November 13, 2013

36th District

Reston, Virginia

 

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Ken and Jane on a recent visit to Sky Meadows State Park.
Delegate Ken Plum's
Virginia e-News  
Commentary           

 

The Nature of Virginia    

Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum

Governor-elect Terry McAuliffe hit the ground running when the day after his election he announced his transition team and a webpage at which he solicits ideas and suggestions and invites resumes from those who want to work in his administration: action.terrymcauliffe.com/page/s/transition. His approach of assembling a bipartisan transitional team, moving quickly and seeking input are crucial for Virginia at an important transitional time. Last week I talked about many of the issues like Medicaid expansion that were debated during the campaign and need immediate attention. There are many other issues that do not get as bright a spotlight but deserve serious attention. One is the natural landscape of Virginia and the quality of its air and water.

More than a month ago VIRGINIAforever, a coalition of concerned businesses, environmental organizations and outdoor enthusiasts, presented to the gubernatorial candidates a five-year plan, "Investing in the Commonwealth's Land and Water," (5 Year Plan). As the report points out, Virginia's population has doubled in the last 50 years putting great stress on our land and water. The Commonwealth has a constitutional requirement unique among the states "to protect its atmosphere, lands and water from pollution, impairment, or destruction, for the benefit, enjoyment and general welfare of the people of the Commonwealth." Virginia currently spends just over one percent of its budget on land conservation and water quality improvements. As the title of the report suggests, it will be necessary to "invest" more greatly if the goals of the report are to be met. But investing also suggests that there is an expected return.

 

Part of the changing landscape of Virginia is the loss of farmland. Since 1997 nearly 150,000 acres of farmland have been converted to other uses. A drive through the Shenandoah Valley can provide immediate visual evidence of the change. While the new use is justified in economic terms, it needs to be recognized that farming and forestry has nearly a $100 billion impact on Virginia's economy. The report calls for Virginia to protect 120,000 acres of farmland over the next five years through the use of tax credits. And, in order to meet the growing demand for state parks at a recommended level of 10 acres of park per 1,000 Virginians it will be necessary to conserve an additional 18,000 acres by 2020.

 

Only about one-third of Virginia's 52,255 miles of rivers have been assessed for impairment, and of those assessed waters 71 percent are impaired for one or more uses as are over 80 percent of Virginia's lakes and the Chesapeake Bay, according to the VIRGINIAforever report. One of the most important statements in the report is that "concerns about cleaning up our polluted waters often fall back on predictions of negative consequences for the economy. Experience has not just disproven the concern that environmental restoration threatens economic prosperity, it has demonstrated just the opposite--economies cannot thrive in a world of depleted and degraded natural resources, and in fact, innovation, investment, and competition have spurred job growth in new sectors just when traditional sectors were faltering."

 

The nature of Virginia must be a priority of the new administration! 

 

Virginia Report on Comcast Channel 28

 

Virginia Report

Tune in to Ken's weekly television program,
Virginia Report, on Reston Comcast Channel 28 for public service programming (Verizon Channel 1981). Ken interviews state and local leaders who are making news by making a difference. Watch these upcoming programs:

   

TONIGHT - Wednesday, November 13 at 10:30 p.m. - Kathy May of Virginia Consumer Voices and Deepak Madala of ENROLL Virginia!, "Affordable Care Act Options"    

   

Tuesday, November 19 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, November 20 at 10:30 p.m. - Laura Grape, Northern Virginia Soil and Water Conservation District

     

Virginia Report is also available online at https://vimeo.com/album/1650266 for viewing on your computer or iPad.        

 


Bulletin Board 

Governor-Elect Terry McAuliffe's Transition

If you would like to be considered for a job in the administration of Governor-Elect Terry McAuliffe or have a policy proposal for Governor-Elect McAuliffe to consider, visit McAuliffe administration transition to submit your resume or proposal.

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Public Hearings on Increase in Number of Taxicab Certificates and Increase in Taxicab Rates

Tuesday, November 19 at 6:30 p.m.in Conference Rooms 4 and 5, 12000 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, the Consumer Protection Commission will hold PUBLIC HEARINGS on the matter of a proposed increase in number of taxicab certificates from 576 to 615 (or an increase of 6.8%), and revisions to the County Code of Fairfax County providing for a permanent increase in taxicab rates from $2.10 per mile to $2.50 per mile. This proposal results in an increase in an average trip of seven miles of approximately 16%. If you would like to speak at the Public Hearings on the Allocation of Taxicab Certificates and/or the Proposed Taxicab Rate Increase, please call the Consumer Affairs Branch of the Department of Cable and Consumer Services (formerly the Department of Cable Communications and Consumer Protection) at 703-222-8435 to be placed on the Speakers List, or you may appear and be heard.  You can also email comments to consumer@fairfaxcounty.gov until 4:30 p.m. on Tuesday, November 19.

