pay their fair share” even though the county’s $2.15 computer and peripherals tax rate is still only 52% of Loudoun’s $4.15 rate, and Chair Wheeler initially voted against raising the C&P tax rate, which passed despite her opposition.
Who are the donors behind “Moving Virginia Forward?” You can’t tell because, according to the Virginia Public Access Project, a Democratic PAC with that name went dormant in 2010. It must have been resuscitated just in time to conjure up accomplishments to bolster our beleaguered Chair’s reelection effort. It’s telling that our chair can’t even take credit for her own dubious self-promotion.
If Ann Wheeler wants to claim credit for something she actually did, she could brag about killing more trees than any of her predecessors. Nobody would give her an argument about that.
Bill Wright
Gainesville
PLN accepts letters to the editor on issues of local importance. Submit your letters to [email protected].
I am writing to encourage my friends and neighbors in Prince William County residents to elect Jeanine Lawson for Chair of the Board of Supervisors.
I was fortunate to serve with Jeanine on the Board of Supervisors when our terms overlapped from late 2014 to early 2016. During our brief service together, I was able to observe Jeanine’s leadership firsthand. I was always impressed with her preparation and passion for the citizens of our county.
She always did her homework and worked to protect the quality of life that we in Prince William County enjoy. That quality of life, however, is not guaranteed. It takes leadership and the right vision to protect our community.
Unfortunately, on issues like taxes, public safety, and development, we are headed in the wrong direction. That’s why we need Jeanine.
Over the last few years, we have seen increases in our property taxes and the imposition of a new meals tax. This has given the board lots of new revenue. Yet despite all this new money, the board has not added police officers quickly enough to meet demand as per the county’s police staffing plan. And the countywide crime rate has risen each of the last two years.
In the area of development, we have seen the proliferation of data center approvals. While these may bring the county more revenue, they will obliterate the beauty and tranquility of our rural area, damage our environmental resources, and impact the quality of life of our neighbors. We have also seen new residential development that will increase the costs of infrastructure and government services. Yet we have not seen a commitment to preserving open spaces and natural resources as we grow.
We need a new vision. We need a new leader to address the issues affecting us all. That leader is Jeanine Lawson.
We need Jeanine because she’s proven she can tackle divisive issues and stand up for the majority of Prince William County residents. We want someone that will fight to protect our quality of life. We want someone to preserve open space and protect our watersheds.
We want a leader who will be smart about spending and make investments that will keep our community safe. Jeanine Lawson will get it done for us. She will stand up for our community–not political donors and special interests.
I encourage you to vote for Jeanine Lawson for Chairman. Please vote Jeanine
Lawson in the Republican Primary on Tuesday, June 20, between 6 a.m. and 7 p.m. at your regular polling location.
Michael C. May
Former Prince William County Occoquan District Supervisor
PLN accepts letters to the editor on issues of local importance. Submit your letters to [email protected].
This spike in violent and property crimes has impacted every corner of Prince William County, and our communities yearn for a leader who can decrease crime and ensure the safety of their neighborhoods and schools.
InsideNova reported that violent crime has risen to pre-pandemic levels, including the fact that there were double the number of homicides in 2022 compared to 2021. Violent and property crime rates often rise with warmer weather and it’s those types of crimes that the county is having issues with.
In 2022 there were 571 motor vehicle thefts which is more than double the amount in 2019. Last week was National Police Week and it’s difficult for a county police force dealing with staffing issues to combat rising crime.
Supervisor Jeanine Lawson, who is running for Board Chair in the November
election, has been consistent on the need to recruit and retain the best police officers, increase wages, and get to work on solving these issues. Prince William County has historically been a safe area to raise a family, removed from the noise and dangers inside the beltway.
Supporting Jeanine Lawson for Chair can bring common sense solutions back to our law enforcement agencies who keep our community safe. With rising inflation and high taxes families are struggling more than ever to make ends meet.
It’s times like these that leave our residents vulnerable to theft, break-ins, and other crimes that threaten safety in our communities. Families work hard for the things they have and simply do not deserve to fall prey to theft or damage to their personal property.
I urge my fellow residents to stay vigilant and to support common sense leaders like Jeanine Lawson, who will work to keep our communities safe.
Tim Parrish
Woodbridge
PLN accepts letters to the editor on issues of local importance. Submit your letters to [email protected].
There is no need to answer that question, as we all know the answer.
Democrats on the Prince William County Board of Supervisors, Ann Wheeler, Victor Angry, Kenny Boddye, Andrea Bailey, and Margaret Angela Franklin, have stuck together like glue and voted to approve the data Center takeover of Prince William County.
Despite the overwhelming voices against this, they have moved forward without considering the devastation it will cause to the hard-working, taxpaying citizens who pay their salaries. They don’t care about the potential damage to our watershed, our environment, the electric grid, or the noise pollution and the visible destruction of our beautiful landscapes. And, as we continue to read in our local papers, they are encouraging more data centers in Gainesville and other locations around our county.
We have witnessed many great common sense questions directed at this group of supervisors without proper answers or solutions offered. Yet, the citizens of Prince William County are supposed to sit back and accept data centers placed one hundred feet from our homes and schools and our National Battlefield without any satisfactory answers regarding the many questionable issues surrounding the support of these data centers. Democrats believe we should acquiesce.
Prince William County Democrats are supporting Democrat Deshundra Jefferson, who promises she will fight against implementing data centers throughout our communities. But does she support parents in their fight against the sexual indoctrination of our children?
Jefferson is fully supported and backed by the Collective Political Action Committee and the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. If you peruse Jefferson’s Twitter feed, you will see she believes in abolishing the private prison system. But isn’t this the very issue that falls in line with the ‘school to prison pipeline’ debacle? These horrific policies allowed rapes to happen in schools while administrators looked the other way.
Prince William County is at a crossroads and the 2023 elections will decide whether we free ourselves from subservience to developer exploitation or slip permanently into the abyss.
A positive change awaits in the candidacy of Deshundra Jefferson for County Board Chair. She vows to restore transparency and integrity to a government that has been quick to abuse your trust and give away the store to big tech predators who are gorging on your slice of the pie.
We must diversify our commercial tax base among ALL targeted industries, vice putting all our eggs in the data center basket, and focus on attracting small businesses by reducing barriers to their establishment. Read More
