Ahead of the Town of Vienna’s election this year, Tysons Reporter asked the candidates to answer the following questions and also submit a short biography. Each candidate had an opportunity to answer the same questions in their own words. We are publishing the Q&As this week in the order we received the responses. 

Featured here is Howard Springsteen, who is running for the mayor’s seat. 

Bio: With 11 years on the Vienna Town Council, 30 years of public administration and extensive community involvement, I bring a record of accomplishment and a promise of action and not just talk. I am proud of my reputation for demanding accountability and transparency and for being responsive to citizen concerns.

Nearby, Tysons is urbanizing. How do you think the Town of Vienna’s identity should change in response to Tysons’ growth?

The pressures of being a town in the shadow of Tysons Corner are very real, with implications on commercial rents, traffic, parking, housing prices, and demand for town services. But we are not Tysons, and we need to manage and control our own destiny in terms of residential building and commercial development.

Vienna residents have made clear that the protection of its residential neighborhoods is a top priority and key to maintaining a “small-town” feel. However, we also need to have realistic conversations the economic vitality of our commercial districts. These are complex and important conversations. As mayor, I pledge that my door will be open to all in the Vienna community as we work through this very difficult issue of how we set a direction for the future of Vienna.

As mayor, would you pledge to A) declare a climate emergency and B) support a council vote for the Town of Vienna to achieve carbon neutrality by 2045?

The town’s Conservation and Sustainability Commission produced a study in this area and has put some great options on the table for consideration. The study identified three areas of energy use — electricity, natural gas and vehicle fuel — and suggested achievable goals to reduce both consumption and cost. I want to include these goals into the town’s next comprehensive plan, which will be updated later this year.

We have already taken significant action to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs. The Vienna Community Center received its Gold LEED certification. We will see similar design features in the new police station. We have made progress replacing florescent lighting with LED and incorporating energy efficiency into purchasing decisions.

I look forward to working with the town staff to see how we can bring additional energy reduction goals to the town and work toward carbon neutrality by 2045.

What are your solutions to Maple Avenue congestion and cut-thru traffic in neighborhoods?

Maple Avenue is a major transportation corridor with up to 35 percent of cars just passing through town. One of my top priorities is to keep traffic off our side streets — that means using modern technologies to time lights so that traffic moves along Maple Avenue.

We need to continue to use a combination of traditional traffic calming measures, police enforcement and innovative technologies to keep up the battle against aggressive driving. And that needs to be coupled with pedestrian safety measures, particularly sidewalk construction around schools. And finally, we need to understand the implications of new development on traffic flows and ensure that we are not adding to gridlock on Maple Avenue.

How would you work with Natalia Monkou to boost economic development in the town?

I was one of the first councilmembers to advocate for an economic development manager. I did not take the decisions to add to the town’s payroll lightly, but believed very strongly that it was a worthwhile investment in our future.

Ms. Monkou was brought on-board in December 2019. Her work with our businesses and advice to the town manager as well as the mayor and town council in response to the coronavirus crisis has been invaluable.

I will continue to support her efforts and work for the funding and resources that she needs to do her job. She is currently working closely with the business community to come up with options to assist and help them get through these trying times. I look forward to her advice and counsel as we address the crisis, and over the longer-term, take action to make this town more business friendly.

What are your ideal height and building sizes for developments in the Maple Avenue Ordinance?

My record speaks for itself — I have not pivoted because of an election. I support projects that protect and improve the quality of life in Vienna. The allowable heights and densities in the current MAC do neither of these things. That is why I have consistently voted against MAC projects and for extending the
moratorium.

I have advocated for buildings with:

• varying heights and densities that do not overload our infrastructures and traffic, and buffer zones that adequately protect the abutting neighborhoods
• adequate parking to prevent crowding of other businesses or spillover into neighborhoods

This is not an anti-development stance — it is a pro-Vienna stance. I stand by my record — new buildings should fit into Vienna and not overshadow existing properties. We must have adequate buffers between commercial and residential development.

Some residents are concerned about town officials’ transparency and the public’s ability to comment on proposals. Do you think this is an issue? How will you ensure people understand what is going on and are able to engage on topics that matter to them?

