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PRESS RELEASE
ALEXANDRIA ACTIVISTS ORGANIZE TO INFLUENCE MAY ELECTIONS
Overarching Mission is to Protect City's Quality of Life
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Ginny Hines Parry, 703-212-0982, ghparry@fortebrio.com
Alexandria, Virginia, December 24, 2002
Alexandrians for Sensible Growth was organized recently to ensure
that Alexandria's future will be strong and vibrant. Five Alexandria
civic activists who collectively have worked with local officials
for over 70 years are very concerned about a number of issues, including
large developments that are not carefully planned, ineffective traffic
mitigation, few incentives to increase use of transit and bicycles,
along with a growing fear that the needs of Alexandrians are being
subordinated to larger regional demands.
The organization is committed to helping ensure that Alexandria
is a city that truly serves all citizens regardless of economic
background or where their home is located.
Alexandria voters will elect a new City Council and Mayor in May
2003, therefore, ASG Board members Katy Cannady, Linda Couture,
Carmen Silva Gonzales, Ginny Hines Parry, and Frank Putzu felt strongly
that effecting the outcome of this election will be an important
first step in support of ASG's mission: protecting Alexandria's
quality of life. In 1999, Loudoun County activists successfully
convinced voters unhappy with the status quo to exercise their electoral
power by voting in new county supervisors also concerned about their
community's quality of life.
Now it is Alexandria's turn to elect candidates committed to thoughtful
land use and transportation planning that will protect our quality
of life. To this end, ASG has submitted its mission statement to
every May 2003 Mayoral and City Council candidate along with a questionnaire.
ASG will ultimately endorse a candidate slate selected from those
who articulate initiatives that match ASG's mission statement and
demonstrate their desire and ability to become strong community
leaders.
Attached is a copy of ASG's organizational statement, endorsement
process and candidates' questionnaire with cover letter. In early
January, ASG will hold a news conference that will give interested
press members an opportunity to ask Board members detailed questions
about the organization, its goals and strategies.
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