Maud Robinson Archives | Return to Home Page
June 28, 2010
Maud, You Spend Happy Dip Comments (0)
So how does it feel now that Mother Maud blew millions upon millions on the Town Green? States are chopping the you know what out of their budgets, but just a few years ago the Vienna Town Council were drunken sailors on a port call patronizing the brothels with daddy's credit card (figuratively of course). Nice job!
December 14, 2009
What Say You, Vienna? Comments (5)
Will Falls Church voters move to a fall election?
Questions about timing, newfound budget woes have been raised
By Fredrick Kunkle
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, December 14, 2009
The Falls Church City Council on Monday will take up the issue of whether to hold municipal elections in November rather than May, a change embraced by a growing number of Virginia municipalities that has ignited sharp debate in the tiny Northern Virginia city.
The council gave preliminary approval to the measure Nov. 23 by a 4 to 3 vote. To change the 2010 election scheduled for May to November, the council would have to adopt the measure by majority vote at the Monday session to meet a deadline imposed by law. The council is also considering a proposal to further study the measure and schedule a referendum.
The proposal to hold autumn elections has sparked a controversy in the city of 11,000 people. Backers say the change would save money and boost voter participation. Opponents say moving the election date could shield the city's political leadership from voters' wrath as officials struggle with a nasty hole in the budget.
City Attorney John Foster estimated that the switch could save $18,000 every two years. Backers also say past election data offer proof that more people go to the polls during state and national elections.
But opponents fear that voters who cast ballots in national or state elections in November will be less familiar with close-to-home matters that could affect them. They also worry that fall elections will inevitably take on a partisan cast.
Sam Mabry, a former council member and vice mayor, said he thinks the interest in moving the elections to November coincides with the recent discovery of an unexpected $4 million gap in the city budget, which could force tax increases and service cuts.
In a Nov. 16 memo, the city's chief financial officer identified an estimated $7.7 million shortfall in the coming fiscal year on revenue of $59.4 million. The city's charter calls for the budget to be settled near the time some council members stand for election.
Mayor Robin S. Gardner rejected criticism that the proposal to change the voting date was motivated by a desire to put some distance between the budget deliberations and elections.
"I find it troubling that some people believe our citizens aren't going to remember how people handled the budget situation six months later," Gardner said.
Gardner said she thinks November elections would attract more voters and expand the base of people involved in city governance. Gardner, a Democrat, also disputed the idea that the November election cycle would heighten partisan emotions. She said opinions on matters of local government, such as zoning and taxes, are seldom shaped by party politics. "I've voted for Republicans in local elections," she said.
But council member Nader Baroukh likened the proposal to a power grab.
"It just doesn't smell good. There's a taint about it that doesn't sit well with me," Baroukh said. "This is something so fundamental for how we vote and when we vote, that this is not something that should be decided by council. It should be decided by referendum."
Mary Jo Fields, research director for the Virginia Municipal League, said that 15 of Virginia's 39 cities and 19 of its 180 towns hold their local elections in November. Several municipalities, including Alexandria, are in the process of changing.
By Fredrick Kunkle
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, December 14, 2009
The Falls Church City Council on Monday will take up the issue of whether to hold municipal elections in November rather than May, a change embraced by a growing number of Virginia municipalities that has ignited sharp debate in the tiny Northern Virginia city.
The council gave preliminary approval to the measure Nov. 23 by a 4 to 3 vote. To change the 2010 election scheduled for May to November, the council would have to adopt the measure by majority vote at the Monday session to meet a deadline imposed by law. The council is also considering a proposal to further study the measure and schedule a referendum.
The proposal to hold autumn elections has sparked a controversy in the city of 11,000 people. Backers say the change would save money and boost voter participation. Opponents say moving the election date could shield the city's political leadership from voters' wrath as officials struggle with a nasty hole in the budget.
City Attorney John Foster estimated that the switch could save $18,000 every two years. Backers also say past election data offer proof that more people go to the polls during state and national elections.
But opponents fear that voters who cast ballots in national or state elections in November will be less familiar with close-to-home matters that could affect them. They also worry that fall elections will inevitably take on a partisan cast.
Sam Mabry, a former council member and vice mayor, said he thinks the interest in moving the elections to November coincides with the recent discovery of an unexpected $4 million gap in the city budget, which could force tax increases and service cuts.
