July 6, 2016
 
 
Delegate Ken Plum's 
Virginia E-News

I was pleased last week to join Chairman David Bulova (center) and members/friends of the Virginia Outdoor Recreation Caucus at beautiful Warm Springs Mountain Preserve. Thanks to Missy Neff Gould (left) of The Nature Conservancy for arranging this memorable outing. (from far right, Delegate Mark Keam and Marek Smith)
 

Commentary

Court of Public Opinion
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum

Last week the Supreme Court of the United States unanimously overturned the public corruption conviction of Virginia's former governor, Robert F. McDonnell. The action of the Court was not a surprise to many if not most legal experts who had viewed the instruction to the jury in the case as to what constitutes "official acts" as being so broad that they could cover most any action that a public official takes. At the same time there is concern that the Court's decision will make it much more difficult to prosecute public officials on corruption charges.
 
The case is not yet fully resolved. The Supreme Court sent the case back to the Appeals Court to decide if there was sufficient evidence to hold a new trial or if the charges will be dismissed. In light of the Supreme Court's ruling there is not likely to be a new trial, and the charges will be dropped.
 
The court of public opinion may offer a different verdict. Even in writing the decision of the total court, Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr. stated that "there is no doubt that this case is distasteful, it may be worse than that. But our concern is not with tawdry tales of Ferraris, Rolexes, and ball gowns. It is instead with the broader legal implications of the government's boundless interpretation of the federal bribery statute." The legal arguments may be lost on many in the general public who watched and listened during the weeks of the trial of McDonnell and his wife taking $175,000 in gifts and loans from a rich businessman who clearly sought their favor. It may not be illegal, but it clearly is "tawdry" as the Chief Justice stated and is for many inappropriate, sleazy, distasteful and beneath the expectations of his office.
 
The real damage to holding public officials accountable would come if the ruling results in prosecutors being unwilling to bring charges against those who are clearly involved in corruption. The court of public opinion can make its verdict known only to the degree that corrupt actions on the part of elected officials are made known.
 
The charges against McDonnell resulted in a multi-year effort on the part of the General Assembly to rewrite the state's ethics laws. That task must be continued to ensure that elected officials and the public understand the rules of ethical behavior and that breaches of the rules are prosecuted. The task is complicated particularly for part-time legislators who spend most of their year in their home districts with numerous interactions with constituents. Legitimate constituent services must not be confused with payback. Nor should social interchanges with constituents be somehow discouraged.
 
Former Governor McDonnell has not escaped scrutiny or damage to his reputation. The court of public opinion will see to that as it should. As the Supreme Court's verdict in his case shows, however, the lines have not been delineated with enough detail. Stronger and clearer ethical laws must be written and vigorously enforced.

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, July 6 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Justin Fairfax of the Virginia Coalition for Racial Diversity in the Justice System
  
Tuesday, July 12 at 7:30 p.m. and Wednesday, July 13 at 10:30 p.m., Delegate Plum talks with Tom Biesiadny of the Fairfax County Department of Transportation

Virginia Report is also available for viewing online at
www.youtube.com/watch. Previous shows can be viewed at https://vimeo.com/album/1650266. 

 
Bulletin Board 


Visit Evenings on the Ellipse for a complete schedule.

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MetroGreater Wants to Know:
If you could make one small, quick improvement to Metro, what would it be?

  
Your ideas must be achievable by Metro on its own in 6 months or less, cost no more than $100,000, and not cost much to continue into the future. What can you think up? Submit your idea by Friday, July 15th. In the first phase of the contest, MetroGreater is soliciting ideas (your ideas!) until Friday, July 15. You can comment on others' ideas as well. A jury will then select finalists, and a vote will be in August. Read more about the contest here. Submit your idea here.

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Come out to play!

 
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to play with the Reston Community Orchestra (RCO)? Maybe you're looking for a chance to play between seasons or semesters? Do you have an instrument that's collecting dust but keeps calling you to come back? RCO will hold open rehearsals on four Mondays--July 18 and 25 and August 1and 8--at 7:30 p.m., at Sunset Hills Montessori School, 11180 Ridge Heights Road, Reston. Details are at Open Rehearsals.  

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Exchange Zone for Online Purchases 
 Established in Chantilly

Do you love to buy or sell stuff online? Many items are shipped directly to homes, but you sometimes need to meet up to complete a transaction. And sometimes this can put buyers in a vulnerable position and create opportunities for criminals.

