Hey, Yupette,
Think Patricia Sullivan's article in yesterday's Post Metro section was biased towards the County Board incumbents running for re-election? Post Editor Lee Hockstader, who's on the Post's Editorial Board, ranted for fifteen minutes at County Board candidate Audrey Clement last night for being "anti-growth."
Hockstader would not let Audrey explain she's not anti-growth but wants the County Board to carefully evaluate the potential effects of future mega-development on neighborhoods like Crystal City before actual planning begins.
The Washington Post Company has generated considerable anger among Alexandria residents who recently learned that the Post engaged in secret negotiations with the City of Alexandria over mega-development of its warehouse properties on the Alexandria waterfront.
Appears that the Post's Editorial Board had its mind made up long ago about any political candidate who, for any reason, opposes unrestricted high density growth inside the Beltway.
15th Street
Friday, November 4, 2011
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Washington Post Should Not Endorse Anyone for County Board
Hello, Yupette,
After reading Post Staff Writer Patricia Sullivan's article in Sunday's Post Metro Section regarding redevelopment of the Alexandria waterfront, I am appalled that the Post is endorsing local candidates where development and redevelopment are major issues.
The Washington Post Corporation owns several large warehouses on the Alexandria waterfront, which it wants to massively redevelop. The Post also supported the massive gentrification of Washington D.C. by Adrian Fenty and has been waging an editorial jihad against Fenty's successor as Mayor, Vincent Gray.
Patricia Sullivan recently interviewed Audrey Clement, Mary Hynes, and Walter Tejada in preparation for the Post's endorsement later this week. According to sources within the three candidates' campaigns, Sullivan's interviews of Hynes and Tejada were cordial and friendly, but Sullivan treated Audrey Clement like a nuisance. This, apparently, is in accordance to the Post's news and editorial policy regarding third party and independent candidates in Northern Virginia.
If you feel, as I do, that the Post should not endorse County Board candidates, given the Post's conflicts of interest regarding redevelopment, you can send an e-mail to the Washington Post Company's CEO, Donald Graham, at grahamd at washpost dot com.
Julie
South Arlington
After reading Post Staff Writer Patricia Sullivan's article in Sunday's Post Metro Section regarding redevelopment of the Alexandria waterfront, I am appalled that the Post is endorsing local candidates where development and redevelopment are major issues.
The Washington Post Corporation owns several large warehouses on the Alexandria waterfront, which it wants to massively redevelop. The Post also supported the massive gentrification of Washington D.C. by Adrian Fenty and has been waging an editorial jihad against Fenty's successor as Mayor, Vincent Gray.
Patricia Sullivan recently interviewed Audrey Clement, Mary Hynes, and Walter Tejada in preparation for the Post's endorsement later this week. According to sources within the three candidates' campaigns, Sullivan's interviews of Hynes and Tejada were cordial and friendly, but Sullivan treated Audrey Clement like a nuisance. This, apparently, is in accordance to the Post's news and editorial policy regarding third party and independent candidates in Northern Virginia.
If you feel, as I do, that the Post should not endorse County Board candidates, given the Post's conflicts of interest regarding redevelopment, you can send an e-mail to the Washington Post Company's CEO, Donald Graham, at grahamd at washpost dot com.
Julie
South Arlington
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Clement Trounced Hynes and Tejada in League of Women Voters Candidate Forum
Hello, Yupette,
Audrey Clement trounced Mary Hynes and Walter Tejada during the combined League of Women Voters, AAUW, and NOW Candidate Forum. The debate was held this afternoon at Arlington Central Library.
It's obvious that all Hynes and Tejada are interested in doing over the next four years is allowing developers to massively gentrify and urbanize Arlington. Based upon their opening and closing remarks, and their responses to written questions by the audience, Mary and Walter will rubber stamp any and every mega-development scheme by any and every out-of-state REIT, planner, and law firm.
On the other hand, Audrey Clement clearly indicated that she would get back to basics and set priorities when elected to County Board. Her priorities are libraries, schools, roads, public safety, and affordable housing that's truly affordable.
Our choice is clear. Time for a change on November 8th. I'm voting for Audrey Clement and only Audrey Clement for County Board.
Audrey Clement trounced Mary Hynes and Walter Tejada during the combined League of Women Voters, AAUW, and NOW Candidate Forum. The debate was held this afternoon at Arlington Central Library.
