Rod Simmons, Alexandria's Natural Resource Manager and conservation biologist is retiring in “frustration” after 27 years over the City's efforts to silence and prevent him from doing his job.

 

 

 

 

 “Decries City’s Needlessly Destructive Environmental Policies”
 

Alexandria may call itself an “Eco-City,” but it doesn’t want to protect, preserve, and restore its natural resources when that conflicts with its development plans and the interests of developers.

As the City's Natural Resource Manager, Mr. Simmons' job is to try to protect the city’s unusually rich diversity of natural habitats and the 800 species of native plants – about half of which are in trouble here in Alexandria --and prevent the further loss and fragmentation of our town's natural heritage.

Unfortunately, his attempts to protect the city's natural resources have not always pleased the City. Just recently, Alexandria officials threatened to fire him over two minor breaches of protocol to punish him for speaking out about the potential adverse environmental impacts of several projects and to send a message that he better not do it again.

Consequently, Mr. Simmons felt he had no choice but to retire three years early over these attempts to sideline him and silence him.

Rod is the only City employee with a deep understanding of conservation biology, ecology, and native plants. He also has an encyclopedic knowledge of the city’s natural resources and has developed the city's first comprehensive natural resource management plan. He has done his best to protect the city’s threatened habitats, plants, and biodiversity for the last 27 years.

His departure means there will soon be no one with his integrity and knowledge caring for Alexandria’s natural resources and no one with his expertise to understand how city projects and plans might impact our natural resources and biodiversity. 

His departure ALSO means that the City will have an even easier time hiding or ignoring the potential environmental impacts associated with its development plans and policies.

Call to action

We believe the City Manager and Council should formally apologize to Mr. Simmons, expunge the latest reprimand from his personnel file, and compensate him for the three years of lost salary and pension benefit that he will lose because of his early departure.

We also call upon the City Council and City Manager to confirm its support for Alexandria’s natural resources by assembling a team of citizens to review its natural resource protection plans, goals, and funding. 

Sign the Petition and send a letter using the sample below, or write your own.

***NOTE: There is no need to donate to Change.org. The most important thing you can do is to share this petition with friends and family.****

Attached:

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER )Press Release​

Environmental Council of Alexandria (ECA) Press Release​

Rod’s retirement letter ​

Letter to City Manager Regarding Rod's Retirement​

Alexandria’s Natural Resources Manager ‘retires early in frustration’ after battles within city government​

Sample Letter​ 

ECA Facebook Page

 

Update: Thanks to everyone who has signed this petition for Rod. The petition and all your comments and emails to the City Manager and Council will become part of the public record and the independent investigation that will occur in the near future. We also encourage you to send in letters to the Alexandria Times (letters@alextimes.com). PEER will continue to be involved in Rod's case until justice is served.