Hey Yupette,
For several years we've endured the antics of the ArlNow News blog, and its Owner and Publisher, Scott Brodbeck.
Who is Scott Brodbeck? Another Rust Belt refugee (from Pittsburgh) who's growing rich imposing "Smart Growth" urbanization aka "Millennialization" on suburban Arlington. Like Jay Fisette, Chris Zimmerman, Mary Hynes, Barbara Favola, and a laundry list of others, present and past
Like the other local media e.g., WJLA just across Wilson Boulevard from ArlNow's corporate headquarters, ArlNow thrives on hype, hysteria, and hedonism. ArlNow is heavily censored and about 80% of those who are allowed to post comments are Chamber of Commerce and Smart Growth boosters, like Scott. Some of them work for developers and the County's pro-urbanization bureaucracy. Don't like Smart Growth? Don't waste your time posting on ArlNow.
Like WJLA and the other local television stations, ArlNow features "scare the soccer Moms" hysteria. Motor vehicles are routinely demonized, 'cause the County's priority is to work towards a total ban on motor vehicles in favor of bicycles. But Scott's free range urban hipster buds can do anything they want on and off their bicycles. Just don't get caught or Scott will put your photo on ArlNow.
Implications? Consequences? What are they? The County's gonna become an expensive urban mess, so why not make as much money as Scott can helping it happen, running County-supplied press releases as news and packing as much advertising, sponsored content, infomercials, and other paid advertising masquerading as news into ArlNow?
Who's to blame when bad things occur, like flash floods because of massive in-fill urbanization? Audrey Clement, of course. Never County Government, developers, Smart Growth America, or anyone else who's actually responsible.
Thanks for this blog and going after the jerks who are destroying Arlington as a livable county.
J.L., Westover
