New Column on Patch.com

As many of you know, there is a new news source for the City of Fairfax: Patch.com. This is hyper-local news, meaning that these folks cover anything and everything that matters in the City of Fairfax.

I was fortunate to be asked to write a weekly column. And today the first one was published: http://fairfaxcity.patch.com/articles/drummond-why-im-optimistic-about-living-in-fairfax-city.

I've also included it below. Let me know what you think.

Why I'm Optimistic About Living in Fairfax City

Introduction to Councilman Dan Drummond's weekly column. Email whitney@patch.com if you'd like a column of your own.

Technically, the recession has ended. That's what a group of economists say. In fact, the recession ended in June 2009. Unfortunately, you probably aren't feeling the recovery–even if you have a job, your savings are intact and your home isn't underwater.

And that's actually where most people in the Northern Virginia region find themselves. With unemployment in the Fairfax City area around 6 percent and home sales seeing an uptick, people should be more optimistic and feel a little warmth after the economic deep freeze the country has been in. My guess is that most people aren't though. People are probably still somewhat pessimistic about the country's future.

Take a look at Talking Points Memo's poll track. It shows the president with approval ratings around 45 percent and a majority of Americans feeling that the country is heading in the wrong direction. Yet, in your neighborhood–be it Green Acres, Farrcroft, Mosby Woods or Old Lee Hills–you still have your home, your job and your local government still delivers the services you expect and deserve.

Here in the City of Fairfax we have the lowest tax rate in Northern Virginia. And we have the overall lowest tax burden, too. At the same time, we deliver the highest quality services–trash and recycling pick up, nationally-recognized parks and the CUE bus system are just a few of the highlights that make the city stand out.

On top of all this, the city enjoys the highest bond ratings either Moody's or Standard & Poor's offers, which means that should we want, we can borrow money to pay for public needs at the lowest possible interest rate.

People and businesses want to invest here and have a relationship with the city. Take for instance the Sherwood Community Center. The city received a $5 million gift from the Sherwood family to build the community center at Van Dyck Park. The project is now $1 million under budget and expected to open on time in spring 2011.

Then there is the development going on in the city. We have the largest pipeline of projects in the city's history. Look around and you will see that the vision of having the right size and scale development in the city is coming to realization.

The point is this: While our country may be facing significant challenges, the City of Fairfax is faring better than most during these times when, understandably, the general mood of our fellow citizens is sour.

Could things be better here? Certainly, and the mayor and council as well as city staff continue to strive to make life better for everyone. It's certainly why I'm on council.

At the same time we need to take a step back and realize that we are quite fortunate to live where we live, hope for the best and look forward to a day when our fellow citizens will have the same sense of optimism that I have about the City of Fairfax.

About this column:Fairfax City Councilman Dan Drummond writes the weekly column "Corner Of" for Patch.com about life and workings of local government in the City of Fairfax. He and his wife, Kerry, and three children live in the Green Acres neighborhood. In addition to serving on council, Dan is the director of public relations at the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, a 501(c)(3) non-profit. Dan coaches Fairfax Little League t-ball (Go Cubs!), represents the city on the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments Board of Directors and is on the Board of Trustees for the Barter Theater, Virginia's state theater.Follow him on his blog and website at www.councilmandan.com, on Twitter (@councilmandan) and on Facebook.