Bikeshare - More Arlington County Board Corporate Welfare

Hey Yupette,

First, thanks for this blog. Much appreciated by this former Democrat and current Independent.

I was almost hit twice by Capital Bikeshare riders while walking on the sidewalk in Virginia Square, where I live. Visited Capital Bikeshare's Web site twice to ask when Bikeshare was going to do something about the reckless behavior of its customers. Never received any response.

So I perused Capital Bikeshare's Web site again to so try to determine who's in charge at Capital Bikeshare. First thing I found is that Capital Bikeshare is no longer owned by Alta in Portland. Capital Bikeshare and other metropolitan bicycle rental companies are owned by a company named Motivate International, headquartered in New York City. This company is run by a former head of New York's Metropolitan Transit Authority.

Then I found an informative feature on the Fast Company Web site. Turns out Motivate International is owned by a corporate entity named Related Companies, a huge real estate developer. Who owns Related Companies? A mega billionaire named Stephen M. Ross.

Here's the link to the Fast Company Web page:

https://www.fastcompany.com/3055168/love-citi-bike-you-have-a-real-estate-developer-to-thank/

So I have to ask, why doesn't Motivate International provide helmets, safety vests, and riding classes to its customers? And why is the County Board always voting to subsidize this wealthy, wealthy company, which has very deep pockets?

Maybe someone can ask the County Board at it's next meeting.

Madison, 22201

More Car Diet Party's Over Here In Ballston

Hey, Yupette,

I live in soon-to-be-gridlocked Ballston, and walked over to the Merlex previously-owned vehicle lot on Glebe Road across from AED over the weekend. Even more packed with upscale vehicles than the last time I visited. This time there were Ferraris parked next to the Bentleys and Maseratis.

'Car Free Diet' is an even bigger County Government charade than 'Affordable Housing'. Every other County Board meeting another upzoning of the General Land Use Plan to pack more people and their vehicles into this neighborhood. Then bicycle fanatics like Fibbin' Libby Garvey drive around in their SUVs telling us we have to ride bicycles 24/7/365

Next big thing to generate more vehicle trips will be the grand opening of the new Alfa Romeo-Fiat-Maserati dealership at the other end of Glebe Road. Followed by the expansion of Car2Go. Followed by I-66 and I-95 Express Lanes extended a dozen miles farther out. When will it end? When the Urban Village becomes an Urban Nightmare with multi-modal gridlock. Meaning hundreds of vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians trying to use the same major intersections at the same time. When will that occur? Sooner than we think.

Thanks for this blog.

Sandy, 22201

amazon Headquarters Will Be In Crystal City

Hey Yupette

The VIPs at 2100 just got the news. amazon has decided to locate its second headquarters in Crystal City. Nothing beyond that's been decided, but we've been told to be prepared to 'fast track' whatever details are worked out between amazon and the County Board. And, yes, the County has offered to rename Jefferson Davis Highway Jeff Bezos Highway.

We've been told that amazon moving into Crystal City will be like the reverse of the Feds moving out starting 20 years ago. Not going to happen overnight, but will definitely happen.

Also, we've been told to be prepared for several years of 'lean government'. Meaning amazon is not going to contribute much towards whatever new infrastructure needs to be constructed. Arlington Police Department has already announced it's not going to pursue minor offenders (like bicycle scofflaws, LOL)

So thanks for your blog.

2100

Greedy Local Media Boost Bicycle Bozos

Hey, Yupette,

Thanks for the feature about the Bikesters' First Mom, Libby Garvey.

But the Bikesters wouldn't be able to do their free-range thing if it weren't for the increasingly irresponsible, increasingly greedy, Local Media.

Local Media Publishers are afraid to offend any advertiser, potential advertiser, or special interest. So you're never going to see any of them editorialize about the complete lack of bicycle safety in Arlington. Let alone order an investigative report about the number of bikesters who bicycle DWI, have PTSD issues, or are out-and-out sociopaths.

As with guns, alcohol, and tobacco advertising decades ago, Publishers profit from boosting bicycles. They don't worry about consequences may be suffered as the result of the Bikesters' behavior because Publishers don't live anywhere near where the bad behavior occurs (e.g., B-R Corridor).

As with guns, alcohol, tobacco, and pub crawls, the cumulative amount of bad behavior by the bikesters will eventually reach the level of Editoral hand-wringing, very likely precipitated by some event like a Millennial's infant in a stroller hit by another Millennial DWI on a bicycle, who lost his driver's license as the result of multiple DWI convictions.

In the meantime, stay tuned for more of the same, in ArlNow and elsewhere.

J.L., 22201

Does the County Board Ever Listen to Voters?

