Alexandria residents - let's discuss the mayoral race. Silberberg vs. Wilson... and why?

[Anonymous]

Admittedly, I am not familiar with the nuances. I hear one of the criticisms is that Justin Wilson has really ramped up development at major pace without taking note of the long term effects, and I have definitely noticed this. But he worked under Silberberg... and now they are election rivals (again).

Please educate me, provide your thoughts on who you are voting for and why.

[Anonymous]

I can’t stand Wilson. He has his ambitions much higher than mayor, he’s waiting for Beyer to retire to run for Congress.

I’ve known him a very long time and lived in Alexandria longer. He’s a decent person but a horrible mayor. Once he agreed to those personal bike lanes for the bike lobby on Seminary, to the tune of over $1,000,000 so that the head of the bike lobby could have a bike lane that connected his house to his daughter’s house, I was done.

He’s got to go.

[Anonymous]

New to ALX so don't have much to add but thanks for asking this question. I'm following too!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I can’t stand Wilson. He has his ambitions much higher than mayor, he’s waiting for Beyer to retire to run for Congress.

I’ve known him a very long time and lived in Alexandria longer. He’s a decent person but a horrible mayor. Once he agreed to those personal bike lanes for the bike lobby on Seminary, to the tune of over $1,000,000 so that the head of the bike lobby could have a bike lane that connected his house to his daughter’s house, I was done.

He’s got to go.

Wait, what?! I mean I know of the Seminary Road diet, but can you share more on this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t stand Wilson. He has his ambitions much higher than mayor, he’s waiting for Beyer to retire to run for Congress.

I’ve known him a very long time and lived in Alexandria longer. He’s a decent person but a horrible mayor. Once he agreed to those personal bike lanes for the bike lobby on Seminary, to the tune of over $1,000,000 so that the head of the bike lobby could have a bike lane that connected his house to his daughter’s house, I was done.

He’s got to go.

Wait, what?! I mean I know of the Seminary Road diet, but can you share more on this?

His daughter lived off of Howard. This bike lane allowed the grandchildren to bike from their house to his house off of Seminary and Ft Williams. There is a pedestrian crossing literally put in front of his house. Everyone knew this was the man's motivation for pushing for the bike lane. And Wilson was the deciding vote to allow it. 0.9 mile of bike lane to no where, to the tune of at least $1,000,000. Best part is, now she's moved, so we don't even need those bike lanes anymore.

Do your homework. You cannot trust Wilson. The insane amount of development. Now they're talking about co-location at schools (putting low income house or homeless shelters literally on top of schools). The crime is out of control. The drag racing is insane at night; but you're damned if you can drive 1 mile over the speed limit on Seminary/Quaker/King or Janneys without getting a ticket. They don't do radar anywhere else in the city (and guess who was responsible for the 25mph speed trap speed limit changes a few years ago: the same bike lane guy). It's a mess, he's a mess. He's GOT TO GO.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can’t stand Wilson. He has his ambitions much higher than mayor, he’s waiting for Beyer to retire to run for Congress.

I’ve known him a very long time and lived in Alexandria longer. He’s a decent person but a horrible mayor. Once he agreed to those personal bike lanes for the bike lobby on Seminary, to the tune of over $1,000,000 so that the head of the bike lobby could have a bike lane that connected his house to his daughter’s house, I was done.

He’s got to go.

Wait, what?! I mean I know of the Seminary Road diet, but can you share more on this?

His daughter lived off of Howard. This bike lane allowed the grandchildren to bike from their house to his house off of Seminary and Ft Williams. There is a pedestrian crossing literally put in front of his house. Everyone knew this was the man's motivation for pushing for the bike lane. And Wilson was the deciding vote to allow it. 0.9 mile of bike lane to no where, to the tune of at least $1,000,000. Best part is, now she's moved, so we don't even need those bike lanes anymore.

Do your homework. You cannot trust Wilson. The insane amount of development. Now they're talking about co-location at schools (putting low income house or homeless shelters literally on top of schools). The crime is out of control. The drag racing is insane at night; but you're damned if you can drive 1 mile over the speed limit on Seminary/Quaker/King or Janneys without getting a ticket. They don't do radar anywhere else in the city (and guess who was responsible for the 25mph speed trap speed limit changes a few years ago: the same bike lane guy). It's a mess, he's a mess. He's GOT TO GO.

+1.

He straight up lied to everyone about the co locating. The consultants hired to work on George Mason Elementary and Douglas Macarthur Elementary own documents prove he lied. They drew renderings with the co locating buildings there. Consultants don't draw plans for free. They only draw plans they get paid for. They were instructed to tease that out and then he lied about it.

