Nirenberg's Remarks For Seminary Ridge Civic Association Candidate Forum
Darryl Nirenberg’s Statement for the Seminary Ridge Civic Association Candidate Forum
Thank you, Mike. I appreciate you giving me the opportunity to participate in this evening’s forum.
Allow me to take a moment to tell you a little about myself, why I am running, and what I plan on doing if elected.
One spring day, twenty two years ago, my wife, Lori and I put in a contract to buy a house in Arlington.
We then headed over to one of the playgrounds here in Alexandria for our son and daughter to spend the afternoon with friends.
I knew something was up – because Lori called her dad five times while we were at the playground.
At the end of the day, as we walked to our car with two exhausted kids in tow, Lori turned to me.
“We can’t do it,” she said. “Can’t do what?” I responded. “Buy that House” she exclaimed “Arlington may be a nice place to live. But Alexandria is a community.”
So, we raced down Glebe Road, withdrew our contract, and a couple of months later found a home in Northridge and have been here ever since.
Lori had it right about community. I should have come to that conclusion myself.
You see, I grew up in a small town in Upstate New York where community was everything.
My dad was a country lawyer who at age 37 suffered a heart attack. He survived, but was limited in his ability to work.
When I was 14, he sat me down one evening and said:
“We are doing ok, but I am not sure I will be able to pay for you and your two brothers to go to college.
“You are the oldest, so that means if you want to go to college, you are going to have to figure out a way to pay for it.
So, I got to work.
I started a paper route, delivered groceries, worked in a supermarket, painted interiors, bussed tables, and while in college, waited on tables here at the Key Bridge Marriott, and started my own business selling premium candies at a roadside stand.
The day I graduated college, I drove down to what were then the Hamlets in West Alexandria, found a job on the Hill and returned to waiting on tables at the Marriott in the evenings to save for law school.
I attended GWU law school at night while working on the Hill, and then for the past 25 years, have practiced law at two DC-based international law firms.
Getting back to Alexandria . . . Lori and I settled here for many of the same reasons that may have attracted you.
A tight-knit, caring community.
Distinct and diverse neighborhoods.
A history and charm that attracts visitors from around the globe.
A community which recognizes our diversity as a source of strength and where everyone counts, no matter one’s income, age, race, ethnic background or religion.
With a government traditionally focused on the quality of life for all who live here, and seeking consensus on major decisions.
However, over the past few years, we have seen our city government lose its way.
Pushing divisive policies such as:
Building adult housing on school grounds when the focus should be on reopening schools.
Eliminating traffic lanes on major roadways when the goal should be to alleviate traffic.
Promoting density when our schools and infrastructure can’t keep up with population we already have and without any plan as to how to manage the population growth.
Bulldozing trees when we have too little greenspace as it is.
Continuing to raise taxes when so many households and businesses are struggling through the pandemic.
I decided I could not stand on the sidelines and watch our city so dramatically transformed — and lose what makes it unique.
So, two weeks ago tomorrow, I filed to run for Alexandria City Council.
The thing is. These issues are not partisan. They are common sense.
So, if elected, I will bring a different perspective to the Council -- and at the outset will propose:
Stop all efforts to put adult housing on school grounds.
Restore Seminary Road and end Road Diets
Take a breather on more density until we have a plan for how our infrastructure and schools will handle the additional population
Start a discussion about returning to Wards or Districts to elect half of the Council so neighborhoods have a Council member they can call their own and make it easier for citizens to participate in local government.
Alexandria is a great city, and a unique one at that. Lori and I feel so lucky to have raised our two children here, with our dog, Presley, and now our new pandemic puppy, Gatsby.
There is no reason Alexandria can’t continue to be a special place.
But that will take a City Council that focuses on the quality of life issues, that takes account of diverse viewpoints and which seeks to bring us together as opposed to dividing us with controversial policies.
So, at the end of the day, that is the big issue before us. That is why I am running. And that is why I hope you will support me.