Dear Page Valley News,
I have been a visitor to Luray area for the last 40 years. My family has a vacation home there. We have seen the town manage through various economic downturns and it looked like it was succeeding. We love the town and look forward to visiting it again and again.
However, in recent years, there are more Confederate flags than I ever remember seeing and that is not a welcoming sight. It basically means that many of my guests and extended family will not visit. They will not spend their vacation dollars. They will not explore the area because it seems unhospitable.
I accept that. I don’t like it, but I accept it.
What a shame for Luray though.
So, when I read of the vulgar tweet by the mayor, it made me sick to my stomach. I understand it could have been a pathetic joke and it was deleted. But there is an even worse underlying message. This says that Luray governance is hostile to women’s leadership generally and hateful to people of color specifically.
The offensive Mayor should resign immediately and anyone who agrees with him should reconsider their antiquated views.
In the future, I hope that Luray can put this appalling episode behind them and elect a Mayor who will be a force of inclusion.
Luray is a lovely town from the outside. It is up to the citizens to make it a better town from the inside.
Mr. Presgraves forfeited his authority because nobody should be expressing those views and still hold a public service job.
Luray deserves better leadership.
Kathleen Laziza
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An open letter to Luray Mayor Barry Presgraves
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