Writer has pride for     her district supervisor

Gayle Sanders
Published: May 3, 2008

I am proud of my Supervisor, Frank Principi, for taking a stand. 

In light of our county’s current revenue shortfall, a wise, new look at priorities was essential. I just wish those supervisors that wanted to also fund necessary services had prevailed. 

Prince William County has one of the highest foreclosure rates in the Country. These aren’t just empty houses; they represent families that are now in need of services. They are not, as some believe, all
Hispanic owned.

These are Prince William County residents that fell in the lower half of our great divide, but tried to buy the only houses that were available. We have both a rental affordability and availability problem. 

There are also many people who are renting out bedrooms and basements to keep their homes, whether they rent or own them. 

Anyone under the 2006 Prince William County median household income of $80,763 probably knows someone living with a friend, renting a room or basement or living with family. 

Grown college-graduated children cannot find affordable housing in Prince William County.

Now, although services had to be cut, maybe this year the supervisors can pay attention to what has been happening to the low-income people in our county. 

The people who watch our children, cook and serve our meals in restaurants, and stock and check our shopping items. Everyone take a moment and call one of your favorite stores or day care centers and ask the starting wage. Consider that could be the wage earner in a family. Then check the apartment listings in the Potomac News and see where they could live if they weren’t already doubled up or
in a shelter. Please do the math. It will only take a few minutes.  Then consider if everyone in the county should reprioritize their thinking. 

GAYLE SANDERS

Woodbridge