'Delgaudio owed an apology'
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In recent weeks, headlines and letters to the editor have appeared in The Washington Post, Times-Mirror and other local publications and blogs reporting that Sterling Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio, during a taping of the Politics Hour June 20 on WAMU's popular Kojo Nnamdi radio program, had called Sterling Park a "cesspool."
Times-Mirror reporter Jason Jacks went so far as to state, "Despite the interview being available for download off the station's Web site, Delgaudio refused to admit that he called Sterling Park a cesspool."
Delgaudio's Democratic rivals in recent elections, Jeanne West and George Hidy, along with several members of the Loudoun Board of Supervisors, were quick to react and attack Delgaudio.
In so doing, Delgaudio's critics did nothing more than damn their own credibility. Anyone who actually listened to the Politics Hour segment and has more than selective listening and minimum comprehension abilities would have discovered that Supervisor Delgaudio did not call Sterling Park a cesspool. Despite the interview being available for download, some reporters such as Jason Jacks chose to misrepresent the interview with a clever twist in phrasing. The cesspool is not in Sterling. It is in the press and with people who take an oath of public office, sign codes of ethics and spew out unfounded criticism. That is what is known as political garbage.
The truth is that Kojo Nnamdi had asked Supervisor Delgaudio whether what was happening in his district was a part of "the larger issue of urbanization of Loudoun County, which is still largely agricultural." Delgaudio responded passionately, "This is not urbanization. This is a cesspool." He was referring to the unhealthy, unsafe events in Sterling, not Sterling Park itself, not its good, hardworking, and good-natured people. Delgaudio discussed how Sterling is a highly diverse community, and that it does not matter what language anyone speaks, one does not treat a community "like a garbage dump" if they care.
I serve as Supervisor Delgaudio's appointed planning commissioner so you have the right to immediately call me biased, but listen to the program yourself and come to your own conclusions: www.wamu.org/programs/kn/8/06/20.php#20857.
I trust most readers' assessments of the interview are likely to be more reasonable, intelligent and logical than what we have heard from some powers that be and "power wannabes."
Delgaudio understands that the crime rate has surged with the influx of illegal immigrants. He is willing to speak up for the truth and to fight for change while others pussyfoot around the underlying causes to the serious issues of safety and security we are seeing not only in Sterling but elsewhere in our county, the nation and around the world. It's a good thing that the county is now in a self-characterized "Era of Transparency." It makes it crystal clear to see the Age of Propaganda around us, and it is not coming from Eugene Delgaudio.
Those who have once again maligned the Sterling District and its supervisor would be well advised to take a piece of advice from a line from the classic 1941 film "How Green Was My Valley": "Nothing is enough for people who have minds like cesspools ... I hope when (they're) grown, their tongues will be slower to hurt."
They owe Eugene Delgaudio and our community an apology.
Helena Syska
Sterling Park
Thank you Ms. Syska for your articulate commentary regarding Supervisor Delgaudio’s recent remarks. Please allow me to be not quite so subtle. Jason Jacks is an idiot, whom represents his employer well, and has absolute no vested interest in the well-being of the community of Sterling Park. You may not care for Mr. Delgaudio’s blunt remarks, but make no mistake, the man has great compassion for the community he and his family reside-in. In today’s age of the “PC” politicians, I find Mr. Delgaudio remarks to be forthright and an accurate assessment of his observances in the communities of Sterling Park, Sugarland Run and Casscades. I will not offer Mr. Delgaudio my personal apology. Rather, I will applaud him for having the courage to stand-up for the defense of his constituents and their community. Something that can not be said of Mr. Jacks and his employer.
Posted by PHenry
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THANK YOU HELENA SYSKA!!!!! Someone other than me has finally said it! I have been trying to get it across to people for a long time now that Delgaudio didn't say that Sterling was a cesspool, and here you have done it better than I ever could. You are right and that's the truth whether you were motivated by your bias or not, it doesn't matter because the fact is that you are right about what Eugene said! People (especially liberal media) like to condemn and atack anyone that does something good or actually does anything at all, which is seen time and again when attacking Delgaudio. I have also seen that Delgaudio has a love for Sterling and he only wants good things for it and he does his best to try to make good things happen. I agree and support everything you have said in this letter Ms. Syska. Thank you and God Bless!
Posted by Inconceivable
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