ABC For Sale
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
 
In thinking about what makes Virginia special from her neighboring states, I would include on my list the fact that corner liquor stores with their barred windows and neon signs do not exist in Virginia.  But that picture may change soon if the McDonnell administration has its way.  As a candidate for that office, Governor McDonnell included on his list of ways to raise money for transportation a plan to sell the Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) operation.  At least two other governors, Wilder and Warner, considered but rejected proposals to sell the ABC stores  because of the economics involved.
 
Virginia is one of 18 states that continues to maintain state control of hard liquor sales growing out of the experiences of the aftermath of prohibition.  Of the 332 state-run stores, fewer than ten percent are in buildings owned by the state.  The remainder is in leased facilities that according the ABC 2009 annual report represent lease commitments through 2015 of $51,442,167 that would somehow need to be satisfied.  But the real money is in the revenue that the system generates that goes directly to the state.  For the last five years the ABC system has contributed more than $1.5 billion to the Commonwealth in the form of taxes and profit.
 
Under the proposal being floated as a trial balloon by the administration, the state would get out of the liquor business by closing its stores and auctioning off as many as 800 licenses to sell liquor.  The state would continue to collect taxes on the liquor sold in these private establishments, but the state would lose the $112 million a year in profits it now realizes.  If the license sales could generate as much as $500 million that the governor's office guesses would be the case, the state would in less than five years be losing a valuable stream of revenue that funds programs in mental health, alcoholism treatment, and education.  The plan to pick up these costs under the new scheme has not been made known.
 
A constituent wrote to me recently with his concerns about the bad deal the sale of the liquor stores would be for the people of Virginia.  "If one wanted to receive an income of $112 million (amount of annual profit state receives) from an investment that yielded 3 percent a year, one would have to invest $3.7 billion.  An annual income of $112 million equates to a 30-year income of $3.4 billion...These amounts, something in the neighborhood of $3 billion, are much more reasonable estimates of what the state should expect from the sale of liquor business.  If no one were to pay such a sum up front the state would be better off holding on to the liquor business."
 
Astonishingly, the Governor's staff is talking about giving away the business for $500 to $800 million.  That's a bad deal for taxpayers.  The General Assembly may need to proclaim, "NO SALE." 

 

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) is a team of scientists, engineers, policy experts, lawyers, and computer programmers who pore over government data, legal documents, scientific studies, and their own laboratory tests to expose threats to your health and the environment and to find solutions.  Visit www.ewg.org for a wealth of information on natural resources, energy choices, your health, a "Healthy Home Tips" series, and much more. 

 

This past weekend was really hot.  Yet on Saturday, July 24, 13 of 14 reporting regional air quality monitors registered Code Green (Good air quality) for ground level ozone; on Sunday, July 25, 14 of 14 registered Code Green, according to the Northern Virginia Transportation Alliance (NVTA).  The only non-Code Green for ozone reading was Code Yellow (moderate air quality).  In terms of particulate matter, on July 24 only four monitors registered Yellow; on July 25, only three were Yellow.  NVTA advises that this year we've had not one Coce Red (unhealthy for all) reading for ozone or particulate matter and not a single Code Orange (unhealthy for persons with respiratory problems, seniors, children).  As NVTA stated in an email this week, "The heat may have been killing us, but not the air quality.  The level of air quality improvement due to technological advancements (cleaner fuel and engines, utility plant conversions, etc.) is cause for celebration, but not complacency.  Tighter government standards are on the way.  (No surprise.)  On exceptionally hot days we still need to limit driving, refueling, lawn mowing, and cooking outdoors with charcoal."  For more information about NVTA and its air quality monitoring, visit www.nvta.org.

 

Ken's Commentary in last week's newsletter talked in part about how we sometimes acquire too many things, like the complimentary stick-on return address labels we receive from non-profit organizations as an enticement to give to those charities, and he asked for suggestions on using them up rather than throwing them away.  He received the following suggestions, which you may find helpful:

* Keep a few in your wallet and briefcase for when you have to fill out a form requiring your name and address.

* Label your camera and other things you might accidentally leave behind.

* Label books you loan to other people to aid in getting them returned.

* Label flashlights, picnic coolers, serving dishes, and other items you take to outdoor events.

* Label card tables, utility tables, step-stools, ladders, tools, and other items that friends or neighbors routinely borrow.

* Label the dish or casserole you take to a potluck supper.

* Use them on your mail-away rebate forms, especially the forms that have tiny lines for your name and address.

* When children attend summer camp, give them pre-stamped postcards, and use your labels to address the cards to yourself so the children can easily send home a quick note.

* Two-year-olds will happily stick address labels down, page after page-full, particularly if you do the peeling.  Children a bit older can do their own peeling.  Any left over can be sent to Reston Children's Center where there are lots of preschoolers who love labels and stickers.

 

Volunteers are needed for the Asian Festival July 31-August 1.  Visit www.asianfestivaldc.com to learn more about how you can volunteer for this culturally rich and entertaining event at Lake Newport, 11452 Baron Cameron Avenue, Reston.  This two-day Festival features food and entertainment for the whole family.

 

Volunteers are invited to take part in the 15th annual Works Sunday, sponsored by 20 faith communities, which will take place on August 15 and feature 20 opportunities for service, ranging from collecting food at five area supermarkets for the Reston Interfaith food pantry to doing carpentry and landscaping at several Gabriel homes to leading a "game night" at the Embry Rucker Shelter.  new this year is an INOVA blood drive at the Northern VA Hebrew Congregation, 1441 wiehle Avenue, Reston, from 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Anyone who can give about two hours of time on August 15 can participate.  For more information, see www.workssunday.org or call Marilyn Silvey at 703.860.5141.  Sponsors of this important community event include Muslim, Jewish, Protestant, Roman Catholic, and Sikh congregations.

 

No one needs a break more than family caregivers of older adults who cannot be left alone.  You can give a caregiver a much needed break by volunteering for the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging's new Family Caregiver Respite program.  Volunteers provide brief periods of respite to allow caregivers to shop, go to the doctor, or just relax.  All volunteers are screened and trained.  If you are interested in volunteering for this program, call the Volunteer Solutions Intake Line at 703.324.5406.  If you are a family caregiver in need of this service, call 703.324.7948, TTY 703.449.1186, for more information.

 

The Northern Virginia Regional Commission has a new online tool, The Northern Virginia Quick Guide Online.  It is free, updated throughout the year, and searchable using words or topics.  It lists services provided by local, state, and federal government programs as well as by noprofit organizations.  It helps case managers, social workers, school guidance counselors, mental health outreach workers, police personnel, and others to quickly find the services that their clients need.  It provides names and phone numbers for human services including protection from abuse and neglect of children or adults, disability issues, emergency needs, financial literacy; homeless, mental health, multicultural, substance abuse, andyouth services.  Visit www.novaregion.org for the Quick Guide Online.