A-Town's Live Entertainment Permit Renewal Another Gimme?

Hey Yupette,

I live in the neighborhood of A-Town in the B-R Corridor and it appears that A-Town's live entertainment permit that's going to the County Board on Saturday (Consent Agenda Item #4) is another gimme. The antics at A-Town since last September are worse than during the previous 6 months, with a couple of Millennials who were ejected from A-Town last Sunday fighting each other and then the police who were called to break up the fight. And we're barely into the St. Patrick's Day and March Madness mayhem.

So I am sending this to Arlington Yupette because the neighborhood (which does not nescesarily include the civic association - a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Democratic "Party's Over Here" Party) has had enough of A-Town and wants A-Town to move away - far away - from Ballston.

Members of the Public are allowed to remove Consent Agenda Item #4 on Saturday for discussion by the County Board next Tuesday evening at 6:30 PM . To do that you have to attend Saturday's County Board meeting at 8:30 AM and submit a slip to the County Board Clerk. Or you can write to the County Board at: countyboard@arlingtonva.us asking that one or more County Board members remove the item for discussion on Tuesday.

I think if this goes on with A-Town we are going to have innocent bystanders in this neighborhood hurt. Too many handguns out there being legally or illegally carried concealed. Anyway, thanks for bringing these issues up in your blog.

Mark from Utah Street

What's Next for Reeves Farm Farmhouse?

Hey Yupette,

I gotta wonder what's next for the Reeves Farm farmhouse. None of the groups that expressed interest in saving the farmhouse for historic purposes could raise the $2 million or so needed to create a museum or historic learning center. As we all know, there is no real philanthropy in Arlington, so some wealthy person isn't going to come forward to buy and restore the farmhouse and turn it over to the County or a non-profit.

Which leaves the County. Same Arlington County that just went $1.9 million over budget for five 1-block residential street improvement projects. Same County where Parks and Rec pays $800,000 to tear down a perfectly good home next to a park to create a vacant lot. Same County that just gave Nestle' a $6 million relocation gift. Same County that's building $500,000 bus shelters that don't shelter (reduced from $1 million). Same County that gives APAH tens of millions to build affordable housing that's not affordable to the working class who work in restaurants and retail next door to, or across the street from, the affordable housing. And so on.

So, Arlington being Arlington, I have to wonder who will finally own the Reeves farmhouse. I have to believe it's will be someone VERY politically connected who was promised the farmhouse years ago. Guess we will have to stay tuned for news.

Linda
Bluemont

Jay's Next Jam -- 4MRV Performing Arts District

Hey Yupette,

Twenty years of Gentrification Jay, aka Gourmet Jay, Fisette...Enough. So what does he do for an encore after two decades of facilitating doggie spas, live theater, and aquatics...everywhere? Anyone who's been around for awhile will remember the various antics Jay and his former domestic partner, now spouse, Robert Rosen pulled on behalf of the Signature Theater, ranging from the lengthy and convoluted theater-library planning process in Shirlington to the multiple taxpayer-funded financial bailouts of the Signature over the years.

So, what Jay's planning now, together with Arlington's various live theater and performing arts groups, is nothing less than a performing arts district in the western portion of the Four Mile Run Valley that will share the entire 4MRV with the sports and recreation groups. Never mind the businesses located in the 4MRV and the neighbors who want businesses like motor vehicle repair (and the good-paying jobs that go with the businesses) to stay in the 4MRV. Everything that isn't bulldozed will be renovated and repurposed for sports, recreation, and entertainment. Promises were made a year ago over lunch at Busboys and Poets.

That's when Jay isn't spending time at his retirement estate on Florida's Trump Coast. So hold on to your wallets after tax-paying small businesses are gentrified out to be replaced by taxpayer-funded and taxpayer-subsidized sports, recreation, and entertainment venues. The 4MRV is another target of New Urbanists who deliberately allowed public and private infrastructure (like the Signature's off-site scenery shop, owned by the County) to deteriorate for decades to facilitate re-development.

