Daniela Berson
WMAL.com
RESTON (WMAL) — Reston founder Bob Simon blames NIMBYs for killing progress in the area.
The 101-year-old attributes the lack of change in the community to the “Not In My Backyard” organizations, or NIMBYs. These groups often come out against the Association Board when a new public works project is proposed.
He recently told the board that it should consider majority opinion over individual residents’ complaints when adding community facilities to the town.
“Whenever a project is proposed, the people who are against it come out and are very vocal,” Simon said. “And the majority of people who are indifferent or who approve of it stay home.”
Three proposals for tennis courts and one proposal for a bocce court have been struck down in recent years.
“I tried to encourage the deciders to have discretion when it comes to when someone proposes to represent,” Simon said. “How does it relate to the majority?”
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