Arlington, VA - summary of candidates' positions?

[Anonymous]

I've been a little delinquent following this year's elections. Is there a summary somewhere of the various candidates and their positions on various topics?

Specifically: Who is for/against widening 66?

[Anonymous]

Me too! I'm going to vote soon and would like some cliff notes!

[Anonymous]

There are articles on Arl.now-



Be skeptical. I think there is talk that one of the independent candidates was for widening 66, and I think that was a mischaracterization.



Fwiw- I don't think Arlington will be able to stop the widening of 66 in the long run. Sucks, and I don't think it solves the problem...

[Anonymous]

OK, is there someone who you really like and want to make sure gets a vote?

[Anonymous]

Widening, like all options, should be on the table. The state should just say eff the nimby whining and get it done. But if there won't be widening, there will surely be subsidized housing on parkland.

[Anonymous]

If you want to know the issue that should be bothering everyone...

Public land for public good.
The democrats are in favor of putting affordable housing on what is already scarce park land, that we have in
This county.
They've tried to walk it back, but it is what it is.

If you want a more moderate board:
Vote for Mike McMenamin.
I say this as a life long democrat. I fear it is the only way the Arlington democratic establishment will get it through their heads that we don't want projects built on what is supposed to be land benefiting all.

[Anonymous]

One way to get a quick idea of each candidate's priorities is to check their website. Sufficient funding of APS in light of the skyrocketing population that comes with the increased housing density the county board is approving is a big issue for me, and only one candidate addresses it on their website so that was a big mark in their favor. On the other hand, there's a candidate who identifies only four issues on their website, two of which are lighting at Bishop O'Connell and the TitleMax on Lee Highway. I have no stake in the lighting issue, and while I don't like the TitleMax I don't think it should be a campaign issue, so that candidate is a non-starter for me. Seems like that candidate is too focused on trivial North Arlington issues.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Widening, like all options, should be on the table. The state should just say eff the nimby whining and get it done. But if there won't be widening, there will surely be subsidized housing on parkland.

I'm all for AH and effective transportation options (widening won't help).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One way to get a quick idea of each candidate's priorities is to check their website. Sufficient funding of APS in light of the skyrocketing population that comes with the increased housing density the county board is approving is a big issue for me, and only one candidate addresses it on their website so that was a big mark in their favor. On the other hand, there's a candidate who identifies only four issues on their website, two of which are lighting at Bishop O'Connell and the TitleMax on Lee Highway. I have no stake in the lighting issue, and while I don't like the TitleMax I don't think it should be a campaign issue, so that candidate is a non-starter for me. Seems like that candidate is too focused on trivial North Arlington issues.

Sigh. I wish there was a summary somewhere because although I'd like to be an informed voter I don't have a lot of extra time to do the research myself.

[Anonymous]

I did find this but it doesn't cover key issues all that well:
http://lwv-arlingtonva.org

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Widening, like all options, should be on the table. The state should just say eff the nimby whining and get it done. But if there won't be widening, there will surely be subsidized housing on parkland.

I'm all for AH and effective transportation options (widening won't help).

Yes it will, if done correctly.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want to know the issue that should be bothering everyone...

Public land for public good.
The democrats are in favor of putting affordable housing on what is already scarce park land, that we have in
This county.
They've tried to walk it back, but it is what it is.

If you want a more moderate board:
Vote for Mike McMenamin.
I say this as a life long democrat. I fear it is the only way the Arlington democratic establishment will get it through their heads that we don't want projects built on what is supposed to be land benefiting all.

Thanks for this. In my view, the great parks are what make Arlington what it is. The schools are fine, but slowly getting worse.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are articles on Arl.now-



Be skeptical. I think there is talk that one of the independent candidates was for widening 66, and I think that was a mischaracterization.



Fwiw- I don't think Arlington will be able to stop the widening of 66 in the long run. Sucks, and I don't think it solves the problem...

Be skeptical. The "independent" is really a Republican masquerading as an independent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you want to know the issue that should be bothering everyone...

Public land for public good.
The democrats are in favor of putting affordable housing on what is already scarce park land, that we have in
This county.
They've tried to walk it back, but it is what it is.

If you want a more moderate board:
Vote for Mike McMenamin.
I say this as a life long democrat. I fear it is the only way the Arlington democratic establishment will get it through their heads that we don't want projects built on what is supposed to be land benefiting all.

Never in a million years. He's a Republican.

[Anonymous]

I don't support cramming more affordable housing onto the Pike and other areas in South Arlington, because most of South Arlington already has 50-80% FARMs (low income) kids and those schools don't have the resources to deal with more.

But both democratic school board candidates support the plan to cram more affordable housing into the south, so I couldn't vote for them.

Though I am a lifelong democrat, I cast a single vote for McMenamin this morning because he doesn't support cramming more affordable housing into the south. He supports mixed income housing, but not built onto parks, which he wants to preserve.