July 17, 2013

36th District

Reston, Virginia

 

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Delegate Plum with Dr. Robert Templin, president of Northern Virginia Community College at
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Making College Affordable       

Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum 
 

Members of the college graduating class of 2013 will average more than $35,000 in total debt, according to a study reported recently by CNN. The bulk of the debt is in government loans but private, state, and personal and family loans along with credit card debt contribute to the total. This all-time high in education-related debt comes at a time when interest rate ceilings are being lifted on government loans and when it is getting more and more difficult for graduates to get the high-paying jobs they need to start paying back their loans.

 

In recent years college has become more expensive. With the Great Recession state legislatures--including the Virginia General Assembly--reduced appropriations to higher education as a way to balance their budgets. Cutting state monies going to colleges and universities was a convenient way for state governments to save money by shifting a greater share of college tuition and fees to parents and students. Virginia's contribution to its flagship University of Virginia reached an all-time low of about 10 percent of the University's total budget. At the same time, tuition rates and fees soared. In Virginia, tuition nearly doubled over the past 10 years and rose 7.9 percent last year. Additional funding provided by the General Assembly this year kept increases to an average of 4.1 percent.

 

According to the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV), the average total charge for an in-state undergraduate student living on campus at a 4-year institution has grown from 32.2 percent of per capita disposable income (income available for spending and saving) in 2002 to 45 percent in 2012. Tuition rates have never been higher, and the catch-all "fees' have increased at an even greater rate.

 

Efforts are underway in several states to make higher education more accessible and affordable. Oregon's legislature recently approved a committee to develop a pilot program, "Pay it Forward, Pay it Back," under which students would be able to attend college tuition-free with the agreement that once they were gainfully employed they would pay 3 percent of their future salaries back into a state fund annually for 24 years. A similar proposal is being considered by the University of California called "Fix UC." Under the plan, graduates would pay 5 percent of their salaries over 20 years. There would be no upfront costs whatsoever. Whether either of these plans is the best solution, or either is even workable, remains to be seen.

 

In North Carolina, the Carolina Covenant ensures that low-income students get to go to college and graduate debt-free. A financial aid program at the University of Virginia, AccessUVa, is designed to keep higher education affordable for all admitted students regardless of economic circumstances. Such programs need to be expanded and started at other colleges and universities. What is clear is that Virginia must take action to make its colleges and universities more accessible and affordable.  
      

Virginia Report on Comcast Channel 28

 

Virginia ReportTune in to Ken's weekly television program, Virginia Report, on Reston Comcast Channel 28 for public service programming. Ken interviews state and local leaders who are making news by making a difference. Watch these upcoming programs:

 

TONIGHT - Wednesday, July 17 at 10:30 p.m. - Joanna Simon, Alliance to End Gun Violence - Reston/Herndon    

    

Tuesday, July 23 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, July 24 at 10:30 p.m. - James Parrish, Equality Virginia - "Supreme Court Decision on the Defense of Marriage Act"   

 

"Virginia Report" is also available online at www.rctv28.com/virginiareport.html for viewing on your computer or iPad.     

 

Bulletin Board 

 

Pay Your Fairfax County Taxes on the Go With Mobile App: Fairfax County residents can now pay car and real estate taxes safely and securely, any place or time, using the county's mobile app on your smartphone. Download the free Fairfax County app  or search Fairfax County Government on Google Play or the Apple App Store. Once you download and launch the Fairfax County app, look for and click on the Services icon and look for either the Car Tax or Real Estate Tax icon. Follow the simple directions. You will be able to see your current balance due and any prior year taxes due. In addition to paying taxes, you can also access the Fairfax County Department of Tax Administration (DTA) website for additional resources and information or call DTA at 703-222-8234 (TTY 703-222-7594).

Redevelopment of the Crescent Property in Reston: The Fairfax County Board of Supervisors has authorized a public hearing on an Interim Development Agreement with Lake Anne Development Partners, LLC (LADP) for the redevelopment of the Crescent property in Reston as part of the revitalization of Lake Anne. The Crescent, which features 181 garden style multifamily affordable units on 16.5 acres, is owned by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and managed by the Fairfax County Redevelopment and Housing Authority (FCRHA). This authorization is a first step in a longer process. The public hearing is set for July 30 and will then be followed by a public comment period. The final decision to move forward with the Interim Development Agreement will not go before the Board of Supervisors until its meeting on September 10, 2013. More information is at Crescent Property Redevelopment.

Police Stress Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety this Month: The Traffic Division of the Operations Support Bureau and the Patrol Division of the Fairfax County Police Department urge motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians to be vigilant this July. The number of cyclists involved in crashes increased from 85 in 2011 to 106 in 2012. So far in 2013, there have been 45. An 18-month study of reportable bicycle crashes shows that at least a quarter of the bicyclists were not wearing reflective clothing at the time of the crash; five bicyclists were reported to have been drinking alcohol and about 44% were performing an improper action such as: operating on the wrong side of the road, failing to maintain proper control or disregarding a stop or yield sign. Police are working with private cycling groups around the region to increase public education efforts on bicycle safety issues. The police department reports an increase in pedestrians involved in crashes as well. There were 201 in 2012; up from 185 in 2011. So far this year, there have been 98. Police urge pedestrians to learn more about safety issues at Pedestrian Safety. To learn more about bicycle safety laws, check Bike Laws.

