Bicycle Cults Lobby General Assembly for More 'Free Range' Activities

Hey, Yupette,

Virginia's bicycle cults have been aggressively lobbying the General Assembly for more 'free range' activities for bicyclists and more restrictions on motor vehicle operators. These activities include allowing people on bicycles to wear face masks in the winter (currently illegal), increasing the required separation between motor vehicles and bicycles from 2 feet to 3 feet, prohibiting motor vehicles from closely following bicycles, allowing bicyclists to pass motor vehicles on the left, and holding motor vehicles owners and operators responsible when bicyclists run into vehicle doors being opened.

Of course, there is nothing related to safety and responsible bicycling in any of the bicycle cults' proposed legislation - like making wearing helmets and reflective vests mandatory. Stay tuned to see how much of the legislation gets passed and signed into law this year.

Terri 22201

DES Staff: County Manager Is 'Repurposing' CIP Paving Funds for Aquatic Center, Pike Streetcar, Artisphere

Hey, Cindy,

I contacted Department of Environmental Services Staff last week to ask when my crumbling street (photo enclosed)  is going to be repaved. After all, we voted about $72 million for street paving the last capital improvement bond issue. So we'll have plenty of money to repave Arlington's crumbling residential streets. Right? Wrong! According to DES Staff, bond funds that would have been used for street repaving are being 'repurposed' by County Manager Donnellan for the County Board's pet vanity projects. And BTW, according DES Staff, my residential street is going to have to become a total mess before its repaved in 2016 or 2017. Thanks for this blog.

Fairgirl - 22206

Chris Zimmerman's Legacy

Hey, Yupette,

Today, February 10th, is Chris Zimmerman's last day as a County Board member. Same Chris Zimmerman who approved the construction of almost 12,000 new parking spaces in Arlington between January 2012 and January 2014. Same Chris Zimmerman who promoted the Form Based Code for Columbia Pike which will add at least 10,000 additional parking spaces in the Pike Corridor. Same Chris Zimmerman who promoted a streetcar system on the Pike that will cost $500 million before it's completed. Same Chris Zimmerman who tirelessly promoted the gentrification of service workers and restaurant workers out of the affordable apartments a few blocks from where they lived. Same Chris Zimmerman who approved packing people and vehicles into a tiny suburban county to benefit his non-profit and corporate cronies. Chris Zimmerman's Legacy to Arlington?  A formerly socially and economically diverse suburban county that will become an expensive gridlocked urban mess by the end of this decade.

Pike Rider

Arlington Has Become a Renewable Energy Backwater

Hey, Yupette,

I recently was in San Diego on business and the electric utility there, San Diego Electric and Gas is really going for solar as a major league alternative energy source. Take a look at the photo of a solar charging station that charges electric vehicles while they are parked. Too bad Dominion completely controls everything in Virginia. Despite what Jay Fisette may say about energy planning in Arlington, fact is that about 97% of Arlington' electric energy comes from burning some kind of fuel and from nuclear reactors. A huge amount of solar energy is wasted heating parking lots and building rooftops. That's what happens when local government, local business, media, non-profits, everything is controlled by an electric utility.

Later,

Peter, 22205

Holiday and Gala Gift Card Season Hugely Successful

Hey, Yupette,

Thanks for this blog. Did you know that holiday and winter gala gift card giving to local elected officials, key local government employees, and local journalists and editors is surpassing anything I've seen before at 2100 Clarendon Boulevard? Unlike the various travel and entertainment comps County Board members and other key elected officials receive gift cards are completely unreported and it appears that hundreds of high-denomination gift cards were handed out during the recent holidays and at winter galas. This in addition to the usual holiday gift card gifts to members of the local media and key decision makers in local government. The gift card gifts are purchased for cash and $100 is the usual face value. They are often re-packaged by local pols, newsies, etc., into gifts for family members. Another reason we need real ethics reform in Virginia.

2100

County Government, Media Continue to Censor Ballston Park Deal

Hello,

Because Arlington County Government and the local Media have apparently censored information about the County's purchase of Ballston Park Apartments, we obtained a copy of the staff report and are putting it on-line here. Should have been placed on the County Board's Agenda under "Additional Items" on January 28th as Item 44. Based on conversations with County Planning and Housing Staff it is unlikely that anyone working in the Ballston-Rosslyn and Glebe Road corridors and earning less than $40,000 per year would be able to afford to live at Ballston Park. However hundreds of jobs that pay less than $40,000 per year are being created within walking distance of Ballston Park. Not surprising that hundreds of parking spaces are created concomitant with every new mixed-use site plan.

Cindy

County Board Approved a Massive Amount of Parking Since 2012, More on the Way

Hi Yupette,

 Every time I see something new about the proposed Pike streetcar it gives me another reason to vote for Cord Thomas for County Board.

Here's another reason - The Arlington County Board approved a massive amount of parking together with the site plans it has approved since January 2012? How much new parking? About 3,500 parking spaces in 2012. About 7,500 parking spaces in 2013. And 960 parking spaces so far in 2014. That's almost 12,000 parking spaces in two calendar years - since January 2012.

Same two years the County Board spent about $6 million on promoting a so-called 'car free diet'. Last County Board meeting, January 28th, Chairman Fisette urged everyone to ride bicycles in the winter, after voting on January 25th for 960 new parking spaces.

So, they want to put a streetcar on Columbia Pike? About how fast do they expect it to travel? Four miles per hour? Five miles per hour? Five hundred million dollars for what? A tourist trolley.

Cord for Board !!


Beth, 22204