January 2007 Archives
January 30, 2007
Maud and Laurie Blow Hard About Tysons Corner Comments (7)
From the Sun Gazette today come this bit of news:
Members of the Vienna Town Council Monday night expressed concern that traffic in Tysons Corner, already congested, will become unmanageable if Fairfax County officials continue approving massive redevelopments there. “The word for development at Tysons is ‘tsunami,'” Town Council member Maud Robinson said at the council meeting. “It's going to be unbelievable,” she said. Council member Laurie Cole said the council has approached county officials about the need to view developments in a broader context. “We were rebuffed,” Cole said. “All of us are going to be living with the consequences of this piecemeal approach to land use.” Robinson said that solid planning tools are being ignored in an effort to jump-start transit-oriented projects in Tysons Corner and Dunn Loring. “A good principle, like smart growth, is being corrupted for the sake of development,” she said.
Isn't this great? A couple of do nothing Vienna politicians, seemingly only capable of moaning, have the solutions to Tysons growth? We would like to see Robinson and Cole pipe down about Tysons and try to resolve something, anything within Vienna's borders. Isn't it painfully obvious by now that the County views Maud Robinson and Laurie Cole as simply loud mouth gadflies?
There Is A Reason Robinson and Cole Were "Rebuffed"
January 28, 2007
Roy Baldwin Says "It's not Garish"; Gee Thanks Roy Boy! Comments (5)
Does anyone else see a problem with a review board having the word 'garish' as their all encompassing guideline to approve or disapprove? Why does Vienna have a divorce attorney like Boy Baldwin on a review board making such idiotic statements? Is it too much to ask that there be OBJECTIVE guidelines so people don't feel like they are at the mercy of political cronies?
Roy can you define exactly what inappropriate is? Or is this all based on how you feel at that "minute and half" moment as you describe it?
We are sure Maud rates that performance by Baldwin at the Vienna Commercial Architectural Review Board a perfect "10"!
January 27, 2007
George Lovelace: Coming or Going? Comments (1)
Mixed messages are floating across Vienna about George Lovelace. Is he retiring this year or not? Is he a 2007 Town Council candidate or not?
January 25, 2007
Catalyst for Change Comments (6)
Some good news. Apparently, that letter has served as a catalyst for the Vienna Town Council to begin anew. They will now take up the letter and its ideals at their next work session. Then the Planning Commission will take it up. One letter = ship turns in possible new direction.
Arrogantly Out of Touch Comments (2)
This website has been up and going since November 2005. We quickly got an audience with the now infamous meltdown here. Now, some 15 months later, the Mayor of Vienna is still playing games by attempting to hide a letter. Are Seeman and Robinson just out of touch? Are they just arrogant? Are they just stupid?
Perhaps some people might not like how those questions are phrased. However, to every thinking person in Vienna it is painfully clear that Jane Seeman's attempt to hide that letter speaks volumes about how she views Vienna citizens. How did the woman who once taught preschool and has now handed out library cards for twenty years become smarter than all of us? By refusing to give that letter over immediately, by using some inane State legal exemption to cover her your know what, Seeman was in essence saying she is not honest.
January 24, 2007
The Letter Jane Seeman Did NOT Want Vienna Citizens to Read Comments (12)
Here is the letter (PDF) that Jane Seeman did not want any citizen of Vienna to see. In the letter it refers to a study. That study, which was deep-sixed, can be download and read here.
A side note on the letter above. When Maud Robinson heard of this plan she put forward an alternate vision. She proposed that they tear the current building down and build a 1 story strip mall where you could park your car right in the front of the stores. We are not joking. If Mother Maud was 85 and with it, that's one thing. She is not with anything anymore. She is lost.
January 23, 2007
About Face. Forward March. The Big Jane Flip Flop Comments (3)
We just got word that the letter in question denied by Jane Seeman is now ready to be picked up at Town Hall. Apparently, the original phony baloney legal reason to deny the public seeing the letter...disappeared overnight. As Gomer Pyle would say, surprise, surprise, surprise.
