Letter to the Editor: Request for Resignation of Mason District Planning Commissioner Janet Hall

Dear Supervisor Gross,

Wednesday, Sept. 25, at the Planning Commission meeting, I witnessed what can only be described as a remarkable display of contempt for the rights and ancient, legitimate concerns of the citizens of Mason District by Mason District’s Planning Commissioner.

Not only did she, in the course of her regular duties, proudly and theatrically show her disgust for the citizens’ right “to petition their government for a redress of grievances”, she ridiculed what are very common, very real, frequently voiced and entirely appropriate concerns of the citizens for preservation of the character, safety and utility of their neighborhoods, qualities highly valued by every mother and father everywhere on the planet, including those of “the unwashed”.

I appreciate that it is challenging for a resident of Lake Barcroft, totally isolated as it were from the issues expressed, to relate to concerns so familiar to the common folk populating most of the neighborhoods in Mason District. However, the Constitution is the Constitution and decency and respect are essential to public service and the public discourse. Commissioner Hall clearly and derisively declared that these are values she does not honor.

Critical to a zoning Commissioner’s skill set is the ability to include the interests of all stakeholders in the community. Commissioner Hall has unequivocally demonstrated that she is incapable of accepting the simple truth that existing homeowners, with their own set of universally shared concerns, are also important stakeholders whose interests and questions deserve and must be accorded the respect of every Commissioner. 

Therefore, as Commissioner Hall is dismissive of basic, universal neighborhood concerns and so lacking in other essential qualifications for her position, I respectfully ask that you take all actions necessary to remove Commissioner Hall as Commissioner and from any positions of influence she may hold with the Department of Planning and Zoning.

Sincerely,

Jon Clark

Annandale Acres