"Share the Road" With Fisette's "Smart Growth" Bicycle Bozos? No Way!

Hello, Ms. Yupette:

It's been a worse than average Winter. But the worst part of driving is encountering the people who Jay Fisette encourages to ride bicycles in all kinds of weather dressed in black and riding bicycles with no reflectors or headlights at night.

I am not about to "Share the Road" with Jay Fisette's Bicycle Bozos. When I see one of Jay's fellow bicycle fanatics doing something illegal and stupid I flash my headlights and hit the horn button. You should too.

Margaret - 22201

Snow Removal is Unacceptable

Hello, Yupette,

I live near Marymount University and snow removal is unacceptable again this year. My street (which has no parked vehicles) had one lane plowed down the middle of the street. Several dead end streets and cul de sacs weren't plowed at all. What a terrible job of snow removal. Why do we put up with this, year after year?

Joan 22207

Arlington Chamber, Local Media, Will Endorse Hynes and Tejada

HI Yupette,

Like many small buinesspersons I'm not a fan of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce which supposedly represents small business but actually doesn't. Unlike the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Arlington Chamber is also anti-minority owned business and anti-renewable energy. The Arlington Chamber's office staff are cheerleaders for the Big Business members. From what I hear in the business community look for the Arlington Chamber to endorse and support Mary Hynes and Walter Tejada for re-election. Mary and Walter support the Arlington Chamber's neo-con Big Business agenda, and make it a priority to attend Arlington Chamber functions. Look for the Post, Sun-Gazette, Examiner, etc. to endorse Hynes and Tejada. The local media are increasingly attuned to the Big Business agenda of non governmental organizations like the Arlington Chamber. The Arlington Sun Gazette has become a propaganda outlet for the Arlington Chamber via it's Editor (and Arlington Chamber Executive Committee member) Scott McCaffrey. No wonder Arlington Republicans run such mediocre campaigns. Why vote for a neo-conservative when you can re-elect an nice Republican incumbent?

Ted - 22205

County Spending Mega-Millions on Out-of-State Mega-Deal Facilitators

Hello, Yupette,

Do you know how much Boss Zimmerman and the County Board are spending on out-of-state planning facilitators for mega-deals like Crystal City, East Falls Church, and the total gentrification of Columbia Pike? According to a planning staffer, at least $10 million per year. So, if you wondered why library hours that were cut because of 'budget constraints' can't be restored, the County Board's insatiable desire to totally urbanize Arlington via mega-development deals and gifts to pet consultants, facilitators, and design charade hosts is one big reason.

Larry - 22204

School Board Chair Libby "Politics First" Garvey to Run for VA Senate

Hi Yupette,

Appears that Arlington School Board Chair Libby "Politics First" Garvey will officially enter the Democratic race to succeed Senator Patsy Ticer. As you may remember Libby was largely responsible for the deterioration of South Arlington schools before SOLs and No Child Left Behind were enacted. Her defense of the deplorable state of Wakefield High School has amounted to a big yawn and a "So What?". We need Libby Garvey in the Virginia Senate like we need Zimmerman's trolley on the Pike.

Wakefield Parent

School Board Majority Signs on to Zimmerman's Massive Pike Gentrification

Hi Yupette,

In the event you wondered who else supports Zimmerman's massive Pike gentrification besides the Arlington Democratic Party, Republican Party, and Chamber of Commerce, a majority of the Arlington School Board has also signed on. Massive resegregation through gentrification is the easiest way for the Arlington School System to rid itself of low performing poor and ESL students and boost test scores. The School Board majority concluded that poor and ESL parents will never have the time and disposable income for their children to succeed in Arlington's increasingly elitist school system and the best solution is to remove 'nonconforming' students from the school system altogether.

PTA Parent

Massive Pike Corridor Gentrification + HOT Lanes Litigation =

Hello, Yupette,

Can someone please answer the following question? Why is the County Board continuing its HOT Lanes litigation against VDOT when Zimmerman is going to gentrify out 20,000 low and moderate wage workers who live in South Arlington to Prince William, Spotsylvania, Caroline, and other counties south of Arlington?

