Arlington Budget - Playing chicken?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a Dem, but the portion of our budget allocated to housing assistance programs has gotten out control. They are cutting too many programs that Arlingtonians value. When we were flush with cash, it was great to direct more to affordable housing, but they shouldn’t be cutting services at the same time that they are trying to bring in more people that will need more very expensive services. Will be choosing my local votes more wisely next time.

You all voted for this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are interested in supporting gymnastics please check out our website at:

https://savearlingtongymnastics.com

From there you can learn about the gymnastics program in Arlington, sign our petition, and find ways to take action. We appreciate any support. Thank you.

you are probably aware but this is like the lottery schools. You have to luck into them and then everybody who didn't questions why the masses have to support a tiny fraction of the population who wants the service. I played the gymnastics lottery for years, never won. I'm not working against you b/c I don't care, but that's a strong head wind. The library on the other hand. I tour them all in ARL.

DP, but your statement is contradictory. You sat only a “tiny fraction of the population… wants the service.” But you also acknowledge the huge demand/waitlists. So clearly, many, many people want the service. Similarly, thousands of kids are in option schools or programs in APS.

I think you’re agreeing with PP. Only a tiny fraction of those who want (gymnastics/option schools) are able to participate.

Demand far exceeds supply, but PP is saying that since everyone pays to subsidize the lucky lottery winners, it feels especially unfair.

I think what PP is getting at is that if demand is that high, then there are many options instead of doing the exact reverse of what the citizenry wants by shutting down supply completely. For example, you could increase supply (hiring more gymnastics instructors...and yes you'd have to pay them more but the additional revenue would cover it). Or, you could reduce demand by raising fees, which also gets you out of having to cut the program due to its drag on the budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are interested in supporting gymnastics please check out our website at:

https://savearlingtongymnastics.com

From there you can learn about the gymnastics program in Arlington, sign our petition, and find ways to take action. We appreciate any support. Thank you.

you are probably aware but this is like the lottery schools. You have to luck into them and then everybody who didn't questions why the masses have to support a tiny fraction of the population who wants the service. I played the gymnastics lottery for years, never won. I'm not working against you b/c I don't care, but that's a strong head wind. The library on the other hand. I tour them all in ARL.

DP, but your statement is contradictory. You sat only a “tiny fraction of the population… wants the service.” But you also acknowledge the huge demand/waitlists. So clearly, many, many people want the service. Similarly, thousands of kids are in option schools or programs in APS.

I think you’re agreeing with PP. Only a tiny fraction of those who want (gymnastics/option schools) are able to participate.

Demand far exceeds supply, but PP is saying that since everyone pays to subsidize the lucky lottery winners, it feels especially unfair.

I think what PP is getting at is that if demand is that high, then there are many options instead of doing the exact reverse of what the citizenry wants by shutting down supply completely. For example, you could increase supply (hiring more gymnastics instructors...and yes you'd have to pay them more but the additional revenue would cover it). Or, you could reduce demand by raising fees, which also gets you out of having to cut the program due to its drag on the budget.

Exactly, thank you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are interested in supporting gymnastics please check out our website at:

https://savearlingtongymnastics.com

From there you can learn about the gymnastics program in Arlington, sign our petition, and find ways to take action. We appreciate any support. Thank you.

you are probably aware but this is like the lottery schools. You have to luck into them and then everybody who didn't questions why the masses have to support a tiny fraction of the population who wants the service. I played the gymnastics lottery for years, never won. I'm not working against you b/c I don't care, but that's a strong head wind. The library on the other hand. I tour them all in ARL.

DP, but your statement is contradictory. You sat only a “tiny fraction of the population… wants the service.” But you also acknowledge the huge demand/waitlists. So clearly, many, many people want the service. Similarly, thousands of kids are in option schools or programs in APS.

I think you’re agreeing with PP. Only a tiny fraction of those who want (gymnastics/option schools) are able to participate.

Demand far exceeds supply, but PP is saying that since everyone pays to subsidize the lucky lottery winners, it feels especially unfair.

I think what PP is getting at is that if demand is that high, then there are many options instead of doing the exact reverse of what the citizenry wants by shutting down supply completely. For example, you could increase supply (hiring more gymnastics instructors...and yes you'd have to pay them more but the additional revenue would cover it). Or, you could reduce demand by raising fees, which also gets you out of having to cut the program due to its drag on the budget.