In a Nov. 16 memo, the city's chief financial officer identified an estimated $7.7 million shortfall in the coming fiscal year on revenue of $59.4 million. The city's charter calls for the budget to be settled near the time some council members stand for election.
Mayor Robin S. Gardner rejected criticism that the proposal to change the voting date was motivated by a desire to put some distance between the budget deliberations and elections.
"I find it troubling that some people believe our citizens aren't going to remember how people handled the budget situation six months later," Gardner said.
Gardner said she thinks November elections would attract more voters and expand the base of people involved in city governance. Gardner, a Democrat, also disputed the idea that the November election cycle would heighten partisan emotions. She said opinions on matters of local government, such as zoning and taxes, are seldom shaped by party politics. "I've voted for Republicans in local elections," she said.
But council member Nader Baroukh likened the proposal to a power grab.
"It just doesn't smell good. There's a taint about it that doesn't sit well with me," Baroukh said. "This is something so fundamental for how we vote and when we vote, that this is not something that should be decided by council. It should be decided by referendum."
Mary Jo Fields, research director for the Virginia Municipal League, said that 15 of Virginia's 39 cities and 19 of its 180 towns hold their local elections in November. Several municipalities, including Alexandria, are in the process of changing.
November 13, 2009
Over $40K for Laptops for Town Council? This is needed? Comments (8)
Vienna Council OK’s Purchase of Laptops for Its Members
by Brian Trompeter
November 11, 2009
The Vienna Town Council is moving ahead with plans to buy laptop computers for its members and upgrade audio-visual capabilities in the council’s chamber at Town Hall.
According to a report authored by town information-technology employees Craig Griffin and Brian Farrell, presented at the Town Council’s Nov. 9 work session, the town would need to purchase at least seven laptops - one for each council member - but 11 would provide one for everyone at the dais.
The town, like most Virginia jurisdictions, will face harrowing budget prospects next year. But the computer purchases would be financed not from the general fund but Public, Education and Government (PEG) funds paid by cable franchises within the town.
Two cable franchises now pay, in quarterly installments, about $110,000 per year in PEG funds, said Vienna Town Manager John Schoeberlein. The town’s PEG account balance stands at $343,000, he said.
The laptops and electrical improvements to the dais likely would cost about $16,000 and agenda-management software an additional $25,000, Schoeberlein said.
Laptop computers are highly portable and typically last from three to five years. However, they can be a nuisance to carry around and are more susceptible to theft and damage than desktop computers, the report read.
Council members are considering wireless capabilities for the computers, which would necessitate fewer modifications to the semicircular dais. However, holes might have to be cut into the dais’ angled surfaces anyway so the computers do not take up too much of Town Council members’ work space, said Griffin, the town’s information-technology administrator.
The council may wish to invest in docking stations for the laptops, which would cost $125 to $250 each, Griffin said. The stations would provide power directly instead of through the computers’ batteries and offer Internet access via wired connections, which tend to be faster, more secure and more reliable than wireless service, he said.
The town makes audio recordings of its meetings at Town Hall, with the exception of Town Council work sessions, using an aging tape-recorder system. Unlike many jurisdictions, the town does not record meetings on videotape or broadcast them via local cable services.
If the council so desires, PEG funds also could be spent on audio-visual upgrades in the council chamber, such as electronic overhead projects, digital video projectors for PowerPoint presentations and monitors that would allow the public to see better displays being shown to the council.
Vienna town meetings for many years have featured transparencies projected on side walls, using an old-fashioned overhead projector, and maps and plans on poster boards set on easels facing the council, not the audience.
Town information-technology employees now will come up with a laptop-computer purchase proposal to present to the council.
Council member George Lovelace presented data on laptop computers that could be bought for $475 each. Griffin cautioned that because the computers would be used in the public domain, they would need professional-level software and likely cost $800 to $1,000 apiece.
The town purchases many computers through Dell’s refurbishment program, which sells used-but-modern computers that have been wiped clean of previous data.
Refurbished computers, however, often are outfitted with disparate software packages. Town officials probably should buy new laptops to ensure that recipients’ computers have equal capabilities, Griffin said.
“I don’t want people to have laptop envy,” he said.
