Tonight at 6pm there is a public hearing on the Garages for the Dulles Rail, Phase II.

Conceptual development proposals for Dulles Rail Phase 2 garages are being considered at a public hearing TONIGHT, Wednesday May 8, 2013 at 6.00 pm by the Loudoun County Board of Supervisors. More information will be available after tonight’s meeting.

Several points to consider:

1. The Desman Dulles Rail Phase 2 Parking Study report prepared for Loudoun County in April 2012 was premised on computer modeling results provided to Desman by WMATA based on outputs used in the 2002 draft Dulles Rail Environmental Impact Statement. A long time computer professional who has worked for a governmental agency with direct knowledge of the model used explained that the model was “custom made” for WMATA use on Dulles Rail ridership projections incorporating assumptions not used in other modeling studies for projecting traffic demand in Northern Virginia.

2. Desman reported to Loudoun County Board during its April 2012 presentation that WMATA could not/would not provide more current information based on subsequent modeling and analyses of projected Dulles Rail ridership with potential origins and destinations of Silver Line passengers. After the Desman BOS presentation, the project leader was asked why updated information based on current demographic and economic conditions was not used. He responded (words to the effect): “We were told by WMATA that the computer model was no longer available for our use because WMATA had either discarded or destroyed the model.”

3. The Loudoun County conceptual development proposal for garages does not include an option for the selected contractor and operator to provide some surface parking initially and/or phasing of garage development based on ridership demand using current economic and demographic conditions.

4. The actual demand for garage use will depend on factors and variables other than overall rail ridership demand including: garage pricing, local and express bus service provided to garages and elsewhere from various communities, its cost and frequency, pricing options for carpool and vanpools etc.

5. Nancy Gourley, head of Loudoun County Transit, confirmed last week that over 90% of their express bus passengers responded in a 2007 survey their wish to remain LCT passengers after the Silver Line opens, even if the local gasoline tax subsidy used to reduce bus fares, currently $7 each way with a pass, is removed and the cost of service becomes as much as $12 each way. When the 2002 draft and 2004 final Dulles Rail EIS reports were prepared, express bus service from Loudoun County was in its early stages of growth. It appears that WMATA and MWAA did not consider any of the updated demographic, economic or ridership demand factors and changed conditions in their 2012 Phase 2 environmental assessment report.

6. Thelma Drake, Virginia Department of Rail and Public Transit Administrator, confirmed in an April 2012 conversation that DRPT is relying on Silver Line ridership information prepared and/or reviewed by MWAA, WMATA and US Federal Transit Administration.

7. Financing for construction and operation of any private developer built parking facilities will be contingent on prospective completed property value at stabilization to be determined by real estate appraisals and financial feasibility studies that account for the variables outlined above.

8. WMATA General Manager Richard Sarles made a presentation to the Loudoun County BOS in April 2012 and has not provided updated ridership and revenue subsequently. Sarles made a presentation at the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission on May 2, 2013. Supervisor Ken Reid, the Loudoun County representative and other elected local representatives to NVTC did not ask any questions about potential Silver Line ridership, revenues and costs.

The lack of questioning and due diligence by public officials with decision making responsibility for Dulles Rail Phase 2 reminds me of the Japanese proverb about three wise monkeys: See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.

Rob Whitfield
Dulles Corridor Users Group

If ever the reader desired to look at the slow decay of reasoning skills and sensibility in our country, one need look no further than the article in Leesburg Today (and especially the comments) about “Open Carry” night in Downtown Leesburg, VA.

First, let me tell a story.  I’m chatting with a good friend of mine a few months ago about “green” this and “green” that, and how, though I believe we should be good stewards of our environment, that it’s the not the first thing on my mind in the morning and that the constant preaching about Mother Gaia bugged me about as much as Jimmy Swaggart would bug him.  He then said, “It’s not always about politics…” To which I responded, “Then why can’t I go to my local Deli [Puccio's New York Deli] without seeing a RESOLUTION from our TOWN COUNCIL that it’s bad for the planet for me to eat meat?”

No answer.

Flash forward to today, when another Downtown Leesburg establishment decides to inaugurate “Open Carry Wednesday” to support its customers in the law enforcement community (and otherwise) who believe in upholding and protecting their second-amendment right to bear arms.

The first reaction one might have is that it’s just not right to compare these two things…they’re SO different.

Well…that’s a proper reaction, because they ARE different.

First, with “Meatless Mondays” the businesses themselves didn’t have the idea…someone who doesn’t eat meat did.  And they sold it to the businesses as a way to be “community oriented” and save the planet.  ”Open Carry Wednesday” was completely the idea of the business owner.

