County Government Approves More Infill Social Crowding

Hello,

In the event you haven't noticed the New Urbanism-addicted Arlington County Board approved a Phased Development Site Plan for Crystal City on March 21st and redevelopment of the Marriott Hotel site in Rosslyn on March 24th that will greatly increase the density of both areas under development.

Same County Board that's calling for social distancing now the CV epidemic has gathered momentum. Same County Board that's re-purposing streets, sidewalks, plazas, trails, neighborhood parks, National Parks, open spaces for high-density Millennialization.

Significant and serious social crowding is presently occurring on Arlington's streets, sidewalks, plazas, trails, neighborhood parks and other open spaces, as the Urbanist County Board has closed all community sports-recreation-entertainment venues.

But social crowding is what New Urbanism aka growth-for-the-sake-of-growth infill gentrification is all about. One can only HOPE that CV 19 will respond to anti-viral meds as the yearly influenza vaccines confer some immunity and anti-HIV meds put HIV into long-term remission.

Consequently, AY cannot recommend re-electing any incumbent Urbanist elected to public office in (and around) Arlington. They are all dedicated to turning what was once a socially and economically diverse County into an infilled gentrified mess.
AY

Rouse Estate Being Sold for $30 Million

Hello,

AY learned today from two sources that the Rouse Estate (corner of Wilson and McKinley) is on the market for $30 million. Likely outcome of the sale will be more residential infill at some density. Arlington County has expressed little interest in acquiring the estate for open space because Upton Hill Regional Park is just across Wilson Blvd.

Stay tuned for details.

AY

Check Your Insurance Coverage Before Spring

Hello,

It's been a mild winter (so far). Another month until Spring. More than obvious that we're going to see multi-modal mayhem on Arlington's streets, sidewalk, plazas, and trails, if not this year by about 2023.

Arlington's been on a "More Cars-More Vehicles-More Vehicle Trips" diet for decades, whether it's free range bicycles or free range SUVs. Latest is free range scooters. Don't expect multi-modal safety initiatives by anyone in authority. It will get worse as streets and sidewalks are repurposed for in-fill recreation that goes along with in-fill redevelopment with no new usable open spaces. County Board Chair Libby Garvey is a bicycle fanatic and can't do enough for what's become a bicycle cult.

Best thing (we think) for anyone who drives a motor vehicle sensibly and also runs or walks is to stay away from major arterials, off trails, and not drive during rush hours, if that's possible. Also check your insurance coverage because many bike riders and scooter riders don't have insurance. Have a safe Spring. A.Y.

Water Mains...Not Bike Lanes

Hello, Yupette,

How much more is this County going to spend on new dedicated bicycle infrastructure and renovating older bicycle infrastructure to benefit what's become a cult? How many Arlington residents are riding bicycles today - it's 30 degrees and snowing? How many water main breaks will have to be repaired this Winter? How many times will we have to boil tap water because large diameter water mains break and take days to repair?

New ductile iron water mains last 100 years and are highly resistant to cracking. Bike lane infrastructure lasts, what, 3 years? How did we get to the point where sports, recreation, and arts consume hundreds of millions every year, including tens of millions for new sports, recreation, and arts infrastructure?

Then there are the injuries caused by bicycles and scooters, which are essentially ridden free-range, and the demands on already-stressed ACPD and ACFD. How much does that cost us?

Terri, 22207

Tie: Wash Post and ArlNow for 'Worst Local Journalism in 2019'

Late last month AY polled its contributors to ask which local news outlet published the worst local journalism during 2019. Results were a virtual tie between the Washington Post and the ArlNow News blog. The Post narrowly edged ArlNow. Here's a sample of comments we received about the Post, ArlNow and the other local media, e.g., Sun Gazette.

Audrey Clement for County Board

No contest this year. Democratic County Board incumbents Katie Cristol and Christian Dorsey are running on a platform of trashing Donald Trump, continually hiding behind Virginia's Dillon Rule, allowing the County to suffer from a devastating flood and a significant drought within 4 months, and having serious conflict of interest issues from accepting many thousands in campaign contributions from WMATA unions who they are supposed to be overseeing via the NVTC Board and WMATA Board.

Then there's their New Urbanist agenda. After 40 years of redeveloping Arlington New Urbanism has become a growth-for-the-sake-of-growth monster that's devouring formerly livable neighborhoods with more cars and vehicle trips, ever-more unaffordable housing, and continuing destruction of open space and the mature tree canopy. With the purpose of making the County an expensive urbanized mess within ten years.

Enough is enough. We deserve better, much better, from a bloated County Government and what we pay in ever-increasing taxes, which seem to only go for more Taj Mahal infrastructure for the so-called "Progressives'" favored special interests. Therefore AY endorses Audrey Clement for Arlington County Board.

Write-in Theo Stamos for Commonwealth's Attorney

Hi, Yupette,

I'm a 53 year old Yuppie with kids out of college several years. I live in Lyon Park.

I'm posting this to ask Arlington Voters to write-in Theo Stamos for Commonwealth's Attorney on November 5th.

We have enough problems with the homeless, drugs and alcohol, crime by non-residents, and free-range Millennials now. If Team Parisa takes control of the Commonwealth's Attorney's office it's going to be "Party's Over Here, in Arlington".

If I wanted to live in "vibrant" and "trendy" DC, I would. I don't need or want the bad behavior that's epidemic in DC moving here.

Thanks for a blog that's an alternative to a continuous stream of infomercials for the status quo, e.g., ArlNow, Sun Gazette, Inside Nova.

L.J.