ALEXANDRIA CITY COUNCIL'S CONNECTOR TASK FORCE VOTES 2-TO-1 IN FAVOR OF NOT BUILDING A HIGHWAY CONNECTOR

What a smashing victory for NOT building a highway connector!

At the September 18th meeting of the Connector Task Force, they voted on their recommendation to the City Council, and gave the greatest victory in this connector debate for those interested in preserving historic Alexandria.

The Task Force sent a clear and resounding message to the City Council — Alexandrians do not want a highway connector.

In voting no less than 2-to-1 in favor of not building a connector, the Task Force overcame a major obstacle which was a rule that tried to force them to vote 2-to-1 in favor of building a connector. The City Council instructed the Task Force to follow a voting procedure calling for "two build options, and one no-build option."

Instead in 13 of 13 votes, NOT BUILDING a connector won. The Task Force voted as follows:

7-to-7	when voting between "No Build" and "No Build With Improvements"

9-to-5 in three votes favoring "No Build With Improvements" over three different "Build" options

9-to-5 in two votes favoring "No Build" over two different "Build" options

11-to-3 in one vote favoring "No Build" over one "Build" option, and

14-to-0 rejecting three "Build" options against the "No Build" and "No Build With Improvements" options.

Of the two City Council Members on the Task Force, Councilwoman Del Pepper voted all three times in favor of "no build" over "build" options. Mayor Donley voted for one "build" option – the one located at Cambridge Road at Generous George's Restaurant across the street from Bishop Ireton.

One observer at the end of the meeting said, "These 13 votes should nail the coffin shut on the Connector." Another added, "That's only if the City Council is listening to the people over the developers."

To help the City Council hear from Alexandria residents/voters, we ask you to please sign our petition to add to the political strength of our coalition against any highway connector.