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In normal governmental bodies, motions or proposals even on controversial and difficult issues are presented and filed in advance so that not only the members of the body but even (gasp) the citizens of a democracy can have a chance to offer their views before a vote is taken. This is called “transparency.” Under Virginia’s open-meeting laws, it is actually illegal for more than two supervisors to meet privately; the whole intention is that business be done in the full light of day, so that no secret understandings can be cooked up behind closed doors and sprung on the public without warning.

But as we know, the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors under its current all-Republican control is not a normal governmental body. Its normal operating procedure is opacity, its MO consisting of providing as little public information as possible so as to avoid calling attention to anything unpleasant.

So while the Board has at last placed the Delgaudio matter on its agenda for this Wednesday’s meeting, after a mere year’s shilly-shallying, it has refused to offer a word about what actual measures it is considering taking, Continue reading →

Once again grandstanding to the far-right zealots of the local Republican Party, Supervisor Ralph Buona (R-Ashburn) was at it again this week, indignantly demanding that the county libraries play the role of mommy and daddy for parents too distracted to pay attention to their own children, and restrict access of minors to R-rated DVDs or video games.

Buona superciliously told the head of the Library Board, “Your logic fails me” when he tried to point out that it is up to parents to monitor their own children’s viewing habits.

Then displaying his complete ignorance of the law and the facts (let alone logic), Buona incorrectly asserted that movie theater operators and video store owners could “be cited for allowing minors to have access to the same content,” Leesburg Today reported.

Actually, they can’t. The rating system is a purely voluntary one, with no force of law. But it is no coincidence that Buona is playing this card: it is part of a concerted campaign by conservatives around the country hoping to stir up a non-existent controversy. Continue reading →

The rats keep leaving the sinking ship of the S.S. Scott York!

Republican State Delegate and prominent developer attorney Randy Minchew, who has been a huge proponent of the useless and wasteful (but very popular with developers) North South Corridor i.e. Outer Beltway, has nonetheless joined other Republicans rushing to disassociate themselves from Loudoun Board Chairman Scott York (R)’s recent over the top threats in support of the project.

York had issued a crude threat to the Leesburg Town Council, warning them that if they dared to go on record expressing their opposition to the Outer Beltway, he as a member of the newly established Northern Virginia Transportation Authority (a state body created to dole out road dollars in our region) would retaliate by cutting off funds for any of Leesburg’s needed road projects — suitable retaliation, he declared, if the council behaved in an “anti-road” fashion.

Minchew seemed to wobble for a few days after York’s godfather routine, but has now written to Leesburg’s town manager and town attorney assuring them that York’s threats of reprisal are illegal — as well as inimical to the “the free and respectful expression of opinion” localities have a right to engage in as part of the process.

Full text below:

Everyone’s favorite orange-hatted self-hating homophobe Republican county supervisor, Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling), has been in full loony mode the past few days, hoping to salvage his political career.

Delgaudio campaigning for York, back when they were happy together

Even Chairman Scott York (R-At Large) and the rest of the all-Republican Loudoun Board of Supervisors seem to be dimly awakening to the fact they will need to at least pretend to do something in response to the now-undeniable evidence that Delgaudio committed egregious ethical misconduct, financial finagling, misuse of office, and violations of the county’s code of conduct.

In anticipation of the July 17 supervisors’ meeting at which they have promised — at long last — to take the matter up, Delgaudio is rolling out the antics that have served him so well throughout his political career, issuing strange and personal accusations not only about his critics, but also including York himself among his targets.

Delgaudio’s apparently been e-mailing what remains of the local media to share his special take on things. The Loudoun Times-Mirror reports that not only did Delgaudio compare one of his critics to Hitler and Saddam Hussein, but launched into some weird rant about commuter parking lots and York, alleging, “York is a hypocritical bully who opposes commuter lots for poor people while supporting Metro and giant truck highways for air cargo.” Continue reading →

Loudoun Board of Supervisors Chairman Scott York (R-At Large) is being called out by some of the more grown-up members of his party over the bullying, threatening message he had his aide read to the Leesburg Town Council recently about the Outer Beltway project he’s been trying to shove down the throats of residents. Continue reading →