It's obvious that all Hynes and Tejada are interested in doing over the next four years is allowing developers to massively gentrify and urbanize Arlington. Based upon their opening and closing remarks, and their responses to written questions by the audience, Mary and Walter will rubber stamp any and every mega-development scheme by any and every out-of-state REIT, planner, and law firm.
On the other hand, Audrey Clement clearly indicated that she would get back to basics and set priorities when elected to County Board. Her priorities are libraries, schools, roads, public safety, and affordable housing that's truly affordable.
Our choice is clear. Time for a change on November 8th. I'm voting for Audrey Clement and only Audrey Clement for County Board.
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Janet Howell for State Senate
Hello,
The redrawn 32nd Senate District includes ten precincts in North Arlington. The 32nd includes Rt 50, I-66, Washington Boulevard, and Rt 29. The district also includes Metrorail's Orange Line and the East Falls Church Metro station. So transportation decisions made in Richmond have and will have a significant impact on the quality of life on Arlington residents who live in the 32nd District.
We blame bi-partisan Rail-to-Dulles, BRAC, and high-growth boosters for Arlington's infrastructure problems. That includes the leaders of the major political parties. They want growth, but they don't want to pay for sufficient infrastructure concomitant with growth. We fault both Janet Howell and Patrick Forrest for their immature and irrational approach to transportation funding. Not surprising since their fellow Republican and Democratic legislators exhibit the same behavior.
We, therefore, endorse Janet Howell based upon her concerns for human needs and human rights. Patrick Forrest has a lengthy resume' based on assignments and junkets during his service with the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard in the Bush Administration. He opposes women's rights to make their own healthcare decisions. He opposes organized labor. He is not only anti-privacy, he supported the worst abuses of the Patriot Act by the Bush Administration, abuses that only ended when President Obama took office.
Consequently, we endorse Janet Howell for re-election to the Virginia State Senate.
Cindy and Susan
The redrawn 32nd Senate District includes ten precincts in North Arlington. The 32nd includes Rt 50, I-66, Washington Boulevard, and Rt 29. The district also includes Metrorail's Orange Line and the East Falls Church Metro station. So transportation decisions made in Richmond have and will have a significant impact on the quality of life on Arlington residents who live in the 32nd District.
We blame bi-partisan Rail-to-Dulles, BRAC, and high-growth boosters for Arlington's infrastructure problems. That includes the leaders of the major political parties. They want growth, but they don't want to pay for sufficient infrastructure concomitant with growth. We fault both Janet Howell and Patrick Forrest for their immature and irrational approach to transportation funding. Not surprising since their fellow Republican and Democratic legislators exhibit the same behavior.
We, therefore, endorse Janet Howell based upon her concerns for human needs and human rights. Patrick Forrest has a lengthy resume' based on assignments and junkets during his service with the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Coast Guard in the Bush Administration. He opposes women's rights to make their own healthcare decisions. He opposes organized labor. He is not only anti-privacy, he supported the worst abuses of the Patriot Act by the Bush Administration, abuses that only ended when President Obama took office.
Consequently, we endorse Janet Howell for re-election to the Virginia State Senate.
Cindy and Susan
Friday, October 28, 2011
Ebbin vs. McGhee - No Endorsement
Hello,
The redrawn 30th Virginia State Senate District runs along the Potomac River from I-395 to Ft. Belvoir. The 30th District now includes, Crystal City, Pentagon City, Potomac Yards, much of Mark Center, I-395, I-495, Wilson Bridge, National Airport, Route 1, Route 7, and Mt. Vernon Highway. So it would be appropriate for Democrat Adam Ebbin and Republican Tim McGhee to focus on what's important to residents and voters in the 30th. But that's not what their campaigns are about. They're about Tim McGhee and Adam Ebbin and their interests and a few special interests. It's good that Delegate Ebbin was able to obtain a solar energy tax credit for homeowners. But in the context of Virginia being so far behind in renewable energy the legislation was long overdue.
Consequently, we are not endorsing either candidate.
Susan and Cindy
The redrawn 30th Virginia State Senate District runs along the Potomac River from I-395 to Ft. Belvoir. The 30th District now includes, Crystal City, Pentagon City, Potomac Yards, much of Mark Center, I-395, I-495, Wilson Bridge, National Airport, Route 1, Route 7, and Mt. Vernon Highway. So it would be appropriate for Democrat Adam Ebbin and Republican Tim McGhee to focus on what's important to residents and voters in the 30th. But that's not what their campaigns are about. They're about Tim McGhee and Adam Ebbin and their interests and a few special interests. It's good that Delegate Ebbin was able to obtain a solar energy tax credit for homeowners. But in the context of Virginia being so far behind in renewable energy the legislation was long overdue.