January 22, 2007
The Mayor of Vienna Plays the Shell Game Comments (5)
Jane Seeman, Posing As A Monkey, Likes to Play Games
It has come to our attention that a letter exists from the owners of the commercial property at the corner of Maple Avenue and Pleasant Street to the Mayor, Town Council and Zoning Director. The letter, which we have not seen yet, outlines problems with the current plans to revitalize Maple Avenue. Of course, upon hearing about this letter we asked for a copy. In the spirit of open government (NOT!) we heard back from the Town Public Information Officer:
The Town Attorney has advised that the letter is exempt from disclosure under the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and the Mayor has chosen to invoke this exemption.
Way to go Jane! Does the letter contain State secrets? Or maybe you are holding it back due to terror concerns? Given your credibility there must be a good reason? You would not hold it back just because it was embarrassing now would you Momma Red Hunter? The specific section of FOIA that they used to block the release of the letter is as follows:
§ 2.2-3705.7. Exclusions to application of chapter; records of specific public bodies and certain other limited exemptions. 2. Working papers and correspondence of the Office of the Governor; Lieutenant Governor; the Attorney General; the members of the General Assembly or the Division of Legislative Services; the mayor or chief executive officer of any political subdivision of the Commonwealth; or the president or other chief executive officer of any public institution of higher education in Virginia. However, no record, which is otherwise open to inspection under this chapter, shall be deemed exempt by virtue of the fact that it has been attached to or incorporated within any working paper or correspondence.
We wonder what this letter, sent to everyone in the Town governmental structure, could say that would cause the Mayor to take an action that makes her look like she is hiding something? At what stage is it appropriate to say Seeman is corrupt? Now perhaps? Of course, we will post the letter as soon as we get it. How will we get it? Now that we know the letter was sent to the Town Zoning Administrator too, he doesn't have any State exemptions that we know about...
January 21, 2007
Not Logical. Not At All Comments (7)
One reader, prefacing her remarks that all incumbents should be tossed out in 07, writes tonight:
I'm more than a little disappointed and disturbed that you would seemingly endorse yet another developer to sweep into office, populate the various councils, and approve and enforce rules and regulations to their advantage, and to the benefit of their friends and family. Hello?! Have you forgotten Steve Bukont and the mess Maud and Steve and all their cronies have made out of Vienna? You may look down your nose at those in Vienna who are living in older homes, but we are still members of this community; we pay our taxes and we deserve to have our wants and needs attended to. We're tired of these builders and their huge homes on tiny lots causing flooding and long-term damage to our homes. We're tired of the zoning work-arounds, traffic blockages, and the decimation of wooded areas. We're tired of builders hiring illegal aliens to build these homes in the middle of the night. We're tired of the increased crime, drug, and gang activity that has come with these illegal aliens - crime that builders like Bukont and Brehony are ultimately responsible for because they provide jobs to illegal aliens. Deborah Brehony is motivated to run by pure greed; she wants to make more money. Quite simply, Deborah Brehony doesn't have the morals or ethics we need from members of the Vienna Town Council.
Perhaps there are some useful points buried in your email, but they are indeed buried. Some feedback:
1. Bukont has built homes that have benefited Vienna as a whole. That is hard to argue against. His activities while sitting on a Board and his improper close association with Council are well known. This site has been at the forefront of drilling him for that. However, to essentially blame Bukont and Brehony for gang activity is nutty. The Council is responsible for that. Frankly, every new house built in Vienna eliminates a 1950s house populated with '15' member families.
2. We can't name one builder to sit on Council in the last 30 years. Where do we start drawing the line on professions allowed to run for Council? The problems in Vienna are not caused by the professions of people, but rather the individual ethics of people. If you have an ethical argument against Brehony, make it. Right now you are fear mongering. This site has gone after Brehony when she has done certain things, but we can't understand going after anyone before they actually commit the political crime so to speak.
3. No one is looking down on anyone who owns an older home. But everyone in Vienna knows that if they are in an older home the value of that home is the land. Everyone who owns property in Vienna has done well whether they have a new home already or not.
4. If Brehony gets elected to Town Council how does this greed path unfold? Please map out how she makes all this money. She already has a successful business that doesn't seem to be in need of "extra" governmental help. How could she be worse than Cole?
We are not endorsing anyone at this time, but this site will strive to stay logical. If more candidates are running this spring we can't wait to hear about them and discuss them. We do agree with you that incumbents should be tossed!