Susan in Shirlington

County Board Will Again Defer Potomac Yards Land Bay C Discussion

Hey, Yupette,

Thanks for this blog. County Board's February 25th and 28th Agenda is posted and the County Board will again defer discussing whatever deal or deals have been made / are being made regarding Land Bay C in Potomac Yards, owned by European supermarket giant Lidl, until April.

Land Bay C is one of the last undeveloped commercial parcels of any size in Arlington. Residents of Arlington Ridge and other neighborhoods near Potomac Yards are already unhappy about future traffic from I-395 Express Lanes and future Pentagon City development.

Meanwhile, County's New Urbanist Elite is evaluating residential neighborhoods for siting a new 750 student elementary school and a new 1,200 student high school. The choices range from bad to terrible.

It remains to be seen if the County Board even allows Land Bay C to be removed from the Consent Agenda, as it did last month.

Ridge Runner

County Board's Latest Corporate Welfare Recipient Will Have to Answer in Court for Child Slavery

Hey Yupette,
Another month, another corporation Arlington Economic Development is poaching by offering corporate welfare deals they can't refuse. This time it's Nestle', an international corporation capitalized at $250 Billion.

Did Economic Development and the Limo Liberals who run County County Government know that Nestle' is being sued for child slavery in Africa and the U.S. Supreme Court just ruled that the plaintiff's case can go to trial?

Check out this YouTube video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LEHtMNgTbM

Meanwhile County Government can't gentrify essential small business out of the County fast enough.

Thank you for your blog.

Don, 22201

Abingdon Asbestos HazMat Scare Latest Use Permit Violation

Hello,

A release of asbestos being removed from Abingdon School during renovation occurred yesterday. It was the latest in a laundry list of use permit violations related to the school's renovation that have occurred since renovation started last Summer.

Bad enough that Abingdon's students may have been exposed to asbestos, but the neighbors who live close-by Abingdon School weren't notified about the incident until today.

Among the local celebrities who live close to the school are Inside Nova / Sun Gazette Editor Scott McCaffrey and ArlNow Publisher Scott Brodbeck.

APS repeatedly promised the Arlington County Board there would be no repeat of the numerous use permit violations that occurred during Ashlawn, McKinley, and Discovery schools construction / renovation.

The Abingdon School neighborhood is furious and is demanding replacement of APS and contractor managers responsible for recurring problems at Abingdon.

Cindy

Followup on January 27th - It gets worse. Interior of Abingdon School wasn't contaminated by asbestos because the asbestos was dumped outside the school and left uncovered!! Neighborhood was the last to know and many who live close to the school still don't know.

https://abingdon.apsva.us/post/jan-26-update/

Congressman Beyer, Limo Liberals Hold Progressive Hugfest, Trump Hatefest

Hey Yupette,

I voted for Bernie in last year's Democratic Primary so I received a post card from Congresman Beyer inviting me to his "Road Ahead" meetup at Wakefield H.S. on Monday.

I have to give Congressman Beyer credit, he was cheerful and upbeat, not like Jim Moran at all. Answered any and all questions for more then 90 minutes. Brought knowledgeable people to the meetup who were on-stage to follow up on questions.

Unfortunately, this meetup was not for constituents but was a rally for limo liberals, aka wealthy progressives. First indication of that was Republicans collecting candidate petition signatures well outside the school building. Second indication was the tables set up outside the school's auditorium by the usual progressive groups.

Inside the auditorium about every limo liberal in the Eighth District was in attendance. And some progressives from DC and elsewhere. Minority group members were conspicuous by their absence.

Whatever Congressman Beyer's intentions, the meetup quickly deteriorated into anti-Trump rants and "what are we going to do now"? questions. And pitches for every progressive cause, program, dogma, etc.

Oh, a few minority group members in attendance with questions about school integration and housing affordability were turned over to County Board and School Board members for the usual say little, do nothing pontification.

Based on this meeting would I blame the Trump Administration for completely ignoring Congressman Beyer and the legislation he sponsors? No.

Ted
22204