►
Description
Newly elected Arlington County Board Chair Mary Hynes announces her priorities for 2015
A
Yeah,
it
is
my
honor
now
to
share
with
you
a
few
words
and
I
I'm,
anxious
to
do
so.
I'm
excited
about
this
and
and
pleased
very
much
to
have
this
opportunity,
so
let
me
say:
welcome
to
2015
each
year.
As
many
of
you
know,
the
Arlington
County
Board
celebrates
the
new
year
with
this
traditional
meeting
so
before
I
move
any
further.
A
Let
me
welcome
the
many
Arlen
Tony
ins
who
have
joined
us
today
in
the
board
meeting
room
and
those
who
are
watching
from
home
I
actually
got
an
email
this
morning
from
a
friend
who
is
in
Greece,
who
told
me
that
they
were
going
to
livestream
us
today.
He
said
it
would
be
dinner
time,
and
so
they
could
have
a
glass
of
wine
while
they
were
watching.
A
I
do
want
to
express
some
special
thanks
to
folks
who
are
with
us
today.
We
have
members
of
our
school
board
and
I
am
so
grateful
that
I
saw
four
before
we
came
before
we
started
there-
maybe
five
here,
but
thank
you
very,
very
much
for
joining
us
today
and
dr.
Murphy.
The
superintendent
is
also
with
us.
Thank
you
patrick
for
coming.
In
addition,
we've
got
members
of
the
Civic
Federation
and
the
Chamber
of
Commerce
and
leadership
arlington
as
well
as
folks
who
lead
a
variety
of
other
organizations
and
nonprofits
with
us
today.
A
Thank
you
all
very
much
for
taking
the
time
to
be
with
us
live.
This
is
it's
it's
really
a
delight,
and
let
me
say
again
thank
you
to
jay
who
led
us
so
ably
in
2014,
and
as
I
mentioned,
it
was
his
fourth
time
as
chair.
These
are
labors
of
love
to
to
serve
on
the
board
and
serve
the
community.
But
being
chair
is
a
special
amount
of
work
and
so
Jay.
A
We
are
very
grateful
for
what
you
did
last
year,
thanks
again
and
I'm
hot
honored
and
humbled
to
have
my
colleagues
confidence
once
again
in
my
ability
to
lead
the
board.
The
past
year
was
a
year
of
change
in
our
community
tumultuous
in
some
of
its
respects.
Our
economy
continued
to
lag
school
school
enrollment
grew
at
its
fastest
pace.
Ever
five
new
Arlington
leaders
were
elected
and
a
number
of
long
planned
community
projects
were
paused
or
canceled.
Well,
Arlington
continues
to
receive
accolades
for
our
implementation
of
transit
oriented
development.
A
Today
is
a
day
for
reflection
and
for
making
resolutions
and
I
believe
that
our
community
stands
at
a
crossroads.
I
resolve
in
my
in
the
year
ahead
to
build
upon
our
community
values
and
to
listen
carefully
to
Arlington's
many
voices
as
we
strive
to
make
Arlington
an
even
better
place
for
all
of
us.
2015
will
be
a
year
of
change
as
we
deal
with
our
growing
populations
a
year
of
challenges,
as
we
continue
to
reinvigorate
our
economy
and
a
year
of
limits
as
we
come
to
grips
with
the
realities
of
our
physical
space.
A
So
40
years
ago,
our
community
stood
at
another
major
crossroads.
At
that
time
we
came
together
to
adopt
a
vision
for
the
future
that
has
effectively
and
sensibly
guided
us
ever
since,
in
1975
after
considerable
study
and
an
extraordinary
number
of
community
meetings,
the
outline
for
development
of
the
rosslyn
ballston
and
route
1
corridors
was
agreed
to
by
the
community.
The
result
of
this
decision
is
summed
up
in
our
comprehensive
plans:
twin
goals
of
concentrating
development
in
a
relatively
small
part
of
the
county,
while
preserving
our
single-family
neighborhoods.
A
The
results
of
this
decision
influenced
virtually
every
aspect
of
life
in
Arlington.
