By Brad Swanson: Fairfax County could cut the arrests of undocumented immigrants from its jail by more than 90% by refusing to cooperate with the federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), according to a panel of immigration experts who spoke Wednesday night at a public forum. The experts noted that Fairfax County police and Sheriff’s Office are not legally required…
The stakes are high in this year’s primary election on Tuesday, June 12. Six candidates are vying for the Democratic nomination to unseat a veteran incumbent, Barbara Comstock, in Congressional District 10. If you live in CD 10 — which touches Fairfax, Prince William, Loudoun, Clarke and Frederick Counties –your voice should be heard. We all benefit from your participation.…
By Diane Burkley Alejandro: Under the Trump Administration, detention for suspected immigration violations has increased dramatically – not just nationally but right here in Fairfax County. Most deportations are due to Fairfax County law enforcement’s initial detention of these individuals on local charges, mostly for minor offenses. Fortunately, local law enforcement can limit the damage to immigrants by ending its…
Each week until the Va-10 congressional district Democratic Party primary election on June 12, The Blue View will ask all six candidates to respond to a key question on an important issue in 100 words or less. This week, five of the candidates responded. This week’s question: How should Congress deal with efforts by foreign powers, such as Russia, to hack elections and…
By Kris Gregory: A coalition of community groups led by Concerned Citizens Against Gun Violence (CCAGV) marched against gun violence in the Falls Church City Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 28. Alison Friedman, one of the six candidates in the Democratic Primary for Virginia’s 10th Congressional District, was among 58 marchers. The marchers wore orange or Hokie orange and…
By Brad Swanson: Almost 400,000 Virginians will gain medical care after the state legislature voted late Wednesday to expand the federal healthcare program Medicaid. The federal government will pick up at least 90% of the cost, estimated at about $2 billion annually. The decision caps a five-year campaign by Democratic legislators, and marks a big win for Gov. Ralph Northam,…
By Todd Smyth. What is the best way to reach voters? Although hundreds of millions are spent on political TV and radio ads and mailers, those have no lasting impact on voters as they only go in one direction. “Research shows that almost half of all political ads are completely ignored, “ says marketing consultant Matthew Sheffield. “Those that are…
By Karen Kirk: The Fairfax County School board heard spirited comments both for and against changing the public school sex education curriculum to make it more LGBTQ inclusive at its regular meeting Thursday, May 24. The discussion was a precursor to the vote on June 14 on changing wording in the Family Life Education (FLE) curriculum. The proposed changes include…
Each week until the Va-10 congressional district Democratic Party primary election on June 12, The Blue View will ask all six candidates to respond to a key question on an important issue in 100 words or less. This week’s question: Should undocumented aliens have a path to citizenship? Answers below from candidates, in alphabetical order: Yes! The simple question is this: what makes…
By Stephanie Witt Sedgwick: With less than three weeks remaining to election, Democratic primary candidates for Va. Congressional District 10 focused as much on beating Republican incumbent Barbara Comstock as on the issues during a candidate forum on May 22. Five of the six candidates participated in the forum hosted by the Sully District and Hunter Mill District Democratic Committees…
The Democratic Asian Americans of Virginia (DAAV) honored former Fairfax County Democratic Committee (FCDC) Chair Sue Langley and President of the Korean American Society of Virginia Tae Chang Woo at its Fourth Annual Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month Awards Dinner on Sunday May 20, 2018 at the Pakistani restaurant Sapphire in Tysons. Elected officials including Gov. Ralph Northam spoke…
By Karen Kirk: Immigration has helped Virginia rise from poverty to affluence, notes Sen. Tim Kaine. Kaine does the numbers: In 1968, only 1% of Virginians were immigrants and the state ranked 38th in income per person. Today, immigrants make up 11% and we have shot up to become the 12th richest state in terms of per capita income. Although correlation is…
Rain clouds were low but spirits high, as the Springfield District Democratic Committee held its 18th Annual Smoke n’ Roast on Saturday evening, May 19, in Clifton, Va. A sizable crowd enjoyed burgers and ribs, while hearing from elected county and state officials. Four of the six Democratic candidates for the Virginia’s 10th Congressional District seat spoke at the…
Each week until the Va-10 congressional district Democratic Party primary election on June 12, The Blue View will ask all six candidates to respond to a key question on an important issue in 100 words or less. This week’s question: How should Congress, with you as a member, respond to the opioid crisis? Answers below from candidates, in alphabetical order: Forty percent of opioid…