Does Cook Agree with Connaughton that Fairfax's Transportation Gridlock is "good news?"

The Irony (0.00 / 0)

The incumbent chairman wants to keep the Virginia Secretary of Transportation in control of our roads.  On this issue I agree with John Cook.  Again, the incumbent chairman prefers to complain rather than provide meaningful, effective solutions.

We need local control, local responsibility and local accountability.  I advocate for the same exceptions Henrico and Arlington Counties enjoy.

As chairman, I would advocate for increased power to local government so our residents have fewer excuses to overcome in acquiring the quality services they demand and deserve.

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by: Will Radle @ Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 15:11:31 PM UTC

Increased power? or increased taxes? (4.00 / 1)

The idea of local control sounds gratifying, but in reality in Virginia it will not be effective without still massive donations of dough from the state and a new ability to increase local taxes to pay for running all the roads. A better idea is incrementally taking over certain transportation responsibilities, and negotiating with the state and the feds for a better distribution of management responsibilities and funding to deal with our increasingly urban transportation problems in Northern Virginia.... more or less what I hear from Janet Oleszek in these debates.

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by: Teddy Goodson @ Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 17:29:20 PM UTC

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Increased Power, Increased Control, Increased Economic Growth (0.00 / 0)

Teddy, sorry for the delay.  I just got back from door knocking.  You always ask excellent questions.

When we had a Democratic Board and a Democratic Governor, how did that negotiation go for Fairfax County and Northern Virginia? Accepting that our current incumbent is not an effective advocate, it has not gone well for us.  Arlington and Henrico Counties both receive more per mile in funding from Richmond than we do. The state will basically give us the equipment and the keys any time we ask.

The following highlights my comprehensive plan.  If you want a shorter version, I ask you to recognize I have a comprehensive plan. None of my opponents do.

The plan I presented to the Board of Supervisors on March 29, 2011 increases revenues from the General Assembly to Fairfax County by over $501 million without increasing taxes.  We are shifting $1.75 billion of a state mandate that costs $6.316 billion annually.  135 of the 136 localities throughout Virginia will benefit. That is why local government leaders throughout Virginia will help maximize our alliance for change and advocate with us.

Our portion of the $1.75 billion is over $501 million.  We will use a large portion of the increased revenues to lower our real estate taxes from $1.07 to $0.93. So, the answer to your question is no more costs, yes more control.  We will use the resources to invest in our local priorities and generate greater economic growth over the next decade.

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by: Will Radle @ Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 21:08:24 PM UTC

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A twist on words (2.00 / 1)

Lowell - your post is absurd. It's astounding that you want to twist John Cook's ability to work with the state to plow neighborhood-level streets in Braddock District when no-one else could into an attack. But, then again, you are the press-relations arm of the Oleszek-Tribbett campaign.

Where was Oleszek during those storms? Hell, where has she been for the past 4-8 years? If what I've read everywhere else is any indication, she certainly hasn't spent the time learning the issues or how to answer a straightforward question.

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by: jsmith @ Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 20:34:43 PM UTC

Not twisting at all, he's obviously tight with (4.00 / 1)

McDonnell/Connaughton, that's obvious. So, the question is, does he buy into the disastrous McDonnell/Connaughton transportation policy, the one the Post ripped today as one that "is not going to noticeably improve the deteriorating driving conditions that millions of Virginians face every day," that "do[es] nothing to address the massive structural shortfall in funding for transportation," and that leaves us in a situation where "the condition of Virginia's roads, rails and bridges is so deplorable, and is continuing to deteriorate so fast, that more than 80 percent of funds earmarked for construction each year is diverted to fill potholes, shore up bridges and fix rail lines." Since Cook's a McDonnell/Cooch/Connaughton Republican, supported heavily by those guys and obviously tight with them, it's clear that he's partly responsible for the mess Fairfax finds itself in right now. What's so troubling about Cook is how HE twists words around to try and distance himself publicly from the incompetent extremists in Richmond, while pretending to be a reasonable "moderate" at home in Braddock. It's time to call this out for what it is: a Big Lie.

Follow me on Twitter.

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by: lowkell @ Wed Sep 28, 2011 at 20:53:25 PM UTC

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