Comments on: Board Passes PPTA Following Heated Debate

By: Rusty Shackleford

Rusty Shackleford — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 18:03:12 +0000

Or, it could be that people aren’t upset about a single vote but about the fact that the streetcar project as a whole has been advocated most forcefully by Chris Zimmerman, and that Mr. Zimmerman is now in a position to earn money from a company that stands to benefit from the project. Whether he’s technically conflicted from any particular vote is utterly beside the point–the Board is a chummy and insular institution, and Mr. Zimmerman’s advocacy for the streetcar can’t be compartmentalized by a note from his lawyer.

It could also be that people who are still upset about the appearance of impropriety here are also resigned to the fact that Arlington is not about to start electing non-Democrats to any county-wide office, so that public kvetching is futile.

By: Peter

Peter — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 14:56:57 +0000

Julie, the Arlington Mercury blog has published a photo of a state of the art BRT, now that the County Board has taken all the votes it’s going to take regarding streetcar financing.

By: Josh S

Josh S — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 14:25:18 +0000

It’s interesting to me that this story has only 80+ comments at this point. This is the vote that people seemed to be so up in arms about over the last week or so. But when it comes, and Zimmerman didn’t recuse himself, where is the outcry? Where are the 150+ comments we saw earlier in the week?

I wonder if it might have something to do with the fact that in reading the story, you discover that the situation is actually a bit more complicated than many people maybe assumed it was. And the clear-cut evilness of Zimmerman is not quite so clear-cut. The vote involved sort of a really boring procedural decision. With far-reaching implications, to be sure. But not really a juicy, smoking gun, good guys and bad guys kind of moment.

As always, it’s more complicated than it first appears…..

By: Josh S

Josh S — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 14:18:23 +0000

Not exactly the same as the missing 18 minutes, is it?

By: Julie

Julie — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 13:16:12 +0000

Local media (news blogs and print) continue a perfect record of refusing to publish photos of state of the art Bus Rapid Transit like the Vegas ACE articulated bus.

By: drooling idoit

drooling idoit — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 12:00:36 +0000

i voted for the person who had the most political signs

By: Wayne Kubicki

Wayne Kubicki — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 11:49:22 +0000

Put the PPTA/streetcar issue aside, just for the moment…

AECOM already has several consulting contracts with the County – contracts that Mr. Zimmerman voted to approve.

Now, Mr. Zimmerman has a contract with AECOM.

For me, at least, the current question is, should a County Board member be able to have their own consulting contract with a contractor that is doing business with the County on contracts that the County Board has to approve?

Perhaps not?

By: DavisR

DavisR — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 04:56:51 +0000

Attention and conflict are not necessarily bad qualities, especially when it serves to shake up some ugly politics. I admire her willingness to take on the challenge. She does not appear to be a people pleaser and is willing to fight a good fight. I expect like most board members, will find a comfortable place where she is giving votes to get, serving her own agenda. By then she will need to move on. Too bad Mr Zimmerman and Ms. Hynes have not recognized they are beyond useful to the county now.
I am against any board member who gets so locked in a view they cannot see any other options. I detest the lack of ethical integrity in Zimmerman right now. As for the streetcar: The Columbia pike corridor needs revitalization. We won’t lose horribly if it proceeds as planned but there are so many better options out there that give more bang to the buck. It would have been nice to have more of a say in the process.

By: Another voter

Another voter — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 04:48:58 +0000

By: Frank Lyon

Frank Lyon — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 03:58:14 +0000

Big Cheese Zimmerman is clueless. How does disclosure cure a conflict?