Today,
many
of
us
are
fortunate
to
be
able
to
shop
dine
or
be
entertained
in
vibrant
mixed-use
corridors
within
a
short
walk
of
single-family
neighborhoods.
For
many
years,
this
grand
bargain,
more
commercial
development
concentrated
in
the
corridors
coupled
with
preservation
of
established
neighborhoods,
has
resulted
in
our
business
community,
contributing
forty-five
to
fifty
percent
of
the
revenue
needed
to
deliver
the
broad
array
of
services
we
all
enjoy
today.
A
The
great
multimodal
transit
system
that
we've
built
around
metro
and
the
strong
partnership
we've
built
with
our
business
community
transformed
arlington
into
a
dynamic,
successful
inviting
community.
It
was
no
accident.
It
was
the
result
of
hard
work
that
put
our
community
vision
into
practice
and
wrote
a
story
that
we
can
each
feel
proud
of.
A
Adopting
the
plan
40
years
ago
was
just
the
beginning.
It
was
necessary,
but
not
sufficient
to
achieving
the
vision.
Since
that
time,
thousands
of
US
residents,
commissioners,
business
owners,
elected
leaders
and
county
staff
have
continued
to
plan
to
consider
policies
and
to
make
changes
so
that
the
plan
can
has
become
our
reality
now,
even
as
we
worked
here
inside
Arlington
to
achieve
the
vision,
the
region
continued
to
evolve
around
us
and
unforeseen
external
events,
coupled
with
the
overall
attractiveness
of
our
community,
have
now
combined
to
put
some
very
important
challenges
squarely
before
us
in
2015.
A
So
let
me
highlight
a
few
of
those
things.
As
I
mentioned
earlier,
school-age
children
are
enrolling
at
numbers
that
suggest
student
population
will
surpass
30,000
in
five
short
years.
That's
more
students
than
have
ever
been
enrolled
in
the
Arlington
public
schools.
Today,
more
than
twenty
percent
of
our
office
space
is
vacant.
A
number
that
we've
not
seen
before
and
viable
regional
competitors
to
our
economy
are
emerging.
A
Our
commercial
sector
with
its
historic,
close
ties
to
government,
especially
the
Pentagon,
has
been
struggling,
and
both
government
and
the
private
sector
are
using
office
space
in
different
and
more
efficient
ways.
Housing
prices
keep
rising,
sometimes
astronomically
for
both
renters
and
buyers.
Housing
affordable
to
those
of
lesser
means
is
rapid,
declining
and
in
the
past
13
years
median
home
prices
have
risen.
A
hundred
and
forty
percent.
A
Our
employment
base
was
shaken
by
the
events
of
September
11th,
as
well
as
the
2005
base
realignment
and
closure
Commission
recommendations
which
cost
Arlington
more
defense
jobs
than
any
other
community
in
the
nation,
the
federal
government.
Overall,
sometimes
we
forget
this,
but
we
really
are
a
company
town.
The
federal
government
has
become
a
less
reliable
employer
and
a
less
reliable
office
tenant,
sending
ripples
through
our
economy.
A
Many
folks
at
all
ages
and
stages
now
want
to
live
in
Arlington.
This
has
meant
even
greater
demand
for
all
kinds
of
county
services
and
has
put
additional
stress
on
the
parks,
community
facilities
and
open
space
that
we
already
have
and
transit
ridership
is
up
a
good
thing,
part
of
our
plan,
metro
trains
and
art
and
Metro
buses
are
crowded.
The
cost
to
maintain
the
service
we
already
have
is
rising
and
we
need
more
space
to
store
art
and
school
buses
to
meet
our
growing
transportation
needs.
A
Now
after
I
read
that
and
after
I
wrote
that
I
thought
holy
moly,
that
is
really
a
lot
of
challenges
and,
and
we
play
them
out
within
our
twenty
six
and
a
half
square
miles
on
the
doorstep
of
washington.