Transparency in governance is critical. Vienna advertises all council meetings and work sessions in advance and broadcasts all council sessions both on the web and cable TV. The town publishes a monthly newsletter and posts daily on the town’s website and on social media.

The public has always been able to and does comment on proposals. I have seen numerous occasions in my 11 years on the council where both oral and written statements have resulted in changes to proposals being considered.

However, I do understand that many have concerns about transparency in governance — we need to address that concern and explore additional channels of communication and community engagement and create additional opportunities for provide input. As mayor, I will lead the council in efforts to set high-quality standards, provide clear guidance and demand transparency and accountability.

People interested in learning more about Springsteen’s campaign can check out his website and Facebook.

Image via Town of Vienna

Ahead of the Town of Vienna’s election this year, Tysons Reporter asked the candidates to answer the following questions and also submit a short biography. Each candidate had an opportunity to answer the same questions in their own words. We are publishing the Q&As this week in the order we received the responses. 

Featured here is Ed Somers, who is running for one of the councilmember seats. 

Bio: I am running for town council to focus on priorities related to transportation safety, community engagement, and balanced development. I have 30 years of experience fighting for local governments at the national level and want to apply what I have learned to my home — Vienna.

Nearby, Tysons is urbanizing. How do you think the Town of Vienna’s identity should change in response to Tysons’ growth?

Vienna’s identity does not need to change as a result of Tysons. Yes, we will have to work with our neighboring communities to mitigate traffic as much as possible. But what I would also like to ensure is that Vienna does not simply become a “pass through” for people on their way to somewhere else. I want people to spend time in our Town, spend money in OUR stores and OUR restaurants, and generate business tax revenue to offset OUR property taxes.

What are your solutions to Maple Avenue congestion and cut-thru traffic in neighborhoods?

As for Maple Avenue, much can be done with signal timing and reducing the number of entrance and exit points to businesses that will help move traffic smoother through our major artery. Cut through traffic is a trickier issue, in that efforts to limit traffic on one person’s street can result in more traffic on someone else’s street. So, the entire Vienna street network must be evaluated as an interconnected system. Where needed and based on solid data, traffic calming should be employed.

But my top priority remains making sure that people who want to walk, bike or run in our town — especially children — can do so safely. Sidewalks and modern street crosses tools should be installed wherever possible — as we have prioritized during my time as chair of our town’s Transportation Safety Commission — with engagement and community support.

Should Vienna keep its “small town feel”? If so, how? If not, why and what do you propose?

I am not sure Vienna has been a “small town” in the traditional sense for some time. We are not a country village surrounded by farmland. I believe that many people have stayed in Vienna, or recently moved to Vienna, because it is a town with a good “balance.” We have houses of various sizes, nice sized yards, condos and apartments, shopping, restaurants and entertainment that people can walk to, and what amounts to the “river” that connects us — the amazing W&OD Trail.

I remember when some fought against having a Town Green — and now I bet many would say it is one of our best assets. The key is maintaining the proper “balance” and I believe this can be done, while still moving our town forward and NOT ending up with more vacant properties that are not generating business taxes for our town or providing the services we would like to have in our town.

Vienna has a long history of being named a “Tree City USA.” What steps would you like to see Vienna take to become greener and more sustainable/environmentally-friendly?

Let me answer that question in two parts.

First on the issue of tress, I remember a discussion we had in the Transportation Safety Commission regarding a sidewalk petition from residents. They were united for a sidewalk and our commission agreed their street needed it — until they learned that trees would have to come down. Then they changed their mind about wanting the sidewalk. I say this to point out how important trees are to our residents.

The trick I think is to have a long-term vision for tree installation and to remember that you can’t “build” a tree like you can something else. We need to invest in trees that match our ecology, can thrive in our climate, and will not need to be cut down because they were planted in the wrong location or became overgrown. This is why we have a town arborist and we need to listen to both the desires of town residents and professional advice. And we must ensure that all new construction requires tree installation.

But to the bigger question of how me make Vienna a more environmentally friendly and sustainable community, consistent with everything I have said, we MUST design a town the encourages and helps people to not use their cars whenever and wherever possible.

What do you want to see happen for parking when Parking Henry Library gets moved and rebuilt?