January 20, 2007
Laine Hide Takes Public Service Seriously. Not Comments (7)
From the January 18th meeting of the Commercial Architectural Review Board comes Laine Hide...
First, from the left side of the room. Then from the right side of the room. The building plans in Hide's hands are indeed moving as the camera moves. Seriously, why does Vienna have someone on a Board clearly not cut out for public service? Laine was a great candidate for the old private service routine in Vienna, but this website changed that game forever. We would think Hide would be proud to serve on this Board. Why does she seem embarrassed?
Two More Violations of Red
January 19, 2007
Deborah Brehony Article Is A Positive Step Comments (11)
Sun Gazette Photo
The Sun Gazette just put out an article about Council candidate Deborah Brehony. While Brehony's statements have been disjointed over the last year, this article lists very positive positions:
1. She calls for term limits.
2. She calls for the video taping of meetings.
3. She calls for a modified height limit in commercial sector.
4. She calls for a mixed use development in commercial sector.
5. She calls for new traffic solutions.
It is safe to say that NONE of these planks will be part of Maud Robinson's view of the future.
The article in full...
Continue reading "Deborah Brehony Article Is A Positive Step" »
Laine Hyde Now Hydes at Meetings Comments (3)
At some point you have to wonder if it can get any crazier in this Town.
Last night Laine Hyde, while sitting on the Commercial Architectural Review Board in Council chambers, spent most of the night hiding behind either a newspaper or building plans to keep from being filmed. Are we only minutes away from the Town Council allowing their board members to wear anonymous masks? Pictures to come.
Protecting the Identity of Board Members!
We Are Alarmed at the Clear "Red" Violation Though!
1st Amendment Under Attack in Vienna Comments (8)
It has come to our attention that assorted members of Town Boards and Commissions believe right NOW that this site and others will soon have their content regulated. The view is that somehow technology has not caught up and a site like this is getting away with something - whatever that means. It makes you really wonder about the psyches of those who control the political reigns in Vienna. Or perhaps it is not really surprising given this same group attempted to ban video.
January 18, 2007
Charles Anderson Thinks Everyone in Vienna Is Stupid Comments (5)
Charles Anderson of Capital Trade was recently appointed to the Windover Heights Board of Review (His application PDF). Some quick background on the man who spends $18,000 a year to send his kids to grades 1-8:
1. Anderson bought a small house not in the historic district in 1997. He tore the old house down and built a new one with no reviews from any review board.
2. In 1998 with his new house finished he asked to be added to the Windover Heights Historic District. The Town Council added his house to the District with the vote of Jane Seeman and Steve Briglia.
Here is where Anderson thinks he is smarter than everyone else. On his application to sit on a Vienna Board he states:
As a resident of Windover Heights, I am keenly interested in maintaining the integrity of the historic district, and would work to seek neighborhood consensus on issues of architectural compatibility.
Isn't that special? A guy who gets every favor possible, a guy who supports the idea of a historic district with no rules, is now the new Vienna consensus builder after he never appeared to get reviewed? Anderson's BS gets better:
As Council is aware, the Historic District of Windover Heights is the subject of fairly intense development pressures. Having gone through the experience of trying to make a new structure compatible with the neighborhood, I would like to extend my experience to assisting in the preservation and revitalization of the neighborhood.
At some stage the average citizen will say enough. This whole charade makes Vienna look incompetent. Could you imagine having dealings with this type of manipulative creep?
Jane Seeman The Historic Hypocrite Gives Her Church "Special" Treatment Comments (2)
Below is a picture of what the Vienna Presbyterian Church looked like before Jane Seeman and Laurie Cole pushed along the new historical preservation. And these two hypocrites have the nerve to hoist this fake Vienna history cr*p on others.
Circa ?
What does the after look like? View Circa 2003-05.
That after picture is BEFORE the latest monster addition. We can't wait to see the finished Church once the satellite photos are updated. Don't get us wrong, it's great that everyone is happy with a new church. Just don't push your hypocritical historic BS on others without a fight.
Give credit to Maud, at least she got rid of the original garish red roof.
Vienna Moms Take Your Kids to the Town Green! Comments (1)
Sometimes a picture just says it all.
