TRI In The News

Fairfax Will Kill Limits on Home Assemblies

From Watchdog.org

FAIRFAX, Va. — Bowing to a public backlash, Fairfax County officials likely will kill a proposal limiting the size and number of gatherings at private residences.

“The results of the first two hearings were overwhelmingly against,” Supervisor Pat Herrity told Watchdog.org.

“I believe the board will shut it down on June 10.”

Herrity was the first to call attention to the staff-written plan that would restrict “home assemblies” to no more than 49 people. The proposal also would limit gatherings to a maximum of three in a 40-day span.

Watchdog.org’s coverage of the controversial plan garnered nearly 1,000 online comments — almost universally opposed. The story was picked up nationally.

John Whitehead, an attorney and president of the civil-libertarian Rutherford Institute, calls the Fairfax plan “nefarious.”

Opponents argued that any problems stemming from home assemblies could be addressed with existing or enhanced county ordinances covering parking, noise and regulation of commercial activity.