The Democrats who've controlled Arlington for more than 35 years constantly complain about the Trump Administration and the Republicans who control the Virginia General Assembly but behave the same in Arlington.
Latest extravagant waste of tax dollars by the Democratic Leadership is their proposed $35.9 million Taj Mahal makeover of the County Office Building (now referred to as the Bozman Building after the late "Queen Ellen" Bozman), for completion of renovations to the office building the County owns at 2020 14th Street, and for miscellaneous other purposes.
The County Office Building last received a major renovation in 2006 and has received many expensive upgrades over the past 12 years.
As has become the usual practice, the County Board's Democratic Leadership put this on the Consent Agenda and made it off limits for public discussion. Item 11, due to be rubber-stamp approved on March 17th, will appropriate $2.6 million for architecture, design, and construction management services related to the $35.9 makeover(s). Since the Staff Report for this item is only two pages it's unknown where the $35.9 million will actually be obtained and used for.
According to the Staff Report the $35.9 million cost of the Taj Mahal makeover will come (among other sources) from a so-called "tenant improvement allowance","brokerage fee reimbursement", and "free rent" from the building's landlord, JBG, which has come before the County Board on many occasions seeking and receiving approval for major redevelopment projects. Is this deal even legal?
Meanwhile, Public Safety employees bitterly complained during the County Board's "Open Door Monday" yesterday about being under-strength, over-stressed, and under-compensated. Next fiscal year's budget will be balanced by increasing taxes and fees for residents and businesses and reducing and eliminating services.
Obvious to me, and many others, that "transparency" has joined the list of County Government oxymora, together with "car-free diet", "affordable housing", "smart growth". and "urban village".
Thanks for publishing this blog.
B.H., 22205
10 comments:
Last week the School Board approved more than $4 million for a Taj Mahal makeover of recently-constructed Yorktown H.S., every conceivable amenity parents, teachers, students, and staff wanted.
This deal is out-and-out bribery of County Government by JBG, which has many major redevelopment projects in the pipeline that require County Government approval.
Agree. Read Code of Virginia 18.2 - 447
This item has been removed from the Consent Agenda and will be heard on March 20th sometime after 6:30 PM, with the members of the public allowed to make comments.
Looks to me that this deal with JGB was/is illegal.
2100's so-called "public spaces" were renovated recently, including the customer service areas of zoning, inspection services, residential and commercial plan approval, etc., which the County Manager's PR team made a big deal about a couple years ago.
What happens to the County Board Offices? Luxury makeover for secret meetings with VIPs like Amazon execs?
Last night County Board deferred the makeover until the April 21st CB Meeting.
"Rebates" like those to be received from JBG are illegal according to the Code of Virginia 55-525.12
Several residents have contacted Arlington's Commonwealth's Attorney about this.
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