June 18, 2012

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Boy Scouts from Mt. Olivet Church troop 167 attended the county board meeting on June 16 as part of their Citizen in the Community badges. Charlies Phillips asked the board questions about livable wages, housing prices and gentrification, especially along Columbia Pike.

The boy scouts from Mt. Olivet Church troop 167 want answers. Specifically, they are worried about affordable housing, gentrification and a livable wage for low-income people, especially along the Columbia Pike corridor.

Max Ferlauto and Jorge Gomez stood with Charlie Phillips as he asked the board for answers to these issues during public comment. They and their troop attended the first hour or so of the Arlington County Board meeting, on Saturday, June 16, to complete part of their Citizen in the Community badge.

The questions brought out the professors in the board.

Board member Chris Zimmerman explained that land values drive rent, not the other way around. He gave an Economics 101 lesson in supply and demand.

Hynes said the county took five percent of the budget approved in April--$33 million--in an effort to increase affordable housing in the district.

Vice Chair Walter Tejada largely agreed with the boys. "You are right on target actually. Your concerns are valid," he said regarding affordable housing, "Our track record is really bad."

The county can do little about a livable wage other than paying it to the county employees, the board said.

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June 18, 2012

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REPLY TO WILBUR

IN ADDITION TO THEIR MANY GOOD WORKS, I DARE SAY THAT THE SCOUTS OF TROOP 167 KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN, AND THE PROPER USE OF, "THEIR", "THERE", & "THEY'RE". WILBUR TAKE NOTE.

ALAN 333 days ago

REPLT TO WILBUR

I DARE SAY THE SCOUTS OF TROOP 167, IN ADDITION TO THEIR MANY GOOD WORKS, KNOW THE PROPER USE OF "THEIR" VS. "THERE" AND " THEY'RE". WILBUR TAKE NOTE.

ALAN 333 days ago

Response to Wilbur

The Scouts in Troop 167 come from throughout Arlington County, and attend all three high schools plus HB Woodlawn and most of the middle schools. This is not the troop "from uber rich Donaldson Run..." and I don't know of any troop that fits that description. The Scouts in Troop 167 volunteer at AFAC throughout the year as needed, and often spend Saturday mornings in the fall "scrubbing" harvested fields for any leftover produce that AFAC can use. In addition, the Scouts work very hard collecting food every November during the Scouting for Food Drive, and regularly volunteer at events and locations throughout the county. They are a dedicated, diverse, and wonderful group of young men. I invite you to join our troop at one of our events to learn first-hand about the contributions the boys of Troop 167 make to our community. I am a proud Scout mom of Troop 167.

Theresa 333 days ago

Really?

Where were VOICE, BRAVO, LULAC etc, when the Rosenthal site came before the Planning Commission and County Board and was approved with no affordable housing?

Todd 335 days ago

Affordable Housing

Their worried about affordable housing? Um, isnt this the Boy Scout troop from the uber rich Donaldson Run neighborhood? If they are so worried, why dont they turn to their parents and ask they how much they have donated to AFAC, or how much time they have volunteered at the shelter? Ask them what THEY have done to assist others.

Wilbur 335 days ago

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