Cindy

Zimmerman Kicks off Massive Pike 'Resegregation Through Gentrification' Campaign

Hey, Yupette,

After awarding another pet developer with mega millions in bonus density for yuppifying Ashton Heights, Chris Zimmerman proceeded to the Arlington County Trades Center to supervise the real business of the day - the meeting of the Plenary Committee charged with the total (and I mean TOTAL) gentrification through re-segregation of the Pike. Who are the members of the Zimmerman-appointed Plenary Committee? His typical Democratic ward heelers, most of whom live nowhere near the Pike. Zimmy also brought in the usual out of state developers and planners and County Staff who don't live in the County helped coordinate the event. As for the Latinos who live on the Pike, they were not invited.

Yupette, what is really scary is that Chris Zimmerman has become such a megalomaniacal nut case about driving the Latinos out of Arlington that he even wants to force the families who've owned rental real estate along to Pike for decades to sell out for redevelopment. And he's had Arlington Economic Development figuring out how he can force them to do that.

What's Zimmy after? Turning the Pike into a yupscale canyon of ugly postmodernist buildings, populated by yupscale renters and condo owners with trendy retail and 300 vehicle parking garages beneath the buildings. And a $200 million trolley system blocking rush hour traffic on the Pike. Duh.

Barcrofter

Not Upscale? Don't Apply to Serve on an Advisory Commission

Hello Yupette,

I noticed while walking past the glass paneled meeting rooms at the County office building that everyone who attends the advisory commission meetings seems to be upscale and white (once in awhile there's an African American or Latino in a meeting). Well it's true. If you aren't upscale you are not going to be selected to serve on an advisory commission - especially the planning, transportation, and housing commissions. One of the County Staff who coordinates the meetings told me that if you don't have a position that pays at least $100,000 a year and don't support the status quo you should not think of even applying to serve on an advisory commission.

Karen S. 22201

County Board Heavily Influenced by Bushpublican Chamber of Commerce

Hi Yupette,

As long as you're enlightening us about Scott McCaffrey's major conflict of interest with the Arlington Chamber, how about the County Board's own dealings with the Bushpublicans who run the Arlington Chamber? Except for Chris Zimmerman, the County Board was "comped" by the Chamber for attending multiple Chamber events last year.

The Arlington Chamber is way to the right of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The U.S. Chamber endorses on-site renewable energy while the Arlington Chamber opposes that. So why am I not surprised that the County Board isn't pushing to have solar water heating panels installed on all County buildings, something that would pay for itself within 6 years? Anyone else wonder how "Democratic" the Arlington Democrats who make all the political decisions in this county really are?

H.T.

Fisette's Neighbors Object to Founders Square Deal with County Board Pet Developer

Hello Yupette,

I live in Ashton Heights and we are already concerned about the amount of traffic to be generated by Founders Square redevelopment. Now the County Board wants to grant even more bonus density to its pet developer in return for $6.5 million in improvements to Mosaic Park. This is another transfer of development rights charade whereby the County Board rewards a pet developer with big bonus density derived from keeping public parkland public parkland with "improvements" (lighted playing fields). Of course the primary users of the improved Mosaic Park will be the residents of the Founders Square redevelopment. Even Jay Fisette's friends and neighbors in the Ashton Hts. Civic Association are concerned about our historic neighborhood being overwhelmed by traffic. This will be agenda item #25 on Saturdays' County Board meeting agenda.

G.L. - Ashton Hts

Greens Will Ask for a Total Ban on Single Use Plastic Bags

Hey, Yupette,

Just heard that the Arlington Greens will ask for a total ban on single use plastic (supermarket) bags at Saturday's County Board meeting. They think that the County Board has the authority to ban single use plastic under the authority grated to the County Board by the Commonwealth's solid waste disposal statutes.

Later,

Jeremy

2011 Statements of Economic Interest are Available

Hi Yupette,

Annual Statements of Economic Interest, Disclosure of Real Estate Holdings, and Financial Disclosure Statements for 2011 are now available for Virginia's elected and appointed officials. For information about disclosure statements that were required to be filed by Arlington's elected and appointed officials (like planning commission members) by January 15th, call the County Manager's Office (703-228-3110). You have to file a freedom of information act request to see them.

2100

Achtung, Ost Wasserfall Kirch Behohemer !!!

(English Translation)

Attention East Falls Church Residents,

On Tuesday, January 18, 2011, the Arlington County Board of Reitsministers will commence an attack on Communist Elements and Partisans who oppose the redevelopment of the Ost Wasserfall Kirch (East Falls Church) area. The attack will be ccordinated by SS Obergroup Commandant Nancy Von Hunt, Commander of the successful battle against the Shirlington Communist and Partisan resistance against REIT FRIT.

