After Wasting Millions on 'Traffic Calming' County Board Returns to 'Drive 25'

Hello, Yupette,

I live in Chain Bridge Forest. Chris Zimmerman turned this community's residents against each other with his 'traffic calming' (speed tables, etc). Now that he's running for re-election and is being called "Safety Last" Zimmerman he and the County Board are reverting to the "Drive 25" signs and other persuasive methods that were used before they started wasting millions on physical barrier traffic calming. Is this a pre-election politrickster PR stunt or is Zimmerman actually becoming concerned about safety?

Sandi

Zimmerman's Clarendonification of EFC to Start in October

Having largely attained its objectives for Clarendonifying Crystal City, the Zimmerman-dominated County Board is moving on to Clarendonifying East Falls Church. Because the County Board demonstrated its total insensitivity to the upscale neighborhoods near Crystal City regarding massive redevelopment it is unlikely that the County Board will listen at all to the middle class families who live in single family homes around the EFC Metro station.

County Board Set to Approve Zimmerman's Crystal City Redevelopment

Hi Yupette,

The County Board is set to approve Zimmerman's Crystal City "development for the sake of development" sector plan, over the objections of many b3ecause of the size, increase in traffic, and lack of open space. The County Board is likely to award tens of millions in bonus density to pet developers for affordable housing that's not affordable, for green gimmicks, and for open space that's not open.

Meeting starts at 6:30 tonight.

George - Arlington Ridge

Why do Arlington's School Children Lack Access to Computers?

Hello, Yupette,

I am really concerned about Arlington's school children lacking access to computers. Here's where our tax dollars are going:

The New York Times, September 26, 2010, Page 1

U.S. Gift for Students in Iraq Offers a Primer on Corruption

By Stephen Lee Myers

"BAGHDAD -- The shipment of laptop computers that arrived in Iraq's main seaport in February was a small but important part of the American Military's mission here to win hearts and minds. What happened afterward is a tale of good intentions mugged by Iraq's reality.

The computers - 8080 in all, worth $1.8 million - were bought for children in Babil, modern day Babylon, a gift of the American taxpayers. Only they became mired for months in customs at the port, Umm Qasr, stalled by bureaucracy or venality, or some combination of the two. And then they were gone.

The laptops arrived in two shipments on Feb. 20 and Feb. 23. The original shipping documents mistakenly listed the computers' destination as Umm Qsar, not Babil, which caused confusion. By April, though, the American military had tracked them down and repeatedly tried to clear them through customs and truck them to Babil.

Then, in August, Iraqis auctioned off 4,200 of the computers - for $45,700. There whereabouts of the rest are unknown.

Prodded by the Americans and Iraqi officials in Babil, Mr. Maliki ordered an investigation buy the Commission on Integrity, a besieged independent watchdog whose investigations have led to clashed with Mr. Maliki and other senior officials.

In early September the auctioned computers were recovered, according to Iraqi officials who nevertheless declined to discuss how or where.

Still, seven months after the computers arrived< no child has used one.The recovered computers are now in possession of the Americans, awaiting the resolution of the mystery over the missing ones."



Carlin Springs Parent

Parents Tell Zimmerman: Stop Playing Games With Library Funding, Hours

Hi Yupette,

Dozens of parents attended today's County Board meeting and told Chris Zimmerman to stop playing games with library funding and hours.

According to Library Department employees Chris Zimmerman and other County Board members have systematically stripped funds from County library budgets for three years to fund the Artisphere and other County Board vanity projects.

Wakefield Parent

Drought is Killing Hundreds of Arlington's 'Street Trees"

Hi Yupette,

While the County Board debates preserving a few 'monument trees' this Saturday hundreds of street trees are dying across the County because of lack of a comprehensive drought watering program by County Government. This has been occurring every drought for over a decade, and is costing us millions to remove and replace trees killed by drought.

Terri,

22205

Latest County Board Vanity Projects - Another Huge Waste of Tax Dollars

Hi Yupette,

Has anyone seen the County Board's agenda for this Saturday's meeting. It's loaded with extravagant and unnecessary vanity projects, like $500,000 per year for the County's take over of the Pike from VDOT to expedite Zimmerman's trolley / Clarendonification of the Pike. Like $471,642 for design services to "fix" a beaver pond? Like Christmas in September for at least a dozen of the County Board's pet special interests? When will it ever end?

Joan 22207

Caution - Zimmerman and Baird May Be Hazardous to Your Child's Safety

Hi Yupette,

I am really becoming concerned about the traffic from the huge Bailey's Crossing apartment complex (across Dinwiddie Street from Wakefield HS and just inside Fairfax County). So I tried to determine what happened to the funds for traffic mitigation that were supposed to be spent before the project was completed. Well the project is completed and it turns out (from a source close to Fairfax County Supervisor Penny Gross) that VDOT is sitting on the bond funds to start the project and neither the Arlington County Board nor the School Board have done anything about it, although they have been repeatedly contacted.

How's that for taking responsibility for our kids' safety? I am sure that if a child is hit and killed by a speeding vehicle driven by a 20-something who lives in Bailey's Crossing Baird and Zimmerman will finally do something after Zimmerman tells us everything is O.K. because his kid attends Wakefield.

