To the Editor:
What is wrong with this picture? The city manager presents an outrageous budget giving himself and his deputy city managers an enormous raise. Millions of dollars are being paid to the boat club so that they can leave their present location and move to another. How much did it cost the city to brick in all the sidewalks beginning with the 600 block of South Washington Street going south to the beginning of the parkway? Most of the other brick sidewalks need repair and are hazardous to people with wheelchairs, scooters, strollers and walkers in general. What is the cost of making bike lanes on King Street? And then there is the $7 million that has probably been set aside to do away with the parking site at the King Street metro stations depriving the elderly and the handicapped using this lot to park their cars so they can then travel by metro to reach their destination? In addition to all these expenditures agreed upon by passing the budget there was also an increase in the real estate tax rate and an increase in real estate assessments.
Due to the wisdom of the mayor and City Council, rates have been raised at the Chinquapin Park Rec Center. As just one example, senior fees for the 25-time pass to the center has been raised from $61 to $120. Seniors use this facility to enable them to live healthier lives through exercise and swimming.
The mayor and the City Council continue to show their contempt for their citizens who pay their salaries.
Florence Foelak, Alexandria