January 17, 2007
What Would You Do for A Job? Comments (3)
There are people in the Vienna Zoning Department (read Town employees) who are knowingly taking unethical and perhaps illegal action. What would do for a job? If you were told to take certain actions by Jane and Maud or face firing would you follow orders you knew were wrong? We have a handful of employees in the Vienna Zoning Department who know this entire charade over an assortment of issues is wrong, but they follow orders to protect their retirement and protect their paycheck. One of these employees has admitted to special favors being doled out to some, but still she sits there and takes the paycheck to enforce the law unequally. What kind of person lives that way? Who in their right mind, what competent professional, would want to work in this type of environment? You think we jest, the record of employees leaving this Department is clear. The ones who have left over the issues we address deserve respect. The one who have struggled about what to do need the citizens of Vienna's assistance. The ones who stay playing games with people's property rights on a daily basis deserve ridicule of the highest order.
January 16, 2007
2007 Offer to Vienna Town Council Candidates Comments (3)
All Vienna Town Council candidates are welcome to submit a maximum (10) posts between now and the May 2007 elections. Of course anyone can post comments to their hearts content, but this is a different offer. This is an offer for candidates to write a main post w/ their choice of subject heading.
We only ask that you write about Vienna issues. Your post will be put on this site unedited with a link to your web site and or any other contact information you want. You may also have proxies write a contribution on your behalf. Pictures are welcome too. Please send contribution to the email at the bottom of this site.
Vienna Zoning Inspector Frank Simeck Where Are You Now? Comments (16)
Who else in Town would get away with this on Locust Street?
picture 1
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New 4-Story Steve Bukont Town House Development
January 15, 2007
Laine Hyde and Maud Robinson Exchange "Eyes" Comments (1)
In the video below several aspects of the corrupt Vienna machine are in action. First, the Mayor is asked if it is appropriate to have residents of the Historic District sitting on a review board armed with no standards able to deny their immediate neighbor. The clip edited for brevity then finds the Mayor unable to answer basic questions as to whether anything in Vienna is actually "historic." Lastly, in an effort to explain why she left the Historic Review board Laine Hyde blows some serious 'crazy person' wind. The best part of Hyde's talk? Check out Maud sending her "eye" signals of approval as Hyde launches into her laughable statement of objectivity:
Vienna Democrats Do You Really Know Mayor Jane Seeman? Comments (0)
Jane Seeman months back could not answer questions about the Red Hunter, but her nutbag son Tommie Boy has no problem telling you why he is the Red Hunter. Vienna Democrats will enjoy this diatribe from Tom Seeman (his resume):
I remember the exact moment it happened. I believe I was a junior in high school, which would place the event in the 1976/77 school year. Our English classes were set up so that just as in college, students had a series of classes to choose from each quarter. As I recall, most of the classes were literature. The class I chose for that fateful class was centered on totalitarianism. We read two or three books that quarter, but there was one that made a profound impact on me. That book was "1984" by George Orwell. To this day I remember how profoundly I was struck by this work. Like everyone else who reads it, I was rooting for Winston Smith throughout the book. When he was utterly defeated by the overpowering might of the totalitarian state, I was devastated. It was not just that they had imprisoned him, or tortured him, that hit me. It was the success of their effort at mind control. By the end, Smith is not merely forced to cooperate, he willingly converts to the belief that Big Brother is good. He becomes a total convert to Ingsoc, the state ideology. It was this, then, that hit me the hardest. As I said, I remember the exact moment that I finished the book. Before this event, politics, and especially the Cold War struggle against the Soviet Union, were abstractions. No more. "The Soviet Union must be destroyed" went through my mind again and again. I was never taken in by those leftists who insist on seeing Orwell's work as an attack on the west, and in particular the United States. To be sure, we can see "Orwellian" speech in our daily lives, and we sometimes say that "Big Brother" is doing this or that in our country. But there was never any doubt in my mind that Orwell's masterpiece was primarily an attack on the totalitarian mind-control ideologies of his day; Soviet communism and German Nazism. We had defeated the latter, but the former remained a significant threat. This began a life-long study of the world around me. Over the past twenty-five or so years I have read dozens if not hundreds of books on a variety of subjects. Initially my primary reading centered