Pay-for-Play on Full Display

 

A Re-Election Announcement Re-Edited

 On December 29^th, Prince William Board of County Supervisors Chair Ann Wheeler made her New Year’s resolution a declaration to tarnish our county for another four years.  Unfortunately, her announcement suffered from either bad proofreading or an excessive use of “alternative facts”.  I will do my best to bend this pretzel straight.

 “It has been an honor to serve our community as the Chair-At-Large on the Prince William Board of County Supervisors for the last three years. I love what I get to do every day for all residents and businesses, moving Prince William County forward.  Today, I announce my plans to run for re-election for Chair-At-Large in November 2023.”

* OK, not a bad start.  But it should have read: “I love what I get to do every day for businesses and to the residents.” 

* See: Wheeler seeking reelection as Prince William County board chair | Headlines | insidenova.com

“I promised to make Prince William County more attractive and welcoming to prospective large and small businesses, thereby relieving our homeowners from the burden of making up over 80% of the County real-estate tax revenue. I made good on that promise.”

* It would be more accurate to say Prince William County has prostituted itself to large businesses.  What we have welcomed is blatant exploitation at the expense of our quality of life.  And exactly which homeowners have seen property tax relief?  You wouldn’t call it a relief to have your property taxes rise while accompanied by a new and regressive 4% meals tax that punishes both consumers and struggling local restaurants.  Ann Wheeler had a golden opportunity to reduce the burden on residents by raising the tax on data centers that are falling over each other to locate here, but she decided to cut a break to big tech behemoths instead of her constituents. 

* See: County budget pitches meals tax, real estate tax boost | News | princewilliamtimes.com

 

“We secured funding for over $1 Billion in active and new projects to improve our transportation infrastructure.”

* She must have forgotten about the billions in unfunded transportation liabilities she created by giving away the store to massive data center developments.  Those bills will start coming due in her next term, if we are foolish enough to give her one. 

* See: Predicting tax revenue from data centers challenging | News | fauquier.com

 

“I also campaigned on bringing an inclusive and a welcoming culture to all Prince William County residents. I saw the opportunity to address the unique issues of the large and diverse population of the County and to enable a bright and prosperous future for all. I delivered on that promise.”

* Ann Wheeler abetted a cynical campaign to stoke geographic and demographic division as a pretense to advance her developer-friendly agenda.  What she really delivered is contentiousness and simmering animosity.  Shameless. 

* See: In the 'rural crescent' debate, some see conservation, others see exclusion | News | princewilliamtimes.com

 “I have led a Board of County Supervisors that has celebrated many other achievements, while also successfully navigating a pandemic.”

* I think she meant “exploiting” a pandemic. 

* See: UPDATED: Supervisors vote to move forward with data center 'listening sessions' despite COVID concerns | Headlines | insidenova.com

“We created a Racial and Social Justice Commission to address community issues that needed to be addressed.”

* Yes, and then she ignored its recommendations. 

* See: Racial & Social Justice Commission shows 'strong concern' over planned data centers at Manassas Battlefield (potomaclocal.com)

 “We committed to long-term Climate and Resiliency Goals and created an Office of Sustainability with over $1 Million in funding in FY23 and a Sustainability Commission for community input.” 

* She has really got to be kidding us with this one.  Does she think no one is paying attention?  She created an Office of Sustainability and a Sustainability Commission as a cosmetic cover for the most environmentally reckless and irresponsible regime in local memory. 

* See: County’s environmental staff rejects rural crescent data center plan over ‘major’ impacts to natural resources | News | princewilliamtimes.com

* See: Fairfax supervisors urge Prince William board to postpone Digital Gateway rezonings until water study is complete | News | princewilliamtimes.com

 “Finally, we adopted the long-overdue Prince William County Comprehensive Plan Pathway to 2040.  This bold vision document updates and modernizes our land use policies and robust transportation network plans, and adds brand new affordable housing goals and policies to make sure the people who work here can afford to live here. “

* This is something to brag about in a developer’s board room, not in a reelection announcement.  Her developer’s wish list declares open warfare on our quality of life and will subject our citizens to years of disruption, environmental devastation and subsidization of business interests. 

* See: What’s in the ‘Pathway to 2040?’ Plan eliminates the rural crescent, adds high-density housing and opens new areas to data centers | News | princewilliamtimes.com

“I am grateful for everything we have accomplished, but we still have much work to do.  I look forward to serving Prince William County for another four years as your Chair-At-Large and earning our residents’ vote on November 7, 2023.”  

* We should all be grateful for the opportunity to replace Ann Wheeler in the Democratic primary on June 20^th. 

* See: Jefferson to primary Ann Wheeler for Prince William Chair in 2023 - Potomac Local News

* See: Elect Deshundra Jefferson | Prince William County | Virginia

 Vent Your Ann-tipathy.

Dump Wheeler!