Letter to Editor, the Washington Post Oct. 29, 2008

Out of Touch in Arlington
The Post’s endorsement of Barbara Favola for County Board (see below) and its rejection of the housing authority referendum demonstrate the degree to which it is out of touch with Arlington County realities.

Which of the Board’s vanity projects for developers are examples of Favola “pursuing worthy initiatives while keeping costs low”? Is it her support for the $160 million Columbia Pike trolley which will cost 3-4 times as much as rapid bus transit without moving more people more quickly? Is it her advocacy for the $150 million-plus North Tract aquatics center, situated on land which needs environmental remediation, a project that the Post dubbed a “yuppie sports complex”?

Unfortunately, the Post chooses to parrot mistruths on the housing authority without mentioning any of its attributes such as the County’s ability to own and operate affordable housing in perpetuity and set aside units for employees who are currently priced out of Arlington. How is this an example of a “flawed proposal” or “wasteful government bureaucracy”? How can the Post opine that Arlington does “an adequate job of securing affordable housing” when its stock of market-rate affordable units has decreased by approximately 2/3 since 2000 and the County fails yearly to build its stated goal of 400 committed affordable housing units?

If the Post can’t get right basic facts about Arlington, then it should not give voters such a skewed and biased opinion.

Josh Ruebner
2006-2007 Green Party Candidate for Arlington County Board

Washington Post Editorial: Oct. 29, 2008
Arlington County County Board: Arlington is weathering the current fiscal crunch better than most Washington area jurisdictions, in part because the county is buttressed by a high number of recession-proof government jobs. But its five-member County Board also deserves credit for guiding it through financial dangers and pursuing worthy initiatives while keeping costs low.

A mainstay of the all-Democratic board, Barbara A. Favola, is up for reelection and clearly deserves another term. Ms. Favola, a leading voice for affordable housing, has sought to reduce the county’s carbon footprint and increase school funding. Her membership on key regional committees, including the Virginia State Health Board, gives her an unusually prominent pulpit from which to advocate for the county. Her well-earned reputation as the County Board’s most business-friendly member — she was the only one to oppose a tax increase on commercial real estate, for example — provides the body with a welcome perspective.

Ms. Favola’s opponent, Green Party candidate John G. Reeder, is a retired economist with an admirable record of community service. But the centerpiece of his campaign is his support for a flawed proposal to create affordable housing by establishing a housing authority. Ms. Favola would do a superior job of securing such housing without the needless bureaucracy. There is no Republican candidate in the race.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/28/AR2008102802971.html