October 7, 2015 
 
Delegate Ken Plum's 
Virginia E-News


Join me on October 18 for the Cornerstones Walk to Help the Homeless. Learn more and register here.

Commentary  

Not Up to the Challenge 
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum 
 
It is not easy to admit that you are not up to a challenge that hundreds of your constituents face each day, but that's what happened to me last week. ProgressVA sponsored the "Live the Wage Challenge" asking elected officials, community leaders, advocates, and everyday citizens to walk in the shoes of a minimum wage worker by living on a minimum wage budget for one week. The point of the activity was to help others understand what life is like for low-wage workers and why raising the wage is important to working families and to the economy.
 
Directions for the simulation provided each participant with a weekly budget of $77 which represents the weekly wages of a full-time worker making the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour minus average taxes and average housing expenses. Even that budget is generous for the Northern Virginia region where housing expenses alone would wipe out the entire paycheck. For the activity I needed only to figure out how to pay for my meals, groceries, transportation, and recreational spending. The rules were very generous in not requiring me to cover the expenses of family members or work travel. The rules however did require me to eat only those items of groceries or eating out paid for within the budget. I was required to record my expenses to see how I made it through the week.
 
The fact of the matter is that I did not make it through the first day. It was clear to me from the beginning that I was not going to be able to make ends meet. Yet, people in my community and throughout Virginia have to face these challenges every day. The simulation included a day when a child in your household gets sick. What do you do? You cannot stay home for you need to work every day to get the income. You cannot afford a baby sitter or a visit to a medical clinic.
 
I have been conscious of the plight of low-income people, but this activity brought home to me once again how tough life is for some people. Several years ago I was paired with a woman living in subsidized housing with her young daughter who had multiple handicaps, and I tried to live on a budget of public assistance that she had. I failed that challenge as well. And I grew up in a home with limited income. I admire the resourcefulness of persons in these situations and their ability to live without many of the things we consider basic.
 
Last legislative session I introduced a bill to raise the minimum wage in Virginia. It was supported by interfaith, religious, and labor groups. It was unfortunately opposed by business groups including the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and much to my disappointment the Fairfax and Reston Chambers of Commerce. I will introduce the bill again in 2016. For those who have opposed the bill in the past, I hope you will go to #LiveTheWageVA and tell me and others how you would meet the challenge!


Virginia Report on Comcast Channel 28
  
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.

TONIGHT- Wednesday, October 7 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Cianti Stewart-Reid of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia   

Tuesday, October 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, October 14 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Ernest Spycher of Serving Together
 
Virginia Report is also available for viewing online at https://vimeo.com/album/1650266.


Bulletin Board


October 13: Voter Registration Deadline



Get the information you need for the November 3rd election at


Absentee Voting

You may qualify to vote absentee by mail or in person. Learn more at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/elections/absentee 

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October DMV 2 Go Schedule for Northern Virginia

The Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles' five mobile customer service centers, called DMV 2 Go, are traveling across the state to serve customers. Each full service office provides all DMV transactions. Visit DMV2Go for the October schedule.

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Fall Issue of Walker Nature Center's Publication, 
Branching Out, Now Available


Calendar of Events  
  
Thursday, October 8, 6:30 to 9:00 p.m., Reston Association hosts an Open House, formerly called Newcomers' Night, at 
12001 Sunrise Valley Drive at the RA Conference Center. More information is at 703-435-6530 or www.reston.org.
 
Saturday, October 10, 4:30 p.m., Wade in the Water: Songs of Freedom, Faith and Friendship shares and celebrates African American inspirational music, uniting 165 voices of Mosaic Harmony, The Reston Chorale and the Senior Choir of Shiloh Baptist Church (Washington, DC). The concert is dedicated to the late Robert E. Simon, Jr., whose commitment to establishing Reston as an integrated community created the beautiful place we call home. At the Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road. Tickets may be purchased online or at the RCC Box Office, 703.476.4500 Ext. 3.  

Tuesday, October 13, 7:00 p.m., Information Session for Herndon Area Residents on Dulles Metrorail Construction. At Herndon Middle School Auditorium, 901 Locust Street, Herndon. Can't attend this meeting but interested in getting updates on the construction of Innovation Center Station? Click here to sign up online. A 24/7 Hotline is available for Dulles Corridor Metrorail Project Phase 2 construction-related issues: 844-385-7245. For general project information: www.dullesmetro.com or 703-572-0506.

Wednesday, October 14, 7:30 to 9:00 p.m., Reston - League of Women Voters program on "The 2011 Virginia redistricting: the continuing saga." Reston Community Center, Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Free, open to the public. The League invites members and the public to learn and discuss the latest legal and political actions and possible effects on the Virginia legislative district lines drawn following the 2010 Census. Could they affect this year's elections? Call 703-471-6364 for more information. Background papers at www.lwv-fairfax.org.  

Thursday through Sunday, October 15 to 18, Fall on the Farm at Frying Pan Park. Download a flyer here.

Saturday, October 17, 9:00 to noon, the Boofie Team's Annual Electronics Recycling Event, at Long and Foster, 1831 Wiehle Avenue, Reston. Recycling company, Turtle Wings, will accept your old electronics (until the truck is full) so they don't end up in a landfill. Call 703-860-8025 for details.

Sunday, October 18, 2:00 p.m., 12th Annual Community Walk to Help the Homeless, at the Embry Rucker Community Shelter. Register at www.cornerstonesva.org/events.

Wednesday, October 21, 8:00 to 10:00 a.m., Legislative Forum on Regional Transportation, at the Plaza at Reston Station, hosted by the Greater Reston Chamber of Commerce. Costs and full details are at Regional Transportation Forum. 

Saturday, October 24, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., WOW (Walk Our Way), hosted by the Virginia Department for the Blind & Vision Impaired (DBVI), at the Westfield High School in Chantilly. Attendees will have the opportunity to participate in a ¼ mile walk using vision simulators, canes, and human guides to experience mobility as a vision-impaired individual. Download a flyer here. 

Sunday October 25, 3:00 p.m., Shepherd's Center of Oakton-Vienna (SCOV) hosts world-class performer, Mack Dryden, for a single stand-up comedy performance at a new venue for this SCOV annual fundraising event, Oakton High School, 2900 Sutton Road, Vienna. For tickets visit scov.org/fundraiser or call SCOV at 703-281-0538. Tickets are $25 in advance; $30 at the door. 

Monday through Wednesday, October 26 to 28, The Brady Campaign and American Public Health Association's National Summit, at the Dupont Circle Hotel, 1500 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC. Details and registration are at Brady & APHA National Summit.

Monday, October 26, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., the Fairfax County Department of Transportation (FCDOT) will host a public information meeting on the Soapstone Connector Project at South Lakes High School, 11400 South Lakes Drive, Reston. Staff will be on hand to discuss the project and answer questions. The Soapstone Connector Project aims to provide a direct connection between Sunset Hills Road and Sunrise Valley Drive crossing over the Dulles Toll Road. For more information on the project, visit 
Soapstone Connector or call FCDOT at 703-877-5600, TTY 711. 

Tuesday, October 27, Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty (VADP) regional meeting, at Northern Virginia Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Fairfax, 2709 Hunter Mill Road, Oakton. For more information, contact VADP at 434-960-7779 or office@vadp.org.
 

 

36th District 

Reston, Virginia
 

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In This Issue
Commentary..."Not Up to the Challenge"
"Virginia Report"
Bulletin Board
Check Your Calendar

Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia E-News


Delegate Ken Plum's Virginia e-News is authorized by Kenneth R. Plum
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