August 26, 2009
The Maud Green Costs More and More Comments (37)
Now that the Maud Town Green is getting up there in age...has anyone considered how much this empty-all-the-time park costs Vienna every year? First, it cost millions to buy. Second, there is the opportunity cost of continuing to use a prime piece of Vienna commercial land in this way. That's right, every year it costs Vienna a loss of tax revenue that we would otherwise receive from a business that could actually benefit Vienna. As of now we have a carbon monoxide filled wasteland that no one uses. The price tag for this boondoggle goes up every day in perpetuity.
May 28, 2009
Gag. Comments (21)
June 2009 Newsletter: Comment from the Council Table
In Appreciation
By M. Jane Seeman, Mayor of ViennaOn June 30, 2009, an era will end in Vienna. Councilwoman Maud F. Robinson will step down from her seat on the TownCouncil.
Maud and her late husband, Charles A. Robinson, Jr., began their association with the Town in 1951 when they moved into their home on Courthouse Road, S.W. The couple quickly began their active participation by attending many Town Council and Town board and commission meetings. It wasn’t long before Charlie was appointed to the Planning Commission, then the Board of Zoning Appeals, and finally elected to the Town Council. Those years of service add up to 22 years. Then in 1976 Charlie was elected to the office of Mayor, which he held for 21 years. Those were very important years in Vienna’s development. Mayor Robinson was instrumental in drafting the Town’s Architectural Review Board ordinance and the Town Charter.
Mayor Robinson’s influence and stature did not stop in the town. Even today, respect for his leadership and contributions are acknowledged at every level of government.
But for us in Vienna, we have Mayor and Mrs. Robinson to thank for their vision of what we all strive for and work toward: a Vienna that has retained its small-town residential character. Their vision was for a Vienna that valued its trees, friendly businesses, and safe neighborhoods.
Now, was Maud Robinson sitting idly by when all this was going on? No indeed. Maud was busy in her own right. She was a member of the Board of Architectural Review and worked hard to maintain high standards in our business district. She served on the Town/Business Liaison Committee so that businesses and residents could meet and talk over ideas. She was involved in historic preservation projects and is a long-time board member of Historic Vienna, Inc. She was out and about town, always listening and engaging residents to find out their issues.
Maud attended all Town Council meetings and in 2000 was appointed to Council. Maud was elected to four more productive terms and then decided it was time to step down.
Maud and Charlie always had Vienna’s best interests at the forefront. Together they had a clear vision and a respectful way of carrying that vision forward. Without their commitment to that vision, Vienna would be a very different place. We all have them to thank for the excellent quality of life we enjoy in this unique and wonderful town.
There is a way to thank Councilwoman Robinson. An open house is planned for Saturday, June 13, from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Flame Room of the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department. Everyone is invited to stop by and thank Maud for her years of service to the town that she and Charlie loved from the minute they moved here 58 years ago.
May 21, 2009
Thank You, Maud. What Will We Ever Do Without You? Comments (4)
Reception Set to Honor Maud Robinson
An open-house reception to say “thank you” to retiring Vienna Town Council member Maud Robinson will be held on Saturday, June 13 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Flame Room of the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department.
The public is invited to visit and sign the “memory book.” Cards are welcome; light refreshments will be served.
Those who are unable to attend the event can send a card in care of Vienna Town Hall, 127 Center St., S., Vienna, Va. 22180. For information, call the mayor’s office at (703) 255-6311.
An open-house reception to say “thank you” to retiring Vienna Town Council member Maud Robinson will be held on Saturday, June 13 from 2 to 4 p.m. in the Flame Room of the Vienna Volunteer Fire Department.
The public is invited to visit and sign the “memory book.” Cards are welcome; light refreshments will be served.
Those who are unable to attend the event can send a card in care of Vienna Town Hall, 127 Center St., S., Vienna, Va. 22180. For information, call the mayor’s office at (703) 255-6311.