RESISTANCE IS FUTILE !!! You must conform to the orders of the lawfully constituted REIT that will control your Ost Wasserfall Kirch community. Resistors will be apprehended by the Arlington SS Polezi and treated in the same manner the SS Polizei treats homeless persons.

By order of:

Kristof Von Zimmerman
Reitsfuhrer and Reitsminister of Transportation

Favola, Donellan, Walsh,Colucci Twisting Community Leaders Arms Over Marymount-O'Connell Deal

Hi Yupette,

FYI, Marymount's Chief Lobbyist Barbara Favola (who reportedly lives in Lyon Village) and non-County resident County Manager Barbara Donnellan are busy twisting arms of EFC and Williamsburg "Community Leaders" to get them to agree to a deal whereby they allow our residential neighborhood to be destroyed by traffic and noise from the proposed Marymount-O'Connell Sports Complex. This is similar to what they did to the neighborhoods around Crystal City last year to get the "Community Leaders" to sign on to the REITs' redevelopment of Crystal City. The activity is being facilitated by the Walsh,Colucci law firm, whose managing partners, Martin and Nan Walsh, live in McLean, and were responsible for the ongoing Federal Realty-Shirlington traffic and parking fiasco. It appears that this item will be deferred until March (it's up for discussion at Saturday's County Board meeting).

It's obvious to me that the Arlington County Board could care less about the right of EFC and Williamsburg residents to have peace an quiet in their homes and neighborhoods, and is only interested in another deal for another special interest group. Of course, as usual, they will not suffer the consequences of their actions. Barbara Favola spent millions of dollars of scarce tax dollars moving DHS headquarters out of her neighborhood so she would not have poor people in her neighborhood.

Mike - East Falls Church

Assessments Are Posted...Zimmy's Home Under Assessed Again

Hey, Yupette,

Real estate assessments for 2011 were posted today (Sorry, Scotty, Yupette scooped ya again). What is my tiny 1500 sq foot condo assessed for - $420,000. What is Chairman Zimmerman's nice big single family home in Douglas Park assessed for - $516,800. Zimmy does it yet again. Hey, also looks like the Assessor screwed up and raised Barbara Favola's home assessment. How did that happen?

fairgrrl

EFC Residents - Back to the Drawing Board

Hello Yupette,

I am a very angry EFC homeowner of a single-family home and I will not go along with Zimmerman and his sleazy Planning Commissioner Nancy Hunt and the lawyers, Reits, and County Staffers, Chamber of Commerce Enablers like McCaffrey, and so-called Community Leaders, like Mike Nardolilly, (many, if not most of these people don't even live in Arlington County) trying to impose another Shirlington on my neighborhood.

What we want is to replace old buildings with new buildings that preserve the residential character of East Falls Church. Is that too much to ask? Only if you are part of an out-of-control County Government that counts one of its economic development "successes" requiring Trader Joes to only pay $500,000 in graft to open a new store in Clarendon.

PLEASE, EFC Homeowners, attend the so-called EFC "Planning" Meeting next Tuesday and prevent our community from being destroyed by Zimmerman and his lackeys in County Government who are enabling the REITs to take over Arlington, neighborhood by neighborhood.

Kim - EFC

EFC Residents Have the Right to Tranquility in Our Homes

Hello, Ms. Yupette,

Did you know that the Code of Virginia affords Virginians the absolute right to tranquility in our homes? It's in the Code of Virginia, Sections 18.2-418 and 18.2-419. Pretty specific that a group can't assemble near our homes and make a lot of noise. So why is Barbara Favola allowing this to happen in our Tuckahoe neighborhood to benefit her employer, Marymount University? She was elected to enforce the laws of Virginia, not the wants of her employer, for whom she is Chief Lobbyist.

Tuckahoe ES Parent

"We Are Only Following Orders"

Hello, Yupette,

I called a person on Arlington's Planning Staff last week and talked with him about the EFC - Westover - Williamsburg give-way to Marymount and Bishop O'Connell HS. He was sympathetic (actually even lives in Arlington) but stated at the end of our conversation: "You have to understand. We are only following the County Board's orders. If you want to have any recourse about this project you should talk with Barbara Favola".

Dennis - EFC

Citizens Demand McCaffrey Resign from Arlington Chamber's BOD

Hello, Yupette,

Like many other Arlington residents, I was shaken by the letter that appeared on this week's Arlington Sun Gazette opinion pages. Obviously, Sun Gazette Editor Scott McCaffrey has a massive conflict of interest between being Managing Editor of the SG and his position on the Executive Committee of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce.