around military history and totalitarian ideologies, and indeed books on these subjects still make up the majority of my library. It always seemed natural for me to be a political conservative. My parents were Republicans, and not being a rebellious type it was natural for me to follow in their footsteps. This, coupled with my anti-Soviet crusade, led me to the right. I suppose if I had been born twenty years earlier the chances of my going to either party were about equal. Up until the late '60s the Democrats were as anti-Soviet as the Republicans. The sea change that occurred at the end of the Vietnam war squelched any chance of my becoming a Democrat. My beliefs have not changed that much over the years. If anything, perhaps I have become more libertarian. As I have grown more as a Christian, I have been less impressed by the "religious right"; something of a paradox, perhaps. I then grew up as a dedicated Cold Warrior. If you check out my personal blog, you'll see that it's got a Cold War name. The story there is simple; when thinking of a title, I started looking at my book collection for inspiration. I came across William F Buckley's The Redhunter. This book tells the story of Senator Joe McCarthy in novel form. Buckley's theme is that while McCarthy and his minon Roy Cohn were scoundrels, the cause of anti-communism is noble and just. It is a theme with which I agree wholeheartedly. I therefore chose it as the title of my blog. I therefore see our current war against the Islamofascists as in the same mold as the great twentieth-century struggles against Nazism and Communism. Different in many ways, but also quite similar. Whether we win or seek accommodation depends on our willpower. Despite occasional missteps, we prevailed against the old totalitarians. We can do so again.
Northern Virginia Ethical Society & A Not So Ethical Association Comments (0)
The Northern Virginia Ethical Society meets at Green Hedges School, in Vienna, Virginia. That says it all doesn't it?
January 13, 2007
The Maud Robinson Historic Scam Marches On Comments (3)
Consider this form (PDF) from the Town of Vienna. We especially like 5(a) and 6(a). First 5(a) states:
Explain how you believe this improvement will or will not be harmonious with the historic aspect of the surroundings.
Isn't that special? The Town has not defined anything as historic, but now with this new form (where it came from we have no idea), they ask the property owner to justify the history of their property. So we presume if they don't like your personal view of history, they can deny you. Nice.
Then 6(a) on the form asks:
Does this improvement involve the demolition of any built or natural structures?
What is a natural structure? Where in the Code is this defined? Sure, to some who don't have to deal with this nonsense, they just fire back "who cares!" It is all just further proof that Maud Robinson is a dishonest politician. She simply doesn't know the difference between right and wrong.
January 10, 2007
Green Hedges School Secret Expansion Meeting Tonight. Did Not Know? That's How They Planned It! Comments (2)
Fred Williams, head master at Richie Rich school Green Hedges School in Vienna, along with neighborhood gadfly Chuck Brewer, have organized a secret meeting tonight at Green Hedges School to push for the school's expansion. You didn't hear about it? Well, that's the idea.
Laine Hyde Blows Wind at Town Council Meeting Comments (1)
Laine Hyde gave a rambling impromptu speech Monday at Town Council. She explained that the only reason she left the Windover Heights Board of Review was due to her heavy outside work load. We are not buying that at all. Power hungry politicians like Hyde take action for political reasons. This is after all the same woman whose attorney claimed that this site was damaging her "social standing" in Vienna - whatever that meant. Video of Monday speech to come.
January 08, 2007
The Windover Heights Historic District Has No Guidelines Comments (2)
The post from "Frank" yesterday along with all of the comments, made us realize that it was time to repost Town leaders caught in the lie. From January 9, 2006 we bring you the Mayor Jane Seeman revealing that there are no "guidelines":
The best part of the video? Watch the last 30 seconds as Maud grits her teeth and rolls her eyes at the moronic answer that Seeman has just given. Mao Maud has her mouth open blowing out air of displeasure! Classic video! It is our best guess that Momma Red Hunter doesn't want to answer these types of questions under the threat of perjury!
January 07, 2007
Historic District Defender Howard Uman Whines for Relief Comments (14)
Here is an example of the fine minds supporting the continuation of the historic district scam:
We will not tolerate these types of nutbags abusing property rights. This guy in the video even created a website at one time called "Preserve Windover" with this mindless mission statement:
"The goal of this site [preservewindover.com] is for the preservation of the Windover Heights Historic District in Vienna, Virginia. There is another site dispelling information about the historic district which claims to be purely factual. There are gaps and inferences made on this web site which are not facts."