 

Calendar of Events       

 

Tomorrow: The State Corporation Commission's (SCC) fourth and final public hearing on the tolls of the 14-mile private Greenway is set for 10:00 a.m., Thursday, July 18 at the SCC offices in Richmond. The hearing will be held in the commission's second floor courtroom located in the Tyler building at 1300 East Main Street, Richmond. Those who would like to comment should arrive early and sign in with the SCC bailiff. Audio will be webcast via the SCC website, www.scc.virginia.gov. Online comments can be submitted at Public Comments.  

 

County Forum on Creating a More Aging-Friendly Community, Friday, July 19, 9:30-11:30 a.m., Village Square Theatre at Greenspring Village, 7410 Spring Village Drive, Springfield. This is your chance to share your ideas on what we need to do together to ensure that Fairfax County continues to be a livable, lifelong community for the county's growing older population. Register here: online registration. 

 

Document Shredding, Saturday, July 20, 8:00 a.m. to noon at Oak Marr Rec Center, 3200 Jermantown Road, Oakton.

  

Electric Sunday TV and Computer Recycling, Sunday, July 21, 10:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., I-66 Transfer Station, 4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax.   

 

Reston Community Orchestra Summer Reading Session, Monday, July 22, 7:30-10:00 p.m., at Sunset Hills Montessori School, 11180 Ridge Heights Road, Reston. Sign-up and information at www.restoncommunityorchestra.org.    

 

Wednesday, July 24, 5:00-7:00 p.m., Community Cookout at Hunters Woods Pool, 2501 Reston Parkway. For more information contact Kevin Danaher at 703-390-6166 or kevin.danaher@fairfaxcounty.gov. 

    

Herndon Friends Meeting Used Bike Collection, July 28, noon to 3:00 p.m., rain or shine, at the Herndon Friends Meetinghouse, 660 Spring Street. For more information, visit www.bikesfortheworld.org or contact Paul Murphy at 917-716-2841 or murphy005@verizon.net.   

  

Sunday, July 28, 2:30-5:00 p.m., Realizing the Dream: Immigration Reform in 2013. Northern VA Community College, Woodbridge Campus Auditorium, 15200 Neabsco Mills Road, Woodbridge. For more information, contact Sindy Benavides at 202-833-6130. To RSVP email TakeAction@LULAC.org.  

  

Reston Community Orchestra Summer Reading Session, Monday, July 29, 7:30-10:00 p.m., at Sunset Hills Montessori School, 11180 Ridge Heights Road, Reston. Sign up and information at www.restoncommunityorchestra.org.      

  

Fairfax Regional Kick-Off event for the "Virginia Adopts: Campaign for 1,000" will be July 30, 12:00-2:00 p.m. at Fairfax Government Center, 12000 Government Parkway, Fairfax. Register here: Fairfax Regional Kick-Off. 

  

July 30 public hearing on redeveloping the Crescent property in Reston, 4:30 p.m. in the Board Auditorium of the Fairfax County Government Center, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax. More information can be found at: Crescent Interim Development Hearing.   

  

Monday, August 5, 8:00 a.m.-8:30 p.m. The Governor's K-12 Education Reform Summit at the Westfields Marriott Washington Dulles, 14750 Conference Center Drive, Chantilly.  

For more information about the initiative, visit www.allstudents.virginia.gov. Register at http://govk12summit.eventbrite.com/#.      

  

Reston Community Orchestra Summer Reading Session, Monday, August 5, 7:30-10:00 p.m., at Sunset Hills Montessori School, 11180 Ridge Heights Road, Reston. Sign up and information at www.restoncommunityorchestra.org.

 

Tuesday, August 6, 5:00-7:00 p.m., Community Cookout at Lake Newport Pool, 11601 Lake Newport Road. For more information contact Kevin Danaher at kevin.danaher@fairfaxcounty.gov or call 703-390-6166.   

  

On August 11 at 8:00 a.m. the YMCA Fairfax County Reston and Reston Association will be holding the third annual Reston Kid's Triathlon. The event is intended to be a fun opportunity for youngsters to stay active through the summer and learn about the fast growing sport of triathlon. In keeping with the missions of the sponsoring organizations, a number of the participants will be from families who might not be able to afford the entry fee and equipment for the event. Through individual and corporate sponsors their costs will be covered. All net proceeds from this event will be used for the Y and RA youth scholarship programs. For more information, visit www.restonkidstri.org.         

Sunday, August 11, 2013 at 4:30 p.m., Virginia Ballet Company's summer performance "Precedence" combines contemporary dance styles with classical ballet technique.  The program, including ballet, flamenco and modern, will be held at the Ernst Community Cultural Center on the Northern Virginia Community College (Annandale Campus) 8333 Little River Turnpike, Annandale VA.  All seats are reserved; tickets are $20 plus a $3 processing fee for each ticket and may be purchased online at www.virginiaballetcompany.org. Call 703-249-8227 for further information. 

        

Reston Community Orchestra Summer Reading Session, Monday, August 12, 7:30-10:00 p.m., at Sunset Hills Montessori School, 11180 Ridge Heights Road, Reston. Sign up and information at www.restoncommunityorchestra.org.

    
In This Issue
Commentary..."Making College Affordable"
"Virginia Report" on Comcast Channel 28
Bulletin Board
Check Your Calendar
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia E-News
703-758-9733 * kenplum@aol.com * www.kenplum.com 
 
Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia e-News is authorized by Kenneth R. Plum
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