Big Real Estate Tax Increase Next Year?

Yupette, take a look at the consent agenda items for the September 26th County Board meeting. Looks to me like the County Board will increase spending while increasing real estate taxes by 5 percent or 6 percent. Dennis

Alexandria - Green Schools, Arlington - Green Talk

Check out this link to the Alexandria Public School System's press release about the Green School Laboratory under construction at the Minnie Howard campus of TC Williams High School 1/4 mile from Arlington.

http://www.acps.k12.va.us/green/mhs.php

County Board to Convene Special Meetings, September 28th and 29th

September 28th - 7 PM
County Board Special Meeting for the Purpose of Seeking Input from the Public on the Desired Qualities for the New County Manager

Washington-Lee HS, Cafeteria-Multipurpose Room, 1301 N. Stafford Street
No Action or Other Business is Planned. The Public is Welcome and Encouraged to Attend


September 29th - 10 AM
County Board Special Meeting for a Briefing by the County Manager Regarding Economic and Budget Data

County Office Building, 2100 Clarendon Blvd., Suite 302 Room 306A
No Action or Other Business is Planned. The Public is Welcome to Attend.

Arlington County Facing $60 Million Deficit Next Fiscal Year

Meanwhile, the lovely real estate investment trusts that the lovely County Board granted hundreds of millions in "bonus density" for energy-inefficient, unaffordable, and ugly commercial buildings are flocking to have their buildings re-assessed like ducks on the Potomac at low tide.

GE Spent $750,000 on Sun Gazette Parent Bankruptcy

According to motions filed with the Federal Bankruptcy Court for the District of Wilmington, General Electric Capital Corporation, the owner of the Sun Gazette's parent corporation American Community Newspapers LLC, spent more than $750,000 in legal and consulting fees taking American Community Newspapers into bankruptcy and converting ACN LLC into a media mergers and acquisition subsidiary.

Greens Plan Lawsuit to Prevent I-66 Widening

According to informal discussions with the Arlington Green Party, several Arlington Green Party members will file a lawsuit within the next week to prevent the widening of I-66 inside Arlington County.

Planning Costs for Westover and Shirlington Libraries Exceeded Construction Costs

According to an employee in the Arlington County Manager's Office planning costs exceeded the brick-and-mortar construction costs of both the Shirlington and Westover branch libraries. Arlington voters approved an $8 million bond referendum in 1998 to construct new libraries in Westover and Shirlington. The Shirlington branch library was completed in 2006, after being delayed for several years by the Signature Theater, which shares the same building. The new Westover branch library is scheduled to open on October 31st, 11 years after voters approved its construction.

Time for Jim Moran to Retire

Guest post from Cindi, in Westover:

"It's time for Congressman Jim Moran to announce he's retiring. He's been in Congress for 19 years. He's going nowhere. The Democratic leadership will never appoint him to a major leadership position. His legislation is going nowhere, and hasn't gone anywhere for years in a Democratic Congress. He's under investigation with his good bud, John Murtha, for favors to military contractors in return for campaign cash. All Jim Moran's done for the past decade is talk...and more talk. Time for a Progressive to repreeent us in Congress what can and will get things done? I hope so."

Republicratic Leadership Furious at Anti-HOT Lanes "Obstructionists"

Leaders of both the Republican (Bob McDonnell) and Democratic (Tim Kaine) Parties are furious at Arlington and Alexandria anti-Hot Lanes "obstructionists". Both political parties were recipients of hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from the corporations that signed contracts to build and operate HOT Lanes on I-495, I-95 and I-395. Moreover, for almost 8 years Republicratic leaders have been promising outer-suburb constituencies that more lanes would be added to I-66 and I-95.

Millions Wasted on "Neighborhood Traffic Calming" in Arlington?

According to a recent review by DES, millions of dollars of physical barrier traffic calming (e.g., speed tables) was installed on Arlington streets without first evaluating neighborhood traffic control (speed limit and stop) signs.

President to Deliver 'Stay in School' Speech at Obsolete and Deteriorating Arlington High School

On September 8th President Obama will make an important "stay in school" speech at Arlington's shabby and deteriorating Wakefield High School.