Hey, Yupette,

Does the County Board ever listen to voters? Not apparently when it came to the County Board's FY 19 Budget. The FY 19 Budget is "balanced" by cutting popular services which are socially useful and cost little (Arlington Independent Media and monthly secure paper shredding, for example) while spending huge amounts on special interest activities and their constituencies, bicycle trails, all weather soccer fields, aquatics, Taj Mahal recreation centers and schools, and "regionalized" neighborhood parks, so-called affordable housing, and health services.

I took the photo of the monthly shredding event in the Trades Center on April 7th. Hundreds of Arlington residents stood in the cold waiting to shred old bills, tax documents, etc. The program costs $20,000 per year. Did anyone at 2100 do a cost-benefit analysis on this program and on other programs and services being cut? Why start these and other low cost programs and services (WERA-FM is another) if they're going to be cut a few years later?

But we're dealing with one-party government that's controlled the County for almost 40 years, so anything is possible. If they think I'm going to re-elect any one of them based on their party's attacks on Donald Trump, the NRA and local country clubs they're living in a Limo Liberal fantasy world.

Paul, 22204

Secret Amazon Deal Includes Country Club Acquisition

Hi, Yupette,

What's the real deal about real estate taxation of the Army-Navy County Club and Washington Golf and Country Club? Real deal is that County Government needs land the two country clubs occupy very soon for public infrastructure if Amazon decides to locate another headquarters here, and within the next several years otherwise.

As has been mentioned on this blog before, elected and appointed VIPs who run County Government and the Arlington Public School System have long been addicted to New Urbanism, commonly referred to as Smart Growth, which is mixed-use redevelopment-for-the-sake-of-redevelopment imposed upon low and medium density suburban neighborhoods. This redevelopment paradigm is also also referred to as 'more Clarendons everywhere' among Arlington's planners, few of whom choose to live in Arlington, let alone Clarendon.

Arlington has been ruled by a one political party for almost four decades. Although Arlington is controlled by self-described 'Progressives' the County is actually regressing from authoritarian government to a repressive regime, like the People's Republic of China. Not surprising given the human behavior that's been either criminalized or demonized over the past 17 years, both nationally and locally.

So Washington Golf and Country Club and the Army-Navy Club have been lumped with Donald Trump, the NRA, and a laundry list of the Regime's other "deplorables" for the purpose of forcing a sale of most or all of their open space for various types of new infrastructure, from new schools to new upscale townhouses. Assessed value of ANCC is about $157 million and WGCC about $87 million. The amount both clubs pay in real estate taxes every year is about what the County spends on "regionalizing" Arlington's neighborhood parks to provide upscale infrastructure to several local jurisdictions.

As the deal stands now, Amazon would heavily contribute to redeveloping ANCC and WGCC to provide housing and other upscale amenities for its employees while the County and APS would have at least 100 acres for new schools and regional sports and recreation infrastructure.

County Staff, Advisory Commissions, and Civic Association 'community leaders' have been trained or are being trained to facilitate the Amazon deal. Latest were the Advisory Commission Chairs at last night's secret County Board meeting.

Thanks for this blog.

2100

County Office Bldg. to Receive Taj Mahal Makeover

Hey, Yupette,

The Democrats who've controlled Arlington for more than 35 years constantly complain about the Trump Administration and the Republicans who control the Virginia General Assembly but behave the same in Arlington.

Latest extravagant waste of tax dollars by the Democratic Leadership is their proposed $35.9 million Taj Mahal makeover of the County Office Building (now referred to as the Bozman Building after the late "Queen Ellen" Bozman), for completion of renovations to the office building the County owns at 2020 14th Street, and for miscellaneous other purposes.

The County Office Building last received a major renovation in 2006 and has received many expensive upgrades over the past 12 years.

As has become the usual practice, the County Board's Democratic Leadership put this on the Consent Agenda and made it off limits for public discussion. Item 11, due to be rubber-stamp approved on March 17th, will appropriate $2.6 million for architecture, design, and construction management services related to the $35.9 makeover(s). Since the Staff Report for this item is only two pages it's unknown where the $35.9 million will actually be obtained and used for.

According to the Staff Report the $35.9 million cost of the Taj Mahal makeover will come (among other sources) from a so-called "tenant improvement allowance","brokerage fee reimbursement", and "free rent" from the building's landlord, JBG, which has come before the County Board on many occasions seeking and receiving approval for major redevelopment projects. Is this deal even legal?

Meanwhile, Public Safety employees bitterly complained during the County Board's "Open Door Monday" yesterday about being under-strength, over-stressed, and under-compensated. Next fiscal year's budget will be balanced by increasing taxes and fees for residents and businesses and reducing and eliminating services.

Obvious to me, and many others, that "transparency" has joined the list of County Government oxymora, together with "car-free diet", "affordable housing", "smart growth". and "urban village".

Thanks for publishing this blog.

B.H., 22205