Loudoun Bully Pulpit

Many of the 879 laws passed in the recent 45-day General Assembly session come into effect today.  I am very thankful for the no-writing/reading of texts/e-mails-while-driving law, but I don’t think it goes far enough.  Based on my own experiences, I think an amendment should be added that prohibits the following activities while driving:

• Putting on makeup
• Writing
• Eating
• Playing electronic games or use of cell phone apps
• Drinking (no more cupholders, car costs would go down)
• Getting Dressed/Changing Clothes (admit it, you’ve done this!)
• Going to the bathroom (Guys, you can’t deny you’ve done this at least once!)
• Reading the newspaper or anything else
• Reading a map (of course if this is a law, they have to provide everyone a free GPS)
• Operating a DVD player (for the kids, right)
• Distracting communications that would ultimately divert drivers attention away from driving–this includes arguments with your significant other or any other member of your family, breaking up fighting kids in the backseat, and any stressful cellphone conversations wtih clients, co-workers, bosses, HR, payroll, security, banker, parole officer, etc. 

Of course additional ammendments may be added as new hazards are discovered or made up.

Wooohooo!!! Loudoun County made the Drudge Report!!!  With what?  Zig zag lines that were added by VDOT to roads with high traffic pedestrian areas.

“It is a low cost strategy to get motorists to slow down as they approach the bike trail and pedestrian path,” says VDOT’s Mike Salmon. “While at first motorists may be a little disoriented, the main point is to get them to pay attention and slow down through that area.”

Hmmm…Why not lower the speed limit?  Just a thought.

Have you been to a Tax Day Tea Party (locate one here!)?  Do share your thoughts and experiences.  Please include the following:

• Location and Time of Tea Party
• Reason for attending
• General Thoughts and/or Specific Experiences

While this is only a suggested list, I’d also like to know (1) approx. how many people were in attendance (please provide basis), (2) were there any weather issues, (3) composition of the crowd, (4) interesting conversations, etc.

Thanks!

I am hungry just thinking of writing this post.  We recently partook of the newest restaurant to grace downtown Leesburg:  The Cajun Experience.  It definitely was an Experience!  If you don’t look out of the window to check your bearings, your fast-pasted DC metro life becomes irrelevant and slowly melts away.  Don’t look now; you are in slower pace Louisiana now and the only things that matter are your family, the food in front of you and the company at your table (and possibly surrounding tables).  Owned and operated by native Louisianans, the Experience offers traditional Cajun (not to be confused with creole) dishes: etouffee (pronounced A-Too-Fay), gumbo, po-boys, etc.  Being from Louisiana, Lafayette to be exact (and about as Cajun as you can get!), I really, REALLY like my husband’s etouffee.  The Experience’s etouffee makes my husband’s etouffee taste like a Chef Boyardee right-out-of-the-box knock off (I hope he is not reading this!).  The etouffee is rich, flavorful and served with a side of potato salad.  As it is seasonal, order the etouffee as long as you can!  First-timers, don’t be shy with the potato salad.  Go ahead and mix it with the etouffee; your taste buds will thank you!  I also recommend the beignets and coffee, both of which are reminiscent of a certain New Orleans cafe.  Needless to say, I cannot wait to try more dishes (red beans and rice, chef’s special and pecan pie?) during the Leesburg Flower and Garden Festival this weekend.  By the way, last chef’s special was blackened Talapia on a bed of etouffee.  C’est tres bon!

The Cajun Experience is located at 14 Loudoun Street SE, Leesburg, VA 20175 (and they are hiring!)

No?  Maybe?  Who knows!  The DHS recently submitted a report titled “Rightwing Extremism:  Current Economic and Political Climate Fueling Resurgence in Radicalization and Recruitment” to state and local law enforcement agencies nationwide.  While the report does not define or describe what constitutes rightwing extremism, it does identify circumstances that may encourage it (basically everything that is going on now…as long as Obama is in office, apparently).  Read it here.

I for one am going to contact my local law enforcement to find out how they are using this information.  Leesburg Virginia police contact information may be found here or you can e-mail the Cheif of Police.

If you find any information from your city/county/state, please feel free to share by leaving a comment.  I’ll let you know if the Leesburg Chief of Police has recieved a similar report on “leftwing extremism”, but I’m not so sure leftwing extremism exists.

The Virginia Chapter of the American Conservative Party is hosting a Tax Day Tea Party in Reston, VA on April 15th starting at 6pm.

Look at it as the “Tea Party After Party” for those who are braving the D.C. event, and an opportunity for Northern Virginians to make the statement to Richmond that we demand accountability for our hard earned dollars going down a “Three-Lane Highway.”

We’ll be in the Middle of the Square at the Lake Anne Plaza in Reston, VA. Since this is private property, we can be thankful that this is a Conservative Protest with intelligent Americans who are likely to patronize the various establishments of our host (at least 2 great Restaurants that are still open after 6pm).

Look forward to seeing you there!

City: Reston
When: April 15, 6:00pm - 8:00pm
Where: Lake Anne Village Center; 1609 Washington Plaza
Contact: EMAIL
Other Info:
Facebook Group: CLICK HERE

If you are on Facebook, RSVP through the link above.  If not, comment here, and let us know you’re coming.  And stay tuned for updates!!

I’ve been thinking about what the Loudoun County Government Administrator said last year about county taxes.  He said that the issue isn’t how high the taxes should be, rather how much taxes loudoun residents would pay.

