en Español>>>

Partners for a Sustainable Arlington: A Community Response to Economic Challenges

First, let me say welcome to all of you here in person and to those who might be watching at home.  Each year, this New Year’s tradition reminds me why I enjoy serving the people of Arlington. I doubt there is any other place on the planet where voters are as informed and engaged in the local governing process as they are right here in Arlington.

The pundits tell us that 2009 will be an extraordinary year; a year that will bring change and innovation; and a year that will require us to re-think the role of County government in fiscally challenging times. In short, 2009 will be a year that offers us new opportunities if we are ready to embrace the possibilities.

I am confident that Arlingtonians will rise to the occasion. We have a history of building strong bonds in difficult times, of being there for our neighbors, of each person doing his part to lessen the pain of those most vulnerable in the community.  his commitment to each other -- and to a shared sense of values -- is now more important than ever. As we embark on this new journey, I challenge us to be Partners for a Sustainable Arlington.

A “Sustainable Arlington” means sustainable in the broadest sense of the word. Although the concept of “fiscal sustainability” will dominate our conversations and public policy debates at all levels of government, we need to remember that the end result must be aimed as sustaining Arlington in a way that keeps it special.

Arlington is a vibrant and diverse place. We value the individual and have taken bold steps to invest in the future.  Our public schools are among the best in the country and this commitment to a first class school system is unwavering.  Arlington’s initiatives to protect the environment and create affordable housing define us as a progressive community. These investments must continue to be our hallmark.

Therefore, efforts at sustainability will go beyond “dollars and cents” calculations and aim to embrace the heart and soul of our community. Arlington is better positioned than most localities to deal with an economic downturn. Our unemployment rate is hovering at 2.6%, one of the lowest in the country; and our largest employer, the federal government, is still in business, even during recessions. Moreover, Arlingtonians are well educated, resourceful, and bring considerable “brain power” and engagement to the process of governing.

However, even with all of these community assets, the decisions facing us in 2009 will test our community values. Arlington’s real estate assessments, the largest source of revenue for local governments, have slowed to a zero growth rate and, in some cases, a negative rate. Private developers have delayed the building of approved projects and other local tax revenues are lower than expected. This means that anticipated revenue will be significantly below the level necessary to maintain current services.  

Vacant staff positions have been frozen for a while. Since the Governor’s FY 2009 budget cuts, we have been re-evaluating our priorities and carefully downsizing the size of the County workforce. Yet, steps taken thus far will not be enough. To preserve as many services and as many jobs as possible in the upcoming year, County employees will be asked to sacrifice pay increases and other forms of compensation.

This is a request that the County Board does not make lightly, but is necessitated by economic conditions. It is hoped that these steps, along with other management initiatives, such as incentives for voluntary severance or early retirement, will make it possible to achieve savings without laying-off County employees.

We know our employees are some of the best anywhere. Arlington is repeatedly recognized for high-quality services and innovative programs; and County employees are in large part responsible for these accolades. Yet, these extraordinary times require extraordinary sacrifices. When the economy turns around, I am confident that the County Board will re-visit employee pay issues and make any necessary adjustments to ensure our competitiveness.

Budget deliberations this year will go well beyond the efficiency and effectiveness debates. Although we will have to downsize government in non-essential areas, the health and safety of Arlingtonians, including those who are most vulnerable, will not be compromised. We will also continue to make key investments. However, each of us will be asked to accept less of select County services or capital programs that we care about but are not essential.

I submit to you a framework for identifying priority areas in the next year that honors our values and reflects the progressive nature of our community. This framework describes a Caring Community, an Environmentally-Friendly Community, a Community with Accessible and Affordable Housing, and the Partnerships needed to make this happen.

I also pledge to you that, as the County Board makes funding decisions in these difficult times, we will be guided by a commitment to fairness, equity and compassion, because we rise or fall as one community.

A Caring Community

Arlington is a caring community. This translates into the County government and the community at large “being there” so those at risk will not become homeless and hungry. The rising costs of food, scarcity of affordable housing and job losses are causing increased numbers of people to seek assistance for basic needs.

Applications for the County’s Housing Grants program have increased 38% in the past two months; the number of households receiving grants has increased from 722 in November 2007 to 832 in November 2008. Money for eviction prevention administered through the non-profit AMEN is now exhausted by the 15^th of each month. The County Board made a supplemental appropriation last month to ensure that services were available to those needing help but we know the numbers will continue to grow.  

Providing a safety net for the most vulnerable among us does not come cheaply. But the value of dollars spent on keeping individuals and families from falling off the edge comes back to society many times over. In these tough times, the County Board will continue to allocate resources in a way that helps individuals and families stay in their homes and remain self-sufficient.

In the upcoming year, I will ask the Arlington Community Foundation to explore how to best engage all sectors of the community in providing a stronger safety net.  This may mean creating a special fund to help non-profit organizations who are seeing an increased demand for emergency services from clients, but are facing reduced funding.  There may be other good approaches to helping with this problem as well, so the work must begin.

In thinking about a safety net, we must also consider the health and well-being of the general population, particularly our young people. A sustainable Arlington requires strategic decisions that will serve the community well long into the future.

