Dead Down Town

So do something about it.

Run for office on a platform that sets out clearly and in detail how you would change things, and how you would work with the sitting council members to get them to sign onto your agenda.

Or are you just venting?

'Internet' ...machine politics ain't easy to break. I guess if you lived in Chicago, and did not like Mayor Daley, you could just run against him eh? It's not that easy in Chicago or Vienna. No, the real problems in Vienna are many. First, there are the sycophants who serve the entrenched Vienna masters. if the good people walked away, refused to serve on their boards and commissions, actually spoke up without regard to their social status, we might be somewhere. Second, when you have a voting block of not so smart old folks moving towards their maker locked in 1950s Yeonas homes, and who love and live for the orgasmic feeling of class warfare, death by natural causes might be the only solution to Vienna's woes. In the mean time this site will vent, remind, cajole, argue, and yell against the nonsense and corruption that is Vienna government.

Dear "the internet": The information you suggest be provided for you has already been outlined on this forum. You will need to do your homework.

How is it that anyone thinks "working with" sitting TC members is actually feasible? I would love to see the evidence that this simple sounding concept is remotely possible. Sitting TC members are a big part of the problem.

Maybe the only solution is a continued infill redevelopment whereby the Yeonas homes are replaced (even though we might have missed that chance for the next 10 years by our lack of redevelopment between 02 and 07). This will give Vienna more voters not lost in the 1950s dreaming of Ike.

Let's don't avoid the obvious: there is a DISTINCT difference between the 80 year old voters here for 50 years in Yeonas homes and the 45 year old families living in new homes priced at north of $1 million. Those are two groups of people with almost nothing in common.

PS. Anyone been to the Reston Town Center recently? Boy, the crowds, outdoor cafes, people living close to shops along with the heaping vitality, energy and money sure sucks.

I want to run for council. Whose seats are up next?
Can anyone send me a link to all the election info/protocol?

Hmm, let's replace the Robinson-Seeman clique with the Covel-Stich clique.

Oh wait, there wasn't even any attempted opposition to the Robinson-Seeman clique this year. I guess there must not have been *that* much anger.

When someone asked the Covel-Stich clique for more information, here's the response received from one regular here:

"The information you suggest be provided for you has already been outlined on this forum. You will need to do your homework."

No, that's not good enough. Voters who are open for change will not accept arrogance from the opposition simply because they are the opposition.

They'll either vote for the incumbents or simply stay at home.

I'm under 40, I live in a Yeonas home, and I vote.

Shawn gets insulted and decides against his own self-interest to continue to support (2) old geezers running Vienna into the ground. Shawn is a great example as to the voter mindset that keeps Vienna's down town dead - class warfare - Vienna's hallmark for decades. Thanks Shawn for making our case. The fact that you are 40 is inconsequential. Most people who are 40 and progressive don't think as backward as you.

Hi Shawn,
In case no one has told you, Susan Stich actually ran twice for Town Council -- in 2006 & 2007.

During both campaigns, I witnessed TC council members telling outrageous lies about what Susan wanted to accomplish on the TC. They also spread terrible rumors about her personal life.

I was also a witness to the election fraud that occured in the 2007 election. (The fraud was well-documented in the media, and resulted in the Vienna TC losing the ability to appoint poll workers.)

After both elections, Susan and her family were harrassed by TC members and their friends. One incident that sticks out in my mind: the day after the election, Susan and her little boy were standing in their yard, when people drove by Susan's house, yelling and cussing at them. Nice, huh?

So who wants to go through what Susan went through -- twice -- to run for a seat on the Vienna Town Council? How about you Shawn?

Since Shawn did not get it, let's put forth a clarification: small houses, Yeonas houses are not a negative. What is a negative is small minded thinking. The house issue was put out there since the vast majority of old time voters do vote off class warfare and many, many of them live in Yeonas built houses. It's the "My houes is small so I am going to screw you over even if it hurts me" attitude. Vienna is famous for this pig headed mentality.

HV,

I have to disagree a bit with your post here. Traffic on 123 at least moves more often than nought. I used to commute on 495 to Alexandria from Vienna and can't say it always does the same. It took me 2.5 hours to get to a Redskin game last month.