Dc
we're
a
place
that
contains
every
bridge
that
crosses
the
potomac
from
Virginia
to
the
district,
except
for
those
two
Beltway
bridges
and
we
are
a
place
where
part
of
our
land,
a
significant
part
of
our
land,
is
home
to
significant
National,
Park,
Service
land,
to
Fort
Myer,
to
the
Pentagon
and
to
National
Airport.
A
We
do
have
incredible
assets,
though,
and
the
list
is
long
and
I'm
sure
you're
going
to
hear
in
more
detail
about
them
from
some
of
my
colleagues,
but
to
sum
up,
we're
known
for
being
safe,
forward-thinking,
transit,
oriented
welcoming
and
a
special
place
for
so
very
many
people,
from
new
Americans
to
new
entrepreneurs
to
retiring
baby
boomers
to
people
with
kids,
and
we
have
us
great
and
strong
tradition
of
successfully
involving
our
residents
and
businesses
in
crafting
solutions
to
the
problems
and
challenges
we
face.
We
call
it
the
Arlington
way
through
this
deliberative
dialogue.
A
We
joined
together
to
find
solutions
that
build
on
our
strengths,
address
the
challenges
we
face
and
help
achieve
Arlington's
vision
in
December.
The
county
board
heard
testimony
related
to
public
land
proposals.
That
indicated
there
is
broad
community
agreement
from
the
Planning
Commission
to
the
Civic
Federation
from
civic
groups
to
individuals
that
we
must
develop
systemic
strategies
to
meet
our
array
of
community
facility
needs,
rather
than
addressing
any
particular
need,
or
any
particular
site
in
isolation.
We,
the
county
board
and
the
school
board,
agree
with
you.
A
Partners,
supported
by
our
many
advisory
commissions,
the
Civic
Federation
civic
associations
and
ptas,
as
well
as
members
of
the
business
community,
we're
launching
today,
the
Arlington
community
facilities
study
a
plan
for
the
future.
A
study
will
committee
will
lead
the
effort
and
will
be
composed
of
Arlington
residents
and
business
leaders
they'll
be
charged
with
developing
a
consensus
framework
to
address
our
community's
needs
for
additional
schools,
fire
stations
and
vehicle
and
other
storage
facilities
in
the
context
of
our
long-term
economic
and
demographic
growth.
A
We're
asking
this
group
to
develop
criteria
to
help
us
determine
how
best
to
locate
new
facilities
or
add
new
services
to
existing
facilities
or
sites,
as
well
as
to
evaluate
our
ability
to
finance
these
facilities.
The
study
is
intended
to
give
both
boards
school
and
county
the
information
each
needs
to
make
critical
decisions
leading
into
the
adoption
of
the
updated
capital
improvement
plan
in
July
of
2016.
A
The
process
will
allow
the
community
to
address
several
key
questions
head-on
for
the
foreseeable
future.
What
our
facility
needs
for
schools,
fire
stations,
recreation
and
transportation,
vehicle
and
other
storage?
How
do
we
pay
for
these
needs?
What
criteria
should
we
use
to
help
us
decide
where
to
locate
them
in
the
context
of
changing
demographics
and
economics?
What
opportunities
and
challenges
are
therefore,
in
our
aging,
affordable
and
workforce,
multi-family
housing
stock
and
what
do
changes
in
the
federal
government
presence
and
the
residential
and
private
commercial
marketplace
mean
for
counting
revenues.
A
The
consensus
framework
that
the
study
committee
will
create
working
with
the
broader
community
will
answer
these
questions.
Their
answers
will
be
informed
by
our
realities.
Arlington
is
small.
No
new
land
is
being
created
that
we
can
count
on
anyway.
There's
some
interesting
ideas
out
there
these
days,
but
right
now
we
don't
think
there's
going
to
be
a
lot
of
new.
We
must
use
what
we
already
have
thoughtfully
and
equitably
to
serve
arlynn
Tony
ins
throughout
the
county.
A
Significant
new
funding
is
unlikely.
