In the past three years, [some] City of Alexandria residents have experienced a trust deficit with the City’s bureaucratic staff, and with its elected City Council members. Many residents feel marginalized and disrespected that their voices are not heard by City leaders. Even after earnest appeals and petitions by City residents on City policy decisions across a broad range of issues, residents frequently feel that their appeals fall on the deaf ears of the City Council and the City Manager.
At issue is the decline in values-based trust between [some] City residents and elected leaders along the lines of integrity, openness, and fairness. At issue is the City residents’ trust deficit with its elected leaders where constituents feel that the City failed to properly address the quality of life in our neighborhoods, the appropriate decorum between City leadership and civic associations, and the preservation of the historic districts in our City.
A group of concerned Alexandria residents, neighbors, and friends formed For Better Alexandria Government which recently launched their website (https://www.betteralex.us/) calling on all 2021 Mayoral and City Council candidates to integrate values-based trust into their campaign platforms. Our group desires a City Council that actively engages, listens, and collaborates with their constituents to make the City of Alexandria a better place to live for its residents. For Better Alexandria Government contacted every Mayoral and City Candidate requesting their signature pledging to support the Alexandria Constituents’ Bill of Rights.
For Better Alexandria Government posted signed pledges of Mayoral and City Council candidates who agreed to uphold the Bill of Rights. However, the story is not which candidates have signed, but which candidates declined to sign. To improve the governance of our City, we need Mayoral and City Council candidates who demonstrate the courage, leadership, and empathy to serve as active listeners to City residents, to fully integrate residents into City policy decisions, and to rebuild the trust between the governors and the governed.
Stafford A. Ward, Spokesperson, For Better Alexandria Government