Observer Online | Reston Residents Not Always Best Critics

Edition of Feb. 22, 2008

Reston Residents Not Always Best Critics

To the editor:

As a Reston resident since 1989, I've been following the back-and-forth between Tom Grubisich, a former Reston resident, and Jennifer Blackwell, the president of Reston Association, who wrote in tandem with Mark Looney of the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce.

In early January, Grubisich wrote an article for The Washington Post Outlook section criticizing Reston's leadership and advocating town status. Blackwell and Looney immediately mounted an attack. It was cowardly in my view since their response didn't mention Grubisich by name, but rather saying that those who criticize Reston need to "actually live, work, and thrive in this remarkable community."

Well. Tom Grubisich first began living in Reston in 1967, when Ms. Blackwell was eligible for kindergarten. He lived in Reston for more than three decades, authored a book on Reston, founded and was editor-in-chief of The Connection newspapers, and later served as editor of The Reston Times. Most people would agree with me that Mr. Grubisich knows at least as much about Reston as Ms. Blackwell and Mr. Looney combined. He is well-qualified to give "a fair and accurate assessment of the Reston dream" as Ms. Blackwell and Mr. Looney claimed was necessary to opine about our community.

Ms. Blackwell and Mr. Looney boasted that the Reston Regional Library is the busiest in Fairfax County. Reston's library has the same square footage it had 20 years ago even though the population of Reston has doubled. During those two decades, Herndon has been given a new, more modern library, as have Oakton, the City of Fairfax, and Great Falls, all of which surround Reston.

The inability of Reston Association or the Chamber of Commerce to get a new or expanded library when all those around us have succeeded, does not speak well of those groups' political acumen. Our elected supervisor, Cathy Hudgins—who appears to prefers a skate park, but never mentions a new library—unfortunately also belongs in this category.

Adrian Havill

Reston