Let me just say this. What I know I do want is for people to have a place to park their cars and then walk in Vienna — on Maple Avenue, on Church Street, to the Town Green, and so on. It bothers me greatly when I see cars driving from shopping center to shopping center. This is not good for traffic, and it is not good for the environment.

Some kind of integrated parking solution for our main shopping and entertainment district must happen. Not having been on the town council or planning or zoning boards, I simply can’t say what the design should be. But I know that many towns have dealt with this very issue, and I plan to call on my network of experts to help us design parking solutions that are appropriate for Vienna.

What are your ideal height and building sizes for developments in the Maple Avenue Ordinance?

Again, not having been on town council or the planning board, I can’t exactly say what I think the maximum limit should be. Having studied the excellent survey that the town sent out to all residents to get their input — something I think must be replicated for other big issues the Town needs to address — my general feeling is no more than four stories.

I want to make sure there is plenty of sidewalk space, and I would like the designs to both encourage outside eating and gathering and have the proper rear designs to protect as much as possible people who live behind these new developments. I believe that consensus can be found on this issue — and much like the Town Green that many fought against — if done correctly, we really will have a vibrant Main Street that is appropriate for Vienna and that our residents will use and love for generations to come.

And I also know this. If we do not come together with a consensus plan for Maple Avenue that engages the current land owners in the process, we will end up with more “one off” construction projects and will look back with regret at a missed opportunity to help design a comprehensive, unified approach to Maple Avenue development. Just saying “no” is not enough. We must work together to get to a “yes” that benefits all who live in our town.

People interested in learning more about Somers’ campaign can check out his website, Facebook and Twitter.

Photo courtesy Ed Somers 

Ahead of the Town of Vienna’s election this year, Tysons Reporter asked the candidates to answer the following questions and also submit a short biography. Each candidate had an opportunity to answer the same questions in their own words. We are publishing the Q&As this week in the order we received the responses. 

Featured here is Chuck Anderson, who is running for one of the councilmember seats. 

Bio: Chuck is a long-time citizen organizer and advocate for appropriately-scaled development in Vienna. A former member and chair of the Planning Commission, Chuck has served on a number of other boards and civic associations in Vienna and has been active in church and scouts.

He has lived in Vienna since 1997. Chuck is also a co-founder and principal with Capital Trade, Incorporated, recognized as a premier consulting firm in the area of international economics. He is a graduate of Williams College and Oxford University.

Nearby, Tysons is urbanizing. How do you think the Town of Vienna’s identity should change in response to Tysons’ growth?

Vienna soon will be the closest small-town haven to this major new urban area. Like our predecessors, the future Town Council must work tirelessly to protect Vienna’s small town ethos. We should not allow ourselves to become simply an appendage of Tysons.

Rather, we should try to maintain our winning combination of low density, single family residential focus, vibrant community activities, and strong local government. One change we should consider is how to build non-auto transportation links (bike lanes, hiking paths) between Tysons and Vienna, so that Vienna becomes a non-auto small town destination for the growing Tysons population.

What are your solutions to Maple Avenue congestion and cut-thru traffic in neighborhoods?

In his book “Traffic,” Tom Vanderbilt explains how traffic is like water: it will seek the path of least resistance. The obvious solution to minimizing cut-through traffic in Vienna is to reduce congestion on Maple Avenue, with smart lights, and strict control on future density. There is no other magic solution to this long-standing problem.

One project that would eliminate a traffic light, make Vienna more pedestrian-friendly and reduce auto trips is a W&OD trail bridge across Maple Avenue. I would try to work with the county to realize this vision.

Should Vienna keep its “small town feel”? If so, how? If not, why and what do you propose?
Some have argued that Vienna should cast off its self-image as a “small town.” I strongly disagree. Most of us, myself a small-town boy from Blissfield, Michigan, have settled in Vienna precisely because of its small town ethos. That does not mean that we should ignore the urban-sized issues we face.

But as Deborah and James Fallows pointed out in Our Towns of their survey of resurgent American small municipalities, revitalization is most successful when it is built on the town’s unique assets. Vienna’s small town-ness and the W&OD bike path, are the two most important assets we have. We should embrace them.

Vienna has a long history of being named a “Tree City USA.” What steps would you like to see Vienna take to become greener and more sustainable/environmentally-friendly?