Raising fees to meet the demand is apparently against Arlington’s “equity” focus. I think they really believe it is more fair to subsidize a lucky few instead of raise prices to better match supply and demand so everyone who can afford to participate can (and thereby fund the ability to provide more supply).

Until Arlington is willing to get off this equity focus, they need to shut down these programs. There is literally no limit on the demand for cheap stuff, whether it’s kids programs or apartments. You have to bend the curve.

[Anonymous]

Does it really matter if the Cherrydale library closes? There are other branches, including Central Library, that would be reasonably convenient for current Cherrydale users.

Ending the gymnastics program is a little different.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you are interested in supporting gymnastics please check out our website at:

https://savearlingtongymnastics.com

From there you can learn about the gymnastics program in Arlington, sign our petition, and find ways to take action. We appreciate any support. Thank you.

you are probably aware but this is like the lottery schools. You have to luck into them and then everybody who didn't questions why the masses have to support a tiny fraction of the population who wants the service. I played the gymnastics lottery for years, never won. I'm not working against you b/c I don't care, but that's a strong head wind. The library on the other hand. I tour them all in ARL.

The staff are running amok with "inclusive" stuff and things their cronies want. Most have no real Arlington roots. Only interest group they got tough on was deer. Board is a shameless bunch of delegators.

DP, but your statement is contradictory. You sat only a “tiny fraction of the population… wants the service.” But you also acknowledge the huge demand/waitlists. So clearly, many, many people want the service. Similarly, thousands of kids are in option schools or programs in APS.

I think you’re agreeing with PP. Only a tiny fraction of those who want (gymnastics/option schools) are able to participate.

Demand far exceeds supply, but PP is saying that since everyone pays to subsidize the lucky lottery winners, it feels especially unfair.

I think what PP is getting at is that if demand is that high, then there are many options instead of doing the exact reverse of what the citizenry wants by shutting down supply completely. For example, you could increase supply (hiring more gymnastics instructors...and yes you'd have to pay them more but the additional revenue would cover it). Or, you could reduce demand by raising fees, which also gets you out of having to cut the program due to its drag on the budget.

Raising fees to meet the demand is apparently against Arlington’s “equity” focus. I think they really believe it is more fair to subsidize a lucky few instead of raise prices to better match supply and demand so everyone who can afford to participate can (and thereby fund the ability to provide more supply).

Until Arlington is willing to get off this equity focus, they need to shut down these programs. There is literally no limit on the demand for cheap stuff, whether it’s kids programs or apartments. You have to bend the curve.

[Anonymous]

There aren't enough other gymnastics gyms in the area to absorb the displaced gymnasts at all levels from Aerials/Tigers program in Northern Virginia (see letters to the Board from the other gyms)... The flip side is that there are gymnasts from closer in Fairfax County that would pay out of county fees to participate... effectively the Board is making a scarce opportunity scarcer, rather that thinking creatively to make the program net $0 expense vs. revenue.

VHSL State Champions in beam at Yorktown and McLean HS have come from the Aerials program. Those two schools along with W-L, Wakefield, Marshall, Madison, Langley, and Annandale have had gymnasts come thru over the past 10 years... team that routine compete against each other for the Northern Region title. That doesn't include multiple competitors at the USA Gymnastics Virginia State Meet for Levels 6 on up to 10. The Level 8-9-10 meet was this past weekend with all of this junk hanging these kids' minds. (Grrrrr...)

Point being that this is a catastrophic impact to one of the most successful gymnastics programs in Northern Virginia over decades at the team and individual level.

The grown ups need to better, we should expect it of them... thus far they haven't been.

[Anonymous]

Maybe Arlington should look to all the building and figure out how the builders can help support the problem that is being made. But then again, they also have a vacancy problem too because of so much building. It's sad that Arlington would be so short sighted to end these programs, especially when the waiting lists are full all the time. They could also increase the price. But they want to close Bancroft and redo it as well. not sure why.
Arlington is extremely short sighted when it comes to planning.
They build a world class pool that is constantly full to club teams. They refused to build a tower for divers that could have brought in more $ and competition because it only benefitted a few but it actually would have brought in alot of $ from hosting meets for USA and AAU diving. Also our property taxes just keep going up. Let's not forget that Richmond is proposing a ridiculous amount of taxes on NOVA for our conveniences (Amazon deliveries etc). Doing a great job to attract families to live in Arlington