►
Description
from the Arlington County Board Organizational Meeting, held on January 3, 2023.
A
And
now
we'll
turn
to
Mr
Karen
Thomas
thanks
Jason
again
and
to
our
chair
emerita.
Thank
you.
So
much
for
your
leadership.
I
was
a
member
of
this
board
for
the
most
times
that
you
actually,
you
know,
hold
this
speech
with
your
priorities,
but
I
was
seeing
that
from
the
other
side
of
the
dice
and
I
can
attest
to
exactly
the
same.
A
Like
Mr
de
ferranti
in
our
colleague
said,
you
stood
up
and
you
did
that
and
it's
actually
a
an
important
moment
of
reflection
of
another
type
of
transition,
which
is
the
generational
transition
in
Arlington.
That,
like
everywhere
in
our
nation
everywhere
in
the
world,
in
fact,
isn't
is
a
matter
of
of
how
life
flows
and
how
new
challenges
are
faced
and
addressed
by
new
generations.
A
With
a
new
Fresh
iron,
you
Fresh
Approach
talking
about
that
2022,
the
first
post-pandemic
or
purportedly
post-podemic
year
I
was
a
year
of
recovery
and
of
transition
to
The
New
Normal.
We
heard
a
lot
of
conversation
about
this
today
and
a
year
of
recovered
optimism.
Despite
the
Lively
and
sometimes
acrimonious
discussion
on
on
housing,
it
was
a
re
it.
We
recovered
our
normality
of
life
and
we
faced
future
with
energy
and
resilience.
A
That
is
so
so
us
so
Arlington,
and
that
includes
Lively
discussions
about
land
use
transition
is
defined
as
a
process
driven
by
purpose
values
and
a
common
understanding
of
the
direction
and
I
can't
find
a
better
word
to
describe
what
I
believe
will
be
the
essence
of
2023
as
a
year
of
Transitions
and
I
agree
with
have
I
share
Libby
on
this
Libby
Garvey.
On
this.
A
A
Arlington
has
the
brain
power,
the
economic
capacity,
the
political
insight
to
become
an
exemplary
leader,
an
app
for
environmental
innovation
in
the
region
in
the
nation.
What
is
good
for
environment
is
good,
for
our
economy
is
good
for
jobs
and
investment.
It's
good
for
our
community
and
our
future.
A
It
is
the
right
time
to
invest
in
aggressively
in
electric
infrastructure
for
transportation
and
public
transit,
but
our
focus
and
I
agree.
Mr
chair
should
be
centered
in
putting
the
public
and
the
disadvantaged
communities
and
people
first,
the
biggest
and
most
efficient
EV
I'm,
not
tired
to
repeat,
is
Metro
Rail.
It
doesn't
need
charging
by
the
way
it
needs.
A
My
focus
will
be
on
bringing
ridership
back.
That
includes
considering
seriously
considering
Fair
free
Transit
on
the
art
system
and
at
the
same
time,
we
should
and
I
agree
with
that
continue
to
strive
to
improve
service,
including,
but
not
limited,
to
advancing
the
long
overdue
premium
Transit
on
the
airplane.
A
Because
we
are
about
to
grow
smarter
in
the
21st
century.
Speaking
of
intersections
housing,
as
you
all
mentioned,
is
the
most
discussed
issue
in
our
community,
because
there
is
hardly
any
aspect
of
governance
or
life,
that's
not
connected
with
it.
We
are
a
desirable
place
of
opportunity
because
we
excelled
managing
growth,
but
we
haven't
met
the
FRA,
the
mark
for
producing
the
appropriate
housing
Supply
and
the
variability
that
appropriate
variability
in
housing
choice
in
the
20th
century.
A
Roped
in
density
on
Transit
corridors
was
the
necessary
condition
for
creating
a
sustaining
Transit
infrastructure
in
the
economy
it
supports.
In
the
21st
century,
the
need
emerges
for
a
plant
and
Community
anchored
as
always
transitioned
to
a
gently
distributed
density
Beyond
and
between
our
corridors.
The
emphasis
is
on
gently
and
on
long
term
and
with
reasonable
safeguards
in
place
to
manage
potential
adverse
effects
without
and
that's
important,
without
stifling
the
benefits
of
allowing
the
market
to
provide
a
wider
variety
of
housing
choices
to
a
wider
variety
of
residents
and
to
all
our
linkedonians.
Eventually.
A
This
is
the
essence
of
my
amazing
middle
philosophy
and
approach
and
I'm
not
going
to
expand
too
much
on
this
now,
because
we
will
have
plenty
of
opportunity
to
do
that
in
the
next
couple
of
months,
new
Mobility,
improved
walkability
and
cyclability
support,
moderate
transitional
growth,
around
key
assets,
Beyond
mass
transit,
like
parks
and
public
spaces,
libraries
and
recreational
facilities
and
neighborhood
retail.
We
are
lucky
very
lucky
that
our
geography
allows
for
most
human
needs
to
be
located
within
a
travel
distance
of
15
minutes
from
Any
Given
Home,
mostly
by
foot
or
by
bicycle.
A
This
time
we
have
a
wider
complement
of
stools,
Beyond
just
zoning
that
allow
us
to
shape
our
future.
We
have
a
better
handle,
mastering
Urban
form.
We
can
Street
design
streets
in
a
safer
and
better
and
more
functional
way.
This
time
we
can
make
sure
that
we
can
plan
for
change
that
is
inclusive
and
is
based
on
equity
and
equal
access
to
opportunity
for
all
our
lincolntonians,
regardless
of
the
race,
ethnicity
or
social
economic
status.
This
is
the
first
time
in
our
history
that
we
can
actually
factually
accomplish
that.
A
This
is
why
I
also
continue
to
focus
beyond
the
missing
metal
discussion.
I
am
I'm
focused
on
no
displacement
and
deepening
up
for
the
ability
to
be
gone
below
40
percent
Emi
and
I
mentioned
bar
graph
and
park.
Shirlington
I
am
focused
on
tweaking
our
housing
support
programs,
especially
the
house
grants
program
to
become
more
sustainable
and
more
effective.
A
Bringing
me
to
the
third
Passion
Of
Me,
Mine
transitioning,
our
economy,
a
town
for
all,
is
only
possible
in
an
economy
that
works
for
all
High
commercial
vacancy
asks
for
courageous
decision,
and
my
colleagues
have
already
mentioned
that
and
I
agree.
We
have
to
be
flexible
and
creative
on
adaptive,
reuse
of
existing
buildings.
We
have
to
strengthen
small
business
entrepreneurship.
A
A
My
parting
thoughts
tonight
that
the
pandemic
also
taught
us
that
a
coordinated
social
safety
net
is
essential.
Norlington
should
go
Hungary.
New
orleintonians
should
lack
access
to
physical
or
mental
health
care,
senior
services
and
Child
Care
on
the
other
side
of
the
age.
Spectrum
should
be
available
to
those
who
need
them
and
need
them
now
in
Arlington,
every
individual
is
important,
and
this
is
particularly
true
in
terms
of
momentous
transitions
that
tend
to
overwhelm
the
most
vulnerable.
A
Through
these
common
values,
your
local
government
will
be
a
partner
and
Mr
chair.
Just
allow
me,
in
representation
of
all
the
more
than
87
languages
that
are
spoken
in
homes
in
Arlington,
to
just
repeat
that
phrase
in
Spanish.