Zimmerman Will Pay for Pike Streetcar with Regressive Taxes

Hello, Yupette,

Latest from Chris Zimmerman and the County Board Majority is the Pike streetcar proponents will pay for the streetcar system through regressive taxation, the commercial real estate tax surcharge (costs to commercial tenants will be passed on to consumers) and the new sales taxes recently approved by the General Assembly. First $12 million of sales tax revenue dedicated for Pike streetcar infrastructure costs is scheduled to be approved by the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority on July 24th. The NVTA meeting will be held at the Fairfax City Hall, 10455 Armstrong Street, in the City of Fairfax. Meeting begins at 5:30 PM.

Given the level of mismanagement and outright fraud being committed by Arlington County Government related to transportation improvements on the Pike it's increasingly unlikely the Federal Transit Administration will agree to fund infrastructure related to the Pike streetcar.

See you in Fairfax on July 24th.

2100Ted

Fairlington Residents Put Tejada on Defensive in Advance of July 16th Pike Streetcar Vote

Hello,

County Board Chairman Walther Tejada attended the Fairlington civic association's meeting on July 10th in advance of the June 16th County Board meeting where the County Board will consider appropriations for Columbia Pike streetcar project management (consent agenda item 25). Mr. Tejada was accompanied by non-resident County Staff and a small contingent of 'facilitators' from the Arlington Democratic Party. The pro-transit choice group, Arlingtonians for Sensible Transit, also attended. The purpose of the meeting was to rebut the anti-streetcar presentation County Board member Libby Garvey made at the May civic association meeting.


 Fairlington residents repeatedly challenged Mr. Tejada and County transportation staff regarding the proposed streetcar system's cost and safety, and other aspects of Columbia Pike redevelopment, such as affordable housing, traffic, and population growth. Mr. Tejada blamed WMATA for the $1 million bus shelter fiasco at Walter Reed and Columbia Pike, and admitted that "we're always going to have cars" when asked why the County is spending millions to promote a "car free diet" while approving site plans for thousands of new parking spaces under new buildings. Pro-streetcar facilitators from ACDC blamed County Board member Libby Garvey for obstructing streetcar system construction.

Mr. Tejada stated that the County Board majority may not seek Federal funding for the Pike streetcar but may use dedicated real estate tax revenues and revenues from new state sales taxes instead.

The next County Board vote on the matter of Pike streetcar appropriations will occur at the recessed County Board meeting on July 16th, which will commence at 6:30 PM, in the County Board Room, 2100 Clarendon Boulevard, Third Floor.

Cindy
Fairlington

(Photo - a recent collision between a streetcar and city bus in San Francisco that sent 15 people to hospitals)

Christmas in July - July 13th and 16th County Board Meetings

Hi Yupette,

Check out the agenda for the next County Board meeting, July 13th and 16th. It's Christmas in July. Every person, non-profit, and for-profit with his-her-it's hand out is going to get a taxpayer-funded handout. Meaning Zimmerman's $treetcar, Fi$ette's wealthy performing arts buds, Vornado, bikeshare, and even contractors who've gone over-budget on public infrastructure. C.B. Agenda is up on arlingtonva.us.

2100

Bike Arlington 2020 - Another Expensive Mess

Hey Yupette,

I just returned from once-beautiful Amsterdam, which has been overwhelmed by bicycles. The Dutch state and local governments have spent a fortune on encouraging everyone to ride bicycles and funding bicycle infrastructure (like bicycle parking garages). Consequently, Amsterdam and other Dutch cities are a mess, bicycles, bicycles, bicycles. Oh, Dutch bicyclists generally don't wear helmets and obeying traffic signs is pretty casual. Stay tuned for a big bicycle mess in Arlington by 2020.

Terri, 22204

Cost of Zimmerman's Pike Train Wreck Will Exceed $500 Million

Hi Yupette,

Don't know if you've been following the financial markets recently but, according to reports in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and elsewhere, the days of easy money that states, cities, and counties can borrow to finance projects like Chris Zimmerman's Pike trolley folly and Jay Fisette's Aquasphere are at an end.

Interest rates are increasing and the bond markets are in steep decline. Bond prices have plunged precipitously in recent weeks sending interest rates soaring. In recent weeks there's been a flood of bond sales.

Hardest hit will be municipalities like Arlington, which are near their debt limits, in Arlington's case because of heavy borrowing for the County Board's and School Board's vanity projects, like Jay Fisette's Aquasphere and new high schools where bond money goes for extravagant sports, entertainment, and recreation facilities. Arlington will have no choice but to pay significantly more to borrow for future necessary public infrastructure, like water and sewer projects, and Chris Zimmerman's vanity Pike streetcar.

Jerry,  22207

Portland Bike Safety Video Stresses Even-Handed Enforcement

Hi Yupette,

Sorry to see the 'biketards' get away with so much bad behavior in Arlington. Here's the Portland Police Department's recent training video about streetcar-bicycle-motorist-pedestrian traffic ordinance enforcement. Hope it helps.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKmwKP5ZRtQ

Jerry,
Portland

Fisette's Biketard Allies Blame Pedestrians, Motorists, for Reckless and RWI Bicycle Accidents

Hey, Yupette,

You won't see this on AVN, AIM, or in the PR drivel handed to the local media by the County Manager's office and printed as "news", but at least a dozen traffic accidents and several  pedestrian injuries have already occurred this year, caused by Jay Fisette's biketard friends and allies while bicycling recklessly and/or RWI.

Jay has prevailed on the Arlington police to completely ignore any and all reckless bicycling. Arlington police are well-aware that as many as 10% of the people riding bicycles in the evening and on weekends may be riding under the influence of alcohol and drugs, and many have lost their driver's licenses as the result of DWI convictions.

Of course, if some biketard runs a stop sign at high speed and hits your motor vehicle, YOU are in big trouble with the police. That's the Arlington Way in the second decade of the 21st Century. Stay tuned for worse to come.

Ted  22204