I agree that we have to do better to attract more/different business to Vienna, but would say that there a number of attractive businesses that are already here (i.e. Whole Foods, Chipolte, GameStop, Church Street Cellars, etc.). Was this by chance? Also, I for one am glad that we continue to have things like Giant Food, Dunkin Donuts, KFC, banking and gas conviently located. There may "seem" to be more nail salons and mattress stores than we probably need, but how many do we actuaaly have? My wife frequents one that is nice and close to our house. There must be a demand if they are here, right? Should we discourage small businesses like this from being in Vienna. Do we no longer want fast food, banks, or other chains like Giant Food and CVS in our town? Also, where are these "massage parlors" of which you speak? Are you talking about salons/spas?

You state that with an economic downturn many of Vienna's commercial buildings stand empty. Gee, doesn't that hold true with other towns & cities across the country. How do Vienna's retail vacany rates compare? This really seems like more of a cause and effect than something solely caused by the "Maud Machine"?!

You criticize others for posting innocuous, feel good statements not supported by fact - so would appreciate if you could provide more for us here.

Shawn, telling you the inormation is already posted is arrogant? I think the information went "INONEEARAND OUTTHEBUTT".
BTW Don't forget the No Stichs incident at the walk on the hill. `
`

In 1996, Republicans ran on a 'We're not Clinton!' platform and lost. In 2004, Democrats tried the same thing and failed.

I am well aware that Susan Stich and Deborah Brehony also ran for Town Council in 2007. I did not know that Susan ran in 2006. I had heard about the Town no longer being able to certify election officials.

Is Vienna ripe for a Benedettis-style insurgency in 2009? Perhaps -- I'd vote for those candidates if he/she had a platform other than 'Get illegals out.'

My point is that telling voters, 'Do your own research,' isn't a winning platform. It is effective venting.

I think working with the sitting council members might be easier than you expect, so long as you feed everyone small bits at a time, rather than trying to shove a brand new agenda down everyone\'s throats all at once.

Comparing running for council in Vienna to running for mayor of Chicago is a bit hyperbolic.

Step One: Come up with a clear and relatively palatable agenda. Leave the incendiary rhetoric at home.

Step Two: organize a sizable group of supporters

Step Three: go knock on every door in town, sharing your vision with them.

Repeat step three at least three times, with the third time being your get out the vote effort.

I live in town. I did not see Stich once. I did see Deb Brehony, but only once. Neither of them came to my house in the days leading up to the election to remind me to vote or to see if I had any questions.

Running for office is hard work. It is especially hard running against an entrenched incumbent, but it can be done.

Platitudes like \"I will solve the traffic problem\" are not helpful. Sure, identifying the problem is good, but also be specific about how you will solve the problem. Then broadcast it as repetitively as you can.

The Internet: Considering your current post it is obvious that you are one of the lazy citizens of Vienna. Read the posts, they cover all the problems dealing with the Vienna government. I will leave you with one fact: Vienna residents are too lazy to vote.

So 'Internet' since the challengers did not personally make it to your door to kiss your ***, even though you knew a change was needed, you voted for the same slate of buffoons we have had for years? And people wonder why we have problems. Comparing to Chicago is a fair comparison, but to grasp that you must understand what a machine is AND believe Vienna government operates under one.

Also, I for one am glad that we continue to have things like Giant Food, Dunkin Donuts, KFC, banking and gas conviently located. There may "seem" to be more nail salons and mattress stores than we probably need, but how many do we actuaaly have? My wife frequents one that is nice and close to our house. There must be a demand if they are here, right? Should we discourage small businesses like this from being in Vienna. Do we no longer want fast food, banks, or other chains like Giant Food and CVS in our town? Also, where are these "massage parlors" of which you speak? Are you talking about salons/spas?

I do love your idiocy about discouraging small businesses, we have not seen the Chewbacca defense for some time! Look, take the rose colored glasses off, down town Vienna is a dump.

My point is that telling voters, 'Do your own research,' isn't a winning platform. It is effective venting.

Hey civics student, please try and grasp that Vienna is not "la la la get out the vote" kind of place.

Let's try this: do any of you folks attempting to argue with me actually disagree Vienna government is run by a machine?

