To the Editor:
Bill Euille has given strong leadership as Alexandria’s mayor. Specific successes are the new T. C. Williams High School building and the exciting changes coming to our city’s waterfront. More recent successes are getting significant new businesses to come to our city — the Transportation Security Administration and the National Science Foundation.
My wife and I could not afford to purchase our house at today’s market rate prices. We enjoy living in Alexandria today because we purchased our house over 30 years ago. Bill Euille is a strong advocate for affordable housing which is greatly needed by so many people whom we depend on to staff our local stores, restaurants, hotels and other service industries.
For 30 years I managed retirement housing, assisted living, and nursing care for elderly people. I know how important it is for frail elderly people who are no longer able to live at home to get the care they need.
I know how important it is for them, when they need that care, to get it in the community where they have lifelong friends and family to support them. More and more elderly people are being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and other dementia issues, but not just old people. My sister, who is only 66 years old, had been diagnoses with Alzheimer’s and is now living in a memory care facility near her family in Missouri.
Our city has very few memory care beds. A few months ago a much needed assisted living/memory care facility came before the City Council for approval. Allison Silberberg, the Democratic candidate for mayor, says she supports the needs of elderly citizens, but when this opportunity came to demonstrate that support she voted against approval — the only opposition vote on the council. Just before the vote she expressed the
lame excuse that the building is too ugly, and reminded her of the buildings in East Germany following World War II. Thanks to Bill Euille, and all the other council members this much needed project was approved.
On Nov. 3 I will be writing in Bill Euille’s name for mayor, not just because he strongly supports affordable housing and elderly issues, but because of his good leadership in the past.
Bill Harris
Alexandria