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News
We Must Destroy Democracy in Order to Save It!
About fifty years ago the United States was involved in a military conflict in Vietnam which lasted many years and did not end well. There was a phrase from that era – “We had to destroy the village in order to save it” –which encapsulated its own self-defeating logic. We know better than the natives. We must force them to appreciate our values. Fast forward to 2026.
Willard Sherwood Health and Community Center Discussions
Residents in Fairfax City have been hearing a lot about the proposed Willard Sherwood Health and Community Center (WSHCC) project discussed at recent meetings, and one number in particular keeps coming up: an estimated $1.7 million annual operating cost to the city once the project is fully implemented. While the proposal’s goals include improving services and responding to community needs, many residents are understandably asking what that figure could mean for their own property tax bills and for the city’s long-term finances. This is especially important because the WSHCC is only one of four projects with the potential to increase real estate taxes substantially.
Affordable housing is a frequent rallying cry among our leaders
In Fairfax City, affordable housing is a frequent rallying cry among our leaders. Mayor Catherine Read has repeatedly emphasized its importance to the City’s vitality and long-term growth. She’s championed diversified housing types, supportive projects like Beacon Landing, and even sought legislative changes to help religious institutions build affordable units. Those are worthy goals — but they ring hollow if other City actions make living here increasingly unaffordable.
The Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center: A Nice-to-Have Project?
After the Council’s vote to increase the real estate tax rate to $1.055 last spring, many residents are taking a more critical look at which recommended capital improvements are “nice-to-have” projects, such as the extensive recreational component of the Willard-Sherwood Health and Community Center, and which are “must-have” projects, such as replacing the high school roof and renovating the elementary schools.
Council
Public Hearing on Willard Sherwood Sept 30th – Op-Ed by Katy Johnson (Fairfax City Resident)
Public Hearing on Willard Sherwood Sept 30th. City of Fairfax needs to live within its means. The Willard Sherwood will cause 20 years of big debt! This single project will add at least $8.1M to our operating budget over the next two decades. Each penny on the tax rate generates about $835,000 – this is a 9.7-cent increase for the Willard Sherwood. Our portion for the base building alone is right around $52M, plus an additional $3M for underground parking for a grand total of: $54,930,000. There is also an additional $4M Performing Arts Option.
Sports
NOVA Rugby’s Gutsy 2025 Comeback Seals National Sevens Glory
On August 10, 2025, NOVA Rugby proved that the only thing scarier than facing the Chicago Lions is being down 14 points at halftime… and still somehow thinking, “Yeah, we’ve got this.” And they did. With three tries in the second half, NOVA flipped a 0–14 hole into a 15–14 victory, leaving Chicago looking like they’d just been tackled by a freight train disguised as a rugby club. Somewhere in the chaos, fans in the stands aged approximately 20 years.
Featured Stories
GMU President Gets Pay Raise Amid Federal Investigations and DEI Policy Changes
On August 1, 2025, George Mason University’s Board of Visitors voted Friday to grant President Gregory Washington a 1.5% pay raise, bringing his annual salary to roughly $823,452. The decision comes at a time when the university is facing four federal investigations and preparing to make significant changes to its diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.
Election
Walkinshaw & Whitson Set for High-Stakes Showdown in VA-11 Special Election
Following a week of intense political engagement and several days of firehouse primary caucus and canvass, both major parties have now selected their nominees for the September 9th Special Election in Virginia’s 11th Congressional District. The race, triggered by the passing of longtime Democratic Congressman Gerald Connolly on May 21st, promises to be one of the most closely watched contests in the Commonwealth this year.
Featured Stories
Old Food Color, New Food Color
Vibrant shades of red and blue are seemingly the trademarks of American candy. Such colors, however, do not occur naturally. Synthetic dyes have been used...
Election
11th CD Democratic Candidates Forum
rganized Democratic volunteer, Radhika Murari, of Reston, VA. The 11CD Democratic Candidates Forum became a community event that grew from an invitation to meet the candidates in her living room to 200 people gathering at the Reston Community Center. The evening featured the following nine out of the ten declared Democratic candidates - Amy Roma, Irene Shin, Stella G. Pekarsky, Leo J. Martinez Nucete, James R. Walkinshaw, Candice Bennett, Amy Papanu, Dan Lee, and Priya Punnoose. Ross William Branstetter IV did not appear on stage.
