An Open Letter to the People of Fairfax

Backyard vegetable gardening is one of the simplest and most rewarding ways to turn unused outdoor space into something productive, living, and deeply grounding. What begins as a few seeds in soil often becomes a long-term relationship with weather, patience, and the subtle rhythms of nature.

CITY OF FAIRFAX, VA - The City of Fairfax is considering a resolution to request a Fairfax Circuit Court order for a special election on a 1% retail sales tax increase. Revenue would be dedicated exclusively to public school capital projects, such as school construction, facility expansions, and infrastructure upgrades.

To start, don’t change the City Charter. The Mayor-Council form of government has proven to be an effective way of balancing the needs of the community with strong leadership, when needed, from the Mayor’s chair. Unfortunately, we have already seen unfiltered partisanship and a shift from May to November elections, making City elections less about the issues and more about a party. And that’s really sad. We shouldn’t be voting based on the color of a sample ballot. Modifying the Charter, as some have suggested, will only make the situation worse.

Plastic Free July sounds simple until you realize that it falls right in the middle of pool party, BBQ, and cookout season, where all plates and cups seem to come in plastic. What was once known as the most common month for plastic use, is now turning into a global reminder to rethink everyday habits, even when summer makes that harder than it sounds.