Sign the petition to Underground Utilities on U.S. 1

On July 26, Mt. Vernon Supervisor Dan Storck is bringing a board matter before his colleagues that would raise the funds to finally underground utilities on U.S. 1 and other revitalizations areas in Fairfax County.  His plan creates a revolving fund with revenue raised by a utility fee capped capped at $1/month and reimbursed by development proffers.  Fairfax County is the only jurisdiction in Virginia authorized to impose this fee.

Weekly Column: U.S. Supreme Court Puts Virginian's Safety at Risk

The following is my column that will appear in this week's Mt. Vernon Gazette in the week of July 4, 2022.   

U.S. Supreme Court Puts Virginian's Safety at Risk

The U.S. Supreme Court on June 23 issued a disturbing decision on guns, the New York State Rifle & Pistol Assn. v. Bruen case, which clarified the scope of firearms rules declared by the Supreme Court in a previous case, D.C. v. Heller, decided in 2008. This is yet another disappointing decision from that court, like the one I wrote about last week,  the Dobbs case, which would severely limit women’s reproductive rights.

                Before 2008, American courts interpreted the Second Amendment as authorizing states the freedom to regulate their militias – today’s National Guard.  In Heller, the Court invalidated the District of Columbia’s handgun ban and requirement that rifles in the home be stored with trigger locks and unassembled.  This was the first time the Court found such a right existed.