Our image as a Tree City succeeds or fails, in large part, on the density of the canopy along our major thoroughfares. One of the great tragedies of Vienna’s history is that the maple trees that gave Maple its name were cut down in the 50s when Route 123 was widened. We have an opportunity to bring the trees back.

One of the more important things we can do is to require higher tree density in any successor to the mothballed Maple Avenue Commercial district zoning ordinance. The Vienna Market MAC development, for example, is so dense that no trees can grow in its townhouse interior space.

What do you want to see happen for parking when Parking Henry Library gets moved and rebuilt?

Patrick Henry is one of our most important community assets. Even though a local branch, it has the traffic of a regional library. I strongly support the proposal to partner with the county in redeveloping Patrick Henry at its current site to build a structure that includes municipal parking.

As I learned when I co-chaired a Planning Commission study of parking for Church Street, most people will not walk more than a quarter mile from their car. A parking structure at the current Patrick Henry location is ideal for serving community events, as well as businesses on both Maple and Church. Because of its central location and importance to the town, any new library should be an architectural jewel.

What are your ideal height and building sizes for developments in the Maple Avenue Ordinance?

As I have stated for over seven years, I would not set height or building size limits, or even the geographical limits for a new Maple Avenue redevelopment district until we have a good understanding of how much additional density our main street can absorb. I would also favor allowing higher density only in the core area of town. If mixed use is proposed, then the residential portions must include sufficient green space, parks and common space for their own use.

People interested in learning more about Anderson’s campaign can check out his website, Facebook and Twitter.

Photo courtesy Chuck Anderson

Want to get in touch with the team bringing you news about Tysons, McLean, Vienna, Falls Church and Merrifield?

Send us your news tips, press releases and feedback to [email protected] or use our anonymous message form. Our news team does not have a phone line for inbound calls.

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Have thoughts about Tysons Reporter’s coverage of Tysons, McLean, Vienna, Falls Church and Merrifield? Want to share your opinions about local issues?

Tysons Reporter welcomes letters to the editors and op-eds of specific interest to the communities in our coverage area.

The key difference is that an op-ed can be an opinion piece about a local issue, while a letter to the editor responds directly to a Tysons Reporter story.

Please email it to [email protected]. You are also welcome to contact us with your idea for feedback before submitting it.

While there is no word limit, we suggest under 1,000 words. Contributions may be edited for length, content and style/grammar.

Tysons Reporter does not publish op-eds relating to a specific candidate running for political office — either from the candidate’s team or opponents.

This op-ed was submitted by Rikki Epstein, the executive director of The Arc of Northern Virginia in Merrifield. It does not reflect the opinions of Tysons Reporter. We publish op-eds and letters to the editor of specific interest to the Tysons community. Contributions may be edited for length or content. 

Since Gov. Ralph Northam issued the COVID-19 stay-at-home order for Virginia, I’ve been reaching out to families and individuals we serve. I wanted to check in, ask how they’re doing, and reassure them that The Arc of Northern Virginia’s services would continue.

Many wrote back, sharing what this “new normal” is like for their household. Some even asked about other families. With every note I read, I am reminded of the genuine honor it is to serve those with intellectual and developmental disabilities on behalf of our amazing organization.

I lay awake in bed at night thinking (because that’s what we all do now) about two sentiments that are common among many of the notes I’ve received. Nearly every family is struggling to find alternatives to necessary, often critical, support services. With a loved-one with an intellectual or developmental disability, life in normal times is a precarious balance. The disability alone robs one of the stability many of us take for granted.

It’s like a game of Jenga, with many of the pieces missing to begin with. But this is no game. Life depends on that tower not falling over, and each wooden piece represents a critical support service. As long as the supports are in place, there’s fragile stability. Now, start removing those supports.

Take away the piece that represents personal care attendants in the home, and you leave the work of caring for a family member with serious needs solely with the parents, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Parents are literally sleeping in shifts through the night.

Take away the piece that represents stable housing, and you have a family moving out of their apartment to protect their immuno-compromised child, saying “Elevators are terrifying repositories for anything picked up by the 896 other residents.”

