Sierra Club Likely to Endorse Beyer

Hey, Yupette,

Thanks for your blog.

I'm a long-time member of the Sierra Club and am appalled by thousands and thousands of Land Rovers tearing up the environment around the world and destroying fragile ecosystems.

However, you have to be aware that hundreds, maybe thousands, of Sierra Club members also own Land Rovers or Range Rovers and are enthusiastic participants in off-road events - in the United States and around the World.

So, it's quite likely the Sierra Club will endorse Don Beyer for Congress. I'm only a member of the Sierra Club because of a personal (largely futile) commitment to environmental preservation. Unfortunately, Sierra Club members are mostly conservationists, not preservationists. Big difference.

Tom - 22101

Don Beyer's Plan for the Environment -- Toss It Under the Range Rover

 

Hey, Yupette,

Whatever Don Beyer may SAY about his commitment towards ameliorating Global Warming / Climate Change fact is that he's done little or nothing all the time he's been in a position of wealth and power in Northern Virginia to prevent Climate Change.

I don't see any renewable energy installed at any of Don Beyer's auto dealership locations. Except for a few models of Kia, Land Rover, and Volvo vehicles, what Don's been selling for many years are luxury gas guzzlers that require premium gas. And lots of photos are on the Web of Land Rovers and Range Rovers tearing up the landscape. Like the 510 horsepower supercharged 2014 Range Rover SUV that Don is featuring right now at Land Rover of Alexandria

If Don is so bent on preventing Global Warming from occurring why wasn't he organizing Global Conferences to Prevent Global Warming in Geneva when he was Ambassador to Switzerland?

Another selection, another PlutoCrat selected. When will the Sheeple wake up?

Dennis - 22205

Pike Streetcar Referendum Unlikely

Hey Yupette,

What's the Arlington Democratic Party's strategy for more tax-borrow-spend? Downplay the current and previous extravagant spending, delay additional extravagant spending until after November's elections, ignore opponents of wasteful and extravagant spending (the Pike streetcar), and use the County's taxpayer-funded PR propaganda machine and development-for-the-sake-of-development-friendly local media (Post, ArlNow, Sun Gazette, AIM) to boost Democratic candidates whenever possible.

Once there's an all-Democrat County Board again (never mind Libby Garvey) it will be back to more of the same - a $100 million Longbridge Aquatic Center, $450 million Pike streetcar, lots of $300,000 and $500,000 gimmes on the County Board's consent agenda for the County Board's pet people and organizations.

So don't look for a Pike streetcar referendum, 'cause there's not going to be one.

Fed Up Democrat

D.C. City Council Dems Vote to Throw Streetcars Under the Bus

Hi Yupette,

Biggest news in yesterday's Post Metro Section? D.C. City Council Democrats voted to sharply cut funding for the proposed streetcar system approved by outgoing Mayor Vince Gray. Seems that mismanagement by the District's Department of Transportation, escalating costs, and the huge projected cost of Vince Gray's proposed 37-mile streetcar system, make constructing a large system fiscally impractical. The H. Street streetcar line currently under construction will cost at least $487 million.

So where are the savings from not building Vince Gray's expansive and expensive streetcar system going? For tax relief to D.C.'s middle class which has long suffered from the New Urbanists' gentrification agenda. The City Council also raised both income taxes and taxes on services, targeted at the New Urbanists. Appears the Democratic City Council majority is much more attuned to the needs of the middle class than their Democratic counterparts in Northern Virginia.

Real Democrat 22201

May 31st Site Plan Forum to Fast-Track 'Development for the Sake of Development'

Hi, Yupette,

As promised, Barbara's Donnellan's and Jay Fisette's plans to fast-track New Urbanist 'Development for the Sake of Development' to benefit out-of-state REITs and local developers are entering the charade public meeting phase. Planning Commission and County Staff will hold the meeting at Virgnia Hospital Center's Hazel Auditorium on Saturday, May 31st, at 9AM. The important decisions were made months ago at 2100 Clarendon Boulevard.

As described  by several news blogs in March, Donnellan and Fisette are acquiescing to demands from developers who complain that the site plan review process is too cumbersome and is used as a way to pick their pockets for community benefits in exchange for site plan approvals.

The Planning Commission has already been told to approve whatever the County Board pre-approves behind closed doors in the County Board Offices. 'Coordinators' who report to Barbara Donnellan have been assigned to monitor the Planning, Housing, Transportation, and other advisory commissions to ensure their members don't stray from what was agreed-to by the County Board.

Few County Staff (including Donnellan) who are implementing the changes live in Arlington County. It's obvious that the County's bloated CPHD and DES staffs will be among the primary beneficiaries of the changes.

Michelle, 22207

Arlington Police Ignore Bad Behavior by Rolling Thunder

Hey, Yupette,

I live in Lyon Park and Rolling Thunder has arrived in Clarendon. It's obvious that the Arlington Police Department is ignoring bad behavior by Rolling Thunder's bikers. Like noise from Harleys with no mufflers (straight through pipes). Like a massive amount of reckless driving by the bikers, including several riding on the sidewalk. Like groups of bikers intimidating motorists. Nice cool night last night and of course I had to keep the windows closed and a/c on. Saw the complaints about Rolling Thunder on the Sun Gazette blog, so it's not just me and my neighbors. Apparently the Arlington Police could care less. Rolling Thunder is more overtime for them, like the pub crawls.

Thanks for your blog.

Rob, Lyon Park

County Board Signals It May Be Willing To Alter Revenue Sharing Formula With APS

Hey, Yupette,

County Board and School Board met in a joint session at the School Board this evening to present their respective 10-year Capital Improvement Programs. Two County Board members indicated that the County Board may be willing to alter the County Board-School Board revenue sharing agreement to give APS additional funds to build classrooms when classrooms are needed in FY 17 and beyond. John Vihstadt and Libby Garvey asked a number of questions about alternatives to more building of expensive infrastructure to meet increased demand

After the County Board left APS continued with a CIP work session, which included a presentation by Assistant Superintendent for Facilities and Operations, John Chadwick, about the costs of new school construction. Turns out the major reason new schools in Arlington cost so much to construct is because new schools in Arlington are loaded with amenities that have little to do with education. If the goal of APS were to provide enough capacity when capacity is needed APS could accomplish that by constructing buildings and additions with the essentials and defer constructing the amenities.

Unfortunately, parents of Arlington's K-12 students won't let APS do that  They heavily lobby the School Board for more amenities. Every new school has to have the same, and more, amenities than the previous new school. Also, new schools are constructed to provide evening and weekend programs to communities near the schools and to special interests.

All that would be appropriate if Smart Growth weren't packing as many people into the 16 square miles of Arlington that can be redeveloped as possible. New Urbanism is hugely expensive, to the point where Arlington Government and APS will be close to their their borrowing limits for many years. It remains to be seen how much longer Arlington residents, voters, and taxpayers will pay for Taj Mahal infrastructure.

Pat, 22201