We
must
examine
facility
needs
strategically
and
maximize
our
use
of
available
revenue,
and
we
must
do
each
of
these
things
in
a
way
that
is
part
of
a
sensible,
long-term
financial
plan
for
the
county.
Our
framework
will
acknowledge
that
as
our
population
go
grows,
change
is
unavoidable.
All
that
challenge
is
loom
as
we
work
to
reinvigorate
our
economy
and
that
the
reality
of
our
physical
space
limits
some
possible
solution
sets
later
this
month.
A
At
a
joint
meeting
with
the
county
with
the
school
board,
the
county
board
will
publicly
adopt
the
charge
for
this
study
and,
as
part
of
this
charge,
the
county
board,
in
collaboration
with
the
school
board,
will
appoint
a
broad-based
study
committee
to
lead
this
work
and
make
recommendations
to
the
boards.
The
full
range
of
Arlington
stakeholder
groups
will
be
able
to
assist
in
the
study
by
participating
in
a
resident
forum
which
will
be
asked
to
aid
the
study
committee
in
its
work.
A
The
two
boards
will
stay
involved
in
the
process,
I'm
pleased
to
announce
that
John
Vice
dad
has
agreed
to
join
me
as
one
of
the
two
county
board
liaisons
to
the
process,
and
the
school
board
also
will
appoint
two
of
its
members
to
serve
as
liaisons
and
full
details
of
the
initiative
will
be
available
later
this
month.
Let
me
say
again
how
grateful
I
am
how
thankful
I
am
that
the
school
board
is
partnering
with
us
in
this
important
conversation.
A
I
think
this
is
going
to
result
in
something
that
that
helps
all
of
us
figure
out
how
to
move
forward
before
I
close
I
have
a
few
comments
on
two
issues
that
will
intersect
with
the
work
of
the
study
committee,
housing,
affordability
and
business
vibrancy.
Some
have
wondered
why
housing
affordability
requires
local
government
investment.
My
answer
is
that
communities
that
have
home
choices
at
the
full
range
of
affordability
are
far
more
sustainable
as
family
size
and
needs
vary
over
time.
A
Residents
are
more
likely
to
be
able
to
remain
in
the
community
they've
chosen
and
folks
at
varying
income
levels
have
opportunities
to
join
the
community.
It
also
means
that
those
who
live
and
work
in
Arlington
share
in
the
value
that
their
work
helps
to
create
rooting
them
firmly
in
our
community
through
their
work,
volunteerism
and
engagement.
Our
residents
strengthen
enrich
our
communities,
civic
life
and
all
of
Arlington's
children
benefit
from
growing
up
in
this
rich.
Many
do
mentioned
diversity
that
prepares
them
well.
For
the
global
economy,
they
will
join
as
adults
in
2012.
A
The
board
launched
a
three-year
study
to
update
our
approach
to
affordable
housing
since
2000.
As
many
know,
Arlington
has
lost
tens
of
thousands
of
housing
units,
mostly
through
rent
increases
that
were
generally
affordable
to
folks
with
modest
incomes.
Finding
ways
to
address
this
gap
in
our
housing
stock
continues
to
be
a
high
priority.
For
me,
the
housing
study
will
be
wrapping
up
its
first
phase
early
this
year
with
a
report
and
policy
recommendations
to
the
board.
A
Broad
community
engagement
opportunities
will
be
available
following
the
presentation,
as
the
community
continues
to
refine
its
affordable
housing
philosophy,
goals
and
tools.
Board
action
will
follow
the
community
engagement.
Turning
to
business
vibrancy,
as
I
mentioned
previously
Arlington,
is
experiencing
unprecedented
vacancy
rates
in
our
commercial
sector.
This
affects
every
aspect
of
our
business
activity
from
office
rentals
to
small
business,
to
entrepreneurial
activities,
all
of
which,
in
turn
affect
our
revenues,
to
learn
more
about
the
challenges
facing
the
business
community
I
and
one
of
my
colleagues
will
host
a
quarterly
Chairman's
breakfast
with
business
leaders.
