Kojo Nnamdi's show on WAMU radio today at noon focused on the June 12 Virginia primary elections.[UPDATE by Lowell: Here are few highlights from the show.
*Discussion of Mark Tate situation. Bob Gibson says that there are some "rather arcane campaign finance law violations being alleged on [Tate's] part...He of course claims that this is a political vendetta."
*Gibson on the Lambert-McEachin race: It's a "very hot race...probably the biggest of the Democratic primaries." "People on the inside give Donald McEachin a fairly good shot of unseating [Lambert]," but given low turnout, "anything can happen."
*Galligan-Barker (Kojo mispronounced their names twice): Bill Turque says there's "clearly a Democratic tide" and that Democrats "have a good chance." Robert Puentes says that "people are desperate for some other kinds of solutions" to the problems facing Northern Virginia.
*Providence District Board of Supervisors race: Bill Turque says this is a "very hotly contested primary" between Linda Smyth, a "protege" of Gerry Connolly, and Charlie Hall. "Whoever can capitalize on enough angry voters can win this primary."
*"Amy from McLean" asks about rail to Dulles Airport, says that the the "over 500" people at the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors meeting on Monday were "appalled." Going to give a "multi-billion dollar public project" less than a week of review and no public hearing...this "borders on malfeasance." Robert Puentes says that the Rosslyn-Ballston corridor is a "national exemplar" of smart growth. Amy notes that the reason Rosslyn-Ballston corridor is successful is because rail is underground. Amy adds that we are "absolutely adamant" that we can't "make a Ballston out of Tysons Corner if we have an overhead rail." Puentes says that the caller's frustration with lack of transparency, "lip service given to performance and accountability" reflects the fact that the "public trust is really at stake."
*Del. David Albo (R-Booze Industry) says most races will have turnout of 1%, maybe 3%, and conservatives are "very dedicated." Albo says that Baise-Connolly will be a "rough race." The message is "your property taxes have doubled since 2001...does anyone believe their quality of life has doubled?" Also, "Fairfax County has just been completely wiped out with pavement." "The incumbent supervisors have to answer for...this massive overdevelopment." Thinks the transportaton compromise takes it off the table politically. People "aren't going to see dirt turning by November."
*Brian Moran says "the wind is at our backs." Touts the "transportation compromise." Definitely prefers Warner/Kaine to Bush/Cheney "any day of the week." Virginia Republicans have a "real schism in...political philosophy." On the Democratic side, it's more about personalities than political philosophy. Moran believes we can pick up the four seats to win back the State Senate; probably can't win back the House but we can pick up 3-6 seats. Opportunities not just in NOVA, also in Virginia Beach, a couple along Southside. Transportation compromise is "a mixed bag" as a campaign issue this year. Still has to be adopted by localities, there are threats of litigation. "I'm interested to see once these new taxes are imposed what type of payback we get."
*Bill Turque says that Linda Smyth could lose her seat over unhappiness with regard to Dulles rail, lack of transparency, cost, etc. Joan Dubois is "definitely vulnerable" on this issue.
*Charlie Hall calls in, says this is "more than just a road funding issue." People have seen the board adding development without proper road systems to support them. When people come to the Board with their concerns, the Board has been, in a very visible/in your face way NOT been listening. At the meeting on Monday, voted in front of 500 people and said "we really don't need your opinions, we can do this on our own." This is "emblematic of a board that is determined to go its own way no matter what concerns and fears they're triggering in the community."
*Bill Turque says that Hall-Smyth race can "very definitely" turn on this issue. People angry about traffic, mobility, Tysons rail project can definitely turn this race.
*Audrey Clement of the Arlington Coalition for Sensible Transportation strongly supports the Tysons Tunnel, calls Scott Monett a "hero."
Call 800-433-8850
Email Kojo@WAMU.org (that's a j)
Points to consider raising:
* The County Board of Supervisors has refused to hold a public hearing on the final project proposal before they vote on it. It's the most ambitious transportation project in Fairfax history.
* The Governor said if the localities tell him to build underground, he will do so. The County has not told the Governor, "We want you to build underground."
* The project to be voted on as of now is the aerial option. It should be competitively bid and include speedy and careful examination of the tunnel option.
* The American Society of Civil Engineers, an independent, highly-respected professional organization, endorsed the tunnel option as superior to aerial, more cost-effective and in the best, long-term economics interests of our region.
* Information available at TysonsTunnel.org
notice a trend here :-p
If an alien landed in the middle of Providence and looked at the political (and decimated environmental) landscape, they would scratch their head and wonder what the labels of Dem and Rep mean anyway. The unanimity of the Board (8 Dems, 2 Reps) approving developments without the infrastructure in place to support it has the stink of Dems abandoning good governance in favor of monetary gains and/or furthering political careers.
Let's vote them out.
The moral of this story is that these developments don't just happen. They are planned and they are planned for long term existence. This is how we should be approaching development in Fairfax County.
It is appalling for me to see the condos packed in like sardines near the Fair Oaks Mall in Fairfax County. On the other hand its better than the spawling McMansions. Studies show that densely populated ares trend Democratic. That's because people come to believe in their mutual interest in sharing responsibility and building communities. So I am hopeful that my area will become a hotbed of Democratic activity.