Greens Ask Jim Moran to Oppose Mark Kelly's Anti-Environment, Anti-Child Federal Legislation

Hello, Yupette,

As you may have heard, the Arlington Green Party met on February 1st and voted to condemn HR 3323, the anti-environment and anti-child legislation sponsored by Congressman Tim Huelskamp (R-Kansas) which was written and is being promoted in the House of Representatives by Mark Kelly, who is Congressman Huelskamp's legislative director and is a candidate for Arlington County Board. Here is the letter the Greens e-mailed to Jim Moran.
Mark, 22203

Congressman Jim Moran
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington DC

February 6, 2012

Dear Congressman Moran:

We write you today to urge you to vote against H.R. 3323, a bill to reduce "the regulatory burden on the agricultural sector of the national economy," that was introduced by Congressman Huelskamp on November 2, 2011 and referred to the Committees on Ways and Means, Agriculture,Energy, and Commerce and Education.

This bill would suspend any efforts of the EPA to reduce global warming and air pollution, protect water from agricultural runoff, end protections against child labor in agriculture, and eliminate OSHA's regulation of dangerous farm machinery.

We in Arlington depend on the Potomac River for clean drinking water; farmers can and should do more to stop agricultural chemical and waste runoff into our rivers and streams. We, through strong support for EPA, need to find ways to reduce global warming and air pollution to protect our community's health. Moreover, we oppose child labor anywhere and firmly support OSHA's protection of farm workers from dangerous practices.

Our group, the Arlington Green party, discussed this bill at our February 1 meeting and voted unanimously to urge you, as our Congressional representative, to vote against it.

John Reeder, Chair
Arlington Green party
P.O. Box 50473
Arlington VA 22205

Arlington Pulls the Plug on Analog Police, Fire, EMS Radio

Hello Yupette,

Turned on my 10-year old Radio Shack scanner yesterday to take a listen. Radio was scanning, but no audio heard. Turns out the County pulled the plug on analog police, fire, EMS dispatch on January 31st. So if you want to hear who done what to whom you will have to purchase a digital scanner - and they're expensive.

Before you do - all the good stuff (like cops talking to each other about the 'suspicious person' they've just stopped for driving through the X, Y, or Z neighborhood while Black) are on encrypted channels. So you won't hear any of that. Not like the good old days, when almost nothing was encrypted and I was alternately amused and horrified by what I heard.

Thanks for your blog.

Tom, 22205

January 31st County Board Meeting Re-Affirms County Board's Massive Gentrification Agenda

Hello,

The County Board held a 'work session' with the County Manager on January 31st at the office of Arlington Economic Development on Glebe Road.

A.Y. obtained a copy of the internal agenda / redevelopment blueprint for this meeting (there were 20 pages of handouts). Copies of the handouts are available by calling the County Board offices at 228-3130.

The internal agenda confirms that the County Board is committed to a massive redevelopment / gentrification agenda for the rest of this decade. The County Board is also committed to keeping non-resident Economic Development and CPHD Staff in control of the 'planning' process, aided by County Board-appointed neighborhood 'facilitators'.

The County Board is pushing for major redevelopment of Shirlington / Four Mile Run, Lee Highway, and Courthouse Square. One surprise - the County Board is also pushing for gentrification of garden apartments not on Columbia Pike. (This was confirmed by a conversation with County Planning Staff).

Here is the list of site plans currently on the County Board's, CPHD's, and Economic Development's agenda for the next several years.

2. CURRENT PLANNING - Site Plans

Current Site Plans - Pen Place PDSP, Virginia Square Funeral Home, Penzance Clarendon, Clean Technology Center, Rosslyn Gateway, Crimson on Glebe, Crystal Mall 3, Bergmanns Cleaners, Rosenthal FBC

Preliminary Site Plan Filings (Not yet accepted) - Colony House, Rosslyn Plaza

Potential Site Plans - 2401 Wilson Blvd., Wachovia Clarendon, Peck Clarenndon/Courthouse, American Service Center - Harris Teeter, Crystal City Post Office, Court House Metro Block, Crystal Plaza, Shreve Oil East Falls Church.

It's obvious that the County Bord's overall agenda is to proceed with neighborhood by neighborhood redevelopment / gentrification (prefaced by a major rewrite of the County's zoning ordinances) until the entire County is urbanized and in-filled with expensive residential homes, condos, and apartments.

Susan

Fed Up Citizens to County Board: Scrap the Pike Trolley and Artisphere - Pave Arlington's Crumbling Streets Instead !

Hello, Yupette,

I am totally disgusted with Zimmerman and his Groupies who put their own wants, special interests, and corporate cronies first on their priority list.

I own a bicycle and bicycle to work at least once a week.