A
Our
county
manager
and
members
of
her
staff
will
join
us
and
I
want
to
thank
the
Chamber
of
Commerce
for
supporting
us
in
getting
this
started.
In
addition,
board
members
will
participate
with
the
county
manager
as
she
introduces
our
new
economic
development
director
victor
Hoskins
to
the
community.
And
finally,
the
board
has
asked
the
manager
to
provide
us
with
an
analysis
of
whether
changes
in
our
adopted
redevelopment
plans
for
columbia,
pike
and
crystal
city
are
necessary.
A
Given
the
cancellation
of
the
streetcar,
it
is
critical
that
the
board
pay
close
attention
to
the
needs
of
the
local
business
community
and
the
neighborhoods
along
these
two
key
corridors
to
assure
that
they
continue
to
thrive
for
more
than
20
years.
I've
been
saying,
good
ideas
can
come
from
anywhere
I
believe
this
when
I
first
ran
for
the
Arlington
school
board
in
1994,
and
it's
still
my
view
on
january.
A
First
2015
hardly
a
day
passes
that
my
phone
doesn't
ring
or
I
don't
get
an
email
from
someone
in
Arlington
who
has
a
good
suggestion
for
how
the
county
can
do
things
better
or
more
efficiently
or
more
responsively.
In
my
seven
years
on
this
board,
I've
pursued
many
of
these
ideas
in
an
effort
to
make
Arlington
even
better
and
I'm
grateful
for
the
time.
A
So
many
people
have
taken
to
share
their
ideas
and
views
with
me
so
at
the
beginning
of
this
year,
as
chair
now
more
than
ever,
I
hope
that
the
ideas
will
keep
coming
from
all
quarters
of
our
community.
To
that
end,
open
door
Monday
will
continue
as
a
board
outreach
activity
for
the
fourth
year.
We've
moved
some
of
the
locations,
I'm
going
to
say
them
quickly
here,
but
it's
up
on
the
website
as
well
and
next
monday
january.
A
Fifth,
I
will
be
at
the
first
location
so
in
the
first
monday
of
the
month,
we'll
meet
at
the
madison
center
on
the
second
monday
at
the
arlington
mill
community
center
on
the
third
monday
at
the
Cherrydale
fire
station
and
on
the
fourth
monday
at
the
aurora
hills
library.
It's
true,
as
it's
always
been
that
no
appointment
is
needed
just
stop
by,
and
one
of
us
will
be
there
to
listen
and
chat
with
you
about.
Whatever
topic
might
happen
to
be
on
your
mind.
A
In
addition,
the
place
webpage
on
the
county
website
has
been
redesigned
and
I'm
excited
to
announce
that
all
of
the
civic
engagement
opportunities
where
staff
or
Commission's
are
gathering
community
input
are
now
available
on
a
single
calendar.
We
hope
that
this
new
tool
will
encourage
many
more
of
you
to
get
actively
involved
in
a
variety
of
civic
conversations
from
park
planning
to
Road
updates
to
this
the
work
of
the
study
committee
as
we
move
into
2015,
and
as
always,
we
welcome
applications
for
our
many
Commission.
A
It's
a
true
gift
of
your
time
and
talent
in
the
finest
tradition
of
the
Arlington
way,
and
deep,
deep
thanks
to
the
whole
community
for
allowing
me
to
continue
serving
you.
I
must
say
it
isn't
always
easier
fun,
but
nothing.
That's
really
important
is
and
helping
to
make
our
community
better
is
worth
it.
A
Every
single
moment
in
a
very
real,
safe
Sense
government
in
Arlington
is
informed
and
driven
by
dialogue,
dialogue
within
our
neighbors
among
friends
at
PTA,
Civic,
Association
and
community
meetings,
dialogue
among
citizens
involved
in
advising
the
county
board
on
the
full
range
of
issues.
Dialogue
between
citizens,
businesses,
the
county
board,
the
county
manager
and
her
staff.
These
conversations
have
been
every
single
day
in
every
corner
of
our
terrific
small
community.
It's
this
ongoing
informed
dialogue
that
makes
us
a
better
community.