To the editor: Articles like the GazetteLeader’s “Equity Proposition for Parks Not a Cheap One” [Feb. 8] is why local publications are so valuable, as this is news I have not seen anywhere else.
In summary, Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is considering raising fees on “wealthy” activities and lowering or eliminating user fees on other activities to “focus on income and racial equity.” One possibility: Increase charges for golf to reduce or eliminate charges for swimming.
The Park Authority fee proposal is a local example of similar solutions nationwide addressing inequality, with similar objections raised: Raising fees based on race is viewed as, well, racist, and raising fees based on wealth is often seen as punishing financial success.
The proposal also stereotypes participants in Park Authority programs. Specifically, to the FCPA proposal: Is it equitable for a wealthy pool user, regardless of race, to have a fee waived? Is it equitable for a poor golfer, regardless of race, to pay more to golf to make pool use free?
These equity solutions cause resentment from those asked to give yet more, when the average taxpayer already is losing an average of 30 percent of their income in taxes and fees from the federal down to the local level.
HR&A Consulting, the firm hired by the county government that suggested this proposal, can’t feel that the “income and racial equality” was too critical for Fairfax County, or they would have waived their fees to help solve it. How many pool admissions would the payment to the consulting firm have covered? It’s always “someone else” who must pay more or give up something to achieve equity.
I have many relatives, friends and coworkers, for whom I have affection and respect, who disagree with me on solutions to create equality in society and would disagree on my objections to this local proposal. I think people disagree because we have different upbringings, life experiences and education, and not that one side or the other has a moral or intellectual failing.
With that in mind, I have a solution: Create a payment option where Fairfax County Park Authority users who believe income and racial equality can be solved by higher fees could themselves voluntarily pay more to fund this proposal.
In this manner, supporters of this solution could put personal sacrifice into action to back up their virtue.
John Blair, City of Fairfax
