Commentary

When cartoonist Walt Kelly drew a poster for Earth Day in 1970 he had Pogo peering into a trash riddled forest and exclaiming, "We have met the enemy — and he is us!" When the General Assembly meets in Special Session on June 23 to deal with the underfunding of transportation infrastructure, it may become obvious to members of the legislature as it no doubt has to the public that the "enemy" of a solution may well be the persons who are supposed to solve the problem.
 
The problem is not new nor is it hard to define. A very conservative list of transportation projects that few dispute are needed has a price tag well beyond the revenue available to pay for them. With construction prices escalating and the buying power of the dollar declining, there simply is not enough money to go around. With the maintenance needs of heavily used roadways taking up most of the money available, there are few dollars to build new roadways or bridges or to match federal dollars that might be available for new construction. At the same time congestion on the roadways increases with Northern Virginia earning the dubious distinction of having the second worst congestion in the country.
 
If the problem is clear, what stands in the way of a solution? Simple answers have not proven useful. The argument about reorganizing VDOT is gone with about a half-dozen reorganizations leaving the department but a shadow of its former self. The notion that some private sector folks are going to show up to build our roads for us has not panned out except for the HOT lanes that have some people wondering if they are such a good idea. Gimmicks like those enacted last session have been thrown out by the courts.
 
Looks like we are down to needing to put some money in the pot. Maybe some of that money can be termed fees. Ultimately, however, there is going to be a need for more revenue that can be generated from any of several different sources commonly referred to as taxation. About a fourth of the members of the House of Delegates have signed pledges to never raise taxes. No one wants to. Some will want to shuffle this state responsibility off to local officials to raise the revenue. Others will make speeches suggesting the problem is not as big as some proclaim it to be; maybe there will even be hints that it might magically go away. Both political parties will blame each other.
 
Pogo observing what seems to be about to happen would likely conclude that "we have met the enemy — and he is us."

Delegate Ken Plum's Weekly "Virginia Report"
on Reston Comcast Channel 28

Announcements

Herndon-Monroe Parking Garage will undergo major structural repair and maintenance work beginning on June 16, 2008. Commuters who use the 1,600-parking-space garage will be affected as areas of the garage will be blocked off in eight phases for the construction project, with substantial completion of the work expected in December 2008. The repairs will include cleaning, sealing and waterproofing at all levels, improvements to drainage patterns, and other structural enhancements. The parking garage is located at 12530 Sunrise Valley Drive, Herndon. It will be difficult to estimate the exact dates each of the eight sections will close and re-open, but Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) and the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services will post updates on their Web sites as information becomes available. Go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot or www.fairfaxcounty.gov/dpwes for information. A brochure with diagrams of the garage and construction areas is available on the FCDOT Web page.
 
Effective July 1, 2008, citizens can save money and time by renewing vehicle registrations (decals) online, by phone, through the mail or a DMV Select. Renewal in person at a customer service center will cost an additional $5 fee for vehicle registration renewal transactions. Service options can be viewed at www.dmvNOW.com.
 
Lightning Safety Week is June 22-28 with the theme, "When thunder roars, go indoors." Remain inside until 30 minutes after the last clap of thunder. The Fairfax County Community Emergency Alert Network sends severe weather alerts. Sign up at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/cean.
 
Virginia Natural Resources Leadership Institute (VNRLI) offers an opportunity to meet with other leaders in Virginia who are working with our natural resources to build relationships, enhance collaborative problem-solving and leadership skills, and learn more about Virginia's specific natural resource issues. Information about six workshops from September 2008 through June 2009 can be found at www.virginia.edu/ien/vnrli.

Calendar of Events

Make plans for a great day of golf to benefit the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra on Thursday, June 19, at the Reston National Golf Course. Check-in and registration begins at 8:00 a.m. with a Shotgun Start at 9:00 a.m. Format is a four-person scramble. Cost is $600 per foursome and includes breakfast, lunch, games, and prizes. For information about sponsorship opportunities or to sign up call the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra offices at 703.563.1990 or email amorrison@fairfaxsymphony.org.

A free regional mortgage clinic to help Virginians avoid home foreclosure will be hosted by the Virginia Foreclosure Prevention Task Force on Saturday, June 21, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Chantilly High School, 4201 Stringfellow Road, Chantilly. Walk-ins are welcome at the clinic; however, space for the individual counseling sessions is limited and pre-registration is strongly encouraged. To register for a clinic counseling session, visit the Virginia Foreclosure Prevention Task Force website at www.VirginiaForeclosurePrevention.com.

Attend the Rotary “Senior Senior Prom” on Saturday, June 21, 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. at St. Joseph's Church in Herndon. This dress-up event is for anyone who has reached 50 or better – and their families – and will feature great food and music. Call 703.437.5886 to RSVP.

Mark your calendar for a Conference on Community Collaboration in Preventing Family Violence, sponsored by the Virginia Family and Children's Trust Fund (FACT) on Wednesday, June 25, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. in Richmond. For more information go to www.fact.state.va.us or email fran.inge@dss.virginia.gov.

Save the date for the Virginia Sustainable Building Network's 13th Anniversary Celebration & Annual Meeting on Wednesday, June 25, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., University of Richmond Jepson Center. This year's them is "One Planet Living." Download the registration form at www.vsbn.org.

Learn about services and products to green your workplace at Reston Environmental Action's (REACT) Green Workplace Fair on Thursday, June 26, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., Reston Community Center at Lake Anne in the JoAnn Rose Gallery. For more information call 703.620.0151.

Enjoy the Roosevelt Island Walk on Saturday, June 28, 9:50 a.m. Meet walk leader Squire Muse at the Reston East Wiehle Park & Ride to begin a 4-5 hour adventure via bus, Metro and on foot for a walk from Rosslyn over the bridge to Roosevelt Island. Advance registration required by Wednesday, June 25. Call Reston Museum at 703.709.7700.

The 14th Annual Rucker Memorial Golf Tournament will be held on July 14 at Hidden Creek Country Club, Reston, VA. Proceeds benefit the programs of Reston Interfaith, Inc. For questions or to get involved, phone 571.323.9582 or email amy.mcdowell@restoninterfaith.org.

Authorized and Paid for by Kenneth R. Plum

Delegate Kenneth R. Plum | 2073 Cobblestone Lane | Reston | VA | 20191