Consequently, we are not endorsing either candidate.
Susan and Cindy
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Janet Murphy for Delegate in 48th District
Hello,
We would have endorsed Delegate Bob Brink for re-election, had the 48th District included only North Arlington and McLean. We would have also endorsed Delegate Brink had his Independent Green opponent, Janet Murphy, based her campaign solely on the Independent Green mantra "more trains, less traffic".
However, the 48th District now covers a huge swath of Arlington, and as a country club Democrat Bob Brink does not represent the views of many of his new constituents.
To her credit, Janet Murphy did not base her campaign solely on trains, but also on issues that concern progressive Arlingtonians in the 48th District, like vastly more renewable energy and imposing a renewable portfolio standard on Dominion. She's also concerned about issues like human needs and human rights.
Kathy Gillette-Mallard is a nice Neo-Con from McLean. But her conservative views are out of touch with at least 75% of 48th District voters.
We are disappointed that none of the candidates running in the 48th has yet proposed strategies to deal with infrastructure needs resulting from Virginia's population growth.
Susan and Cindy
We would have endorsed Delegate Bob Brink for re-election, had the 48th District included only North Arlington and McLean. We would have also endorsed Delegate Brink had his Independent Green opponent, Janet Murphy, based her campaign solely on the Independent Green mantra "more trains, less traffic".
However, the 48th District now covers a huge swath of Arlington, and as a country club Democrat Bob Brink does not represent the views of many of his new constituents.
To her credit, Janet Murphy did not base her campaign solely on trains, but also on issues that concern progressive Arlingtonians in the 48th District, like vastly more renewable energy and imposing a renewable portfolio standard on Dominion. She's also concerned about issues like human needs and human rights.
Kathy Gillette-Mallard is a nice Neo-Con from McLean. But her conservative views are out of touch with at least 75% of 48th District voters.
We are disappointed that none of the candidates running in the 48th has yet proposed strategies to deal with infrastructure needs resulting from Virginia's population growth.
Susan and Cindy
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Favola vs. Merrick - No Endorsement
Hello,
We attended several candidate debates, and we were not impressed by most of the candidates. We were especially unimpressed by candidates for Virginia State Senate Barbara Favola and Caren Merrick.
It's become obvious that the election for State Senate will the prelude to a culture war in the next session of the General Assembly, with guns and abortion becoming the main battlegrounds.
So we were disappointed that neither Barbara Favola nor Caren Merrick has yet uttered the words "family planning" during a debate.
We also heard no reasonable discussion about firearms. Yes, there are too many firearms inside the Beltway, where the police arrive in minutes after a 911 call. And yes, there is a lot of hunting, fishing, and sport shooting done outside the Beltway. There was no mention of the biggest danger Northern Virginia residents face - injuries from traffic accidents.
And neither candidate has a comprehensive plan for dealing with Virginia's population growth, typically 90,000 - 100,000 more people each year (Virginia's population grew by 927,000 between 2000 and 2010).
So, AY makes no endorsement for Senator for Virginia's 31st District.
Cindy and Susan
We attended several candidate debates, and we were not impressed by most of the candidates. We were especially unimpressed by candidates for Virginia State Senate Barbara Favola and Caren Merrick.
It's become obvious that the election for State Senate will the prelude to a culture war in the next session of the General Assembly, with guns and abortion becoming the main battlegrounds.
So we were disappointed that neither Barbara Favola nor Caren Merrick has yet uttered the words "family planning" during a debate.
We also heard no reasonable discussion about firearms. Yes, there are too many firearms inside the Beltway, where the police arrive in minutes after a 911 call. And yes, there is a lot of hunting, fishing, and sport shooting done outside the Beltway. There was no mention of the biggest danger Northern Virginia residents face - injuries from traffic accidents.
And neither candidate has a comprehensive plan for dealing with Virginia's population growth, typically 90,000 - 100,000 more people each year (Virginia's population grew by 927,000 between 2000 and 2010).
So, AY makes no endorsement for Senator for Virginia's 31st District.
Cindy and Susan
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