Zimmerman Mis-Characterizes Shirlington Re-Development

Hello,

I and other Fairlington residents were dismayed by County Board Chairman Zimmerman's mis-characterization of Shirlington redevelopment at the County Board's ceremony yesterday honoring Fairlington resident Nancy Hunt on her retirement from the Planning Commission. Ms. Hunt is also retiring from FDIC and moving from the cul de sac where she lives in Fairlington "to the country" near Charlottesville. Another prime mover in Shirlington redevelopment was former County Member Paul Ferguson, who moved on to become Clerk of the Arlington County Circuit Court. According to several Fairlington residents Mr. Ferguson "avoids visiting Shirlington".

Shirlington is a prime "dumb growth" example of how commercial areas should NOT be re-developed, according to many in the planning community, including several planning consultants who are responsible for "smarter growth" revitalization planning. There is no affordable housing in redeveloped Shirlington, there is massive parking, massive commuting by drivers of single-occupant vehicles (SOVs), no public sports, recreation, or community infrastructure, and "public space" consists of a public plaza next to restaurants and retail. The only "traffic mitigation" concomitant with Shirlington re-development was the installation of asphalt speed tables on South 31st Street between Shirlington and Fairlington, which are crumbling because of increased SOV traffic.

As has been mentioned before, in this blog and elsewhere, Chris Zimmerman is all for massive "dumb growth" redevelopment, as long as that doesn't include the wilderness area across the street from his home in Douglas Park.

Susan, Fairlington

Homeless Facility to Be Included in County Board Mega-Deal for Courthouse Plaza

Hello Yupette,

So, people think County Board decided to build a year-around homelessness treatment and prevention facility in a building the County wants to acquire at 2020 North 14th Street?

Wrong. The County Board wants to make a new homelessness prevention and treatment facility a minor part of a mega-deal for the massive redevelopment of older buildings around Courthouse Plaza and the parking lot between Courthouse Plaza and Courthouse Road (which the County owns). Another Shirlington. Another live theater. Hundreds more units of unaffordable housing. Big underground garages. Cost to the taxpayers? At least $150 million.

Big beneficiary in the short term will be a foreign REIT, Brookfield Asset Management, which will reportedly sell 2020 North 14th Street to the County for close to $30 million. Building is worth maybe $17 million. County Board will also tear down the County-owned Court Square West office building on North Uhle Street and move County employees to a renovated 2020 N. 14th Street. Most of that building's current small business tenants will be forced to relocate. But, unlike working class minorities who live along the Pike, the County Board will give tenants of the North 14th Street building a generous relocation allowance.

As for the homeless, it will be years before they see any benefits from the County Board's wheeling and dealing. And, as usual, Barbara Donnellan and other non-residents in the County Manager's office were and are the key players in the corporate welfare deal making.

2100

Euille, Wash Post Company, Chamber of Commerce, Local Media Push Alexandria Mega-Development

Hello, Yupette,

Latest news from Alexandria is the Mayor-Developer Bill Euille, the Washington Post Company, the local media (Alexandria Times, Gazette-Packet), and the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce are pushing for massive redevelopment of Alexandria's waterfront over the increasingly vocal objections of the Citizens for An Alternative Alexandria (CAAW). Battle is between pro-megadevelopment corporations like the Post Company and citizens who are looking to keep Old Town Alexandria a liveable community (waterfront parks, museums, citizen access to the Po5omac River). The Post Company is pushing for megadevelopment to compensate for lagging revenue from its media operations. Local weekly newspapers, like the Times and Gazette-Packet, are recovering from years of depressed advertising revenues and concur with the Post. As usual, there is no philanthropy or any sense of noblesse oblige evidenced by any of the corporate waterfront property owners.

Alex.

House SuperCommittee Impasse Mandates A Fiscally Responsible Arlington County Board

Hello, Yupette,

Looks like the Repubs and Dems are at an impasse about Federal spending over the next five years. So, if GS salaries are going to be frozen and federal spending around the Beltway is going to be drastically cut, why are Arlington residents still supporting the profligate tax-and-spend agenda of Chris Zimmerman and the Arlington County Board? And, why support the welfare-for-the-wealthy Arlington County Republican agenda, which includes unlimited tax dollars for warfighting in third world ratholes?

Only County Board candidate who cares about us - residents, voters, and taxpayers - is Audrey Clement. That's why I'm voting for her again next year for County Board.

Joan - 22207

Developers to Dictate Crystal City Mega-Development

Hello Yupette,

Out-of-state developers (e.g., Vornado) and their out-of-state law firms (e.g., Venable) got together with non-resident County Staff (e.g., CPHD Director Robert Brosnan) to re-codify the Crystal City zoning ordinance amendments to provide for block-by-block redevelopment of Crystal City, rather than through a previously agreed upon phased development site plan. Maximum density will vary from block to block, with no maximum density established by the County Board. This Christmas gift for Vornado is going to the Planning Commission on November 28th and to the County Board on December 10th for rubber-stamp approval. Check out agenda Item 38 on the County Bord's November 19th agenda, including a video discussion via the County's Web site.

BTW, no one from Crystal City, Aurora Hills, or Arlington Ridge bothered to show up on Saturday when this item was discussed by the County Board.

2100

Arlington Homeowners to be Hit With Big Tax Hike Next Year

Hi, Yupette,

Here's a heads up from 2100 Clarendon Blvd. Arlington homeowners are going to be hit with a big tax hike next year to pay for the County Board's pet projects and for educating an increased school-age population caused by the County Board's mega-development agenda. County Board is alredy orchestrating 'don't worry, be happy' budget charades. See you there....