Scott has ignored any criticism about this matter and the only response he's published on his blog stated that the SG is "not a reputable newspaper" but a real estate supplement with Scott's news and views attached.

You sure could have fooled me, and I'm a former Civic Federation Delegate. The CivFed and all the political candidates have taken Scott and his civic news and political endorsements very seriously over the years.

It is time for Mr. McCaffrey to immediately resign from the Arlington Chamber's Board of Directors. Moreover, if the Sun Gazette's parent corporation, American Community Newspapers, had any pretense of actually being "for the community" it would have not allowed Mr. McCaffrey to pursue his real estate and chamber of commerce interests against the community's interests, and would have brought in a new Managing Editor for the Sun Gazette when American Community Newspapers shed it's irresponsible managers and emerged from bankruptcy last year.

Westover Resident

I'm Gay...And I Don't Like Jay

Hello Ms. Yupette,

I have to ask the question after living here five years. What is Arlington to the gay men and lesbians who (by all indications) are the critical decision makers - Neverland on the Potomac?

I am sick and tired of seeing a sexual identity become a lifestyle, a cult, a religion, a religious cult.

Why do I have to conform to whatever Jay Fisette and the people around him decide is in my best interests? Wasn't he elected to serve everyone's interests, Democrat, Republican, gay, not gay, whatever?

Thanks for this blog.

Donald

Thumbs Down to Sun Gazette for Promoting O'Leary's Environmentally Destructive Car Tax Decal Program

Hello Yupette,

I am just amazed that the County Board and the local media, specifically the Arlington Sun Gazette, would endorse County Treasurer Frank O'Leary's car tax decal program. This program unnecessarily generates at least 10 tons of plastic and paper waste every year. I have to believe that Jay Fisette's citizens environmental committee is another County Board charade for allowing this kind of environmental damage to continue. Where are the Republican and Green parties? The Arlington Green Party is keen to keep plastic out of the environment. The Republican Party is always complaining about wasted tax dollars. I guess they must be sitting around watching the NFL playoffs together and carping about County Government during commercials.

Joan22207

Should 'Kris Von Zimmerman' be the Next Colonel Klink?

Now that Chris Zimmerman aka 'Kris Von Zimmerman' has resigned from the WMATA Board of Directors he has all kinds of time to 'pursue other activities". I and others who live on Columbia Pike believe Chris would be better suited to be the next Colonel Klink in a "Hogan's Heroes" remake than the Reitsfuhrer of Transportation in Arlington County. We also think that "Gourmet Jay" Fisette would make a great Colonel Hogan. Thanks for posting this on the AY blog.

Pikester

Time to Sue the REITs, County Government, Law Firms, "Community Leaders" for Destroying Neighborhoods

Hello, Yupette,

I just saw the latest so-called "planning" that County Planning Staff (and they don't live in Arlington) proposes to inflict on East Falls Church. Another Shirlington. Just as former County Manager Mike Brown predicted. Another "plaza" that will serve as a "gathering place" for the thousands of new EFC in-fill residents who will overwhelm our schools, playgrounds, parks, and streets. No new open space for parks. The Marymount-O'Connell steal is a harbinger of the gradual destruction of EFC and Williamsburg by the County Board and the REITs, led by "Reitsfuhrer" Zimmerman.

Time to sue the REITs, County Goverment, Attorneys representing the REITs, and County Board-appointed so-called "Community Leaders" for aiding and abetting the destruction of our quiet suburban neighborhoods.

What the hell are we, anyway? Suburban neighborhoods or "mega-infill development opportunities" for out-of-state REITS? Who do Zimmerman and the County Board actually represent? Not us, obviously.

EFC Homeowner

Arlington is Anti Knowledge, Learning, Science

Hello Yupette,

I am appalled by the lack of interest in renovating the Planetarium. Planetary Science has become a hot field at NASA over the past 15 years. Isn't the First Lady of Arlington, Mrs. Zimmerman, employed by NASA? You would think that NASA headquarters employees who live in Arlington would be delighted to take the lead in renovating the Planetarium.

But it's not just the Planetarium. Arlington County Government is anti-knowledge and anti-learning. There is always plenty of money for sports and recreation, but branch library hours are cut back and branch libraries are constantly threatened with closure. Moreover, about 80% of what's on branch library shelves is fiction.

There is little or no discussion about what's happening elsewhere - whether it's on-site solar or MAGLEV trains. Arlington is a knowledge and learning backwater. Anyone else notice that we seem to be stuck in 1985?