February 12, 2009
Scott McCaffrey Throws a Fit; Maybe This Is Progress? Comments (27)
Our recent review of the Sun Gazette's editor Scott McCaffrey elicited a response:
Our editorial lauding Maud Robinson's tenure on the Vienna Town Council last week certainly enraged that small group of cranks who spend their time on the www.historicvienna.com Web site (which, as an aside, has nothing to do with the Historic Vienna Inc. non-profit organization). Insulting everything from my intelligence to my choice in sweaters, the (usually anonymous) respondents hurled their invective, which usually is targeted at Robinson, Mayor M. Jane Seeman and other town mothers and fathers rather than at cuddly local newspaper editors. The problem is that when these crabbypusses make valid points - and it happens frequently enough - their comments are drowned out in a sea of ranting silliness. I think what got them all worked up was the simple statement that if critics of how the town government is now led want to change things, they should run council candidates and defeat the incumbents. It hasn't worked in the past, and I'm not sure it will work in the future, but it's worth a try. When it comes to small-town politics, it's a simple case of "those who can, do; those who can't, complain." As for the Web site www.historicvienna.com itself, I tell you, its parodies do make me laugh on occasion. And I'm happy they excerpt so many of our articles; makes it seem like we're the only game in town when it comes to covering Vienna (which, given Brian Trompeter's experience in doing it, is pretty much the case).
We do find it interesting that McCaffrey believes valid points are made on this site, but those valid points are apparently invalidated through "attacks" on things like his sweater. He seems to be saying, "Yes, you are right, but since you don't play the game, since you won't kiss octogenarian ass, since you can't be patient, since you won't bow down, no one has to listen to your right point of view." And for the record, the biggest thing we attacked was McCaffrey's honesty - which doesn't exist on issues relative to Vienna. Bottom line, McCaffrey's whine is called a red herring. It is another great example of what a dishonest little weenie he is.
NOTE: This is the official site of Historic Vienna, Inc.. The only organization that honestly tells Vienna history for what it is - is right here. Maybe McCaffrey is referring to the club run by lunatic Town of Vienna political crony Laine Hyde?
February 08, 2009
And here's to you, Mrs. Robinson. Comments (28)
From the esteemed editors at the Sun Gazette:
Editorial: Mrs. Robinson and the End of an Era
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
An era will come to an end in June, when Maud Robinson retires as a member of the Vienna Town Council.
Robinson’s husband, Charles Robinson Jr., was first elected to the council in the early 1960s and later was elected mayor. Upon his death in 2000, Maud Robinson garnered a council seat, meaning that - with a brief interregnum of a few months - the family has served Vienna in elected office for 47 years.
We feel that Maud Robinson, like her husband, has been a voice of common-sense, small-town leadership during her tenure. That doesn’t mean we agree with her all the time, and her successive election victories don’t mean she is without critics in Vienna.
A small but vocal group of town residents consider her the puppetmaster of a governing cabal, and they use the Internet to chronicle what they perceive as her nefarious influence in town affairs.
Those critics have ample opportunity, every year, to field candidates for local office and take their case directly to the people. With a month left until the filing deadline for the May election, we’ll see if they run candidates, and we’ll see how Vienna voters respond.
February 06, 2009
Scott McCaffrey of the Sun Gazette: A Corrupt Editor Comments (9)
Scott McCaffrey, Sun Gazette Editor
The article about Maud the other day in the Sun Gazette said this:
"That doesn’t mean we agree with her all the time..."
1. Who is "we"? The "we" is assumed to be Scott McCaffrey, Sun Gazette's lowly paid brown nose "editor". Remember this clown was in charge of the decision to not reveal which Council member proposed to ban video. Think about that. His reporter is the only one there when a Council person says let's ban video, and the editor of a newspaper doesn't report it? McCaffrey you are the lowest form of pond scum in the media.
2. What were the disagreements? Can you name ONE? Or was this just more happy talk to make it appear you don't only write what Maud says to write?
