The Ashburn Comeback Plan

A living plan

This plan is a living document. It changes when I hear something new at a door, when somebody shows me a fact I had wrong, and when something gets done. Every change is written down here with the date and the reason. Nothing gets quietly taken out.

Last updated October 17, 2026

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October 17, 2026 · 62 → 65 commitments
Added thirteen commitments based on what people raised at the doors, combined ones that overlapped, and spread out the timeline so it's realistic.
- Added: a count of neighbors sleeping outside (3.11), ditches that drain before the next big rain (3.12), every part of town getting its fair share (3.13), a way back for people in recovery (4.10), childcare (2.6), loose dogs and stray animals (6.5), stronger fire protection (6.6), strong leaders and staff at City Hall (7.8), telling you before your taxes go up (7.10), better jobs for people already here (8.7), finding where the internet drops off (8.8), one list of who's already helping (1.6), and a scorecard for this whole plan (1.7).
- Combined commitments that overlapped, so each one says one thing: who does what and how to get something fixed (1.1), the audits (7.3), the city money reports (7.6), help for veterans (5.1), help for older homeowners (5.5), and listening to business owners (8.2).
- Renamed "How City Hall Works" to "Running City Hall Right" so it doesn't overlap with Know Your City.
- Rewrote the water commitment (3.3) around what's driving your bill.
- Spread out the timeline: 12 commitments in the first 90 days, down from 18, with more in years two through four.
- Tightened the wording so every commitment is about the fix, and gave every commitment a date to hold me to.
- Clarified loose dogs and stray animals (6.5): the city and the Sheriff's Office both play a part, so the first step is one clear page on who to call.
Numbers that changed (23)
Was Now
1.2 1.1
1.3 1.2
1.4 1.3
1.5 7.6
1.6 1.4
1.7 1.5
3.8 8.3
3.9 3.8
3.10 3.9
3.11 3.10
5.6 5.5
5.7 5.1
7.7 7.1
7.8 7.7
7.9 7.8
7.10 7.3
7.11 7.6
7.12 7.9
8.3 8.2
8.4 8.3
8.5 8.4
8.6 8.5
8.7 8.6
October 7, 2026 · 52 → 62 commitments
Added housing, help for older homeowners and veterans, city finances, the sewer plant, and downtown money, and corrected the parks list.
- Added a plan for housing people here can afford through the state's housing program, and working with the housing authority.
- Added help for older homeowners and veterans: property tax breaks they already qualify for, home repair help, and a yearly VA visit in Ashburn.
- Added getting the city's audits current, a plain look at city finances, and asking the state how it can help.
- Added the sewer treatment plant, the city's two development authorities, and the hotel-motel tax.
- Corrected the parks list to the five city parks.
- Replaced a commitment to bring a new clinic with mobile dental and screening days and a private telehealth room, because Ashburn already has clinics.
September 2026 · 52 commitments
First published. The earliest version had 44 commitments, and it grew to 52 as people weighed in.

Was	Now
1.2	1.1
1.3	1.2
1.4	1.3
1.5	7.6
1.6	1.4
1.7	1.5
3.8	8.3
3.9	3.8
3.10	3.9
3.11	3.10
5.6	5.5
5.7	5.1
7.7	7.1
7.8	7.7
7.9	7.8
7.10	7.3
7.11	7.6
7.12	7.9
8.3	8.2
8.4	8.3
8.5	8.4
8.6	8.5
8.7	8.6

A living plan

Added thirteen commitments based on what people raised at the doors, combined ones that overlapped, and spread out the timeline so it's realistic.

Added housing, help for older homeowners and veterans, city finances, the sewer plant, and downtown money, and corrected the parks list.

First published. The earliest version had 44 commitments, and it grew to 52 as people weighed in.