Sunday, July 20, 2008
Since my friends and neighbors first gave me the privilege of representing them on the Loudoun Board of Supervisors, I have been hard at work keeping Sterling Park a wonderful place to live for all of us.
I created an ordinance limiting the number of people in a home and sought to toughen it. I have fought to better enforce zoning rules against overgrown grass and solid waste. I have fought for a sheriff’s substation to help Sterling combat gang crime, graffiti and other ills that are spilling over from Fairfax County. My public agenda items on the 287(g) program led the sheriff’s department to adopt measures that will soon deport illegal alien criminals who threaten Sterling.
These are just a few of the many ideas, proposals and legislation I have offered in defense of Sterling.
I’ve been virtually the only member of the board to offer solutions to a problem that is sweeping across all of Northern Virginia: illegal immigration. The blight problems that have spilled over from Fairfax and are spreading across Loudoun will not be solved until we toughen our zoning rules and enforce our immigration laws.
But as we have seen recently, there are those in Loudoun who react viciously when an elected official speaks frankly about illegal immigration’s effects on our community. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has noticed that not only do my critics tend to be liberal activists or candidates rejected by Sterling voters, but not one of them has offered any solution of their own — other than to force Sterling residents to offer their neighborhoods as illegal-alien sanctuaries.
If anyone should make an apology, it is those who criticize my ongoing fight to keep Sterling Park a wonderful place to live who should apologize to the people of Sterling for eight years of criticism and opposition.
Meanwhile, I will continue to fight to toughen and enforce our zoning and immigration laws. Sterling Park is too wonderful a place to live to leave in the hands of those who refuse to speak out against illegal immigration’s effects on our community.
EUGENE A. DELGAUDIO -- Sterling District Supervisor (R)
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