Zimmerman's Plan B for Ballston - More National Security and Homeland Security Contractors

Hi, Yupette,

Now that NSF is leaving run-down Ballston what's Zimmy's back up plan for filling the aging buildings with surtax-paying corporations? Zimmy and Arlington Economic Development have devised a scheme called the Ballston Innovation Initiative, or BI2, to fill vacant older buildings with national security and homeland security contractors (now the warfighting is winding down in the Middle East and national security and homeland security budgets are being cut). So, Zimmy's 'vision' for Ballston is 'to imagine a place where in a 5-block radius, 8000 of the world's leading scientists, educators, and innovators work alongside each other. This is Ballston. A place where the impossible National Security problems become products that revolutionize the way humanity lives'.

So, think of the Ballston Innovation Initiative as a National Security Artisphere, with all sorts of fun events planned over the next few months, like National Security Deal Day on June 12th where national security entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to pitch businesses. On June 22nd, students from Virginia Tech and elsewhere will have the opportunity to compete for cash prizes for helping solve intractable National Security and Homeland Security problems during the BI2 Tech Throwdown. More fun events will be scheduled over the Summer. What the heck, Economic Development has $10 million a year to spend and only Zimmy is telling them how to spend it.

Terri - 22201

NSF Employees - "Ballston is Run Down and Tacky"

Hey, Yupette,

Want to know a big reason NSF is moving to Alexandria? Ballston is looking run down and the funds needed for fixing up the crumbling streets, brick-paver sidewalks, improve street lighting, and improve landscaping are going to the Artisphere, Signature, bikeshare, and a dozen other of the County Board's pet vanity projects. The County is giving $1.5 million to the Ballston BID every year, which is largely spent on public relations, and another $8 million this year for structural improvements to the Ballston Mall parking garage, which the County owns, to benefit the Washington Capitals practice arena. So the area around NSF is looking increasingly run-down. Check it out yourself. Watch out for the potholes on Wilson Blvd and the crumbling brick-paver sidewalks all over Ballston.

Barbara,
22201

Streetcars vs. Everything - The Mayhem Continues

Hey, Yupette,

Just to let you know the latest from Portland, Oregon, Streetcar Capital of the USA. The Streetcar Mayhem continues, here's a photo.

Ted, Portland Oregon

Time for a Moratorium on Additional Performing Arts Spending

Hey Yupette,

I found a graphic of the Arlington performing arts community's plans for future financial planning and am providing it as a public service. Why is Arlington County giving those wealthy wealthy people who are on the Signature Theater's Board of Directors any money whatsoever? Jay Fisette's domestic partner is on the Signature's BOD so was the County Board voting to bail out the Signature a conflict of interest for Giveaway Jay?

Anyway. here's the graphic. We really really need some responsible adults to exert some fiscal oversight in Arlington. Thanks for your blog.

Mark
Cherrydale

Gentrification Shell Game Continues on the Pike

Hey Yupette,

Seen the financials for the new unaffordable affordable apartment building on the Pike that's going to be constructed on the site of the old Shell station? Cost will be $32.2 million for 83 'affordable' units, or just over $388,000 per unit. More 'affordable' units for people with incomes of $37,000 and up (living wage in Arlington is $27, 310). Poor people who earn $8, $9, and $10 per hour and work on the Pike and in Bailey's are out of luck. Hey, it gets worse, people who work in the retail on the ground floor of The Shell Apartments won't be able to afford to live upstairs. Meanwhile, the building's owner and developer, AHC, is rolling is dough, having become a regional developer of  'gentrification housing'. I was not in favor of a housing authority for Arlington County until now, but have signed the petition the Greens are circulating. What kind of smart growth is it when people have to drive 40 miles to work in the restaurant they used to live down the street from?

Barbara, 22204

Donnellan Playing 3-Card Monte With Street Paving Funds

Hey Yupette,

My neighbors and I were promised by DES that our crumbling residential street would be repaved this Spring. Called DES to find out when this Spring. Turns out, after calling around DES, that our street won't be repaved until "sometime after June 30th". Why? The County Board's pressing wants are forcing the County Manager to shift funds from infrastructure needs to the County Board's pet projects (Artisphere, Arlington Mill, synthetic field replacement, etc.) until at least the end of FY 13 and possibly longer. I thought we approved bond funds for street repaving last year. Where are the street repaving funds going?

Thanks for your blog.

Karen, S. 34th Street

"Arlington Voter Registrar's Office Doesn't Control Democratic Caucuses - Chris Zimmerman Does"

Hi Yupette,

I called the Arlington Voter Registrar's Office yesterday and asked to speak with Linda Lindberg about the fraudulent voting in last Saturday's Democratic School Board caucus. Linda was in a meeting but one of her staff told me that "the Voter Registrar's Office has nothing to do with Democratic Party caucuses, we've heard these complaints before, the Arlington Voter Registrar's Office doesn't control Democratic Caucuses - Chris Zimmerman does".

All right. So here's a few questions for Mr. Zimmerman: How did we reach point where the election process for a non-partisan office involves obtaining votes from surrogates and non-residents to insure your candidate "wins"? Why did your caucus "facilitator" threaten to have members of the Green Party, who were passing out information about their housing initiative, arrested for trespassing on public property, a parking lot? Why do you tell Arlington Democrats that Democrats who insist on running in a primary rather than a caucus "will never be appointed to anything"? Thanks in advance for your answers.

Another Fed-Up Democrat