No More Arlington Mills - Vote Yes on the Housing Authority Referendum

Hello Yupette,

I live and work near Columbia Pike in a one-bedroom market rate apartment that is fast becoming unaffordable. I took a look at the so-called 'affordable' apartments at County-owned Arlington Mill.  You have to earn $30,000 annually to qualify to rent a 626 square foot apartment for $926...the least expensive apartment available and there are only a few of them at that rent, according to the leasing agent I spoke with. What kind of 'affordable housing' is that?

If that's the best Arlington Government can do on a site the taxpayers own (including taxpayers who don't earn a living wage and work in restrurants and retail up and down the Pike), it's time for a change. Consequently I'm voting Yes on the Housing Authority referendum. You should too.

P.S. As for the County Board, it's time for "Gentrification Jay" to retire. So I'm voting to retire him.

Thanks for your blog.

Pike Rider 22204

Gas Guzzlers Fuel Fisette's Expensive Pet Projects

Hey, Yupette,

Wonder where 'Gentrification Jay' aka 'Gourmet Jay' aka 'Giveaway Jay' Fisette gets the money to fund his pet sports, recreation, and green charade projects? No brainer. Just look at the new car and used car lots around Arlington. Full of expensive new and used vehicles. Like the Mercedes SUVs stored in the former Arlington Funeral Home parking lot. Sticker price averages $60,000. Sales tax is 6%, personal property tax is 5%. Do the math. Same Jay Fisette who votes to spend $3 million a year promoting a car free diet and will vote to approve between 4,000 and 5,000 new vehicle parking spaces in new parking garages this year. What will Jay do for an encore if he's re-elected? An aquatic center and live theater in every re-developed neighborhood? With 3,000 new parking spaces under the mixed use unaffordable housing, and commercial buildings that have a 40% vacancy rate? Nothing would surprise me, considering the extravagant manner Jay's spent tax dollars so far.

Joan 22207

Fisette's 'Vision' for Arlington - Neighborhoods Into Party Zones

Hi, Yupette,

Thanks for this blog.

I watched yesterday's County Board meeting. I live in 22202 and it was appalling to see how county government has allowed our historic residential neighborhoods to deteriorate. Just watch the NC plan presentation by the Arlington Ridge Civic Association.

It's obvious what Jay Fisette and the others on the County Board are up to - neighborhood by neighborhood redevelopment with the redeveloped neighborhoods becoming 'party zones' and every older neighhood allowed to deteriorate to the point where it becomes a "redevelopment opportunity" for the REITs who Jay Fisette and the others cater to.

Whatever anyone may say about Audrey Clement, it seems to me that she is concerned about the quality-of-life in residential neighborhoods like Arlington Ridge. I'm voting for her next month.

Mike - 22202

Bikeshare Safety, An Oxymoron?

Hey Yupette,

What is it with the people who rent Bikeshare bicycles? No helmets, dark clothing, reckless behavior.

Yesterday I was brushed off the sidewalk on Washington Boulevard by a Bikeshare renter who ran a traffic light and zoomed up on the sidewalk through a curb cut. Talking on a cell phone.

What ever happened to the County's bicycle safety program?

Harrison, 22201

Arlington's Wastewater Treatment Plant - Malfunction Junction

Hey Yupette,

Want to know the scariest place in Arlington? It's Arlington County's Wastewater Treatment Plant, on Four Mile Run. Anytime there's a major rainfall the alarms start going off non-stop and the alarms don't stop going off until it stops raining.

Apparently, $568 million isn't enough to ensure the plant can adequately treat a combined flow of wastewater and stormwater without humans constantly having to override automatic control systems, constantly repairing state-of-the-art wastewater pumps and other equipment, and preventing hazmat leaks from blowing the plant, the lovely Metrobus repair facility, and beautiful Arlington Ridge sky high.

As a member of my Kiwanis club, who's a fed up plant operator, stated to me: "There are about as many alarms going off in the plant's control center whenever there's a storm as on the bridge of the Enterprise when the Klingons get within a light year on Star Trek".

I live on Arlington Ridge and I would call the County Manager's office but the County Manager and County Board only listen to Vornado.Thanks for your blog.

John M.

Shirlington Oktoberfest - Out of Control

Hello Yupette,

I live in a condo about 1/4 mile from Shirlington.

The so-called 'Shirlington Oktoberfest' which is now officially the 'Mid-Atlantic Oktoberfest' is way out of control. This event draws at least 10,000 people into what is supposed to be a planned 'smart growth' community and imposes massive traffic on a dozen residential neighborhoods within a mile radius.

I am also appalled by how many people who have parked in my neighborhood and consumed a lot of beer are walking to their vehicles and driving home.

Anyone know who's responsible for this mess?

Thanks,

Larry, 22206

Time for Austerity Spending by the County Board and School Board

Hi Yupette,

News today about the Federal Government shutdown is not good. And we're going to be stuck with the current Congress for another 16 months. Time is now for the County Board and School Board to implement their austerity spending plans (if such plans exist). The tax revenue streams derived from discretionary personal spending (sales tax, meals tax) that County Government uses to fund its extravagant vanity projects are rapidly drying up. Can tax revenue from other sources (home improvements, business expansion) be far behind?

Time for the County Board and School Board to immediately stop spending and borrowing to fund extravagant and unnecessary infrastructure - streetcars, lighted synthetic playing fields, million dollar bus shelters, elementary schools constructed with high school indoor athletic facilities, $350,000 painted fences and $450,000 brick walls pretending to be 'public art'.

Of course, Arlington being Neverland-on-the-Potomac and Arlington's First Yuppie being Gourmet Jay Fisette any sense of urgency regarding an impending fiscal crisis is drowned out by Arlington Government's theme song 'Don't Worry, Be Happy'.

Ted 22205