Letters to the Editor #6: Albo Out of Touch

In today's Washington Post, Barbara Paciejewski, reiterates what we've been saying over here about Del. Dave Albo (R - Abuser Fees):

The Out-of-Touch Mr. Albo

Friday, July 4, 2008; Page A16
According to the Virginia Board of Elections, Tim Kaine won 60.15 percent of the vote in Fairfax County in 2005, and Jim Webb won 58.9 percent in 2006. Although some point to these figures as evidence of a changing electorate, Del. David B. Albo (R-[Abuser Fees]) has come up with his own reasoning, namely that it is not the highly educated who have turned Fairfax blue but rather "those who are on food stamps and government services" ["A New Political Geography," front page, June 29].

Just how many Fairfax voters does Mr. Albo think rely on food stamps and other such programs? How can a politician be this out of touch with his constituents?

BARBARA PACIEJEWSKI
Woodbridge

Well, Ms. Paciejewski, we thought we'd take you up on your hypothetical question. According to the 2000 United States Census, 5.3% of people in Fairfax County live below the poverty level - of course many of these are children and not all of these are registered to vote. Getting more specific, how many of Fairfax County's 363,328 households are on food stamps and how many are received public assistance in 2000?

Food Stamps - 5,999
Public Assistance - 2,743
SSI Recipients - 6,286
Source: 2000 United States Census

Now, taking this one further step, what about the 42nd District? How many 42nd District households lived below the poverty level in 2000?

Public Assistance - 268
SSI Recipients - 362
Source: 2000 United States Census

So what's happened since 2000? About 30,000 people have moved into NEW houses and condos in the 42nd. We found this picture of some of the housing going in at South County which must be what Del. Albo is talking about. The Board of Supervisors should be ashamed.


So how out of touch is Del. Dave Albo?

How much time do you have to talk?