Good morning to all, and congratulations to Walter as our new Chairman and to Barbara as our Vice Chairman.  Walter, I look forward to working closely with you this year.  Your agenda is clear and compelling, both in what you propose to continue and what you propose to initiate.

And a special welcome to our new colleague, Mary, along with a personal thanks to our outstanding professional staff who makes us look good day in and day out.

This morning I want to speak to a few of the issues and projects that will be of special interest to me in 2008, and, as you will see, I have framed them – with some artistic liberties - within the Chairman’s stated agenda.

Environmental and Community Health

I think Arlington’s Fresh AIRE initiative of 2007 made a real difference and inspired or otherwise motivated other jurisdictions, individuals and organizations to take steps to address the threat of carbon emissions.  I am committed to continue the progress we have made, and eager to take a personal leadership role on environmental and energy issues.

I appreciate Walter’s effort to make folks aware of the connection between the environment, personal health, and transportation and land use decisions.  The common thread is sustainability - how to create a daily routine, how to create a product, how to create a community that can be maintained without using up our planet’s resources and threatening the future.  It calls for long-term thinking, not short-term and a collective sense of responsibility, not selfishness or apathy.

Regarding land use, Arlington is recognized as a national model of smart, managed growth.  This smart development is our community’s legacy to the future and ensures that we will be better prepared than most to sustain our quality of life as energy and economic pressures build.  The re-planning of Crystal City is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and I look forward to finalizing a concept plan that will guide and brighten this Crystal’s future

Fresh AIRE established a plan for reducing the carbon footprint of the county government itself.  In 2008 we will create an emissions reduction plan for the Arlington community as a whole.

We’re off to a great start with our new Car-Free Diet program.  Have you seen the T-shirt that says, “I lost 2,000 pounds in one day?”  Get it?  The Car-Free Diet is a clever and easy way to explore how good it can feel to live a car-free or car-lite lifestyle. Visit the website at www.carfreediet.com and try our Car-Free Diet Calculator which will tell you how much money you’ll save, calories you’ll burn and CO₂ emissions you'll reduce when you use an alternative to your car – like ART, metro, biking, walking or telework.

Walter, I really like your idea for a “Take the Stairs” campaign.  I’ve always been one to walk, not stand, on an elevator.  But it was Chris who introduced me to Arlington’s stairwells.  It is interesting to me that old buildings had prominent stairways, while newer buildings hide them, make them impossible to find and unappealing to use.  Only in this building’s hidden stairwells do I usually pass people or find a crowd.

In 2008, I want to reassess our commercial and multi-family recycling policies - which are not as effective as our efforts in single family neighborhoods - expand  telework among county employees, and work to establish a regional bike sharing program.

I also believe that we have opportunities to influence regional and state policies and practices.  Our former colleague Paul Ferguson is serving on the Governor’s new Commission on Climate Change and I will be spearheading the “Go Green Virginia” initiative in my role as President of the Virginia Municipal League.  The centerpiece of this effort is a friendly competition among Virginia’s towns, cities and urban counties called the Green Government Challenge which is directly modeled after the Green Living Challenge created by our own non-profit Arlingtonians for a Clean Environment.

And the final aspect of sustainability and community health is fiscal sustainability.  I will continue to promote fiscal discipline and accountability in balancing responsible tax policies with needed public investments.  With anticipated revenue uncertainties, we need an increased focus on technology solutions to help meet budget challenges.

I warned of our limited ability to undertake new capital projects last year and will reissue that warning this year.  Both the County and Schools have made significant and important investments in our facilities and infrastructure in recent years, and there is more to accomplish.

I support efforts to assess our capital budget and process within the spending guidelines established by the Board several years ago.  We shall do nothing to threaten Arlington’s coveted triple AAA bond rating.

Affordable Housing

Affordable housing remains our most intransigent immediate challenge, and will continue to consume much attention.  I look forward to bringing forward some code changes that permit more flexibility for accessory dwelling units as an affordable alternative.

And I strongly support enhanced efforts to preserve our existing stock of affordable housing in mid-rise buildings and garden apartments.  This is a far more cost effective approach to addressing the challenges we face than building expensive new units in high-rise buildings.

Inclusion

This is as personal to me as it is to our new Chairman.  As a gay man, I understand discrimination and the pain it can cause.  I did not grow up with a visible difference, but with an invisible, secret difference, where the last people you want to tell are those that are closest to you – for fear of losing them.  Some of the rights enjoyed by most of you are denied to me, and both gay people and immigrants continue to be used as a wedge to divide and incite.

I was very proud of Arlington in 2006 when over 70% voted against the so-called Marriage Amendment, and I was equally proud in 2007 as we took a strong stand in support of our newcomers.  In this community, we are not afraid of our differences, we respect and celebrate those differences and recognize them as a source of our community’s strength.

Any efforts by the Chairman to further our value of inclusiveness will get my full support.

Conclusion

Arlington is special.  Not perfect, but darn good.  I believe that we are living proof that solid, progressive values combined with fiscal responsibility work.  Add an engaged and talented citizenry to the mix and you have the recipe for a healthy community.

I leave you with a word of wisdom from one of Arlington’s favorite daughters, Elizabeth Campbell, who said, “Live for today and you’ll find plenty to do.” 

We’ve got plenty to do.  Thanks, in advance, for your help….and Happy New Year.