Another week, another done deal made at 2100 Clarendon Boulevard. This time it's the cross-Potomac gondola, projected cost has increased from $40 million to $90 million in only a few short months. Promoted by DC Government Lobbyist Carol Mitten and DC Guru for Economic Development Victor Hoskins (who began planning a cross-Potomac gondola years ago when he was officially employed by DC). To benefit the stagnant Georgetown Business District.
Meanwhile, back in Arlington, more than 3,000 public school students attend class in trailers and the number is steadily increasing. Hoskings and Mitten (who are long-time DC residents) are largely responsible for inflating Arlington's economic bubble, based on low wage service jobs and tech companies that will move away when their corporate welfare stipend from the County expires, or fail during the next economic recession.
Same Victor Hoskins who made extravagant promises about significantly reducing the County's office vacancy rate, which is going to increase according to his latest projections.
Needs, not wants, should drive Arlington County Government. We don't need to be paying $450,000 to a couple of DC residents who are unofficially working for DC.
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20 comments:
Time for Carol and Victor to resign from Arlington Government and go where they are desperately needed - Baltimore.
I'm airsick just from looking at the gondola photo. Yes, Baltimore badly needs Carol and Victor.
You mean Guru of Gridlock Victor Hoskins and former Mayor of DuPont Circle Carol Mitten-Mendelson?
So where is the money going to come from for this gift to DC? From Arlington's sheeple taxpayers, of course.
Show a video of what happens when the wind gusts to 30 mph down the Potomac.
Victor Hoskins was hired after he promised to significantly reduce the County's commercial office space vacancy rate. That hasn't happened.
Rosslyn BID and Geirgetown BID held their joint Gondola 'feasibility' meeting tonight in Georgetown. Audrey Clement attended. Libby Garvey did not. Clement's campaign staff passed out campaign literature. Gondola boosters would not say who will pay for the construction, operation, and maintainence of the Gondola. Looked to me like the same type of chamber of commerce boosters who wanted a major league baseball stadium in Pentagon City and a streetcar system on the Pike. Costs to be paid for by the sheeple taxpayers.
Right. And the Rosslyn and Georgetown BID Gondola promoters want the Gondola towers to be 'invisible'. Try to obtain FAA approval for that.
Gondola promoters expect the entire Gondola system to cost $90 million, but the Taj Mahal Rosslyn Gondola Station will cost at least $50 million. Duh.
Another fiscally irresponsible "done deal" from Libby Garvey at a time when County Government will run a capital improvement deficit of at least $200 million for APS CIP infrastructure construction between now and 2026.
Promoters say the gondola's 130 foot towers will be 'invisible'. Right. With helicopters flying over the river at 100 feet. The towers will be equipped with very bright strobe lights. They are lying before the system is even designed.
If they all like Portland so much they should move there.
Audrey Clement attacked Rosslyn sky's-the-limit 'planning' in her latest on-line campaign ad. I'm with her. If the urban village idiots want a gondola they, not we, should pay for it.
Unlike the authors of this blog, I think the gondola project is a very good idea and that it will make a substantial improvement for access to and from Rosslyn/Georgetown. But I am entirely in agreement on the price! Even the Portland tram (which was originally estimated in the teens) cost 'only' $57 million - and that with big cost add-ons for very fussy work on the station by the hospital to ensure that it wouldn't make vibrations which could interfere with microsurgery. We can live with off-the-shelf towers, don't need some sort of urban sculpture here which will serve mainly to get our Board members the invitations they crave to sit at the head table at architecture banquets.
There's an appropriate role for DC and Arlington taxpayers, and Georgetown University, to share the cost of a modest-cost gondola or tram. Any extra taxpayer money lying around should be spent on, for example, stubbing out the Blue Line at Rosslyn - enabling better use of the existing Potomac tunnel - or on the possible extension of the H Street trolley down K Street and into Georgetown under the Whitehurst. If there is to be an inessential $50 or 60 million spent on tarting up the gondola, that money should come from tax increments agreed to and paid by the developer communities on both sides of the river.
Dave Schutz
No Way, Dave. I attended the gondola boosters' meeting last Thursday, in Georgetown. Presentation was full of lies. They stated the towers would be invisible. In fact, towers will be lighted with bright strobe lights, per the FAA.
Didn't say anything about air sickness. People in Geoorgetown and Rosslyn drink a lot. Party till ya puke on the gondola.
Who will pay? Obviously Arlington taxpayers. Another vanity project to give another helping of corporate welfare to the Democratic Party Elite.
BTW, who's facilitating this? Do a Web search on Carol Mitten Phil Mendelson.
Dave, please take your propaganda back to ArlNow. Thanks in advance.
If the Democratic Regime likes Portland so much, please move there.
Their Taj Mahal gondola station in Rosslyn would cost at least $30 million.
People who work in the bars and restaurants in Georgetown and Rosslyn won't take gondolas home to vibrant Woodbridge and Upper Marlboro.
Same County Board that just approved spending $578,000 each for pre-fab bus shelters on the Pike.
Scott Brodbeck kicked everyone off ArlNow who isn't a PlutoCrat, Chamber of Commerce Republican, Develioper, or County Smart Growth Planner. In the event you wondered where Dave S. is coming from.
Reality Check: We are going to be hit with a tax rate increase next year to pay for schools and bailing out WMATA.
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