Second, with “Meatless Mondays” the folks who don’t eat meat (who don’t need a meatless Monday…because they don’t eat meat) strive to convince municipalities to ENDORSE their idea...to bless it…complete with a Mayor’s signature.  The restaurant who started “Open Carry Wednesdays” asked for no such blessing.

So they are different.  But there are similarities:

In both cases, the customers have the choice to eat at these establishments on Mondays, on Wednesdays, both, or not at all, and second, they can do so based on their beliefs in whether the restaurant in questions adheres to their political or philosophical views on the subject…or based on the food.

The first time I saw the Meatless Mondays ad at Puccio’s I thought, “Holy Schneikes, what is the world coming to.”  Then I ordered the Gyro sandwich.   You see, they made the choice to still provide meat for those who still want it…even on Mondays, and I made the choice to eat there, even though they expressed to me, through Town edict, that I was contributing to the collapse of the ecosystem.

When I heard about “Open Carry Wednesday,” I decided to show up…NOT carrying, and eat there anyway, because a) I support the idea, and b) I like the food. But they still served me even though I wasn’t packing. Imagine that.

Frankly, I believe everyone is simply taking themselves too seriously if they think that carrying a gun is “creepy”…my favorite comment on the Open Carry article, responding to someone else’s thoughts on how disappointed they were in the “civilized” DC Metro area having such an “uncivilized” establishment as this :

As civilized as the DC Metro area? Really? Are you including DC in that area? When did such a high crime rate become civilized? Which part of the DC population do you consider civilized? The criminals carrying the guns, or the law abiding citizens who can’t?

Not necessarily the safest place in town? Let’s watch and see who gets robbed or assaulted on Wednesday nights. And likely the victims (1st responders) will call 911 for some good guys with guns (2nd responders) to come help them.

I don’t know much, but I know that the safest place to be in Leesburg on Wednesday night is likely at the Cajun Experience, and that Puccio’s still has the best Gyro’s.  So there you go…EQUAL…OPPORTUNITY.

One last thing: since that first Meatless Monday experience at Puccios, I’ve actually tried some vegetarian meals around town.  Some of them are great.  I fiercely still support the eating of meat, but it’s a learning experience. It would be encouraging for those who don’t know much about guns to show up at Cajun Experience on Wednesdays and chat it up with those who are openly a part of the “gun culture” (which means they know more about guns than those who aren’t) and ask their opinion about, I don’t know…THIS.  You might learn something.

You see, being “open-minded” and deliberate in your thinking and making sure you’ve looked at things from all angles and listened to those who disagree with you and understand their thoughts on controversial topics…that door swings both ways. Doesn’t it?

(BTW, be sure and vote on the page (to the left) whether you would be more likely to go to the restaurant or not based on Open Carry Wednesday).

In the name of “Form-Based Code” (or it’s sister, “Smart-Growth”) planners are taking on the role of enforcing “quality of life” controls on how all land is developed, designed, AND used.  They do this based on how they believe things should be, not how they are.  They do it for the purpose of…well…molding human behavior to their liking.

It’s not only intrusive, it’s insulting to the intelligence of anyone who is a part of the modern middle class…notably a high percentage of them who live in viable, safe, and attractive communities with a yard and the ability to maintain a little privacy and security from an urban area, without being isolated and alone and without help if you need it.

They are people who love to have neighbors, thus move into…neighborhoods, want to raise their kids safely, and even more importantly want their children to have the same opportunity for a house with room…and a yard to play in, grow a garden, entertain.  Form-Based Code is just one facet of a series of rules and regulations relating to “Smart Growth” that is being put into place all over the country, and though there are a lot of promises these initiatives make, none of them have come true…anywhere it’s tried, and along the way, it does more damage in the way of inflating property values and causing more urban and rural problems than ever conceived of in suburban neighborhoods.

Below are comments by a local business owner in Leesburg, Virginia expressing the confusion that this “comprehensive planning” and New Urbanist utopian mindset is consistently striving to impose (5 minutes):

For a great study on why the Form-Based Code/Smart Growth mantra’s might be limited in their ability to mold and shape us all into better humans and communities (as if that’s not already something that intuitively one could conclude), here is a great article on the topic of FBC and New Urbanism:

http://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=962354

Further on the role of “comprehensive planning” in our modern world, I’d direct you to the excellent book by Randal O’Toole, Best Laid Plans…

http://www.amazon.com/The-Best-Laid-Plans-Government-Pocketbook/dp/1933995076

Well, in the case of Loudoun County, VA, it means a median household income of $120,000/yr.  There has been a lot of hay made lately about the fact that the poverty level in Loudoun County has gone up, while we’ve remained the “richest county in the nation,” including an article in the Post on the topic.