 

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Holiday Mail for Heroes     

Each year the Red Cross collects cards between October and early December and then distributes them at military installations, veterans hospitals, and in other locations. All holiday greetings should be addressed and sent to: Holiday Mail for Heroes,
P.O. Box 5456, Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456. The deadline for having cards to the P.O. Box is December 6th. Holiday cards received after this date cannot be guaranteed delivery. More information is at Holiday Mail for Heroes.

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The Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) is holding a series of meetings this fall to gather community feedback on groups of currently unfunded transportation projects. The public will have the opportunity to provide feedback in various ways. Residents can provide input in person at the meetings or online via survey, social voting, or email through November 22, 2013. The public meetings will include a presentation, a question-and-answer session, and an opportunity to view materials and talk to county staff. The meeting in our area is Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 7:00 p.m. at Forest Edge Elementary School, 1501 Becontree Lane in Reston. Transit accessible via:  Fairfax Connector routes 552, RIBS 1, RIBS 3.  For more information about the Countywide Dialogue on Transportation or to take the online survey, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/fcdot/cdot/. Residents can also visit the website to sign up for email updates or find out if new meetings have been announced. For more information, contact Ellen Kamilakis at 703-877-5606, TTY 711.
 
  

Calendar of Events    

   

Thursday, November 14, 10:00 a.m., National Rifle Association (NRA) Vigil. Demonstration on the monthly anniversary of the Newtown shootings, at NRA headquarters, 11250 Waples Mill Road in Fairfax (where Waples Mill Road crosses I-66). Signs provided.  

  

"The Singing Revolution" for Monthly Movie Night at United Christian Parish. Friday, November 15, 7:00 p.m. This 90-minute documentary film portrays the way the Estonian people in a four-year, nonviolent protest sang their way to independence from decades of Soviet occupation. More information is at UCP Movie Night.    


Safe Coast Virginia Chesapeake Climate Action Network Conference, Saturday, November 16, 9:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in Norfolk. Coastal Hampton Roads is Virginia's ground zero for climate change impacts. Rising seas already force residents of Norfolk to routinely bail out basements or change routes to work. Community activists and leaders, experts and residents on the front lines of climate change will come together to tackle the roots of the problem and mobilize action to protect our homes and our coast. Click here to register online. Tickets are $20 (or $10 for students) and include lunch and free parking.  
 

Saturday, November 16, A Taste of Fall with FACETS, 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Stacy C. Sherwood Community Center, 3740 Old Lee Highway, Fairfax. Register at www.FacetsCares.org.     

  

Electric Sunday TV and Computer Recycling, November 17, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Held at the I-66 Transfer Station, 4618 West Ox Road, Fairfax. For updates, cancellations and notifications of events, call 703-324-5052. 

    

Sunday, November 17, first concert of the 26th season of the Reston Community Orchestra will be "Dabbling in Magic" at 4:00 p.m. at the Hunters Woods Reston Community Center at 2310 Colts Neck Road. All four concerts are free, but contributions are welcome. Guests attending are asked to bring canned or non-perishable goods to support Reston's annual Thanksgiving food drive. For more information visit Free Concert Series.     

 

Tuesday, November 19, 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Living Waters: An Interfaith Summit, at Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond. Throughout the day, people will reconnect with the wonder of water and continue their journey of faith while helping to restore and protect Virginia's rivers, streams, and the Chesapeake Bay. It will be a day of learning and collaborative discussion to develop "next steps" to improve water quality in our communities through the coming year. Register here or visit Living Waters for more information.

   

Governor's Transportation Conference, December 4-6, at the Greater Richmond Convention Center, 403 North Third Street, Richmond. Visit www.vatranscon.com for further information and to sign up to receive conference updates.

 

Let Hope Fly 13th Annual Alternative Gift Market, Saturday, December 7, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., at Unitarian Universalist Church in Reston, 1625 Wiehle Avenue. Visit over 30 booths of crafts and alternative gifts from local and international charitable organizations that help those most in need. Cash or checks only. For more information or directions, visit uureston.org/agm/. 


Searching the Internet (55 years and older), Tuesday through Thursday, December 10-12, 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (3-day course), Reston Community Center Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Cost: $45 (Reston) $90 (Non-Reston). This overview of the Internet will introduce students to using a web browser, tips for safeguarding privacy and internet security, conducting searches, printing and filing web pages, organizing favorites and email topics.  For questions, call 703-476-4500 x0. Register online at www.restoncommunitycenter.com/webtrac/.

Let your elected officials know about the state government issues that are most important to you at a Public Meeting hosted by Delegate Ken Plum and Senator Janet Howell on Thursday, January 2, 2014, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. at the Reston Community Center at Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Bring your comments for Ken and Janet. This will be their annual pre-session meeting prior to the General Assembly going into session on January 8, 2014. 

 
In This Issue
Commentary..."The Nature of Virginia"
"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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