Bits and Pieces

Watching the Patch blogs has been interesting.  LOTS of partisan commentary disguised as ‘even handed’ questions.

Time for me to address a few of them:

Leslie Perales –I appreciate your desire to allow everyone an opportunity to speak.  The Herndon Patch (sadly) is becoming a ‘sniper shooting gallery’ as was another site (before Bob Bruhns ‘cleaned it up’).  Maybe it’s time for writers to give our names to be published.

Mr. Shuster – You are a partisan supporting Mr. Singh and minimal development at the proposed metro landing.  Got it.  Suggestion:  Spend your energy and prose extolling his accomplishments during his almost 22 months on Council and defend your position on metro.  Please, no more innuendo full of distortions about my 8-term voting record.  I’ve voted with and against virtually every member of council.  Tell people YOUR positions and why you support one (or more) candidates.  I’ll tell people about my record.  Lumping me with “The Slate”!  I REALLY enjoyed that humor.  I vote on motions based on what I consider to be best for the Town.  Oh – and the Comprehensive Plan amendment is fine.  We do need to double check the traffic study (the corner stone of the Comprehensive Plan amendment) before proceeding to a zoning ordinance amendment – as my motion accomplished.  Please recall that when the traffic study error was uncovered (you accepted credit for uncovering it), council returned the Comprehensive Plan amendment to the Planning Commission for additional work.  If you don’t like the Metro redevelopment, just say so.  Remember – zoning ordinances vest potential development rights.

Non Partisan Voter – You suggest the meals tax didn’t need to be raised and that you’ve never seen me eating at a Town restaurant.  Nice try; the meals tax increase was focused last year and this – to include a campaign to promote restaurants.  Those who attended or watched the public hearing on April 10 saw me ask and Mr. Anselene answer for exactly what purposes the roughly $700,000 attributed to that one percent increase would be used.  As for eating in Town restaurants, my wife and I do that ROUTINELY.  We have our favorites.  If you don’t eat at the same places as we do, then it’s not a surprise you haven’t seen us.

That said, I need to again debunk this theme that the meals tax has driven Town restaurants out of business.  NONSENSE!  I’ve lived and worked in the NoVA and Tidewater areas since 1978.  With the possible exception of Rockville, MD, I have paid meals taxes EVERYWHERE I’ve worked – to include Alexandria, Arlington, DC, Vienna, Norfolk, and Little Creek (I was stationed in Norfolk in 1981-1982).  A restaurant, like ANY BUSINESS, succeeds or fails based on how well it provides goods and services that customers want in an acceptable environment and sold by staff members that make the experience pleasant.  Remember the Black Eyed Pea in the old post office?  It didn’t fail because of a meals tax.  Why did Hardees or KFC or the 5 and Dime Restaurant or Evans or A&P or the ‘old’ Safeway fail?  Not because of any action or inaction by the Town.  Landlords raise rents, other costs increase, customers are drawn away by competing businesses, etc.  Business persons run their businesses, not the Town government.  Enough of the meals tax being the cause of restaurants closing.  Lastly, servers probably make more with the meals tax (unless they are serving someone who simply doesn’t want to tip).  Some people tip on the AFTER TAX total; many tip on the before tax total.  Common sense says the server is better off using the after tax base; using the before tax method – no impact.

Mr. Davis – you’ve asked me at least twice to support abandoning the Town’s charter and reverting to just being part of Fairfax County.  No thanks; I for one like what we have AND I’m willing to pay a little more to have it.  I’ve explained to you that the counties are not going to permit the Towns to get a rebate since we ‘Townies’ get county services - some police coverage (including helicopter and SWAT and police training), public schools, EMT and fire coverage, some of our parks, health inspectors, animal shelters, etc.  In addition, I’ve tried to explain the ‘Dillon Rule’ which in essence states that municipalities in VA (towns, cities, counties) get their various authorities – ALL OF THEIR AUTHORITIES - from the General Assembly.  The Town can’t do something just because it wants to do it.  Oh – and budget increases aren’t ‘linear’ in that the Town now has IT services it didn’t used to have, more residents for which to provide services, more roads to maintain.  The proposed FY 2013 budget is basically fine.

Let’s see – County services.  The county doesn’t pick up trash or leaves or have ‘Clean Ups’, doesn’t plow snow (VDOT keeps main roads open outside Town).  The Town offers more parks availability, police coverage that responds generally faster, a municipal golf course and community center available to town residents at lower prices, and on and on.  We pay extra for the services we want – plain and simple.

How many Town staff are needed?  It depends on what you want done.  The proposed budget has 261 positions authorized – actually a decrease from last year as 3 positions were transferred (along with the NRC) to Fairfax County.  Also, cemetery, golf course, water & sewer, and some Parks & Rec salaries come from fees.  The ‘enterprise funds’ even pay into the general fund for HR services (payroll, etc.).

Pat V – Development standards?  Council was presented with ONE PERSON’S set of standards that supported THAT PERSON’S personal position on redevelopment near the metro landing.  There is a Zoning Ordinance that contains the Town’s development standards.  Changes thought to be needed should be vetted properly so they can get the full public review and public hearing.

Someone suggested I’m a tax and spend person.  WOW!  Folks who suggest that need to do some homework.  Have I ever voted to increase a tax or fee?  Yes – please see my website – I ‘fessed up’ to that long ago.  That said, starting with my first council (1990 – 1992), I have REPEATEDLY supported real estate tax rate decreases (that accommodated assessment increases).  I also led an effort to do away with the decal fee in Town (that nets about $250,000 in revenue); I didn’t get support for that.  Just for the record, the transient occupancy tax (on hotels) and meals tax (charged to the customers and NOT to the restaurants) are two of the few opportunities non-residents have to contribute tax funds to the Town for the services they receive while in Town.

Mr. Campenni – Town funded nature center or Town funded Art Center?  No.  I remain in favor of ‘naming rights’ if there’s someone or some organization out there that wants to build the facility (or facilities) and support them.  Maybe there’s a place in a park for the ‘Campenni’ bocce court!  Naming rights!