Kristine - 22206

Zimmerman to Raise Taxes and Fees on Business Again in 2011

Hi Yupette,

Whatever "Reitsfuhrer" Zimmerman says about being "friendly" to businesses fact is he and the County Board are getting ready to raise fees and taxes again to pay for their extravagant projects and give-aways to their pet special interests. Zimmerman's charade about being "business friendly" is just a ploy to keep tapped-out small companies like mine from moving to a business-friendly location. Shame on the so-called Chamber of Commerce and its media shills (you know who you are, Scotty) for going along.

Kenneth

Favola Lobbying for Marymount-O'Connell, Ignores EFC-Williamsburg Neighborhood

Hello, Yupette,

I was very unhappy to learn last night that Barbara Favola is doing everything possible to get our neighborhoods to go along with her employer, Marymount University's, efforts to destroy my neighborhood (I live close to Bishop O'Connell High School) with team sports played until 11 PM on lighted fields at Bishop O'Connell. Barbara is reportedly being paid $100,000 per year by Marymount to be it's chief lobbyist and is constantly on the telephone and in meetings either at Marymount or at the County Board offices with Walsh-Colucci, which represents Marymount, or with EFC and Williamsburg "community leaders". Only time Barbara is ever seen in my neighborhood is when she's running for re-election and she's looking for votes.

We are not Longbridge Park (where Barbara also made a deal with the County to benefit Marymount). We are a residential neighborhood and want to remain one. If Barbara wants to be a full-time lobbyist for Marymount it's time for her to resign from the County Board.

Mark - Tuckahoe

Zimmerman Likes Arlington Business Like Foxes Like Chickens

I'm a small 'boutique' business person in Ballston. Whatever Mr. Zimmerman says about making Arlington more conducive to small business, fact is that he and the County Board have as much sympathy for the problems of small business as foxes have for chickens. This is the same Chris Zimmerman who imposed a business improvement district on us in Ballston at the last County Board meeting.

Worst is the Chamber of Commerce that goes along with raptors like Zimmerman, Tejada, Hynes, Favola, and Fisette. Even worse are worthless so-called Chamber of Commerce boosters like McCafftonelli whose blurbs in support of Reitminister Zimmerman read like something out of a cheap detective novel.

All they want is more business taxes for their unnecessary and extravagant mega-projects. And giving corporate welfare to the sleazy weasels who run the out-of-state REITs.

T.Y. - 22201

Zimmerman's 'Priorities' for 2011 - Massive Megalomaniacal Spending

Hello, Yupette,

Anyone listen closely to Chris Zimmerman's list of "priorities" he stated he wants to accomplish over the next 12 months during his County Board speech today? The f-ing guy is a megalomaniac. He wants to spend approximately $2 billion during the next year, largely on his vanity projects like the stupid trolleys for the Pike and Crystal City. Also, every other vanity project he and the other County Board members and County Staff and the Special Interests can dream up. Where's he going to get the money? From Jim Moran, who will be sitting on a back bench and told to shut the f-- up by the Tea Partiers whenever he gets up to ask for more earmarks for this wealthy congressional district? I don't think so!

Jeff

Too Many Important Decisions Are Made by Non-Residents

Hello Yupette,

Thanks for this blog.

I live near Crystal City. As the result of our treatment by Arlington County during Crystal City "re-development" I would like to bring up an issue that deeply concerns me and others in my community - the extent to which people who don't live in Arlington make important planning and other decisions.

I was surprised to learn that County Manager, and long-time County employee, Barbara Donnellan, does not live in Arlington. Perhaps 80% of the people who make important planning, transportation, housing, education, public safety, recreation, and other decisions don't live here, pay taxes here, vote here (some get to send their kids to Arlington schools illegally but that's another topic).

Do you realize that when many important decisions are made by the County Board the only people doing the talking at County Board meetings who are Arlington residents are the five County Board members?

Regarding Crystal City, when this item came to the County Board the beneficiaries of the County Board's decisions were: an out-of-state REIT, its out-of-state law firm, and the county staff who don't live in Arlington, whose jobs depend on putting together these kinds of "deals". Oh, by the way, I understand the County Attorney who signs off on these deals is not an Arlington resident, nor is the County Board clerk who arranges all the meetings between the developers and County Board.

What are Arlington residents anyway? A bunch of fools who pay so others can play, and get rich at our expense.

Cathy