County Board's Long Range Agenda: Massive Urban In-Fill Countywide

Hey Yupette,

Seen the County Board's Consent and Regular Meeting agendas for the September 21st and 24th meetings? They're up on the arlingtonva.us site.

If you take a close look you'll notice that the meeting agenda reflects the County Board's long-term goal of in-fill urbanization across the County. To benefit developers, REITs and non-resident County bureaucrats who are the County's de facto primary decision makers.

What's worse, non-resident County employees who are responsible for economic development and planning are in-filling residential neighborhoods with multi-jurisdictional public infrastructure, paid for by County residents. How many non-residents do you think will drive to use the Longbridge recreation megaplex? Lots.

Speaking of driving, check out all the additional parking spaces that will be created in the mega-infill Pen Place corporate welfare package for Vornado. In a county where the Board of Supervisors spent $3 million promoting a car free diet last year while approving the construction of 3,000 new parking spaces via site plans.

Residents of Aurora Hills, Fairlington, and Williamsburg have the right to be outraged. Their neighborhoods are the latest 'redevelopment opportunities' offered to the REITS by a County Government that's completely corrupt.

Thanks for posting this blog.

Ken, 22207

Wakefield Students Grade Classrooms C-Minus, Activities A-Plus

Hi Yupette,

Just to let you know that my kids think the classrooms in the new Wakefield HS are dismal but give the activities an A+. School will be open to the public on September 22nd, so you can see for yourself.

Nice to see you in Fairlington last night. Wasn't Jim Moran a hoot? Yes, he should retire.

Karen J.

12,000 Illegal Home Searches in DC Metro Area Since 2001...

Hey Yupette,

So the New York Times and Washington Post are disclosing the extent NSA has been conducting electronic surveillance on Americans since 2001? But how about the people who don't own personal communications devices, aren't on the Internet, or are 'suspicious' in some way? Not to worry. National and local law enforcement have experts in lock-picking and conducting warrantless searches on the scene while 'suspicious persons' are away from home. To the tune of 12,000 warrantless searches since 9-11-2001. Oh, they've installed hard-to-detect bugging devices in the homes of people who are really suspicious. Don't want to have your home searched while your're at work? Don't do anything suspicious.

Regards,
Peter

Time is Right for Jim Moran to Announce He's Retiring

Hi, Yupette,

I also attended the Arlington Civic Federation candidates' forum on Tuesday.

I was impressed by the younger Democrats in the General Assembly, Patrick Hope, Rob Krupicka, and Alfonso Lopez. They have lots of energy and get good legislation passed in a House of Delegates that's overwhelmingly Republican.

Seems to me now's the appropriate time for Congressman Moran to announce he's retiring. He hasn't done much in Congress since the Tea Party took control of the House. Even without his problems with ethics and his famous temper he's been just hanging out in the House of Representatives for years.

Time to give the 8th District a Representative who can get legislation passed that's important to the District while keeping faith with his or her progressive values. Time's right for Jim Moran announce he's retiring, and for a multi-candidate primary next year to choose his successor.

22207

Civfed Forum: Clement the Only Serious County Board Candidate

Hey, Yupette,

I attended the CivFed's candidate forum last night and was not impressed by either Jay Fisette or write-in candidate Stephen Holbrook, who showed up dressed in a Hawaiian shirt and handed out copies of his platform, a poorly-written rambling statement against taxes, food stamps, homeless shelters, Medicaid, and so on.

Jay Fisette's presentation also consisted of rambling statements which were not true (fiscally conservative, fair and independent voice on the County Board) and statements promoting his personal beliefs and lifestyle.

(Since ethics in government was a topic of discussion among candidates last night, can Jay please provide a list of his domestic partner's consulting clients who regularly come before the County Board)?

Which leaves Audrey Clement, who presented a list of specific proposals for improving Arlington County Government and residents' quality of life, ranging from imposing fiscal constraints on runaway spending, to improving Arlington's public libraries, to installing solar on all the County's public buildings for electric power and providing hot water for building heating and various uses inside buildings.

No contest. Any fair and impartial observer would have scored Audrey Clement the clear winner over Jay Fisette.

It was disconcerting to observe that the number of persons who attended last night's forum who are not CivFed delegates exceeded the number of delegates.

Later,

K

Who is Jeffrey P. Bezos and What Does He Want from the Washington Post?

Hey Yupette,

It's only a matter of a few months before the Washington Post is owned by Jeff Bezos. So what's Jeff Bezos like? Short answer, he's an Ivy League Yupster who's looking for a big life change - from tech to politics. Plus, working conditions in Amazon warehouses are dismal and Amazon workers are inundating the media with complaints that Amazon is the 'WalMart of the Web'. Jeff and Amazon need the kind of PR right now that only the ownership of a major national newspaper can provide. Jeff's also impressed by the social position and political contacts Don Graham's accumulated over the past couple decades he's run the Post. Watch for Jeff to shelve his esoteric projects in order to spend his time mixing with the movers and shakers.

Later,

Renny (Amazon Management 2009-2011)

Who is Richard L Connor and What Does He Want from the Sun Gazette?

Hey Yupette,

Thanks for this blog and for giving us an alternative to the same-old same-old propaganda from 2100 Clarendon Boulevard.

I did a Web search on the name "Richard L. Connor", who apparently controls the Sun Gazette and other local newspapers formerly owned by American Community Newspapers.

First thing that popped up was this: "Maine Today Media accuses former CEO of stealing $500,000".

Oh, Rich Connor was also sued by Wilkes-Barre Publishing for $250,000 that he allegedly misappropriated while running the Wilkes Barre Times-Leader.

So what does Rich want from the Sun Gazette?

Isn't it enough that Northern Virginia's premier Nanny Newsie (sorry Patch editors) Scott McCaffrey is on the executive committee of the Arlington Chamber of Commerce? How far are the plutocrats going to take the local media anyway? I'm surprised the weeklies and their blogs aren't running full page infomercials from  REITs that are looking to totally urbanize inside-the-beltway. Stay tuned.

Carole, 22205