If so, justify your view please. If not, please go back to the inception of this blog and educate yourself...and stop being lazy.

The Internet - I agree with you, and I'm sure others do too. Your three steps are exactly right. Any town is a "get out the vote" town, just as America is a "get out the vote" country - we'll see this on Nov. 4. Why do the two presidential candidates have thousands of people knocking on doors? Because it works.

Dear "respect the machine": The information you suggest be provided for you has already been outlined on this forum. You will need to do your homework.

'Respect the machine' = 'vienna mommy'. Same hate filled, ignorant disrespect for any opinion that does not mirror hers (hence, HV). Get over yourself, Mrs. .... Next time, you may want to vary your content (...justify your view...Shawn did not get it...don"t think as backward as you). We've seen it all before. Too many times. You are much closer than you think to be being just like the people you want us to believe you hate.

Respect the Machine:

I did not want anyone to kiss my ass.

I will not vote for someone about whom I know very little. I know a lot about Robinson and Seeman and the rest of the entrenched incumbents; I may not agree with everything they say or do, but I know where they stand. They are a known quantity. They do not need to knock on my door to show me that they are serious about serving on the Town Council. That may be unfair to newcomers, but that is the way it is.

If a newcomer to the scene wants my vote, they will need to educate me about their platform, and they will need to prove to me that they are serious about their effort. They will also, as I said, need to explain to me how they will fix a problem, not just that they can identify the problem; anybody with a pulse knows that there is terrible traffic in town. A thoughtful person shows that they have ideas about how to relieve that traffic. Agreeing with their solution is not as important to me as them demonstrating that they have valid and well thought out ideas.

We also need a change from the last 8 years on the national level. That does not mean that Barack Obama could just put his name on the ballot and expect me to vote for him on the sole premise that he is someone new.

I will not say whether or not I voted, or who I voted for. I will say that I would rather not vote for anyone than vote for a mystery and/or someone who has not even demonstrated the bare minimum of interest in the position. Getting elected is an earned privilege, not a God-given right.

I have nothing against either Deb or Susan. But liking them personally carries little weight in my decision to elect them to office. I also wouldn\'t vote for any of my close friends or family, unless they cleared the same hurdles I set out above.

"Internet" -
Myself and others walked the town with Susan Stich during her 2007 campaign, and she also attended many community events. In addition, Susan sent out at least 4 mailers to all Vienna residents, and talked to the press. She particpated in the candidates' debates. Last but not least, Susan was the only candidate that had an in depth Web site with her platform, personal background, and why she wanted to serve.

Knowing all that, I'm more than a little curious as to why you feel you knew so little about her.

'Respect the machine' = 'vienna mommy'. Same hate filled, ignorant disrespect for any opinion that does not mirror hers (hence, HV). Get over yourself, .... Next time, you may want to vary your content (...justify your view...Shawn did not get it...don"t think as backward as you). We've seen it all before. Too many times. You are much closer than you think to be being just like the people you want us to believe you hate.

Just because Shawn has an ill-informed opinion doesn't mean I have to respect it (and yes I do hate ignorance and or stupidity, sorry). Some people have the opinion that humans and dinos shared the planet 4000 years ago. Is that an opinion to respect? Sorry Mark, you ignored my points and said nothing. PS. Not Vienna Mommy.

They are a known quantity. They do not need to knock on my door to show me that they are serious about serving on the Town Council. That may be unfair to newcomers, but that is the way it is.

Everyone gets what they want...

Leah:

I do not recall receiving any mailers. Maybe I am mistaken. I also know that I did not get any visits. It is good that she took part in the debates, but I had no idea about the debates until after they were over. Getting a visit or a call to tell me about it would have been nice. I also did not know about the website. Maybe the mailers said something about it, but like I said, I do not recall getting any. At least it sounds like there was some effort, and that is good.

Respect the Machine:

I wish that were true, but as you have pointed out on many occasions, it seems that everyone gets what the few want.

Mark:

Respect the Machine is not Vienna Mommy. Respect the Machine is Vienna Mommy\'s brother, the original HV. You were close, though.

Now that everyone has come on with their 2 cents...back to the basics: Vienna is run by a very powerful political machine that requires more than the la la la go knock on the door baloney being espoused here. So can we all come up to speed with the political reality of Vienna? If we can, change can follow...

