No issue is too big for Fairfax
by Rob Rogers
Posted on 2008-05-28 10:14:45
Taking the slogan “think globally, act locally” to heart, the Fairfax Town Council reasserted its right Wednesday to weigh in on issues of importance that reach beyond the town’s borders. The council unanimously agreed to adopt a policy that welcomes the discussion of a “broad range of public issues” at its regular meetings, including matters of national or global interest. In the past, those discussions have included the Iraq war, the Patriot Act and Fairfax’s sister city of San Jose de Apartado, Colombia.
The council agreed to give priority to pressing local issues on its agenda.
“Everybody understands and appreciates that our primary duty and focus remains local,” said Councilman Larry Bragman, who proposed the measure. “This is broadening our local focus.”
The measure allows residents to place “any such issue of public concern” on the council agenda by submitting a petition with at least 25 signatures.
The council received applause for its actions from the majority of those who attended Wednesday’s meeting, including Cascade Drive resident David Glick.
“It’s becoming increasingly difficult to separate out issues of a regional and national nature, as though they don’t affect us too,” Glick said. “Global warming and the cuts to the state budget have a direct impact on us locally. These larger issues continue to filter down and impact our community.”
But Westbrae Drive resident Robert Clark questioned whether the council would overlook important local issues in addressing the national stage.
“In the last few years, there’s a lot of tasks that haven’t gotten done,” Clark said. “We’ve had a lot of business turnover, and it should be the responsibility of the Fairfax council to replace those businesses that are moving out. Issues like the widening of Sir Francis Drake Boulevard should come first, while our sister cities in South America should be put on the back burner.”
Councilwoman Susan Brandborg, who questioned the need for the policy, ultimately agreed to support it.
“I was taken aback in the beginning by the idea that we would try to set the agenda for future councils,” Brandborg said. “I don’t think Fairfax is likely to be overrun by Republicans at any point in the future. The issues are likely to be different. But in the end, these issues will affect us all.”
Main Court resident Yvette Wakefield agreed.
“National and international matters that affect most people, especially if they affect all people, should be the business of the Fairfax Town Council,” Wakefield said.
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