2100

Survey Indicates 8th District Voters Want 'Generational Change'

Hello,

A.Y. has obtained the results of a recent telephone survey of Eighth Congressional District voters. Former congressional candidate Jim Hurysz paid for the survey, which obtained responses from 500 randomly-selected voters from across the 8th CD.

What do 8th CD voters want in their next Congressman or Congresswoman? They want a person in his / her early 40's, who is moderate-to-progressive, and who will work to solve outstanding problems. They do not want a person who's been a long-term incumbent on a board of supervisors or in the General Assembly and who's supported the status quo.

So, the voters don't want another Jim Moran or a Patrick Murray. They want a young and energetic person representing them in Congress who will get things done.

Susan

'Sorry Your Candidate Lost...'

Hello, Yupette,

Sorry the candidate you endorsed lost. Audrey Clement was and is the best candidate. I understand she may run again in a special election for County Board. She did well for someone who was only able to spend, what, $8,000? That's less than 10% of the contributions Hynes and Tejada received.

A big reason Audrey lost is the media. The Post's Editorial Board only wants to relate to the region's mover's and shakers. Check out their bios. They live in Maryland and DC. They don't want to relate to anyone who isn't upscale and trendy. They will never have positive things to say about a candidate who would question the Washington Post Company's inside the beltway development deals.

As for the local media, you have a yellow dog Democrat publishing the Falls Church News Press. And the Sun Gazette? When a newspaper's ad sales person approaches a campaign at a public event and demands the campaign make a big ad purchase in return for positive campaign coverage, that tells me that 'journalistic ethics' is dead at the weekly newspapers.

Finally, if the voters want mega-infill redevelopment, they will suffer the consequences --- sooner than they think.

Thanks to Audrey Clement for running for County Board.

Kathy - 22203

Audrey Clement for Arlington County Board

Hello,

We carefully evaluated the three candidates for Arlington County Board for several months. We attended debates and forums, viewed County Board meetings, and watched the three candidates interact with voters. Arlington Yupette does not accept advertising. We do not have any connection to local businesses, corporations, non-profits, or lobbying groups (e.g., Arlington Chamber of Commerce).

We endorse Audrey Clement for Arlington County Board. She has proven herself to be by far the best candidate.

Moreover, we urge voters to vote for Audrey Clement and only for Audrey Clement on Tuesday. We simply cannot afford four more years of helter-skelter mega-development, planned in secret by the County Board's crony capitalists, that ignores the costs and effects of vastly increased density on taxpayers, schools, transportation, housing, and the environment. Nor can we afford four more years of expensive wants funded before basic needs. Both Mary Hynes and Walter Tejada used increasingly disingenuous statements and platitudes about housing, transportation, and education needs as the campaign progressed. They cannot be trusted to protect and preserve, let alone improve, Arlington's suburban quality of life.

As for the claim that Audrey Clement is 'too negative' one only needs to examine her platform. What's 'negative' about retrofitting renewable energy to older schools? It's done all the time...in Alexandria.

The endorsement of County Board incumbents Hynes and Tejada by the Washington Post and Sun Gazette should be discounted. Both newspapers are riddled with corporate and editorial conflicts of interest.

The choice for County Board is clear, four more years of the same or a turn towards fiscal, social, and environmental responsibility. Therefore, we endorse Audrey Clement for Arlington County Board.

Cindy and Susan

Post Editor Rants at Clement for Being 'Anti-Growth'

Hey, Yupette,

Think Patricia Sullivan's article in yesterday's Post Metro section was biased towards the County Board incumbents running for re-election? Post Editor Lee Hockstader, who's on the Post's Editorial Board, ranted for fifteen minutes at County Board candidate Audrey Clement last night for being "anti-growth."

Hockstader would not let Audrey explain she's not anti-growth but wants the County Board to carefully evaluate the potential effects of future mega-development on neighborhoods like Crystal City before actual planning begins.

The Washington Post Company has generated considerable anger among Alexandria residents who recently learned that the Post engaged in secret negotiations with the City of Alexandria over mega-development of its warehouse properties on the Alexandria waterfront.

Appears that the Post's Editorial Board had its mind made up long ago about any political candidate who, for any reason, opposes unrestricted high density growth inside the Beltway.

15th Street

Washington Post Should Not Endorse Anyone for County Board

Hello, Yupette,

After reading Post Staff Writer Patricia Sullivan's article in Sunday's Post Metro Section regarding redevelopment of the Alexandria waterfront, I am appalled that the Post is endorsing local candidates where development and redevelopment are major issues.

The Washington Post Corporation owns several large warehouses on the Alexandria waterfront, which it wants to massively redevelop. The Post also supported the massive gentrification of Washington D.C. by Adrian Fenty and has been waging an editorial jihad against Fenty's successor as Mayor, Vincent Gray.

Patricia Sullivan recently interviewed Audrey Clement, Mary Hynes, and Walter Tejada in preparation for the Post's endorsement later this week. According to sources within the three candidates' campaigns, Sullivan's interviews of Hynes and Tejada were cordial and friendly, but Sullivan treated Audrey Clement like a nuisance. This, apparently, is in accordance to the Post's news and editorial policy regarding third party and independent candidates in Northern Virginia.

If you feel, as I do, that the Post should not endorse County Board candidates, given the Post's conflicts of interest regarding redevelopment, you can send an e-mail to the Washington Post Company's CEO, Donald Graham, at grahamd at washpost dot com.

Julie
South Arlington