Take away the piece that represents structured education and you have distance learning plans from some school districts that have been delayed or — worse yet — non-existent for students with disabilities.

Take away the piece that represents physical therapy.

Take away the piece that represents job coaching.

Take away the piece that represents speech therapy.

Take away the piece that represents occupational therapy.

Get the picture?

For many of these families, The Arc of Northern Virginia can help them put back some of those pieces. We can locate the resources that help restore a feeling of balance for families in need. It may be precarious. It may be temporary, but it keeps the house from falling down.

The second sentiment I heard in those notes is what finally allows me to sleep at night. It’s a sense of hope. A sense of optimism borne out of the experience of facing previous tragedies and coming through them stronger and more resilient.

“We’ll get through this” was said over and over again. And in my heart, I know we will. Because we’re in this together, and we draw strength from each other.

In this time of crisis, in this time of heightened anxiety, in this time of hardships for everyone, please don’t forget those who live with hardship and anxiety nearly every day, and yet persevere. It is essential that we keep families together, programs running, and critically-needed services in place for our most vulnerable population.

We need to make sure EVERY MEMBER of our community makes it through this crisis.

Photo via Arc of Northern Virginia/Facebook

Tysons Reporter reports local news for Tysons, McLean, Vienna, Falls Church and Merrifield.

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Unfortunately, for those who only get our stories via social media, you’re missing out. Algorithms decide what you see on platforms like Facebook and Twitter, and oftentimes that means important local stories don’t make it to your feed.

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An assault took place at Skorpios Maggio’s Family Restaurant after people asked for utensils for food they purchased elsewhere, according to police and the owners.

The alleged incident happened shortly before 3 p.m. on Wednesday (April 8) at 421 Maple Ave E., Vienna police say.

“The restaurant owners reported some people came into the restaurant requesting utensils for some food they purchased elsewhere,” the police report said. “After providing the individuals with the utensils, an altercation occurred between all parties.”

Juan Vazquez, a spokesperson for the Vienna Police Department, declined to comment on the case, saying that it’s an active investigation.

The owners behind the restaurant, Chris and Sherry Maggio, posted about the alleged assault on Facebook. The photos they posted show food on Chris and covering the ground and window outside of the restaurant.

Sherry Maggio told Tysons Reporter that females came in asking for utensils before the situation became violent and messy with thrown food.

“It was just this whole messy thing,” Sherry said, claiming the females returned with men who allegedly pushed Chris before the police came.

Though the couple said they are both okay, Sherry said that they are concerned for their safety.

Vazquez said that all of the people involved in the incident were told about the warrant process if they want to press charges.

This isn’t the first time police received reports of an assault at the restaurant.

The restaurant was vandalized about half of a dozen times this winter, which included smeared ketchup on the restaurant’s windows and van and “tire slime” placed on the sidewalk, furniture and statue outside, according to Vienna police reports.

In January, a man spat at Sherry and threw hot coffee on her, according to Vienna police reports. Police arrested a 34-year-old man and charged him with simple assault and battery.

Vazquez said that the alleged assault on Wednesday isn’t connected to the previous incidents.

The restaurant plans to stay open with limited hours, the post added.

“We understand that this is a very stressful time for all and it seems like things are not getting better,” the Facebook post said. “We, as part of the Town of Vienna believe that we are in this together.”

Catherine Douglas Moran and Ashley Hopko reported and wrote this story 

Photos via Skorpios Maggio’s Family Restaurant/Facebook

Want to get in touch with the team bringing you news about Tysons, McLean, Vienna, Falls Church and Merrifield?

Send us your news tips, press releases and feedback to [email protected] or use our anonymous message form. Our news team does not have a phone line for inbound calls.

You can also reach us on social media – Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

For advertising inquiries, please contact [email protected].

Tysons Reporter reports local news for Tysons, McLean, Vienna, Falls Church and Merrifield.

Thank you to everyone who has liked, followed and bookmarked us.

Unfortunately, for those who only get our stories via social media, you’re missing out. Algorithms decide what you see on platforms like Facebook and Twitter, and oftentimes that means important local stories don’t make it to your feed.

So how can you make sure you’re seeing all Tysons Reporter headlines? Sign up for our email newsletter, which delivers local headlines to your inbox once a day.