Alexandria — To the Editor:
A few days ago, I returned from a Maryland location via Route 50 and then I 295 with its Wilson Bridge exit. I used to commute from Maryland on this route while the bridge and its access ramps were not yet finished. Even late at night in the dark and tired after a long work day, I had no problem finding the right exit because there were three official Maryland state road signs on 295 directing me to Alexandria. This time, there was one single sign left which I almost missed in bright daylight. Having eliminated the two other Alexandria signs, the state of Maryland now directs us to "National" Harbor instead, not a geographic location but a commercial establishment erected by a hotel chain. How did this get on Maryland state road signs? It appears to me that the democratic state of Maryland is colluding with the democratic Alexandria City Council in wiping off the map not only Alexandria as a geographic destination but also as one of the most historic places in the country. Our Old Town has been a National Historic Landmark since the 1960s, the prerequisite for becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site. High density Alexandria waterfront development including hotels for potential gamblers would certainly help support Maryland's commercial interests while wiping out what really matters — our increasingly fragile monument to the history of our country. Now we have it on both sides of the Wilson Bridge — official bowing to commercialism while rapidly destroying the historical significance, beauty and charm of 18th-century America.
Ursula Weide
Alexandria