S. Dinwiddie

County Board to Host Community Charade Helicopter Noise Forum September 22nd

Hi Yupette,

The County Board is hosting another 'We talk, You listen' Helicopter Noise Charade on September 22nd between 7 PM and 9 PM in the County Board Room.

Susan 22206

Dominion Making Millions from Inefficient Street Lighting

Hi Yupette,

Know why we have such poor street lighting in Arlington? Because Dominion Resources is making millions from keeping the old energy-inefficient mercury vapor streets burning as long as possible. Longer mercury vapor streets burn the more energy they use the less light they produce. County Board has squandered millions of tax dollars on this and other energy wasting scams that benefit the utility companies.

Carole - 22207

Time for VA State Board of Education to Take Over Wakefield

Yupette, Wakefield H.S. is a mess and things will be worse when the new Wakefield H.S. is completed. The new Wakefield H.S. was designed by Sally Baird, Libby Garvey, Jay Fisette, Chris Zimmerman, etc., to be a recreation-entertainment 'party zone' for not only South Arlington but for adjacent neighborhoods of Alexandria and Fairfax County.

This is a school that has underperformed for decades. Typical response of the School Board and County Board was to bring President Obama to Wakefield to lecture students about taking responsibility for their education. As if 16-year olds have any control over their curriculum and learning environment We don't need any more PR from the Yuppiecrats. We need and want a school that educates our children.

Linda - 22206

SAT Scores Indicate Arlington School Board is Failing to Educate

Hello Yupette:

Thanks for the information about the unacceptable disparity between Wakefield and Yorktown SAT scores.

But even more unacceptable is the disparity between Yorktown and McLean and Yorktown and Langley high schools.

Mclean H.S. - Reading, Math Writing: 590 608 581 = 1778

Langley H.S. - Reading, Math, Writing: 602 618 592 = 1812

Yorktown H.S. - Reading, Math, Writing: 581 595 565 = 1741

Given the money Arlington spends and the similar demographics the total SAT scores for Yorktown students should be well above 1800.

Carole 22207

Wakefield - Yorktown SAT Score Spread Completely Unacceptable

Hello,

Anyone else see the 257 point SAT score spread between Wakefield and Yorktown students? This is unacceptable to me and should be unacceptable to you.

Arlington will spend almost 50% of the $1.1 billion County FY 11 revenue on our schools. It's time for a major change in the School Board, not more excuses for more of the same.

Susan

Boss Zimmerman is the Master of Metro Disaster

Hello, Yupette;


Anyone else read Friday's Post? Metro buses blowing up and more Metro Access passengers being molested by Metro Access drivers? Who to blame? Surely not Boss Zimmerman, who's been on the WMATA Board for 12 years.

Judy - 22201

Greens and Independents Force Dems to Move on Infrastructure

Great News, Yupette, Green candidate for School Board Miriam Gennari forced the Arlington School Board to save the Planetarium. And the Greens and Independents in Fairlington forced Boss Zimmerman to start tree maintenance in Fairlington before someone is killed by a falling tree or tree limb during the next big storm. Susan

Zimmerman's "Dirty Tricks" Squad Abusing Dogs

Hello Yupette:

I am totally outraged by what a fellow dog owner in Fairlington told me at the Utah Park dog exercise area. Chris Zimmerman's campaign is encouraging Democratic dog owners to bring their dogs in front of the homes of Zimmerman's "enemies" and either set the dogs against each other or kick or choke a dog until it starts barking. This happens like at 7 AM on weekends and is supposed to wake up and harass the person on Zimmerman's "enemies list" and his or her family.

Zimmerman is obviously a sicko and an abuser and should be receiving psychiatric therapy instead of being on the County Board. By the way, I am an independent voter and I do love dogs, a lot.

Muffy

Minority Groups Absent from Civfed Candidates' Forum

Hello Yupette,

I attended the CivFed candidates' forum last night and although the event was standing room only I didn't see any African Americans, Asians, or Latinos at all. Did I miss someone?

Bethany

We Endorse: The End Of Endorsements by Local Newspapers and Media

Having reviewed the Ethical Guidelines of the Society of Professional Journalists, A.Y. DEMANDS that the Sun Gazette Newspapers, Washington Post, Falls Church News-Press, and Journal Newspapers IMMEDIATELY STOP ENDORSING candidates for public office.

A.Y.

Another Campaign Season...Usual Media Shenanigans

Hello Yupette:

Another Fall campaign season is beginning. With the usual "Re-Elect All Incumbents" shenanigans by the region's media. The Post is really outrageous this year, supporting Mayor Adrian "Gentrification" Fenty to an extent that is embarrassing to honest journalists. The other local newspapers are not much better.

Kathy

Time to Sue 'Nanny Nancy' Federal Employees And Their Agencies?

Hi Yupette:

So the RePigs are all upset because a career federal employee got sued by the County Board for carrying out the Bush Administration's HOT Lanes $teal on I-395? Too bad.

I would love to see the Nanny Nancy Republicans, who micro-manage our lives from their federal offices, and their agencies sued for defamation and slander, which is what many of them do at "work" when they aren't in employee counseling sessions. And if it's not Federal employees, it's people who work for the NGOs.

Enough. Time is long overdue for federal and NGO employees to be held accountable for actions and activities performed while they are supposed to be "working".

Susan