Longtime Brambleton residents Jason and Becca Cook (owners of the Brambletonian) brought the awesomesauce:
We filed into the boardroom a few minutes before the meeting started, and sat in the back so we could hold up our signs throughout the meeting without blocking anyone's view.
Chairman York started off with giving the other supervisors the opportunity to reconsider the adopted plan, but of course none of the "winners" were interested. Our hopes crushed (for now), the meeting moved on to its main business - naming the districts.
I was surprised when Lori Waters made a motion to rename the Blue Ridge District as "Brambleton Ridge." A stunt, obviously, but I appreciated her point. The motion failed, but Miller voted for it too. Then there was some back-and-forth about naming District 4 "Dean District," for Jennie Dean, a former slave from the area. That motion eventually passed after some discussion from Miller about the political motivation behind the suggestion, which had come from the Democratic candidate for the seat. Miller abstained; Waters opposed.
Then the real comedy started. Waters made a motion to name District 5 "Ashdowne" since it's a chunk of Ashburn and a chunk of Lansdowne (my words, not hers). It passed! Nice joke, just like this entire redistricting process has been so far.
It's not over. There is still a chance to convince one of the five who voted for this travesty to change his or her mind. Keep e-mailing them. There are two more chances for public input: April 4 at 6:30 p.m., and April 18 at 6:30 p.m. - both meetings at the board room in the County Government Center in Leesburg. But don't put your hopes on Buckley or McGimsey. I know Buckley isn't running for re-election, but she could stand to have a little less attitude as she "interacts" with citizens (take the "eye-hate" down a notch... we were just a few people with signs.) And McGimsey may need to tone down the sarcasm if she wants to win "the pink amoeba" this fall.
Oh, and speaking of the shape of the districts... looking at the map, I realized something about our new district. It looks like a cat coming through a cat door.
I know, it's a stretch. But once you see it, you can't unsee it. At least I couldn't. Until I rotated the map:
It's Italy! With a much larger thigh (must be all the HFCS - thanks, ADM). Is it a coincidence that the Brambleton Town Center is getting a second Italian restaurant?? In this version of the map, Brambleton is the bootheel. We will stomp* on our opposition.
*Not in a fascist way, but in a sassy "Misguided Angels"** boots way
**To our new district mates - don't worry, it's not a fetish shop***
***They do sell boots, right? I haven't actually been inside yet
1 comment:
There is a public input session this Monday March 28 at 6:30 pm in the Board room where you can sign up or just show up to speak--2 minutes each. And there is a Board meeting Tuesday March 29 where Scott York said they may reconsider some aspects of this redistricting. They have to vote to send it forward for advertising on Tuesday--it will be advertised for 2 weeks, according to law, with public hearings-- but there is no time to do anything different or make any changes since they have waited so late to do this...unless they do the changes at the meeting on March 29th--the County Attorney said all changes need to be to the staff by April 1 so they can advertise and do all the things they must do by law, and comply with the DOJ mandates.. so This week is really the last time they have a chance to do anything... you all should come on Monday night and SPEAK.
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