What else does it require? Moving elections to the first Tuesday in November is one additional step, but beyond that, what else, other than a herculean effort by the newcomer?

I certainly believe this town needs a change and I'm all for it, if it's a candidate that has a platform I support and agree with. I contacted a guy that announced his candidacy for mayor on this very site this summer. After a few e-mail exchanges, I asked him about his platform...I'm still waiting to hear back from him. I say this to say, many of us newcomers (and maybe some Vienna veterans) want change we just haven't found it in the right person yet. But when he or she comes along, I know I for one will support that candidate and do all that I can do get them elected. Also, 'The Internet' is right moving the elections to the first Tuesday in November would really help too.

When someone asked the Covel-Stich clique for more information, here's the response received from one regular here:

"The information you suggest be provided for you has already been outlined on this forum. You will need to do your homework."

Shawn I think that is misleading and it seems to me you are doing exactly here what you complain HV does. Are you trying to tie me in with being part of this website? "The masterminer" as was part of the diatribe?

I can assure you I walked and knocked and talked to folks. There were several pamphlets that went out as well.

To the Internet: I did not go where I knew I was going to be ill received.

What a surprise you would keep voting for the same people in Vienna Internet. You get what you want:-)

1 of 5:

Do not give me credit for the idea of moving the election date. That is an idea that has been floated here for quite a while. Aside from making it easier for a newcomer (more turnout guaranteed), it just seems more efficient. Vote once during the year.

I don't live in the Town of Vienna, but right outside it and less than 2 miles from downtown Vienna. Downtown Vienna is in serious need of renovation and smart planning. Traffic on 123 is often terrible, and the businesses on 123 is nothing to right home about. I'm not an urban/suburban planner by trade, so I don't pretend to know exactly how to fix the problem. What I do know is that our downtown area is terribly outdated and poorly managed. I'm sure that with the right planning done by professionals, downtown Vienna could be very prosperous with a wide variety of businesses. We are in an economic downturn right now, but that doesn't mean that we can't start planning for when things look up.

why cut off the hand that feeds you?:

Did I vote? If so, who did I vote for?

The hand that feeds me is my own. I suspect that the same is true for you, or is it?

Mrs. Stich:

You would not have been ill-received at my house. If you run again, please stop by. I would listen.

The 'Downtown' part of the Town certainly needs to be revitalized. It is extremely dated. We have new buildings that were constructed to look old. And we have old buildings that just look old because they are old. I agree with most of the posters here, that in order to get the change we are looking for in and around town, we have to have change in leadership. When will that happen, I don’t know. I do have to say that Mrs. Stich did come to my neighborhood when she was running for Town Council and she and I had a very good conversation. She was also a regular at the Town Council meetings at time. At the time, the neighborhood I lived in was in the middle of dealing with a major rezoning issue. So seeing her take an active role in caring about an issue did not directly affect her or her family meant a lot to me. I would certainly support her if she decided to run again.

Even if the discussion on HV.com is "over-the-top" (not my words) at times, it's still worth having the discussion over not at all.

Enough people are realizing that change will happen when you stop thinking "why should I step up" and start thinking "why shouldn't I step up?

Internet thank you.

To "1 of 5 Black guys in Vienna"...why do you think Vienna has almost zero African-American population? The numbers are some of the lowest in Fairfax County...if not the lowest.

That is a very good question. I think it could be because of a number of things. One, I think it's because Vienna is kind of 'under the radar'. So if you aren't from TOV or have some other connection to the town, you just don't know about it. Two, I have heard and read stories about the history of the town and it was a very segregated town. And I think if you grow up with that, as soon as you can leave, you do. Also, maybe other established families in the area that know about that history are a bit reluctant to relocate to the town. I really wish there were more African-American families here. Especially for my oldest son. He has always been the only AA kid in his class, in Cub/Boy Scouts and on his athletic teams. I've even tried to get friends to move to Vienna. Telling them about all the great community organizations and events. And about the top rated schools. The wonderful tree-lined streets and so on. So far, no takers. I'll continue to sing the praises of TOV until I can at least change my name to '1 of 10'.