Some local residents are convening at Arlington's Central Library tonight (June 21st) to try to determine what the consequences would be if Amazon accepts whatever the County has offered in the way of inducements for Amazon to build another headquarters here.
Why did Arlington County even bother to contact Amazon? Two reasons. County Government is completely addicted to growth-for-the-sake-of-growth. And, more important, because Virginia's Democratic Leadership allowed Crystal City to become a run-down, high-vacancy mess.
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Reality check - the Navy and a number of defense contractors began leaving Crystal City two decades ago. First important BRAC (Base Realignment and Closure) consequences to our Region occurred in 1995. Second occurred in 2005. What did VIP Democrats do to prevent Crystal City becoming a commercial Ghost Town between 1998 and today? Ask Senator (former Virginia Governor) Mark Warner. Ask Senator (former Virginia Governor) Tim Kaine. Ask our former former Congressman, Jim Moran. Ask the Democratic elected officials who served between 1998 and today in Northern Virginia.
While we HOPE Arlington County Government's Democrat New Urbanist Progressives made a rational and sane offer to Amazon, it's more likely County Board Democrats reacted to Arlington's pervasive 20% commercial vacancy rate by offering Amazon a corporate welfare deal Amazon can't refuse.
