As a member of the County Board I will...
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Help the community find more common ground on housing
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Continuing to prioritize increasing housing and housing options but going back to the drawing board to do it right -- real listening, more compromise, clearer goals, better process
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We should stop spend taxpayer dollars on divisive legal battles
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Incremental changes with broad-based support are more effective at making progress on housing than big, controversial changes that create dysfunction, are vulnerable to legal challenges, and create whiplash when they get overturned
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Scroll down for more of my thoughts on this issue
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Push back against escalating taxes
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The budgeting process should include more rigorous efforts to reduce spending
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Automation and improving process efficiency can assist with this
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Helping commercial spaces transition to meet changes in demand so they can attract and retain businesses that broaden our tax base​
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Champion reforms that bring healthy competition to our elections and increase government accountability
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Reforms like continued use of ranked-choice voting, expanding the Board, having multi-seat elections every other year, and electing Board members by district
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Having a Board that better reflects the diversity of perspectives in Arlington--challenging the echo chamber--will help ensure policies have more compromise and are less likely to lead to the divisive and dysfunction we've seen with EHO​
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Work to improve service levels and responsiveness
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Permitting and other county functions should take advantage of automation and track turnaround statistics to eliminate bureaucratic blackholes​ and increase efficiency
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People who take time to submit feedback and report problems should receive responses and updates confirming their input is being put to use
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Strengthen public transportation options and usage
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Widespread, convenient public transportation helps (1) workers who commute into the county (assisting with turnover and retention issues of teachers, police officers, etc.), and (2) residents who live in the county car-free or car-light
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Reduced emissions from fewer cars on the road, more green spaces from reduced parking needs
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Be committed to achieving environmental goals
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Tree canopy coverage restored to 40% (eventually strive for 50%)
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A swimmable Potomac, with Arlington contributing to this goal through sound stormwater management
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Ensure we maintain top-of-the-line community spaces
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Our parks, trails, bike paths, bike lanes, walkways, community centers and fitness facilities, pools, fields, courts, and tracks make Arlington a great place to live
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These spaces encourage our residents to be physically active, spend time together, and get outside, all of which provide health benefits
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Where I stand on Missing Middle (aka Expanded Housing Options)
My campaign has been focused on bringing a fresh perspective to the County Board. I believe our elected leadership needs to lead the community in finding more common ground on housing. I see the court's recent verdict overturning the Expanded Housing Options (EHO) policy as an opportunity for the County Board to do that. With this ruling in hand, the Board must not waste another taxpayer dollar on legal fees, but instead go back to the drawing board on residential zoning changes to find more common ground and less divisive solutions.
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During my campaign I have heard from many frustrated Arlington residents who strongly believe we can work together to address our housing challenges with more broadly supported ways. In order to ensure the current Board Members heard this point of view, I sent the following message to all five members of our County Board in early October.
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Dear Board Members,
The County position in defense of its current EHO regulation was defeated in a court of law on every point. I urge the County Board not to appeal this ruling. It doesn't make sense to continue dragging out expensive legal battles, which have already cost too many tax dollars, to defend a policy that so many residents oppose.
Our pro-housing advocates are correct to argue that we should continue on the path of allowing more housing to be built in Arlington–and I applaud the Board’s intent in attempting to tackle this difficult issue. Expanded housing availability is an inevitable part of our community's future. We can't freeze Arlington in time. Ours is an attractive community which generates a huge demand to live here. Increasing supply of various types of housing can help slow escalating costs. I believe we should consider changes to zoning that can help make that possible.
I – and many other Arlington residents – don't think EHO was the right solution, nor was it fully or carefully developed before being adopted. The Court has now agreed with that view. As the judge ruled, the County didn't do enough to assure homeowners that it had studied and prepared for potential adverse effects of the policy. The compromises that it had were shoehorned in at the end without a proper process. No noble ends justify poor means, which lead to backlash and dysfunction as we've seen.
Instead of appealing, I hope the County Board gives the community a chance to help shape a new approach to replace EHO and engages with diverse leaders from neighborhoods and local interest groups in doing so.
I have urged those on both sides of this debate to come to the table in good faith, assuming we get the opportunity. Everyone has self-interest, but I believe we are each capable of empathy and of looking beyond our own desires to see the needs of the broader community. We're also capable of being honest and clearly defining what the goals of the policy are and what our concerns with it are. With a heated issue like this, we may not be able to reach consensus, but we can find more compromise to achieve clear goals and address clear concerns. To me, this is what good policy and good civic engagement looks like and I believe we are capable of this in Arlington.
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Thank you,
Madison Granger
Candidate, Arlington County Board
Virginia Forward Party Nominee