Time for Arlington to Accelerate Replacement of Street Lights

While other cities around the USA are using federal stimulus funds to replace thousands of inefficient, energy-wasting incandescent street lights with energy-efficient sodium and LED street lighting, Arlington County Government is resisting citizen suggestions that the County do the same. Moreover, "community leaders" who the County Board appoints to various advisory groups, are engaging in a smear campaign against any "green" activist who calls for the County to embark on major renewable and energy efficiency programs.

A.Y. Thanks Arlington County's Trades Employees

Like other Arlingtonians, Yupette has encountered Arlington's trades employees performing their physically difficult, dirty, and often-dangerous jobs. How many times have we seen employees of Arlington's Water, Sewer, and Streets Bureau repairing water mains in the winter, covered with mud? So, thank you to Arlington's trades employees for their dedication and hard work.

County Board's 2010 Lay-Off Plan - Essential Employees Go First

According to County Staff who are preparing lay-off contingency plans for a large budget shortfall in Arlington County next year, employees who provide essential services would be the first target for lay-offs and early retirements, while County employees who are engaged in furthering the County Board's pet projects and special interests will have ample job security over the next several years.

Arlington Chamber of Commerce Sets Agenda for County Board

Recent reports about the Arlington Chamber of Commerce's Board of Directors meetings clearly indicate the the Arlington Chamber sets the agenda for the County Board. Therefore, Arlingtonians can expect I-66 to be widened and HOT lanes to be constructed on I-395. The Arlington Chamber's Board of Directors is unrepresentative of the racial, ethic, and economic diversity of Arlington County.

Alexandria DOT Hosting King Street - Route 7 Planning Charade on November 18th

On November 18th, the Alexandria Department of Transportation and Environmental Services will hold a public planning charade at Minnie Howard School, to discuss the Alexandria DOT's plans to dump massive BRAC traffic from Mark Center onto Walter Reed Drive and King Street / Route 7.

Minnie Howard School is located at 3801 West Braddock Road in Alexandria.

The planning charade will commence at 6 PM and end at 8 PM.

Arlington County has already given the green light for DOD to destroy several Arlington neighborhoods (including Claremont and Fairlington) with BRAC traffic from Mark Center, thanks to pressure from Congressman Jim Moran.

Deal In the works to build HOT lanes on I-395?

According to several sources among Arlington County staff, the County Board is working on a deal to drop its lawsuit against the HOT lanes consortium in return for a few minor concessions.

L. said...

"I think what we all should be thinking about is the disaster Arlington County will be in ten years if we keep going on in the same way."

Civic Federation Riled About New County Parking Plan

At it's November 10th meeting the Arlington Civic Federation urged the County Board to delay implementing the County's complex and confusing Parking and Curb Space Management Plan. Many in the Civic Federation are afraid that single family neighborhoods will be adversely impacted by the County's creation of new parking spaces concomitant with new residential and office building site plans.

Does the Arlington Chamber of Commerce Control Arlington?

Several Arlington residents asked A.Y. to start this thread. Your opinion, please.

Guest Thread: How Many Non-Resident Children Illegally Attend Arlington Schools?

Hi Yupette,

My kids attend Arlington schools and we live in the Westover community. Is there any good estimate of how many non-resident children attend Arlington schools illegally? That is both parents live outside Arlington.

Thanks in advance for the thread.

Kathy

Yuppiecrat + Yupublican = Yupublicrat

Hi Yupette,

I worked the polls yesterday. What Yupette blogs about one party government in Arlington is true. Based on the behavior of the people from the two major parties that were interacting with voters I would say we definitely have one-party government in Arlington - the Yupublicratic Party. Anyone have a different perspective?

Joan

Hynes Confirms $90-$100 Million Budget Shortfall Next Year, States Things Will Get Worse in 2011

In an election-eve statement to several Arlington County civic associations, Arlington County Board Member Mary Hynes confirmed that Arlington County will likely experience a $90 million to $100 million budget shortfall in 2010 and that Arlington's economy will be even worse in 2011. She also stated that Arlington County would close the budget gap of $90 to $100 million "through some combination of tax and fee increases and cuts in services." The County's current budget is about $1 billion.

McDonnell's Virginia Would Be Like Jeb Bush's Florida

Hi Yupette -

Want to see what Bob McDonnell's Virginia would be like? You only have to ask anyone who suffered from 8 years of "King Jeb" Bush's rule over Florida. How about a thread?

Don

Fisette's "Green" Buildings Are Big Energy Wasters

Hi Yupette,

I was able to track the County Board's approval process for so-called "green" buildings. In fact, Jay Fisette and the County Board allow developers to amass enough "green" credits that have nothing to do with energy efficiency via the LEED scoring system to "certify" energy in-efficient buildings (some of which are energy pigs) as "green". This has been going on for years. Jay Fisette is as green as one of the piles of coal at the Mirant (pronounced Moran) generating station, just across Four Mile Run, after a snow storm.

Joan

Arlington County Board - At Large Representation, or Legislative Districts?

Here's the thread. Yea or Nay? A.Y.