Comments on: Proposed Budget: Tax Hike, Police and Fire Cuts

By: barticus

barticus — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 19:08:00 +0000

Good point. Why would ACPD ever need Joint Terrorist Task Force liasons? What’s in Arlington that could possibly be a terrorist target?

By: barticus

barticus — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 19:04:30 +0000

I don’t believe this is a Dem or Rep issue. I think it’s an issue of arrogant, out-of-touch, long-time incumbents. Rather than pragmatism and bang-for-the-buck, the CB’s groupthink only worrys about orthodoxy and ideology.

Arlington will consistently vote Dem unless given compelling reason to change. The CB is doing its best to provide just that.

By: barticus

barticus — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:54:27 +0000

@ Drax: Great point . The next meeting is tomorrow (Sat Feb 23) at 8:30 am.

By: barticus

barticus — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 18:49:05 +0000

To those people who are doing their job plus the work of the unfilled position, we say, “Carry on.”

By: Rachel Reynolds

Rachel Reynolds — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:48:44 +0000

if we have a $350 million deficit — can the Columbia Pike Trolley and the budget would be balanced!

By: Harry

Harry — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 13:37:22 +0000

Creating a low barrier “wet” homeless shelter that will serve as a magnet for DC metro area homeless with chronic substance abuse problems is not affordable housing. Putting said shelter on some of the most expensive real estate on the planet is absolutely insane.

By: Shaking My Head

Shaking My Head — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 11:51:28 +0000

Really? You decided to lump parades, events, and PR positions with internal affairs, traffic enforcment, and terrorism response? You had the seed of a good point and then went out into the looniverse.

By: FedUp

FedUp — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 06:11:22 +0000

“Those will include 7 jobs in the police department and 3 jobs in the fire department, all of which will be cut by attrition.”…………
Heaven forbid; sound the alarms! We are losing 7 precious police positions! What ever will we do???

Plllleeeease; they forgot to mention that all 7 of those positions will probably be from “specialty” positions that should not even exist in the first place, or are at the very least overstaffed, plus many older officers are nearing retirement age anyway. They are still hiring new police officers at record pace.

These “specialty” positions include parades and events positions, motorpool, gunsmiths, training positions, horseback officers, motorcycle patrol, bicycle, K9, traffic enforcement (yes they actually have an officer along with dozens of support staff in the meter maid section), red light camera section, media relations, internal affairs, investigations, sting operations, ABC liaison, JTTF liaisons, gang unit, helicopter, etc, etc, etc.

If we would stop fighting the unwinnable Drug War, maybe we would finally be able to afford a reasonable police force. Just sit in at a General District Court preliminary hearing at the court house off of Wilson Boulevard and you will see that around 90% of the cases are drug related. That is what is costing us so much money; as well as having too many officers behind desks, pushing paper, instead of being out on the streets where they should be.

By: The Bottom Line (for a few)

The Bottom Line (for a few) — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 04:04:48 +0000

Agree with me about Arlington’s spending or leave town on the next street car. Got it? Agree or leave, but under no circumstances should you voice an opinion that is not the party line.

By: ARLnowLuvR

ARLnowLuvR — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 01:39:30 +0000

Im sick of your posts. I say cut these programs in half, at least. There are people that live in affordable housing across from me that walk to the 7-11 near (the former) Rays Hellburger to deal drugs and get their booze. Sit at Rhodeside grill and watch them sit at the bus stop across the street with their Mcdonalds or 7-11 cups full of booze. Or, walk to the bus stop and look at the trash and airplane bottles of liquor they leave behing. And, Im supposed to fund this? eff that. What about my car that happened to get keyed…the night I honked at one of them because they were sitting in the middle of the road. Coincidence? You are crazy. You cannot help these people. They have no incentive to change if you pay for them to live. And, they get other govt assistance to pay for food. So, that county 9.5mill/8mill is only half the story. Yes, this isnt everyone in affordable or subsidized housing, but from my experience there are a lot of people milking the county for all its worth. Ohhhh…dont get me started on the two bedroom apartments with 8, 10, 12 adults and children in them. And, the lady living in affordable housing that always has a car with nice, shiny chrome rims! Where do you think her priorities are? In eventually buying a house? hahhahahaha, yea, right.

Please, do tell how this “community’s strong & long history has consistently benefitted investing in affordable housing”. Or, how it has a “vital role in enriching communities”.