[Anonymous]

I'm disappointed it's Silberberg vs. Wilson . . . again. This is why we can't have nice things in the City of Alexandria. I found Silberberg to be ineffective as mayor, but agree with the PPs that the traffic and colocation efforts of Mayor Wilson are worse. Councilwoman Del Pepper is retiring so at least that will bring some change.

[Anonymous]

Silberberg was a terrible mayor.

[Anonymous]

Silberberg was a terrible mayor. Didn’t learn policies/workflows, was terrible at running meetings, and seems to latch on to the latest controversy with very little understanding of the underlying issues.

Wilson is incredibly arrogant, and his most ardent supports act like rabid Trumpsters, which is a major turn off for so many people I know. And yes, he has ambitions well beyond Alexandria and has never seen a development project he didn’t like.

It’s really a shit choice but my vote lands with Wilson. But I honestly hope it’s super close to give him and his supporters a major wake up call.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm disappointed it's Silberberg vs. Wilson . . . again. This is why we can't have nice things in the City of Alexandria. I found Silberberg to be ineffective as mayor, but agree with the PPs that the traffic and colocation efforts of Mayor Wilson are worse. Councilwoman Del Pepper is retiring so at least that will bring some change.

I'm not feeling motivated over Silberberg or Wilson... but there's always the Republican flight attendant who moved to Alexandria in August 2020 and thinks she knows how to run the city based on her years of being a a flight attendant.

Again, she's lived in Alexandria for like 6 months. And she wants to be mayor.

https://www.alxnow.com/2021/03/23/flight-attendant-annetta-catchings-running-for-alexandria-mayor-as-a-republican/#disqus_thread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm disappointed it's Silberberg vs. Wilson . . . again. This is why we can't have nice things in the City of Alexandria. I found Silberberg to be ineffective as mayor, but agree with the PPs that the traffic and colocation efforts of Mayor Wilson are worse. Councilwoman Del Pepper is retiring so at least that will bring some change.

I'm not feeling motivated over Silberberg or Wilson... but there's always the Republican flight attendant who moved to Alexandria in August 2020 and thinks she knows how to run the city based on her years of being a a flight attendant.

Again, she's lived in Alexandria for like 6 months. And she wants to be mayor.

https://www.alxnow.com/2021/03/23/flight-attendant-annetta-catchings-running-for-alexandria-mayor-as-a-republican/#disqus_thread

I am so disappointed in this choice. I am sure she’s a very nice person, but the fact that she’s barely lived in Alexandria 6 months when she announced she was running is a deal breaker full stop.

That’s the best Republicans can come up with? Pathetic.

[Anonymous]

The mayor finally getting involve in reopening schools, too little too late Justin.

This article by a very pro-Justin Wilson website (they are never impartial, at all) is so disingenuous. Justin has been super rude and not supportive re schools opening this entire time. He has bad mouthed (and encouraged his rabid followers to do the same) the Open ACPS movement. He's claimed there is nothing he can do to open schools. He's claimed it isn't safe. He's claimed that the school board and superintendent know best.

And now, with the primary in a few months he's suddenly changed his tune. GMAFB. He's lied, over and over again.

https://www.alxnow.com/2021/04/08/new-alexandria-mayor-wants-schools-to-fully-open-acps-says-it-wont-happen-this-year/?mc_cid=b4db6ea852&mc_eid=5e8852a8b3

“We need to get our kids back in school full time,” Wilson told ALXnow. “Money will be no object, facilities will be no object. We will make sure that we get our kids back in school, and that that is what I’ve said from the beginning of this effort.”

He's been saying that from the beginning? WTAF? That is a complete 100% lie.

Now the school board last night voted unanimously to override the superintendent and force the schools to use the 3ft CDC guidance and agree to open more. It's like we're living in the twilight zone. The mayor, city council and school board gave a carte blanche to the superintendent for over a year, while so many families suffered and suffered greatly. And now that elections are near, now that Justin has some competition, it's politics as usual and they've had a change of heart.

What took so long? Why now? I can't trust any of these people. Wilson is scum for acting like he is the hero here. I hate what Alexandria has become.

[Anonymous]

I'm curious whether the same Wilson basher is posting repeatedly?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious whether the same Wilson basher is posting repeatedly?

You think here's just one person in the city that thinks he's doing a shitty job? Bless your heart.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious whether the same Wilson basher is posting repeatedly?

No I doubt it. I would be more suspicious of pro Justin posts being the same poster.