People, our streets and roads are crumbling. They're a hazard to bicyclists and pedestrians and will soon be a hazard to motorists.

Where are our tax dollars going? Not on basic infrastructure maintenance and upgrades. Our taxes are being spent on sports, recreation, and entertainment projects promoted by Zimmerman, Fisette, Tejada, and Hynes. Latest from Fisette is another live theater to compete with the Artisphere. Latest from Tejada is a regulation indoor soccer field to be constructed at Long Bridge Park. And, according to County Transportation Staff, the projected cost of Zimmerman's Pike trolley has reached $300 million.

These four turkeys are going to meet tomorrow with their so-called County Manager (who told them when they hired her that she would never move to Arlington, no matter how much they paid her) to approve their '2012 Management and Planning Work Plan'. A plan for more trolleys, soccer fields, swimming pools, and live theater. Maybe 'Libby' will join them. After all, she went right along with Zimmy's plans for the Wakefield Recreation, Entertainment, Sports, and Remediation Center.

Karen S. 22206

VDOT Presented 3 Major Options for I-66 to Transportation Commission

Hello Yupette,

On January 26th VDOT presented three major 'preliminary mobility options' for I-66 to to Arlington Transportation Commission. They are:

A. HOV Restrictions

I-66 lanes in both directions are designated Bus/HOV during peak periods. No new lanes added. In the peak direction, all lanes are Bus/HOV3+ only during peak periods (no change from CLRP). In the reverse peak direction, all lanes are Bus/HOV 2+ only during peak periods. In off-peak periods all lanes are open to all traffic.

B. I-66 Bus/HOV/HOT Lane System

Converts I-66 into an electronically tolled Bus/HOV/high occupancy toll (HOT) roadway.

Testing two options: (1) no new lanes (2) one new lane in each direction. Single occupancy vehicle (SOV) and HOV 2 vehicles tolled. Bus/HOV 3+ vehicles - no tolls. Tolls applies to all lanes in both directions, 24/7.

C. I-66 Capacity Enhancement

Two options that add a lane in both directions:

Option 1:

Peak hours, peak direction - New & Existing lanes Bus/HOV 3+
Peak hours, reverse peak direction - New lane Bus/HOV2+; Existing lanes general purpose.

Option 2:
Peak hours, peak direction - New & Existing lanes Bus/HOV 3+
Peak hours, reverse peak direction - New & Existing lanes general purpose

No restrictions in the off-peak period in both options.


[I-66 Arterials]
E. Arterial Capacity Enhancement

Enhance U.S. 50

Apply access management principles

Implement bus-only lane in each direction and improve bus service in the corridor (e.g., Priority Bus with 10-minute headway)

Bus lane may be introduced by utilizing the shoulders on U.S. 50.

Although coded as Priority Bus, this option will also reveal if demand warrants a higher-capacity mode such as light rail.


These are the major options, see VDOT's Web site for the other mobility options.

Thanks for your blog.

2100

Kelly, Arlington Republicans Moving to the Right

Hello Yupette,

More than 4,300 Arlington voters (and it appears that many who voted are Independents) turned out on a miserable day to participate in the Democratic Caucus.

But what about the Arlington Republican Party and it's candidate for County Board, Mark Kelly?

Mark is no longer employed by the Heritage Foundation. He now works on the Hill as Legislative Director and Deputy Chief of Staff for Congressman Tim Huelskamp. Congressman Huelskamp is a Tea Party Republican who is way to the right of the Republican leadership in the House. He represents the 1st Congressional District of Kansas.

So what kind of legislation is Congressman Huelskamp sponsoring? An amendment to the 2012 Defense Department Appropriations Act that would prohibit Navy Chaplains from performing same-sex marriages. A bill that would prohibit the NRLB from certifying labor elections. An omnibus agricultural bill that would remove most EPA restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions, pesticides, and particulates.

Oh, although Congressman Huelskamp doesn't want any restrictions on gun ownership, he hasn't sponsored a bill defunding ATF - yet.

So that's who Mark Kelly works for now. Thanks for your blog.

Bethany

Bondi Lists D.C. 'Nonprofit Roundtable' As Only Economic Interest

Hello Yupette,

A perusal of Melissa Bondi's 2012 Statement of Economic Interests, filed with the Clerk of the Arlington County Board on December 13, 2011, shows that Bondi listed the Nonprofit Rountable of Greater Washington, where her position is Project Coordinator, as her only economic interest.

She responded to 'personal interest' questions as follows:

A. My personal interests are:

1. Residence, address, or if no address, location: 2624 Clarendon Blvd, Arlington VA 22201

2. Other real estate, address, or, if no address, location: N/A

3. Name or principal business activity of each business in which stock, bond, or equity interests is held: N/A

Thanks for your blog.

anon.