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Great Falls, Virginia · Community Advocacy

Your Voice for a Stronger, Better Great Falls

Citizens for Great Falls is a nonpartisan, all-volunteer organization dedicated to preserving the character, natural beauty, and quality of life in our community.

Get Involved Learn About Our Work
1
Year
Celebrating Our
First Anniversary
One year of advocacy,
community, and civic action
100%
Volunteer driven
22066
Proudly rooted in Great Falls

Happy First Anniversary, Citizens for Great Falls!

One year ago, a group of passionate neighbors came together with a shared vision — to make Great Falls an even better place to live. Thank you for your support, your voices, and your commitment to our community.

Our mission: To advocate for responsible land use, environmental stewardship, and transparent local governance — keeping Great Falls the exceptional community it is for generations to come.

What we do
Our Focus Areas

We engage on the issues that matter most to Great Falls residents.

Environmental Protection

Safeguarding the Potomac River corridor, green spaces, and natural resources that define our community.

Land Use & Planning

Monitoring development proposals and advocating for responsible zoning that reflects community values.

Civic Advocacy

Engaging county officials, attending public meetings, and amplifying resident voices on local decisions.

Transportation & Safety

Working toward safer roads, pedestrian paths, and thoughtful traffic solutions for our rural character.

Education & Schools

Supporting excellence in local education and keeping schools at the heart of the community.

Community Events

Bringing neighbors together through forums, cleanups, and events that strengthen local bonds.

News / Articles

Letter To The Editor Great Falls Connection

John Halacy | Published on 7/2/2025

Opinion: Fairfax County Shouldn’t Take Out the Trash — or Our Right to Choose

 

By John Halacy

July 1, 2025 

Fairfax County officials are promoting a policy shift towards a government-run trash collection system, the Unified Sanitation District (USD) model.  It will be discussed in a public hearing on October 14. This proposal aims to improve service, reduce carbon footprints, and achieve sustainability goals, but it raises significant concerns about consumer choice and competition.

Currently, homeowners can choose their trash hauler, allowing selection based on cost, service, or support for local businesses. The USD model threatens this flexibility and could lead to a one-size-fits-all approach. Predictions of fewer trash trucks and lower environmental impact lack solid data, and the prospect of USD could negatively affect smaller, family-run businesses.

The county claims USD could lower costs for homeowners.  But their cost comparisons with areas like Arlington and Prince William Counties and Raleigh, NC, are misleading due to the omission of tipping fees as a cost factor. For instance, Fairfax County charges $90 per ton for commercial solid waste disposal, while Arlington, Prince William, Raleigh, and others cited all charge significantly less.  We need an honest portrayal of the facts.

Centralization, a key element of USD, can increase bureaucracy, reduce efficiency, and diminish competition. The assumption that county management will yield better environmental outcomes is uncertain without rigorous measurement. A hasty move to USD could undermine local businesses and service quality.

Any significant change in services should be based on evidence, public engagement, and a recognition of the diverse needs of Fairfax County communities.

The urge to centralize services may be well-intentioned, but it ignores the everyday value that choice and competition bring to the process. The county doesn’t need a mandated monopoly and additional county fees. It needs a practical, cost-effective system that respects its residents’ right to choose, and holds all providers, public or private, to the highest standard.  Let’s not throw away what works.

John Halacy is a Fairfax County resident and President of Citizens For Great Falls, a newly formed community-based non-profit advocacy organization.

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