Washington Post Letter to the Editor posted December 23, 2016:

 

Northern Virginia and the region have waited decades for Metro to serve Dulles International Airport. The importance of the Dulles connection cannot be overstated. Completion of the Silver Line extension is vital to our future economy, job creation and congestion relief.

 

That's why this project should not and must not be used as a political football.

 

We are scratching our heads over recent suggestions by Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority Board Chairman Jack Evans and board member Corbett A. Price that construction of the last 11

	Silver Line Phase 2 Under Construction

miles of this $5.8 billion infrastructure project be halted. It's time to stop using the Silver Line as a scapegoat for other issues - be they service hours, rail maintenance or budget. Hollow threats distract from the need to achieve a regional consensus on fixing and sustaining Metro. These threats also ignore the fact that WMATA is not paying to build the Silver Line. Funds come from special taxing districts in Fairfax and Loudoun counties, motorists using the Dulles Toll Road, Virginia, the federal government and the Washington Metropolitan Airports Authority, which is managing the project. These funds are earmarked for Silver Line construction and cannot be shifted to cover Metrorail maintenance.

 

A direct link between the District and an international airport supports economic growth and improves global access. The Silver Line project includes expansion of Metro's fleet by 128 new rail cars. These cars will serve passengers from all jurisdictions, resulting in a safer and more comfortable ride.

 

WMATA's operating expenses will rise when the final six stations open, as will Virginia's share of those costs. Loudoun County will be added as a WMATA funding partner and the number of Virginia stations will grow to 31, increasing the percentage of funds Virginia pays to support Metro. Talk of ending Silver Line construction has shaken our confidence in the ability of Metro's board to lead the agency and has left us concerned about the chilling effect on economic growth.

 

Debt, should construction come to a halt, is another concern. Because part of the Silver Line's financing is supported by $1.9 billion in federal loans, taxpayers would have to repay the expended funds, as well as interest and penalties, with nothing but bare track and vacant stations to show for it.

 

WMATA's general manager, who has our full support, has provided a clear and concise path forward for the system. Metro faces numerous challenges, but completing construction of Silver Line Phase 2 is not among them. Now is the time for member jurisdictions to join together, leverage our collective resources and ingenuity, and fix Metro so that we can continue to grow our economy for years to come.

The Board of Supervisors has established a Civilian Review Panel to review complaints concerning alleged misconduct by Fairfax County police officers. The Panel will have jurisdiction to review complaints of abuse of authority or serious misconduct by a Fairfax County police officer. The Panel shall define "abuse of authority" and "serious misconduct" in its bylaws, which will be subject to approval by the Board of Supervisors.

There are two avenues by which a Complaint or Request for Review concerning alleged abuse of authority or serious misconduct could reach the Panel. First, an individual may file a Complaint with the Panel. Second, an individual may Request Review by the Panel of an already-completed internal Fairfax County Police Department investigation.

  

Panel members shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors for terms of three years. Panel members will serve at the pleasure of the Board. A Panel member may be appointed to no more than two consecutive terms. The terms of the Panel members shall be staggered. The Panel members shall elect one of their members to serve as Chair of the Panel, with the exception of the first Chair, who shall be appointed by the Board of Supervisors. The Panel shall be composed of nine members, and each should be a Fairfax County resident with expertise and experience relevant to the Panel's responsibilities.

  

The Board of Supervisors seeks to create an independent and fair body for the Panel. The Board will consider the following factors, among others it may choose, in appointing members of the Panel: community and civic involvement; diversity; law enforcement and/or criminal investigative experience; reputation in the community; geographical representation and other factors designed to ensure a balanced Panel representative of Fairfax County. No Panel member shall be a current employee of Fairfax County, a current or former member of the Fairfax County Police Department or the Fairfax County Sheriff's Office, have a relative (i.e., an immediate or extended family member) who is a member of Fairfax County Police Department or Fairfax County Sheriff's Office, hold public office, or be a candidate for public office. At least one of the Panel members shall have prior law enforcement experience (other than as a member of the Fairfax County Police Department or Fairfax County Sheriff's Office).

  

If you or someone you know would like to apply to serve on the Panel, please submit a resume and a 1-2 page cover letter explaining how you fit the criteria set forth by the Board for the Panel. This letter and resume must be received by the Office of Clerk to the Board of Supervisors, no later than January 31, 2017. You can mail the information to Clerk to the Board of Supervisors Attn: Catherine Chianese, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 533, Fairfax, VA 22035, or email [email protected].

Many organizations have been invited to submit recommendations, and the Board of Supervisors will select nine of those nominated to serve. Individuals may also nominate themselves. The Board hopes to make selections in the February 2017 time frame.

Submitted by Norbert Pink, Chair of the Sierra Club Great Falls Group

 

We all share a personal stake in the natural environment, and we expect our governments to take the lead in protecting it for the benefit of all of us. Fairfax County is doing just that by updating the Board's Environmental Vision, a document that guides the formation of county policies and programs affecting the future quality of our air, water and land.

 

A draft 2017 Environmental Vision will be posted on the County's website in late January or early February for public comments. The Environmental Vision shapes policy for all functions of County government, from parks and stormwater management to land use and transportation. For example, the current 2007 Vision steered the development of Tysons towards a more urban, walkable and bikeable community, yielding (among other benefits) a substantially reduced energy requirement for the future Tysons community.

 

Since 2007, when the current Environmental Vision was last edited, the global scientific consensus on climate change has grown more urgent about the need for transitioning to a low-carbon energy strategy. We anticipate that the 2017 Environmental Vision will set Fairfax County on a path towards this new objective while ensuring that our neighborhoods and economy retain their vibrancy and continue serving our diverse needs and interests.

 

We encourage you to review the draft and submit your views about what it proposes. Your insights could be critical to ensuring our future provides an environment available for the enjoyment of all. Everyone who lives or works in Fairfax County is invited to participate.

 

Once posted, you can comment on the draft 2017 Environmental Vision here: fairfaxcounty.gov/living/environment/environmentalvision.htm .

With the leaves off of the trees, you may more easily notice construction materials, appliances, tires, equipment, furniture, tarp covered items, or other random outdoor storage items on properties near your home. Article 10-102 of the Fairfax County Zoning Ordinance regulates the size and location of outdoor storage. If items are excessive or located improperly on the lot, the Department of Code Compliance can issue a Notice of Violation to have items removed. Learn more...