ALEXANDRIA – Today Delegate David Englin (D-45) issued the following statement in response to yesterday’s announcement that the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality will defer a decision on the Mirant Plant’s requests to merge its smokestacks without obtainin g a new permit:

“I am grateful to everyone in our community — from activists to City officials to my fellow legislators — who worked so diligently together to persuade Governor Kaine’s office to get involved and to help us broker this delay. I’m disappointed that DEQ would even consider reversing its original position based solely on the strength of one letter from one consultant hired by the power plant. I was especially shocked that DEQ initially tried to rush through the decision for the convenience of the plant without giving our community an opportunity to examine and respond to key technical assertions. As the state government agency tasked with protecting the quality of the air we breathe, they have a duty to ask the tough questions and not just to take the analysis of a hired gun at face value. I hope DEQ will use this new opportunity to work with the community and with the state’s Air Pollution Control Board so that any permitting decision is based on the best possible science and not merely on what is economically convenient for the plant.”

Last week, the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality informed the City of Alexandria of its intent to announce Friday its decision to reverse course and approve the merger of smokestacks at the Mirant Plant, a move that ultimately would increase air pollution throughout Alexandria and the surrounding area. After a series of calls with Englin, his legislative colleagues, and City officials and activists, Governor Kaine’s office agreed to delay action until yesterday, giving City officials a chance to make their case. Based on that meeting, DEQ agreed to postpone the permitting decision to a later but undetermined date.

ALEXANDRIA – Today Delegate David Englin joined 19 other elected officials representing parts of Arlington County in issuing the following statement:

“Arlington has a strong tradition of thoughtful and respectful civic discourse. Our diverse and welcoming community has not tolerated campaign tactics that divide us by race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, religion, or other differences.”

“During his recent primary campaign, Treasurer Frank O’Leary mailed a letter with language that we are compelled to disavow. As elected officials, we have an obligation to speak out when one of us fails to meet the community’s standards. In our collective judgment, Frank O’Leary has stepped over the line.”

“It is imperative that we not use language that divides the community by race. We are disappointed that Frank did not immediately assume full responsibility and offer the community an apology. Arlington deserves and expects better.”

Englin added:

“I supported Frank O’Leary in the primary based on his superlative record as Arlington Treasurer, and I was disappointed and dismayed to learn after the fact that he had employed this racist tactic, which I of course strongly condemn.”

Englin represents the 45th District in the Virginia House of Delegates. The district includes parts of the City of Alexandria and the Mount Vernon and Lee Magisterial Districts in Fairfax County, and three precincts in south Arlington County

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David joined other members of the House Health, Welfare, and Institutions Committee in Richmond yesterday for the first of several hearings examining Virginia’s mental health care system in light of the mass shooting at Virginia Tech.

“It’s unfortunate that it has taken a tragedy like Virginia Tech to focus attention on the crisis in our mental health care system, but I’m hopeful that we can use this opportunity to come together and make real progress on improving the system during the 2008 General Assembly session,” said David.

Yesterday’s hearings included moving testimony from Joseph Samaha, whose daughter Reema Samaha was among the Virginia Tech students murdered on April 16. Other briefings from the Office of the Attorney General and the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services highlighted a number of problems with the way Virginia’s system handles individuals who pose an imminent danger to themselves or others.

During the hearing, David pointed out that authorities have not been using a standard definition of “imminent danger” and that there are no well-defined procedures for the state to enforce mandatory outpatient commitment orders.

“It’s clear that we have a lot of work to do, and I look forward to future hearings so we can try to get it right,” said David.

Future hearings will include opportunities for public comment and input. If you are interested in providing comment or attending any of the hearings, contact David at su.av.etats.esuohnull@nilgnEDleD or 703-549-3203.

David, Shayna, and Caleb joined other families yesterday at the Alexandria Black History Museum for the annual Juneteenth celebration marking the anniversary of the end of slavery in the United States.

“Juneteenth is at the same time a celebration of freedom, a reminder of how far we’ve come as a community and a country, and an opportunity to take stock and re-dedicate ourselves to working together to make real the promise of freedom for all people,” said David. “It’s an honor to serve our community in the House of Delegates and to have the opportunity to fight for the values we share.”

Juneteenth, or the “19th of June,” recognizes June 19, 1865, in Galveston, Texas, when Union General Gordon Granger announced freedom for all slaves in the Southwest, more than two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation was signed and enforced by President Abraham Lincoln. It is the oldest known celebration of the ending of slavery.

Festivities included musical performances, hands-on art and craft demonstrations, an African American merchandise market place, food vendors, and more. This was also David’s first opportunity to campaign alongside Justin Wilson, the Democratic candidate for the July 17 special election for Alexandria City Council.

Congratulations to Justin Wilson for winning the Democratic nomination for City Council today for the July 17 special election for Alexandria City Council.

“All five candidates for the Democratic nomination ran terrific campaigns that drove up turnout and helped us identify many more Democrats for next month’s special election and for the November general election,” said David. “Congratulations to Justin and his family. He can count on my full support as we look to next month’s special election.”

Another packed house of Team Englin volunteers spent Wednesday evening reaching out to voters in the 45th District and beyond, working to re-elect David this November and to build a Democratic majority in Richmond.

Tonight’s crew included special guest appearances by Democratic wunderkind Kenton Ngo and “Camp David” founder Jeff Lieberman,along with still more new volunteers, brought into the fold by David’s ongoing, year-round outreach to every corner of the 45th District.

“It’s such an honor to know that, after two and a half years of continuous volunteer nights and outreach, our grassroots army hasn’t stopped growing,” said David.

“Thanks to your hard work, I’m confident that we will win in November and that I will have more colleagues in Richmond willing to work for the common-sense, progressive policies our community deserves.”

After spending some time with the troops, David went out knocking on doors, reaching out to still more constituents and listening to their thoughts and concerns.

ALEXANDRIA – Del. David Englin (D-45) and Sen. Patsy Ticer (D-30) joined Katherine Roeder of Alexandria in Market Square today to congratulate her on being named one of eight graduate student winners of the 2007 Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Fellowship.

“Congratulations to Katherine on winning this fellowship, which will help her complete her art history dissertation,” said Englin. “Here in Alexandria, the arts are more than just an expression of our humanity — they are an integral part of our economy. Our entire community benefits from the work of Alexandrians like Katherine.”

Roeder is one of eight graduate students from around the Commonwealth to be awarded the $6,000 fellowship toward future studies in art history. A total of thirty-eight Virginia artists and art students have been awarded a total of $218,000 in fellowships this year.

“VMFA Fellowships provide essential support for artists who wish to advance their careers or further their education,” says VMFA Director Alex Nyerges.

Money for the Fellowships comes from a privately-endowed fund administered by the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. It was initiated in 1940 by John Lee Pratt of Fredericksburg. In the years since then, the fund has been supplemented by gifts from the Lettie Pate Whitehead Foundation and the J. Warwick McClintic Jr. Scholarship Fund, with additional support from the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts Foundation.

The jurors for the graduate and undergraduate awards were Katherine Huntoon, gallery director at Old Dominion University in Norfolk; Michael Preble, program director at the Peninsula Fine Arts Center in Newport News; Novie Trump, director of the Lee Arts Center in Arlington; and Maurie McInnis, associate professor of art history at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.