SPLASHING THEIR WAY TO STATES: Patriot, Battlefield and Colgan swam great at regionals. Page 10
February 12, 2020 | Vol. 19, No. 7 | www.princewilliamtimes.com | 50¢ Covering Prince William County and surrounding communities, including Gainesville, Haymarket, Dumfries, Occoquan, Quantico and the cities of Manassas and Manassas Park.
Dumfries says no – for now – to Rosie’s By Jill Palermo
Times Staff Writer
Rosie’s Gaming Emporium, a proposed off-track betting parlor approved in a ballot referendum last year, hit a roadblock last week when the Dumfries Town Council voted down the permit Colonial Downs needs to open the facility. The proposal fell victim to opposition among the seven-member town council for different reasons during the council’s regular Feb. 4 meeting. Councilmembers Cliff Brewer and Melva Willis objected to a $100,000 contribution the town asked Rosie’s operator Colonial Downs to provide to off-
set traffic impacts. Brewer said he believed asking for such a large donation from a private business the size of Rosie’s Gaming Emporium amounts to “burden” that is “not fair.” Meanwhile, Councilmembers Selonia Miles and Cydny Neville voiced concerns about bringing a gambling outlet to Dumfries in general and to Triangle Plaza in particular. Triangle Plaza, on U.S. 1, is an aging shopping center within walking distance to Williamstown and other lower-income residential neighborhoods in the town. See ROSIE’S, page 2
An artist’s rendering of the Rosie’s Gaming Emporium façade Colonial Downs planned for its chosen location in the Triangle Shopping Plaza.
Superintendent’s budget seeks $54M more local funding By Jill Palermo
Times Staff Writer
A town hall divided
PHOTO BY MIKE BEATY
Rep. Jennifer Wexton, D-10th, answers constituents’ questions during a town hall meeting on Saturday, Feb. 8 at Gravely Elementary School in Haymarket.
Speakers reflect political chasm splitting Virginia voters By Jill Palermo
Times Staff Writer
Shortly after Rep. Jennifer Wexton opened her Saturday afternoon town hall meeting, a long line of speakers formed at the center of Gravely Elementary School’s gymnasium in Haymarket. Near the front was a woman named Martha who wanted to talk about socialism. “Are you willing to say you support capitalism?,” she asked. “And if you agree that capitalism is actually a good thing, what is your position on fighting back against the growing misunderstanding, at least among young people, that socialism is good?” The woman’s question was met with loud applause. Wexton, a former prosecutor and the first Democrat to win Virginia’s 10th District seat in nearly four decades, was quick with a response but also voiced a note of caution.
“First, I’m going to let you all in on a scoop, an exclusive here today. I am not a socialist,” she said. “But as far as people throwing these terms around … I’m not sure what people mean when they use the term ‘socialism.’ … I think we need to all figure out what our definitions are.” Wexton went on to explain that some of things she opposes, such as the federal government’s inability to negotiate prescription drug prices, could be considered less than capitalist. Even so, a bill that seeks to change that has been criticized as “socialized drug pricing,” Wexton said. “I’m a capitalist. I’m not a socialist, but I think the federal government should be able to negotiate drug prices on behalf of the American people,” Wexton added, also to loud applause. See TOWN HALL, page 4
INSIDE Business.............................................13 Calendar.............................................15 Classifieds...........................................18 Lifestyle..............................................14
Obituaries...........................................17 Opinion.................................................7 Public Safety.........................................6 Real Estate..........................................16 Sports...................................................9
Saying his budget reflects the “true needs” of the school division, Prince William Superintendent Steven Walts presented Wednesday, Feb. 5, a $1.24 billion spending plan for next school year that seeks more than $54 million in additional local funding, an amount that exceeds the county’s “revenue-sharing agreement” by more than $31 million. It is Walts’ first budget request of the newly elected Prince William Board of County Supervisors, which has a Democratic majority for the first time in decades. Many of the new supervisors campaigned on boosting teacher salaries and providing better funding local schools. Among other things, Walts budget would spend $44.7 million more on employee compensation, an amount that would fund both a “step” raise and cost-of-living increase for Prince William teachers and staff, boosting salaries by an average of 4.8%. The budget also adds more than 60 new positions, including 11 additional social workers, one school psychologist, 50 full-time special education assistants, a chief equity officer and a Title IV officer. Walts said the positions are aimed at adding both academic and emotional support for students to build on the nearly 50 new school counselor positions added this year. See BUDGET, page 2
88 DULLES, VA