To increase safety and promote safer exchanges, you can now meet up at the Sully Governmental Center in Chantilly and use the new safe exchange zone parking spaces, which are directly in front of the building. The governmental center is also home to the Sully District Police Station, so the parking lot is monitored by video camera 24 hours a day. More is at Safe Exchange Zone. 


Calendar of Events      
 
Thursday, July 7, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Food Truck Thursdays at Reston Town Square Park. The first Thursday of each month, through October. A variety of food truck vendors provide lunch and dessert options. Both cash and credit cards accepted. Details are at Food Truck Thursdays.

Thursday, July 7, 5:30 to 7:00 p.m., Evenings on the Ellipse, free concert at the Fairfax County Government Center at 12000 Government Center Parkway in Fairfax. This week enjoy country music from the U.S. Navy's Country Current. Concerts are canceled due to inclement weather. Call 703-324-SHOW (7469) one hour prior to the start of the show for updates. 

Saturday, July 9, 7:30 to 10:00 p.m., Reston Town Center Pavilion, Reston Concerts on the Town. The weekly summer concert season presents sizzlin' Cuban salsa and Latin rhythms with Bit Ritmo. Bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets and enjoy live outdoor music at the Pavilion. Free. Rain or shine. Alcohol permitted at restaurants only. See the season's full schedule at Reston Concerts.

Sunday, July 10, 2:30 to 4:30 p.m., Sunday Afternoon Dance, at Reston Community Center Hunters Woods. Dancers (55 years and older) of all skill levels are welcome to foxtrot, swing, cha-cha, and waltz. Includes three mini-lessons, door prizes and light refreshments; partners are not required. Cost is per session and payable at the door ($5 Reston/$10 Non-Reston). For more information, contact Karen Brutsché, 55+ Program Director at 703-390-6157. See more at Sunday Afternoon Dance.

Tuesday, July 12, 1:30 to 4:30 p.m., Navigate the Local Transit System (55 years and older), Reston Community Center Hunters Woods, 2310 Colts Neck Road, Reston. Free but registration required (500400-7A). An innovative transportation experience to become familiar with the regional transit systems. The bus, called MATT (Mobile Accessible Travel Training), is used to educate older adults. Through a hands-on learning experience, participants will be taught "travel training" tips, such as reading the bus schedules and route maps, paying fares, loading SmarTrip cards, and signaling the driver to stop. The bus will stop at the Wiehle-Reston East Metro to allow passengers to experience these points.

Thursday, July 14, 10:00 a.m., Gun Violence Awareness Vigil at National Rifle Association headquarters, 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax. The monthly vigil commemorates the anniversary of the day 26 children and educators were killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Please DO NOT park in the NRA's parking lot. There is plenty of free parking in the office building lot on Fairfax Ridge Drive across Waples Mill Road. Signs and flags will be provided.  
 
Thursday, July 14, 6:30 p.m., Virginia Board of Education Public Hearing, in the auditorium of Osbourn High School, 9005 Tudor Lane, Manassas. The hearing is an opportunity for the Board to gather feedback from families, educators, and community members on student expectations, how schools are accredited, and school resources. For more information, contact Melissa Luchau at Melissa.Luchau@doe.virginia.gov or 804-225-2924.

Saturday, July 16, 7:30 to 10:00 p.m., Reston Town Center Pavilion, Reston Concerts on the Town. The weekly summer concert season presents Landau Eugene Murphy, Jr.'s Come Fly with Me, celebrating Sinatra, Motown and the Great American Songbook. Bring lawn chairs or picnic blankets and enjoy live outdoor music at the Pavilion. Free. Rain or shine. Alcohol permitted at restaurants only. See the season's full schedule at Reston Concerts. 

Wednesday, July 20 at noon, July Commission on Aging Meeting, at Centreville Regional Library, 14200 St. Germain Drive in Centreville. The Fairfax Area Commission on Aging (COA) is the community advisory committee for the Fairfax Area Agency on Aging. The COA meets on the third Wednesday of each month--except August. The public is welcome to attend and join in the comment period that begins each session. For more information, visit Older Adult Services. For meeting access needs, call 703-324-5403.

36th District 

Reston, Virginia
 
 
In This Issue
Commentary..."Court of Public Opinion"
"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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