Now that the Election is over---Moving Forward

First, let me congratulate the winners of the Town Council election: Barney Rush, Kirk Renaud, Wicca Davidson.   Thank you to everyone, who voted in the election.

Let me also extend special thanks to those of you who voted for me to be on the Town Council of the Town of Chevy Chase.

There is always a temptation after an election, to try to analyze the results.  I won’t take much space doing that here.  I will note that I was a little late entering the race, and by choice I only spent about twenty five dollars on the campaign, most of that on copying costs. I realize now that I should have spent more of my time knocking on doors. 

I also know that my stance on the issue of the Purple Line may have come over as divisive to some.  But on hindsight, I would not have handled that differently.  I understand the position of those in our Town, who see the Purple Line as a means of addressing economic injustice.  I just don’t see it that way.  I see this as a project that will benefit real estate developers, more than it will help low-income workers getting to their jobs.  I see the project as hurting low income people, because affordable housing and small businesses along the route will be sacrificed to make way for unaffordable condos and high-rises.  And the additional cost of losing a popular hiker biker Trail lined with trees creating habitat for migratory birds, is incalculable.

Going forward, I hope that the Town Council will address the Purple Line issue by holding the powers that be to the letter of the law with respect the project’s impact on our environment.  I think it is time to take a more assertive stance, in protecting our residents from environmental harm.  The Town also needs to do more to reach out, and work with, other communities affected by the Purple Line.

I also call on the new Council to address some other development issues that affect us.  Many of our residents enjoy shopping at the Farm Women’s Market, and the neighboring small businesses. The Town should survey our residents as to what should happen with the parking lots behind the Farm Women’s Market and the Tudor Shops, get more involved proactively, and consider how we might spend some of our financial resources to do what we can to keep some of the surface level parking, and also create a park. I hope the Council will also take the initiative to ask the Historic Preservation Commission to give historic preservation to the Tudor shops, those low-profile buildings that, historically, have housed small businesses that have served our community for generations.

Just a few thoughts, looking forward. 

Sincerely,

Deborah A. Vollmer
7202 44th Street