Today, TysonsTunnel.org is busing over supporters to attend a Board of Supervisors session on the Tysons-Dulles rail project. But those supporters will not be allowed to speak. Instead, they will be silent witnesses as the board finally shows whether it really supports the Tysons Tunnel, or is just paying lip service.Unfortunately, we already have a strong clue. On May 4, TysonsTunnel.org asked all 10 supervisors to hold a public hearing today, so that citizens can speak their minds before the board votes to commit our money to an elevated train through Tysons that almost nobody wants.
As of Sunday night, according to TysonsTunnel.org director Scott Monett, the board still hadn't responded to the organization's request. As Scott acknowledged in last night's RK blog radio talk show, Fairfax supervisors appear to be drifting toward a hugely unpopular, disastrous decision to fund the elevated train.
We all know the saying: Actions speak louder than words.
The board, especially Chairman Gerry Connolly and Providence Supervisor Linda Smyth, want it both ways. They want the warm fuzzy feeling of saying they prefer a tunnel, but their actions show a different agenda altogether.
RaisingKaine.com has done a wonderful job in recent weeks of pulling together the whole picture. Gov. Kaine said recently that the Fairfax board has not asked him to consider a tunnel. And Gerry Connolly has falsely said his only two choices are an elevated train or nothing at all. And of course Linda Smyth, as is her history on the big issues, has had little to say at all about what action the board should take.
When your choices are bad, you need to try to create some better choices. If the board really supports a tunnel, they'll do things that TysonsTunnel.org has requested.
1) They'll allow a public hearing without further delay.
2) On June 18, they will insist on full competitive bidding, as a condition of releasing Fairfax County funds for the rail project.
3) And they will also insist that a tunnel project will be considered before signing off on Fairfax's share of the funding.
Fairfax's funding is vital to the success of any rail project. Gov. Kaine can't move ahead without it. Scott Monett agreed on last night's show that the board would have enormous influence if they used their funding as leverage to fight for what almost all Fairfax citizens want: a tunnel, not an el.
This Board of Supervisors has made a habit of claiming its hands are tied as a reason not to do what is needed and right. But that tired game won't work here. If they passively sign a blank check for an elevated train, instead of fighting now when they can, voters will not forgive them.
Starting today, we need actions, not just words.
Charlie Hall,
Candidate, Providence District supervisor in the upcoming June 12 primary
Charlie's got it right. The Connolly/Smyth machine wants it both ways. They want to pay lip service to the overwhelming popular support for a tunnel, yet continue behind the scenes (and probably in their secret, closed door Board of Supervisor meetings) to facilitate the EL.
Smyth and Connolly don't want to upset some of their biggest campaign contributors who want something, anything to justify the high density development in Tysons that will enrich them. Also, what strings is the influential Bechtel Corp, builder of the EL, pulling behind the scenes?
So even if the Board declares today that there will be a public hearing on the issue, it is unlikely that hearing would have any effect on the Board's actions. Such a declaration would give Smyth the political cover to say "See, we're listening to the citizens". The hearing would be conducted after the June 12 Providence Supervisor primary and the Board could then do whatever they want (read that support the EL).
The problem is too many Democrats think that it is a done deal and that vetoing the aerial plan would jepradize the entire project.
Tom Davis has set this up and is trying to persuade Democrats to take the blame for his behind the scenes manuvering.
They need to do the right thing, insist on a tunnel.
I gather from your previous comments that you support Connolly and Smyth and it's widely anticipated that they will approve the aerial option. And given your position on the tunnel (which I agree with), where does that leave you with supporting the current BOS?
Did you come to the BOS today and hear the staff briefing and BOS questions?
Ain't no way this BOS is going to vote for the tunnel? If you believe this, could I have what you are smoking.
Gerry Connolly almost choked on his words while talking about the need to have a public hearing where citizens would get to speak. He said that he had heard enough.
Kauffman was great...maybe this was already fixed and everyone was in his/her position to act out the part where they thought they could pull the wool over our eyes.
Like other hearings, this was a done deal. Just like on June 18....Done Deal. This BOS will vote for the elevated.
The time for change is now! Start by voting for Charlie and put him in the Providence District Supervisor's office.
So my next question to you is: if the BOS does stab you in the back and vote for the aerial, are we going to see a scathing post on GOTV ripping the BOS a new one?
The.
Fix.
Is.
In.
Got it?
Oh, I forgot, they do have more facts! They held secret meetings to discuss policy information with MWAA and the Dept of Rail and Public Transportation. They would seem to think that it's important to not give the public too many facts...we might get confused.
That the Board would ignore such a call from the challenger to Connolly's favored Linda Smyth is predictable, and fully in keeping with the pleas of ordinary citizens over the years, whose requests repeatedly fall on deaf ears.
But to ignore TysonsTunnel.org as well, with its 20,000 energized supporters?
Like I said earlier, we have an established culture on the Board of "hearing no citizens". We need to stop it, and the way to start is to vote for Charlie Hall on June 12th.