At Supervisor Sharon Bulova's (D-Braddock) fifth Community Dialogue on Transportation and Land Use meeting, Del. Dave Albo (R-42nd) divulged his five steps to getting things done in the General Assembly as well as other areas of the political arena.
Perseverance, knowledge, listening, "no one is wrong" and "a win is rarely 100 percent," Albo explained. He then talked about how he used these steps down in Richmond with his parking bill this year. This was "political dynamics" to Albo, the topic of that Community Dialogue meeting in Bulova's series, which started in January.
"Every year, the bill was killed," Albo said.
One reason was that he was accused of being against the working man when it came to parking commercial vehicles. Albo realized no one is wrong and finally got the bill passed.
"If you're in their shoes, they do have a point," he said, and then recommended that [if you] "use those five things, you can get things done."
Albo was seated with chairman of the Board of Supervisors, Katherine K. Hanley (D) and Dels. Vivian Watts (D-39th) and J. Chapman "Chap" Petersen (D-37th), who individually described their versions of political dynamics. This was one part in the 10-part discussion session for Braddock District residents to understand transportation and land use.
Bulova sent out invitations in January to constituents who were concerned about transportation and funding resulting from the failed tax referendum. The attendees got on the list, committing to the series of discussions that will conclude with some possible solutions for the transportation funding dilema.
HANLEY LOOKED at it like the yin-yang of transportation, which was described as the land of positives and negatives. Plans vs. implementation, user-funded or subsidized public transportation, and lane miles or vehicle miles were all part of her discussion. She mentioned the difference between proposed roads on the master plan and the reality of funding.
"The question is the implementation, and it comes down to funding," she said.
Watts tried to explain a vehicle-miles-traveled formula with a chart.
"The congestion factor comes much closer to measuring need," she said.
In the background of all the discussions was the failed tax referendum.
"Any transportation referendum has to address smart growth," Petersen said. "Rail to Dulles is a great regional idea, but that may not happen for a while."
The failed sales tax referendum was the main topic of discussion for the first meeting on Jan. 22, and it continued to be a discussion point.
"It was the impetus for my bringing this group together," Bulova said.
Throw in Dillon's Rule about property owners rights, cities vs. counties, and bonds, and the room of about 40 people was full of ideas and political dynamics.
"How come 48 states can operate successfully without the Dillon Rule?" asked Pete Skoro.
Petersen remarked that the sales-tax referendum needed to be coupled with education funding.
"Transportation alone could not do it in the ballot box," he said.
Someone in the audience had another angle to it.
"The developers were behind it, that's the problem," he said.
Bulova was happy with the way the discussion went.
"It was an extremely useful discussion, what it takes to get things done," she said.
RUSSELL KLOSK of Fairfax was in for the duration of the series. To him, it's been a learning experience with a lot of idealistic solutions.
"To this point, it's been educational," Klosk said. "We passed the venting point. I like the chance to have input. One of the failures in America is not enough people have a chance to involve themselves."
Timothy Unrine was in to hear about the group-discussion method of community involvement. He is running for Providence District supervisor in November, a position that is presently held by Gerald E. Connolly (D). Connolly is expected to announce his candidacy for the Board of Supervisors’ chair, which Hanley recently announced she would not seek in November.
"My supervisor has never held one of these [discussion series]. I have learned a lot." But Unrine admitted, "I was expecting to hear the inner workings."
Bulova thought the outcome was similar to the other meetings so far.
"Each program in the series has served its purpose," she said.
At the next meeting on April 2, discussion group members will break into groups to review what has been accomplished so far in the series. Then the next two meetings are individual group discussions without Bulova, before they conclude May 14 and come up with a final plan for Bulova's June 25 Open House. Bulova will submit the final recommendations to various transportation groups in the county, including the Northern Virginia Transportation Authority and the Board of Supervisors.
"I think they're going to do a good job of sorting through and coming up with recommendations. It's been effective, I get a chance to hear what my constituents are thinking," she said.