In 2008, Arlington staff conducted an assessment of the community’s public health infrastructure.  This project known as MAPP (Mobilizing for Action through Planning and Partnerships) involved 60 organizations and individuals.  The effort produced a local health profile which revealed some alarming facts about health in our community and the need to improve access to health promotion and disease prevention information.

I expect we will work on many recommendations associated with the MAPP project over time, but there is one area I would like to highlight for more immediate attention. Arlington’s teens are binge drinking at an alarmingly high rate (28% in Arlington, compared to 25.5% nationally). The consequences of such behavior are very serious. Alcohol causes severe, and possibly lasting, brain damage in people under the age of 21 (AMA 2004). If a person begins drinking alcohol at age 15, he or she is four times more likely to develop an alcohol dependence than those who begin at age 21 (NIH study). Teens who are involved in frequent and excessive use of alcohol are more likely to be victims of crime, be involved in driving accidents, use illicit drugs, and have unprotected sex.

It is important to remember, however, that this behavior is preventable. I am asking the Partnership for Children, Youth and Families to develop and coordinate community efforts to address this problem. My colleague Mary Hynes has agreed to be the Board liaison on this topic.  Her background on the School Board and many years of involvement with youth activities will be a big asset to this cause.

Environmentally-Friendly Community

The County’s Fresh AIRE initiative continues to excite and engage the community. We are committed to reducing carbon emissions generated from County buildings and activities to 10% below our 2000 levels by 2012, a very ambitious goal. With the emphasis President-elect Obama is giving to climate change issues, now is the time for other sectors in Arlington to embrace the establishment of community-wide carbon emission reduction goals.

In 2009, I am asking the County Manager to initiate a process for achieving community-wide carbon emission reduction goals. My colleague Jay Fisette has agreed to pay particular attention to this issue on behalf of the Board. I know he will bring knowledge and passion to this issue.

Another key aspect of a healthy environment is recycling. Ralph Waldo Emerson once said: “Nothing in nature is exhausted in its first use.” This should be a reminder to us all about the value of recycling.

In the spring of 2009, the County will move to “single stream” recycling. This means you will be able to place all recyclables in one container and a wider range of plastic materials will be eligible for curb side recycling. Now, approximately 30% of the material found in a residential garbage container could be placed in a recycling bin. The percentage is even higher for commercial properties. It is time for offices, restaurants and multi-family buildings, in particular, to make a more concerted effort to recycle. This initiative will make it easier for all of us to do the right thing. For a little extra help, I am asking Scout troops and science classes to come up with promotional messages and projects that remind Arlington businesses and the community at large to do a better job of recycling.  

Accessible and Affordable Housing

We must accelerate the “Columbia Pike Land Use and Housing Study.”  Arlington has enjoyed many successes because we are willing to plan for a future that supports a high quality of life for businesses and residents.  The County’s Metro corridors are recognized nationally for a mixed-use, transit-oriented “Smart Growth” approach.  Arlington can now claim to be one of the greenest and skinniest counties in the nation.

The next generation of development in this County will take place along Columbia Pike. We need to approach this challenge by reinforcing our commitment to maintaining Columbia Pike’s character and diversity. This means developing planning and economic tools to support a range of affordable housing options on the Pike. The loss of affordable housing along the Pike is almost certain if measures are not undertaken soon. People from all nationalities and walks of life live on or near Columbia Pike. We value their contributions to this community. Given the importance of this problem, each of my colleagues will have to contribute time and expertise to this issue. However, I want to tap Mr. Zimmerman, who has a long history with Columbia Pike issues, to work with me in guiding this study as we move forward.

On a broader housing note, I would like to start a discussion on the concept of universal design.  Universal design challenges architects and builders to think of small but important details in the design of a home.  An example might be lowering kitchen counters so someone in a wheelchair can comfortably use them.  Most of us, at some point, will suffer a short-term disability and all of us will face the challenges of aging.  As more and more baby boomers want to age in place and be an integral part of our community, it seems to me that universal design is a quality of life issue that merits exploring.

Partners in the Community

The Diversity Dialogues that Walter Tejada kicked off last year showed how important it is to make folks feel part of a community. Thank you, Walter, for your leadership in this area. I trust that you will continue to take the lead on reviewing the recommendations from the Diversity Dialogue Task Force on how to move forward with this effort.

Along the lines of community integration, it is important for older adults, particularly older immigrant adults who have fewer ties to society to connect with neighbors and friends. Volunteers in Arlington’s Wisdom Works program have made a concerted effort to mentor older persons of color, and younger people as well.  These volunteers want to share their skills and experience. I think it would be a wise County investment to help integrate the Wisdom Works volunteers into our broader-based, County-sponsored Community Volunteer Network. This could be a win-win for all of us.

Summary

To achieve a sustainable Arlington, everyone needs to pitch in and do his or her part.  Partners from the business community, non-profit sector, civic groups, the faith community, higher education, service clubs and the health care sector will have opportunities to help Arlington protect our safety net, create an environmentally-friendly community and build accessible and affordable housing. Although 2009 will be a challenging year, I am confident that we will take these challenges and turn them into opportunities to make Arlington even better. I look forward to our journey.