In a recent public forum regarding the Loudoun County budget, the majority of the “public” at the forum seemed to be in favor of higher taxes.  In fact, they applauded it.  Flash back to 2004 when Loudoun County Board of Supervisors member created:

“Loudoun Legacy Fund to provide citizens the opportunity to voluntarily contribute funds above and beyond the taxes levied on real estate.

Through the Legacy Fund, individuals, businesses, estates, trusts and any other entity may make voluntary contributions and may designate those contributions to any of the agencies and departments of the Loudoun County Government, such as Parks, Recreation and Community Services; Economic Development; the Loudoun County Public Schools; and the Loudoun Public Library; and for projects such as road improvements and land easements. “

The website even provides who the check should be written out to and the address where the check should be sent.  Given the latest hoopla (a technical term) for and about higher taxes for Loudoun County residents, you’d think that this Legacy Fund was being used to the fullest, right?  Think again.  I was advised this week via voice mail from the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors that the Legacy Fund was shut down for lack of use and interest.  If that doesn’t provide market research or proof of what Loudoun residents think of higher taxes, I don’t know what does.

Loudouners, get ready to pay more taxes.  If your a fiscal conservative, shut your mouth, as these tax increases are for The Children.  I understand that during tonight’s public forum on the budget, resounding applause was the response to mentions of increase in taxes to benefit the most glorious of all recipients–The Children.  So, higher taxes are needed in order to sustain the current level of funding for education in Loudoun.  Let me see if get this straight.  Am I to believe from the Loudoun County Government that for past xx number of years (any number will do here) the education budget is the most efficient and provided the most benefit with the least tax dollars?  I don’t buy it.  I just don’t.  How did we not spend to our means and tax dollars at that time.  We need to tighten our belts, not steal the clothes off our taxpayers backs!  Who are these people!?!  Am I the only who is completely disappointed with the county government and their lack of fiscal creativity or honesty.  WTF?  I hope my son doesn’t pick up this government’s bad habits!

Well, I say to those who support paying higher taxes–you are more than willing to pay higher taxes and you can go ahead and pay my share.  It’s called the Legacy Fund.

So I’ve lived in Loudoun County for six years, but it was only recently that I began to really take notice of local/county politics. My own economic circumstances were partly to blame. If I am taking a closer look at my own budget and making cuts where I can, is my government doing the same thing? I invite fellow Loudoun County residents to share and provide your input.

The first thing I really noticed was an announcement that the Superintendent was proposing a cut in its budget. Then come all of the scare e-mails from PTAs and other parent organizations to “ensure that every parent was aware of the spending cuts that may go into effect in 2010 if Superintendent of Schools Dr. Hatrick’s proposed budget is NOT passed.” This insults the intelligence of all parents: Budget cuts are bad, If you want to cut the school budget, then you hate children! You child hater! Going with this logic, am I a bad parent for reducing my own budget in certain areas to provide the best for my family with the means that we have? Why can’t the county use this logic?!!!   Puhhleease!

It was nice that the school board decided to have public meetings regarding these cuts. Unfortunately, there wasn’t much in the way of discussing the proposed cuts on their own merit (shocker!).  What’s worse, Dr. Superintendent Hatrick informed us that it wasn’t his intention to even contemplate cuts in the school budget; the school board was acting on the Loudoun County Government’s direction study the effects of school budget cuts.   Kirby Bowers, Loudoun County Administrator–“the highest level management office of the Loudoun County government”, said about a year ago that the issue is not how much Loudoun County should spend, it’s how much takes Loudoun County residents were willing to pay.  Can’t believe he actually said this in public!

My conclusions:

• Neither Dr. Superintendent Hatrick nor the Board intend to look at potential savings in the school budget (while Loudoun County residents have to look at their own budgets)
• Dr. Superintendent Hatrick does not want the blame for looking at cuts or even enacting them since he was instructed to do so by Loudoun County Government.   Dr. Superintendent Hatrick is not a child-hater!
• Mr. Bowers and Loudoun County Government is more than willing to tax Loudoun County residents into oblivion so long as the residents are willing.

Add to this recent articles in the Washington Post that reported on DC area Superintendents travel habits, which of course include Dr. Superintendent Hatrick’s professional travel accross the country and overseas.  I wonder which pot of money is funding those trips. Not only that, but will Loudoun County disclose it? Should they?

What are your thoughts?

This is how the referendum will be worded:

QUESTION:  Shall Loudoun County, Virginia, be authorized to levy a tax, pursuant to Virginia Code Section 58.1-3833(A), on food and beverages sold for human consumption by restaurants and on prepared foods sold ready for human consumption by grocery stores and convenience stores, in an amount not to exceed 4% of the amount charged for such food and beverages, to be used exclusively for school construction projects and school construction debt service?
(     )  YES

(     )  NO

The way it should read is this:

Question: Shall Loudoun County while facing a downturn in our economy, make that downturn even worse by a) making Loudoun County residents and visitors to our county pay MORE for their meal out and b) making sure that restaurants have less money in their pockets to pay their employees. This money is to be used “for the children” though, so even though there really won’t be any extra money, and could potentially make our debt even worse with the added possibilities of closing restaurants, you should feel better that we “care” enough to raise taxes on the hospitality industry in Loudoun.
( ) YES
( ) NO

Anyone that thinks that our Real Estate taxes are going to somehow be miraculously lowered by creating a meals tax is in a dream world. It doesn’t work; it’s never worked. Look at Maryland.

Vote “NO” for the love of God, and for more information please the site for Loudoun Taxpayers for Accountable Government.