What happens when you do not vote

On Saturday, December 13, 2008, the results of an external audit of Alexandria City staff with regards to their (in)actions concerning Norfolk Southern's Ethanol Transloading facility were released to the West End community. The audit heavily criticizes the performance of various City departments, especially the City Attorney's Office, City Manager, and the Department of Planning and Zoning.

I blame West End voters, and their failure to elect representatives that respect their health, safety, and well-being. If you do not vote, you will not be heard. This modified timeline, relating to the uniquely West End issues of Norfolk Southern and Virginia Paving, starkly illustrates this point.

2/4/06 – Democratic Party Caucus for City Council. Very low turnout from Cameron Station and most other West End precincts.

5/2/06 – City Council elections for Mayor and six Council seats. Six Democratic Party incumbents reelected, including Mayor Euille. Councilman Lovain from Democratic Party fills only vacant seat. Not a single Republican Party candidate was elected to a City office.

5/15/06 – Community Meeting regarding Special Use Permit (SUP) for the Virginia Paving asphalt plant in the West End, the third largest polluter in the City of Alexandria. (the second largest polluter, the Covanta waste incinerator, is adjacent to Virginia Paving and Norfolk Southern.) Dozens of West End residents attend, most opposing the granting of an amended SUP which would permit Virginia Paving to operate at night, only a few hundred feet from the closest homes. Mary Catherine Gibbs, the wife of President-elect Obama's press secretary, represents Virginia Paving in this SUP matter. Following this meeting John Irvine, who is on the executive board of the Alexandria Democratic Committee, is hired as a PR representative for Virginia Paving.

6/20/06 – Private meeting between Norfolk Southern and Mayor Euille. E-mail between City staff later in the day refers to "a new Ethanol Transfer facility on Metro Road (across from Virginia Paving)." Mayor Euille does not inform the community of Norfolk Southern's intentions, even though there is a risk of major explosion from the facility, which is located within a quarter mile of many townhomes and Tucker Elementary School.

6/23/06 – Weekly Mayor/Manager meeting. Mayor Euille, City Manager Hartmann, Deputy City Manager Jinks, Transportation & Environmental Services (T&ES) Director Richard Baier, Planning & Zoning Deputy Director Richard Josephson, and representatives from Norfolk Southern attend. In this meeting, Mayor Euille says “I’ll be damned, you’re going to go to the community, we’re not going to sell this for you.” (Mayor Euille testimony in May 28, 2008 Council Meeting @2:18.)

7/12/06 – Transportation & Environmental Services (T&ES) Director Richard Baier e-mails Planning & Zoning Deputy Director Richard Josephson regarding the need for a SUP “for the ethanol to truck transfer behind the VA Paving.” Richard Baier is head of a City department which responsible for transportation issues, such as road paving, and environmental issues, such as air quality.

7/17/06 – T&ES Director Baier e-mails Josephson asking whether City Attorney is making a decision regarding the need for an SUP by Norfolk Southern. T&ES has no meaningful jurisdiction over the Norfolk Southern matter.

8/7/06 – Interdepartmental meeting regarding the Virginia Paving Process. Right after the meeting, Deputy City Manager Jinks e-mails City Attorney Pessoa if he has rendered a decision on whether Norfolk Southern’s position that it does not require an SUP is correct.

8/10/06 – Code Enforcement Director Dahlberg “addressed community outreach and proposed a three phase program where notification, concerns and solutions to the concerns [about Norfolk Southern] would be addressed.” This plan was not implemented in 2006.

8/22/06 – City Attorney Pessoa concludes that Norfolk Southern will need an SUP. No efforts were made to inform the West End.

9/18/06 – The law department of Norfolk Southern e-mails the City indicating federal law preempts local zoning ordinances, and that Norfolk Southern will not apply for an SUP. It is indicated that the ethanol transloading “facility will be open no later than January 2007.” No efforts were made by the City to inform the West End of Norfolk Southern's intentions.

10/3/06 – Planning Commission Worksession and Hearing regarding Virginia Paving SUP. Many West End residents speak in opposition of the SUP. Planning Commission votes 6-1 to recommend approval of the SUP.

10/14/06 – Public Hearing on Virginia Paving SUP. Many West End residents and other community leaders speak in opposition to the SUP. Many more West End residents sign a petition in opposition. City Council defers consideration of Virginia Paving SUP until a legislative session in November.

11/7/06 – Norfolk Southern indicates via e-mail that it is “initiating terminal improvements . . . soon after Thanksgiving” which will be completed sometime after January 2007. City Attorney Pessoa never responds to this e-mail. No efforts are made by the City to notify the West End of Norfolk Southern's intentions.

11/28/06 – Mayor Euille and Councilmen Lovain, Krupicka, and Smedberg vote to approve the Virginia Paving SUP, contrary to the will of practically all of the West End residents who testified in the meeting of October 14. Vice-Mayor Macdonald, Councilman Gaines, and Councilwoman Pepper (who lives in the West End) vote against the SUP. The SUP is approved by a vote of 4-3.

April 2008 -- Norfolk Southern begins transloading ethanol, without adequate safety equipment and materials being in place. The West End is not notified until the middle of May.

Councilman Gaines just indicated that he will not seek another term for Council. Vice-Mayor Macdonald resigned from Council in 2007, probably in disgust with the Virginia Paving proceedings above. Vice-Mayor Pepper (elevated after Macdonald's resignation) received the fewest votes of any incumbent in the 2006 Democratic Party Caucus.

Council Elections are in mid-2009. The Democratic Party Caucus is on January 31, 2009.

It is your fault if this disrespect continues.

If you do not vote, you will not be heard.