Additionally, a local Patch writer relayed a conversation with his barber that is very telling.  Here’s a snippet:

He [Marko the barber] said he had read that the board had started next year’s budget discussion by focusing on the tax rate.

“Their only priority is cutting taxes, not helping people in need,” he said. “So here we are, with the highest incomes in the country, and before they even know what the needs are, they’re saying, ‘This is all we can afford to spend.’ Here, in the richest county in America!”

“Well, the county does have programs for homeless people, people without jobs…,” I said, but my voice trailed off as his scissors moved closer to my ear and I saw the indignation in his face.

“What is an acceptable number of hungry children, here in a county where the average household earns $120,000?” he snapped.

I had no answer for that, so I remained silent until he calmed down. Finally, I ventured an answer.

“I guess the supervisors would say that the government shouldn’t try to do it all,” I said. “Faith-based groups and nonprofit organizations have a role, too. Even individuals.”

“But it’s not enough,” he said. “Poverty rates are rising. That’s when the government needs to help the most, when everything else isn’t enough.”

What’s wrong with the world when the FIRST instinct for helping homeless people is to look towards the Government.  I’ll grant to the author for at least positing the alternative.

The insinuation that because a household makes $120,000/yr, they should have it taken from them at gunpoint and given to homeless people is one of the main, functional, psychological challenges with the United States today.

The fact that a County government can be accused of malfeasance or incompetence by daring to ask how much it can afford to take from the productive sector of the county would be laughable if it wasn’t so darn depressing.

There are a MYRIAD of factors that go into why poverty exists…at any level, but one of them is employment.  Even though Loudoun County has a remarkably low unemployment rate, it has STILL gone up since the economic downturn began about four years ago.  Less jobs means more poor people.

Forget the fact that the main reason why so many Washington, D.C. suburbs have such high households incomes despite a major nationwide economic downturn is BECAUSE of Government largesse.  Forget the fact that 40% of what comes into Loudoun County (sorry, can’t remember the source on that) is Federal spending…in other words…Government largesse…in other words: taxpayer money.

Maybe, if we wanted to be “fair” we would demand that the Federal Government spend a little less money in general, so that less of the money is left concentrated around the power centers of Washington, D.C.  Maybe more money nationwide that doesn’t have to go through the obviously expensive filter that is the Federal Government and its D.C. Metro beneficiaries would be a good place to start helping those in need.

Thankfully the author and his haircutter manage to point out, charity and compassion really begins with individuals:

“There’s a fellow I see out there sometimes,” he said. “Homeless, I guess. Sometimes he holds a sign, looking for work. But his hair is long and dirty and his clothes are worn. Who is going to give him a job?”

“You know what I’m going to do?” he continued. “The next time I see him, I’m inviting him in. I’ll offer to wash his hair and give him a haircut, on the house. A shave, too, if he wants it.”

He looked back at me.

“How about you?” he asked. “What are you doing?”

I thought about that for a while. I pay my taxes, I thought, and I’d like the government to do more to help people in need. I also give to my church, which has an active program to help hungry people. A group from my church is participating in the Western Loudoun CROP Hunger Walk in Purcellville next month to help raise money for hungry children and families. We also collect food for Loudoun Interfaith Relief.

If any of you out there are really concerned about those in need, then suffice it to say that charity is not possible by force.  It is only possible voluntarily. Any other scenario is not only inefficient, but is nothing short of legalized theft.

If we want to give to the needy, then…we must give to the needy, and strive to expect our Governments (local and otherwise) to do their job, and part of that is determining “what we can afford to spend.”

An excerpt from the local newspaper article:

“…We’re getting fewer calories,” said 7th grader Cole Murray. “About 200-400 fewer calories and we think we don’t get enough food.”

And by the looks of it, many of Murray’s classmates agree with him. murray helped spearhead a protest of the new National School Lunch Program guidelines that include more servings of vegetables and fruits and only low fat or fat free milk. All high-percentage saturated fats and trans fats are being eliminated and the total calorie intake per tray has been reduced to 650.

“I hope other schools get involved in this and Michelle Obama will think twice about this and rethink this,” Murray explained. “We’re trying to get other schools involved and we’re sending letters to our state representatives.”

The principal at St. Mark’s, Craig Idacavage, worries it’s not enough food, too.

“They come to school at 8:30 and some of them have practice until close to 5:30,” Idacavage said, “and this could be the only meal they get, so it’s really tough.”…

It’s about time someone started to make the point that the best intentions of central planning often produce disastrous results, not just falling short of expectations, but producing the exact opposite of the proposed intent.

