President’s Message, February 2026

What’s a day in the life of the MCA President? People sometimes ask me if
it’s hard to be on the receiving end of gripes from the roughly 7,000 folks in
Mantua. Most are surprised to find out that MCA doesn’t field many complaints
at all. The job of President is actually one of the most rewarding opportunities
you can find in local service. Here’s why: MCA helps. When your
neighbors need assistance, MCA is often the first to provide info and aid. What that means is that almost all of
the communications that come through each day are pleasant, kind, and provide a great opportunity to support
your neighbors.
Here’s an example of a busy, but not atypical, day:
• A neighbor posts on Facebook that his vehicle was hit by a county leaf truck, and that the county
wouldn’t reimburse insurance due to “sovereign immunity.” I reach out to our contacts in the county to
appeal, and we receive a message back about a week later saying that the county’s Risk Management
Division would reverse the decision.
• A neighbor reaches out on Facebook to ask if Fairfax is seeing an uptick in ICE activity, and how
county agencies react to requests for cooperation. I reach out to the Sheriff’s office, Mason Precinct of
the FCPD, and FCPS for details. (See the item later in this newsletter.)
• A neighbor on Santayana wants to know why there are utility vehicles on the street the past few weeks.
I contact the Supervisor’s office for help identifying who it could be.
• Another neighbor on Prince William needs help with the road outside their home, since Fairfax Water
did a poor job repaving after water main work. I take pictures of the roadway and send them to
Transportation Chair Larry Good to follow up with VDOT.
• Another neighbor noticed potholes on Barkley while walking her dog, and sent along a video. I again
take pictures and send them to Larry for help.
• A nearby neighborhood reaches out to ask for advice on an insurance issue. I tell them about how MCA
has handled insurance in the past and send along the contact info for our insurance agent.
And all of that was before Mantua was covered in “snowcrete!” For more on what MCA did during the winter
storm, read on!
Want to support the work that we do during our membership drive? Renew your membership now at
Mantua.org!