Simone Reddington, co-host of the “Until They Kick Us Out” podcast, sat down with Uriah Kiser, publisher of Potomac Local News, to discuss local politics, business, and the pulse of Manassas. Simone and her co-host, Nikki France, have used their platform to spotlight the city’s political landscape while celebrating its small businesses and tight-knit community.
The interview explored Simone’s evolving involvement in local politics, an area she didn’t initially set out to cover. When asked about Manassas’s state, Simone expressed her optimism and concerns.
“I would be ignorant if I didn’t acknowledge that there hasn’t been a lot of improvement over our city in the past three years… But I’m seeing it go in a direction where I don’t believe it’s being led healthily,” she said. Reddington emphasized the disconnect between local government and business owners, sharing her frustration over land purchases, the lack of effective leadership, and the underrepresentation of small businesses.
Simone also touched on the city’s Real Estate purchases, including the controversial acquisition of properties like the Mathis Avenue Shopping Center and the underdeveloped Old Town site. “We’ve been staring at fencing and concrete slabs for almost a year now, and there’s no plan for it,” she remarked.
A major theme in the interview was Reddington’s commitment to amplifying the voices of small business owners in downtown Manassas, particularly as they navigate economic challenges. “They’re suffering. They pull in money on First Fridays, but that’s one day. The rest of the time, many are struggling,” she explained, calling for more government support and collaboration with the community.
Listeners can catch the full interview on Potomac Local News’ YouTube or Facebook page. Simone’s candid take on Manassas’ leadership, her passion for small business, and her call for change in the community make for a compelling listen. Don’t miss this insightful conversation!
We’re excited to share our latest Potomac Local podcast episode featuring Barbara Biddle, the owner of District Hemp. In this insightful conversation, Barbara recounts the emotional journey of losing their original storefront due to the demolition of the Old Town Inn and the subsequent challenges of reopening at their new location at 9417 Main Street, downtown Manassas.
Barbara delves into the significant regulatory changes that impacted District Hemp, including the introduction of SB903 and how these changes have increased operating costs and limited product availability. Despite these hurdles, Barbara shares how the unwavering support from the Manassas community was pivotal in expanding District Hemp to Leesburg and Washington, DC.
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The latest edition of the Potomac Local Podcast will be posted this weekend. It's a privilege to bring it to you, our paid members, who support our efforts to bring you local community news.
This week, discover resilience and community spirit as we chat with Barbara Biddle, Owner of District Hemp in Manassas and Leesburg.
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Set a reminder to join us on Monday.
We will talk with Karla Justice, seeking the Occoquan seat on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors.
The conversation will be live on Twitter Spaces (click below) at 2 p.m. Monday, May 15, 2023.
Twitter Spaces allows you to listen to a live audio conversation like a radio broadcast or live stream. I’ll also record the conversation so you’ll be able to listen to the conversation afterward, the same way you would listen to a podcast.
I look forward to talking with Justice and learning more about her platform. Please feel free to Tweet me questions during the conversation or ahead of time on our Twitter page, @PotomacLocal, and I might use them during the conversation.
Overall, I hope our conversation on Twitter Spaces is a success. I’ve listened to and participated in other Twitter Spaces conversations, from the environment and state politics to Star Trek.
The platform allows people to connect easily and discuss topics that matter to them.
As 2023 is a major election year, I am to have more candidates seeking local office on our Twitter Spaces.
I’ll be talking with Karla Justice @justiceoccoquan about her campaign for @pwcgov Occoquan Dist. Supervisor. She’s challenging @KennyBoddye whose held the seat since 2020. Hope you join us. https://t.co/vrOVf7xLOl
— Potomac Local News (@PotomacLocal) May 11, 2023