Kudos to Cole Murray for stepping up and defending his school from the Nanny State.

Here is an update in Leesburg Today. Excerpt:

…The board voted unanimously Tuesday to form a Discipline Task Force that will be charged with reviewing the school district’s discipline policy—its strengths, its shortcomings and the long-term results of punishments—and return to the School Board with recommended modifications.

Under the previous School Board, the school district came under scrutiny for their perceived zero tolerance discipline policy. At least five of the newly elected members of the board campaigned on a need to reform how the school system balances overall school safety with the rights of individual students.

“I think this issue is more than just a few parents who have asked a desire for this,” newly elected School Board Chairman Eric Hornberger (Ashburn) said at the Aug. 14 School Board meeting. “It’s been a national issue…how do you balance the individual rights of each child and balance the rights of the entire student body?”…

More info on this topic can be found at: loudounschooldisciplinereform.org

First, we have Kelly Burk back on the Leesburg Town Council.  Now we have the long-time Councilman Vice-Mayor, Bobby Zoldos, “faithful lieutenant” to the 30 year career retiring Mayor of Lovettsville stepping up in her place.

And the most visible supporter of Mr. Sarbanie was Dick Black, a long-time staunch (mostly) conservative State Senator?

The Mayor of Purcellville was unopposed (sans the write-in campaign of someone with a clear axe to grind against him), and all three incumbents won reelection on the Purcellville Town Council.

And the other three town elections in Loudoun were completely uncontested.

Meanwhile, the current elected officials of all these municipalities opposed the Eminent Domain Constitutional Amendment passed by the General Assembly, and fall all over themselves to push every “Smart Growth” initiative they can get their hands on.  And that same General Assembly managed to put forward a whole slew of bills related to “Sustainable Development” and “Green Initiatives” most of which have a major local component.

But don’t sweat it…just keep focusing on the National Election and “NOBAMA” and everything will be OK, until our rights are slowly ceded to the “community” and “stakeholders” and the world of private property and individual rights is something we can tell our grandchildren about…(if they let us have those, lest we overpopulate the planet).

NOT Loudoun County Public Schools a year after the most recent budget cuts

I felt much like LI over at TooConservative today: Ultimately relieved that the School system didn’t fall apart due to lack of funding this morning.  The buildings didn’t collapse.  A parade of school teachers are not lining up at the food banks.  Kids are still getting books and tests and grades and buses are still running.  Amazing.

And for those of you who are thinking, “Yeah…but just WAIT.  This funding cut will hurt the children!”  OK.  Come back to me in a year and tell me if the schools system has collapsed then.

The truth is, as one of our School Board members pointed out, there are a plethora of things that can be done to make our schools run more efficiently without significant increases in class sizes.  It just takes time to work them out.

Well, School Board.  Get to work figuring them out so you can cut the budget more significantly next year.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Large Turnout as Local Taxpayers Group Launches Rail-to-Loudoun Town Hall Series

Hamilton, VA—April 12, 2012

About fifty local residents descended on the Lovettsville Fire Hall Wednesday evening for a lively ‘Town Hall Meeting’ on Dulles Rail sponsored Loudoun Taxpayers for Accountable Government (TAG). Dozens of citizens hammered Supervisor Geary Higgins (R-Catoctin) and panelists Sally Mann and Rob Martin with questions on the project’s scope, ridership, and financing. Some residents pressed Higgins to reveal his leanings on the up or down vote the supervisors will take before this coming July 4th. Higgins stated that “I have said from the beginning that I think the concept of Rail to Dulles is a good idea, but I am not going to put Loudoun County into a black hole of debt to finance it.”

The first in a series of ‘Town Hall’ meetings around Loudoun County to inform local citizens on the Dulles Rail project and get their input, organizers were extremely pleased with the vigorous discussion. Taxpayers showed keen interest in the countless factors the Board of Supervisors will have to consider before their July 4th deadline on whether to commit Loudoun to the project.  Grassroots opposition to the project has been increasing, and this was the first organized meeting for the public to learn about what the project means to Loudoun’s future.

The organizers distributed packets of information on the project design, costs, and possible funding mechanisms to all attendees, allowing taxpayers to question aspects of the project planning throughout the evening.

TAG will hold meetings in Purcellville, Leesburg, South Riding, and Hamilton during the month of April and early May. Times and locations will be announced.

Contact: David LaRock
703-297-7444
P.O. Box 117, Hamilton, VA 20159

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We’ll try to keep you apprised of upcoming events on Metro and other Taxpayer issues.