Holiday and Gala Gift Card Season Hugely Successful

Hey, Yupette,

Thanks for this blog. Did you know that holiday and winter gala gift card giving to local elected officials, key local government employees, and local journalists and editors is surpassing anything I've seen before at 2100 Clarendon Boulevard? Unlike the various travel and entertainment comps County Board members and other key elected officials receive gift cards are completely unreported and it appears that hundreds of high-denomination gift cards were handed out during the recent holidays and at winter galas. This in addition to the usual holiday gift card gifts to members of the local media and key decision makers in local government. The gift card gifts are purchased for cash and $100 is the usual face value. They are often re-packaged by local pols, newsies, etc., into gifts for family members. Another reason we need real ethics reform in Virginia.

2100

County Government, Media Continue to Censor Ballston Park Deal

Hello,

Because Arlington County Government and the local Media have apparently censored information about the County's purchase of Ballston Park Apartments, we obtained a copy of the staff report and are putting it on-line here. Should have been placed on the County Board's Agenda under "Additional Items" on January 28th as Item 44. Based on conversations with County Planning and Housing Staff it is unlikely that anyone working in the Ballston-Rosslyn and Glebe Road corridors and earning less than $40,000 per year would be able to afford to live at Ballston Park. However hundreds of jobs that pay less than $40,000 per year are being created within walking distance of Ballston Park. Not surprising that hundreds of parking spaces are created concomitant with every new mixed-use site plan.

Cindy

County Board Approved a Massive Amount of Parking Since 2012, More on the Way

Hi Yupette,

 Every time I see something new about the proposed Pike streetcar it gives me another reason to vote for Cord Thomas for County Board.

Here's another reason - The Arlington County Board approved a massive amount of parking together with the site plans it has approved since January 2012? How much new parking? About 3,500 parking spaces in 2012. About 7,500 parking spaces in 2013. And 960 parking spaces so far in 2014. That's almost 12,000 parking spaces in two calendar years - since January 2012.

Same two years the County Board spent about $6 million on promoting a so-called 'car free diet'. Last County Board meeting, January 28th, Chairman Fisette urged everyone to ride bicycles in the winter, after voting on January 25th for 960 new parking spaces.

So, they want to put a streetcar on Columbia Pike? About how fast do they expect it to travel? Four miles per hour? Five miles per hour? Five hundred million dollars for what? A tourist trolley.

Cord for Board !!


Beth, 22204