Saturday, February 15, 2014

Speaking of Virginia (Old Town Alexandria)

I read online earlier a riposte to the City of St. Augustine's efforts to do something about traffic and parking. The riposte was annoying, in that it distorted facts.
The riposter pointed out that there are no subway stops in Alexandria, Virginia and for good reason -- the locals don't want visitors.
Purporting to speak from "a decade" living in Old Town Alexandria, the riposter was just plain wrong in stating "There is no Metro stop in Alexandria by design."
False.
Wrong.
Erroneous.
The riposter should post an erratum.
There are indeed several Metro subway stops in Alexandria, Virginia including one that has been serving Old Town for decades.
In fact, the name of the stop is "King Street -- Old Town." I've been there.
You can look it up.
As the late United States Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan said, "Everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but not their own facts."
Advocating snobbery for St. Augustine is one thing, but basing it on inaccurate "facts" is another.
The riposter in quo was quite right about Sheriff Shoar and the Michelle O'Connell case, but quite wrong on transportation planning.
Yes, "King Street -- Old Town" is a subway stop.
Old Town welcomes tourists, and so does St. Augustine. Affectations of martyrdom to the contrary, most of us are glad other people like the town that we love, and don't hate tourists.
I will not emit the standard sophomoric Southern Sheriff's response to criticism -- "If you don't like it here, go on back North." However, the riposter well knew or should have known upon moving here that this was a tourist town. There are places that are warm without that curse.
Palatka?
Not for me, but perhaps better for thee?
What do you reckon?

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