Alexandria Local Election Candidates

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
The school board has issues because the Council has major issues. It is a problem of demographics. The City have completely squeezed out the middle class so the City is now a place for the wealthy and the poor. So the wealthy will continue to see their taxes go up to completely support the poor.

That is absolutely not true. There are middle class people all over Alexandria, from older SFHs in West Alexandria, to THs in Warwick Village, to condos in Landmark, to apartments in Del Ray.

As for taxes, the property tax rate just went down, and is lower than in Fairfax.

Please be more careful, PP. It's important to speak the truth.

Regarding Alexandria City residential property taxes, the majority of Alexandria City assessments went up (see below). However, in light of an election year, our Council just voted to kept our residential real estate estate tax rate the same @$1.13/100 assessed (March 14, 2018).

At the Feb. 13 City Council meeting, information on assessments was released. Locally assessed real property continued to increase, this year by 2.35 percent, from Jan. 1, 2017 to Jan. 1, 2018. The highest increases are in the residential tax base, which increased 3.4 percent or $751 million. The commercial tax base increased by .93 percent, or $225 million.

http://www.alexandriagazette.com/news/2018/feb/19/assessments-alexandria-residential-properties-incr/

WASHINGTON — The Alexandria City Council voted unanimously against any 2019 tax increases for real estate, vehicles or business tangible property

Sorry, assessments going up as the value of properties increases is NOT a tax increase. If property values dropped and your assessment went down would you call it a "tax cut" ? People never do - that meme only goes one way. If you are really upset about your assessment increase, I bet you could find someone willing to pay the extra taxes in exchange for getting your capital gain when you eventually sell or bequeath the property.

[Anonymous]

The assessments will have to increase next year and there is no way to avoid it because of the issue of the storm water mismanagement costs that have come due for the City.

There has been lots of promised development but none of it has panned out and the Council doesn't insist that developers actually have plans. In the past 10 years, developers have bailed on some pretty big projects that were all slated for nice, large redevelopment:

1 -Landmark
2 - Garden apartments reno behind Landmark
3 - Seminary Hill area
4 - Arlandria

and who can forget the languishing Victor Center building - vacant for 10+ years

[Anonymous]

Silberberg was a disaster from the minute she took office. But her calling on armed guards in elementary schools after Parkland really took the cake for me. Dump her.

Justin Wilson is one of those public servants to the core: Policy wonk, responsive, listens to all. Spend some time on his FB page and you'll see how he strives to answer even the most arcane or narrow questions and explain things. He would be an excellent mayor.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The assessments will have to increase next year and there is no way to avoid it because of the issue of the storm water mismanagement costs that have come due for the City.

There has been lots of promised development but none of it has panned out and the Council doesn't insist that developers actually have plans. In the past 10 years, developers have bailed on some pretty big projects that were all slated for nice, large redevelopment:

1 -Landmark
2 - Garden apartments reno behind Landmark
3 - Seminary Hill area
4 - Arlandria

and who can forget the languishing Victor Center building - vacant for 10+ years

Assessments are based on the market, not revenue needs. If you think your assessment is inaccurate, you can appeal.

The storm water costs are coming out of water fees, not property tax revenues.

There has been plenty of development. Right now a new office building is going up in Potomac Yard, new apts in Carlyle area, new apts and THs off Picket, and a new apt building with a grocery store at Beauregard and King. Also a couple of office to residential conversions.

It is disappointing that the Landmark development has been delayed, and its true, the Arlandria site seems off the table indefinitely. NOt sure what you mean by redevelopment in Seminary Hill - do you mean the Beauregard small area plan?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The assessments will have to increase next year and there is no way to avoid it because of the issue of the storm water mismanagement costs that have come due for the City.

There has been lots of promised development but none of it has panned out and the Council doesn't insist that developers actually have plans. In the past 10 years, developers have bailed on some pretty big projects that were all slated for nice, large redevelopment:

1 -Landmark
2 - Garden apartments reno behind Landmark
3 - Seminary Hill area
4 - Arlandria

and who can forget the languishing Victor Center building - vacant for 10+ years

Assessments are based on the market, not revenue needs. If you think your assessment is inaccurate, you can appeal.

The storm water costs are coming out of water fees, not property tax revenues.

There has been plenty of development. Right now a new office building is going up in Potomac Yard, new apts in Carlyle area, new apts and THs off Picket, and a new apt building with a grocery store at Beauregard and King. Also a couple of office to residential conversions.

It is disappointing that the Landmark development has been delayed, and its true, the Arlandria site seems off the table indefinitely. NOt sure what you mean by redevelopment in Seminary Hill - do you mean the Beauregard small area plan?

Sure, it might have been wrapped up in that plan but it was specifically speaking of tearing down the Seminary Hills apts and replacing. The developer had provided site renderings, etc and I followed it for a while but just like all other planned development that is not affordable housing nothing ever happened.

Landmark - they could have and should done far more to force the developers hand on progress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Silberberg was a disaster from the minute she took office. But her calling on armed guards in elementary schools after Parkland really took the cake for me. Dump her.

Justin Wilson is one of those public servants to the core: Policy wonk, responsive, listens to all. Spend some time on his FB page and you'll see how he strives to answer even the most arcane or narrow questions and explain things. He would be an excellent mayor.