The "other" website pf course is HistoricVienna.com. Here is Mr. Ponytail in action at Vienna Town Hall:
To paraphrase, "Mrs. Mayor, I thought I could harm others' property rights with no consequence! They fought back. Help me please!"
January 06, 2007
What Does the Resume of a Maud Political Piglet Look Like? Comments (1)
Howard Springsteen is one of Maud's pet political piglets. Here is his resume (PDF). Why so harsh you say? Read.
January 05, 2007
David Lanphear Is the New Crony on Commercial ARB Comments (8)
The newest member of the Communist based Commercial Architectural Review Board is David Lanphear (PDF). Would it surprise anyone that he is part of the Historic Vienna, Inc. charade headed by Laine Hyde? Dave, do you have your red lipstick ready? You will need to apply that liberally to kiss Maud's a**.
Better yet what is the relationship between Sarah Jane Brady and David K. Lanphear? She is on the Board of Directors of Historic Vienna Inc. Is that what is left in Vienna? Losers who pretend this community is historic willing to do anything ole Maudite tells them to do? Pathetic.
Will Dave Wear Mao Maud's Favorite Hat at Meetings?
Green Hedges School: Not Good Neighbors Comments (5)
Green Hedges School is back with more development plans. This was sent to Charles Brewer:
Charles,
This is to confirm that Green Hedges will host an evening with our neighbors on Wednesday, January 10 at 7:00 p.m. We will meet at the School in Kilmer Auditorium. This evening is an opportunity to discuss Green Hedges' new building plans, which have been revised in response to comments the School heard from the community. As always, the response of the School' s neighbors is an essential piece in this effort.
Would you be able to distribute this invitation electronically to the neighbors? Green Hedges was not planning on sending anything by mail at this point.
Please let me know how I can be of help.
Best,
Fred
Frederick W. Williams
Head of School
Green Hedges School
Vienna, VA
ph. 703.938.8323
fax 703.938.1634
David Miller Deserves Applause on This One Comments (4)
We wrote recently about the Planning Commission meeting to consider changing the Town Code to essentially give Steve Bukont a big gift. At the second meeting they voted against recommending that the Council change the code. Nice job. David Miller deserves a round of applause for changing directions. We do note that Laurie DiRocco was not there for this vote.
Charles "The Scout" Anderson Added to Windover Historic Review Board Comments (4)
We have seen it all.
Now, that ANOTHER member of the Windover Heights Board of Review has resigned, the Council is going to appoint Charles Anderson of Capital Trade as the new member. Who is Anderson? Anderson is the political crony who bought property NOT in the Windover Heights Historic District in 1997. He then built a brand new house and had it added to the historic district with no approval from a review board. With this appointment, the Council will give the power to one resident to rule against his immediate neighbors. Disgusting.
Everyone in the silly historic district knows that residents living in it don't sit on the board. Now, its changed just to spite people. You might be 85 years old Maud, but when it comes to ethics and morals you have hit bottom.
The real question: will Anderson wear his cub scout uniform to meetings?
January 04, 2007
The "New" Fruitcake Lady Laine Hyde: Washington Post Article Comments (0)
In between her duties as head of scam organization Historic Vienna, Inc. and her intellectually dishonest "red" debate on the Vienna Architectural Review Board, Laine Hyde is apparently the new fruitcake lady (Wash. Post article). Maybe a fruitcake can be added to the Windover Heights Historic District? Who says we only have to have buildings or properties be designated historic? Why not make a fruitcake historic?
January 02, 2007
Sweet Heart Deal for Frank Simeck? Comments (1)
One reader writes tonight:
Maybe someone should check out the way the developer beside Frank's house completely regraded the landscape right up to his foundation. The rest of us schmucks have to endure the poor drainage created by the large foot print of the new homes, and inversely the reduction of absorption square footage. Seems like he got an unprecedented "arrangement".
It does appear the Town Zoning Inspector Frank Simeck got a special dispensation. The old picture doesn't show the new house...we will do some digging.
January 01, 2007
Laurel and Hardy Comments (2)
To get the desired effect, you need to toggle back and forth from these (2) three second audio clips:
