May 3, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: Martin D. Brown is Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s third appointee to the position of chief diversity officer of the state of Virginia in his short stint as governor. Mr. Brown’s time in this important job is now up since he has repudiated in a recent speech at VMI the entire basis of the mission for his office. He is wasting taxpayer’s money. He gets paid $160,000, plus benefits, perks and travel expenses.
If nothing else, the YMCA of Virginia’s Blue Ridge has a serious public relations problem with regards to our local branch, the Rockbridge Area YMCA. Two actions the YVBR has taken this year has left us and many Rockbridge area citizens wondering if our local Y has lost all vestiges of control of our local Y’s operations.
May 1, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: “Let’s take a moment right now to kill that cow. DEI is dead,” said Martin D. Brown, who was appointed by Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) in November. “We’re not going to bring that cow up anymore. It’s dead.”
April 28, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: The recent vote by the Lexington City Council to facilitate the placement of a war memorial at Jordans Point Park came as a surprise to me. It seems like there was very little thought or discussion about this before the vote to approve.
May 1, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: While the Gold Star monument is attractive and poignant and serves a noble cause, I do not feel that Jordans Point Park is the right place for it due to these concerns: — It is disturbing that this tiny natural oasis is going to be transformed with marble and five tons of concrete. Coming after the recent tree cutting fiasco, it feels like an additional affront. How much green will be destroyed for this? With more projects slated to follow such as a gazebo, playground, and possible sports courts, will the park have any natural elements left? We can’t afford to lose any more green space.
May 1, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: Given the recent atmosphere of outrage and anger over memorials placed in public spaces, one would have expected City Council to have at least paused to think, and perhaps seek some public input, before giving their blessing to the Keuhners’ request to place a memorial to Gold Star Families at Jordans Point.
April 27, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: How nice to see the photo of developer John Adamson in last week’s paper asking the public for ideas and opinions on how to use the upper floor of the former Grand’s building!
April 26, 2023 Editor, The News-Gazette: I offer another suggestion on how to protect civil conduct during speaking events on W&L’s campus. This bookends my earlier paid letter titled “Broken Windows.” (Disclaimer: this is not intended as legal advice.)
May 1, 2023 Editor, the News-Gazette: In steering us towards defaulting on our debt and sinking our nation’s economy, Rep. Ben Cline and his colleagues are attempting to hold hostage funding for crucial programs. How many of his constituents really want to see deep cuts to services our most vulnerable children and seniors depend on? Is this really the time to drastically reduce opioid addiction treatments? Or railroad safety inspections?