Silberberg is a cupcake and a total disaster. She insisted on reducing King St from four lanes to two lanes between Janneys Lane and Quaker Lane by adding bicycle lanes and turning lanes. There are few houses on the street with a large stretch the Baptist Church property, Chinquapin park and rec center and TC Williams HS. Traffic backs up all the time because there is now no right turn lane onto Kenwood to Rt 395. I am in that stretch of King St all the time and have seen only one person running in the bike lane. This frustrates hundreds of commuters daily! Also making Quaker Lane between King and Duke 25 mph is insane. Again, few houses and blocks of open area at the seminary. I will get that women ousted come what may!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The assessments will have to increase next year and there is no way to avoid it because of the issue of the storm water mismanagement costs that have come due for the City.

There has been lots of promised development but none of it has panned out and the Council doesn't insist that developers actually have plans. In the past 10 years, developers have bailed on some pretty big projects that were all slated for nice, large redevelopment:

1 -Landmark
2 - Garden apartments reno behind Landmark
3 - Seminary Hill area
4 - Arlandria

and who can forget the languishing Victor Center building - vacant for 10+ years

Assessments are based on the market, not revenue needs. If you think your assessment is inaccurate, you can appeal.

The storm water costs are coming out of water fees, not property tax revenues.

There has been plenty of development. Right now a new office building is going up in Potomac Yard, new apts in Carlyle area, new apts and THs off Picket, and a new apt building with a grocery store at Beauregard and King. Also a couple of office to residential conversions.

It is disappointing that the Landmark development has been delayed, and its true, the Arlandria site seems off the table indefinitely. NOt sure what you mean by redevelopment in Seminary Hill - do you mean the Beauregard small area plan?

Sure, it might have been wrapped up in that plan but it was specifically speaking of tearing down the Seminary Hills apts and replacing. The developer had provided site renderings, etc and I followed it for a while but just like all other planned development that is not affordable housing nothing ever happened.

Landmark - they could have and should done far more to force the developers hand on progress.

Is Seminary Hills the one where the developer sold to a different developer, who decided to renovate the units (and increase rents) rather than tear down and rebuild? Yeah that was another disappointment (but will still mean investment). Meanwhile a development has been approved on the old office building site on the NW corner of Seminary and Beauregard. And I believe one in the pipeline on the Southern Towers parking lots, so the Beauregard Small Area Plan is moving ahead.

As for Landmark, I really do not think trying to "force developers hands" is a good way to incent developers to take on projects in the City.

[Anonymous]

I wish EYA would get out of Old Town and take over West End development. It's the only company the Council loons can work with

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I wish EYA would get out of Old Town and take over West End development. It's the only company the Council loons can work with

EYA works on multiple markets - they are in DC and Maryland too. They would not need to get out of OT if they found a property they liked in the WE.

And there are many developers who have had projects get through Council. Including several in the West End. For example Pulte is building Cambria Square, off Pickett.

https://www.pulte.com/homes/virginia/northern-virginia/alexandria/cambria-square-209581

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Silberberg was a disaster from the minute she took office. But her calling on armed guards in elementary schools after Parkland really took the cake for me. Dump her.

Justin Wilson is one of those public servants to the core: Policy wonk, responsive, listens to all. Spend some time on his FB page and you'll see how he strives to answer even the most arcane or narrow questions and explain things. He would be an excellent mayor.

No future mayor of Alexandria City will be able to fix what's coming down the pike. For a little light reading, read this tonight: Home Prices In 80% Of US Cities Grew 2x Faster Than Wages... https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-04-24/home-prices-80-us-cities-grew-2x-faster-wages-and-then-there-san-francisco. Pay attention to housing expert Mark Hanson https://www.mhanson.com

Imo, no solution exists for "affordable housing". Even Washington DC metro (which grew 2.4% yoy) can't keep up.

It's time to cut back, limit raises, limit debt service, put money to a rainy day fund for the future. If Staff want a job, then recognize in private sector, annual pay raise is ~2% and deal with it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Silberberg was a disaster from the minute she took office. But her calling on armed guards in elementary schools after Parkland really took the cake for me. Dump her.

Justin Wilson is one of those public servants to the core: Policy wonk, responsive, listens to all. Spend some time on his FB page and you'll see how he strives to answer even the most arcane or narrow questions and explain things. He would be an excellent mayor.

+1000 Excellent summary. I'll add that while Wilson absolutely listens and responds to the public, he doesn't let a small handful of old cranks with nothing better to do then fire off angry letters dictate his voting. If a handful of people complain loudly enough for something, Silberberg will will ALWAYS vote their way. Sound government dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. With Silberberg the wants of a small few always dictate her votes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Silberberg was a disaster from the minute she took office. But her calling on armed guards in elementary schools after Parkland really took the cake for me. Dump her.

Justin Wilson is one of those public servants to the core: Policy wonk, responsive, listens to all. Spend some time on his FB page and you'll see how he strives to answer even the most arcane or narrow questions and explain things. He would be an excellent mayor.

+1000 Excellent summary. I'll add that while Wilson absolutely listens and responds to the public, he doesn't let a small handful of old cranks with nothing better to do then fire off angry letters dictate his voting. If a handful of people complain loudly enough for something, Silberberg will will ALWAYS vote their way. Sound government dictates that the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. With Silberberg the wants of a small few always dictate her votes.

If they live in his neighborhood he does. Otherwise, you get excuses and explanations of why the civil servants are just plain always right no matter what they do.