Most residents of Alexandria and Arlington do not welcome the Ted Leonsis arena to our area. But Mr. Leonsis, with his four powerful lobby shops and billions of dollars, stands to win, notwithstanding the vote in the Virginia legislature [“Va. House and Senate budget plans clash over arena, rebuke Youngkin’s tax overhaul,” Metro, Feb. 24]. Contrary to floated rumors, those of us who are opposed to the arena are not cranky old people who hate change. We are all ages, from all socio-economic backgrounds and ethnicities, who embrace development that is thoughtful, environmentally sound and visionary and that contributes to the life of the community.
This proposed arena would threaten public safety and use tax dollars to give the governor a legacy and make a billionaire ever richer. It would put us into a perpetual state of gridlock on our roads, and it would displace low-income people. What's more, these are D.C. teams. They belong in D.C. We will not insult our neighbors across the river by appropriating the teams and arena that belong to them.
The arena in Alexandria is such a terrible idea that it has done the impossible: It has brought Republicans and Democrats together with one loud voice saying: No!
Kathleen Corcoran, Alexandria