February 05, 2009
Down Town Debate Comments (5)
Post #1 Thomas:
As I see it, the whole town is on a course to nowhere. With the only financial entities with the ability to invest in this town being Oil Companies (read gas stations), lending institutions (read banks), and drugs companies (read drug stores) on one end of the spectrum, and the other being the plethora of nail salons and two bit stores just paying to the mortgage holders of all the old run down business lots, the present Town Council is essentially allowing this town to die on the vine. Then, what will happen, is there will be a spearhead charge from some gigantic developer with enough money and aggressive legal dealings (read another lawsuit against the TOV) so what we will see is the TOV bursting out of its cocoon into what they thought they would keep out of Vienna by keeping their heads in the dirt.4-5 Floor development interest will spring up all over the place, simply because these political sots think they are protecting Vienna, when in reality they are hurting the very good people who wish to develop small town development with the look and feel of an old town but with ability to attract interest from the varied and mix of stores and shops we would all like to see stay in Vienna: such as mix of real book stores, real clothing stores, attractive tech stores such as Apple or the likes, a real NY deli/restaurant (remember That's Amore, and rumor has it, that a very large restaurant that has been here for years will soon be gone, too... and the loss of Safeway and Magruders) well anyway, you get the picture...
We need someone who can attract interest in Vienna by doing what is smart to keep good businesses in Vienna, and NOT simply allow them to vanish with the result of having another drug store, gas station, or bank take it's place...
If you look at the bank/drug store/gas station density of Vienna and compare it to nearby towns such as Old Town Alexandria, Historic Fairfax, Historic Leesburg, Historic Falls Church, Arlington, Reston, Old Town Herndon... you will find that Vienna outweighs anyone of these places by more than 6x to 25x the amounts of any of these places. Now, that's NOT what I call progress. What we are catering to are the drive by shoppers, and not the citizens of Vienna.
Are we allowing for our investments of family growth and income investment to leave our town to support the CEO's of Exxon and Sunoco? Are we willing to allow our hard earned income to go into the pockets of the many Financial Institutions that are getting bailouts to survive, while at the same time, invest in all our business real estate, and deposits, with the resultant end product being that we lose the many longstanding Ma and Pa stores, restaurants, grocery stores, etc that we have all enjoyed and loved?
The current lot of Vienna Politicians have proved beyond and shadow of doubt that they don't not know or care about doing what Vienna needs. They would rather fight with the long time residents and business owners with petty back room dealing and nepotistic annointments (read Howard Springsteen) so that we can be assured we will get the same old corrupt machine for years to come.
Why not appoint one of the last people to run, like Deborah or Susan? I'll tell you why: they both are younger, brighter, full of new ideas that will better guide Vienna's required growth and development, but the most important reason Maud, Cole, Lovelace, Dellinger, Kelleher, Polychrones, and Seeman, have fought and even cheated to keep them out, is the simple fact that they don't want anyone with new ideas and independent thought they will not be able to control.
A matter of Control. Howard will simply be another puppet: he has shown that he is not afraid to exhibit a brown nose and he's not afraid of the smell of corruption and back room dealings, and when a person who works for the government is allowed to sit and make decisions that affect his duties to the County is not man enough to refuse this anointment, Vienna will simply get what it deserves: a continued trail of deception and abuse of power.
Vienna should wake up and smell the roses and refuse to accept even another second of this form of government, and demand better. We as tax payers should demand new leadership, new direction, and a new moral compass that will serve our interests and not the Oil Companies, Drug Stores, and Banks.
Post #2 Jack H:
I agree too, Thomas. I am troubled with what is going on in the world, with financial problems, both here and all around the world. And from what I can sense is, we are not doing enough to shelter ourselves from forces that would change our Town, Vienna, and all the things we take for granted. I have lived here for years, and when I see people speaking bad about our town, I get troubled. When I first started to view this website, I thought you were complaining about a bunch of sour grapes, and some posts, I have to admit, are slightly off base.But I can see there is some truth to some of the problems posted here. Why did the town do away with the 4th of July fireworks, for one. Could not better leadership have come up with some compromise, indeed, we have had them here for years without serious problems, and one night, things have changed overnight.
When I drive down Maple Avenue, and see miles of asphalt, and outdated use of real estate, and a bank or filling station at every corner, I am troubled that this town has no interest in development that serves us and not simply the commuters.
I can hardly afford to improve my house, I would like to add on an addition, but now, with falling home prices, I cannot afford to move elsewhere without taking a hit on what was supposed to be one of my best investments. So why does the town accept banks from what I understand brings relatively little tax dollars into our town when you compare the tax revenues that the town could use to lower the higher taxes they have to burden the families and homeowners to pay for the duplication of services we are already paying Fairfax County for?
Why? Has anyone on the council helped us? Why are we paying 4x's the going rate for water? Why do we pay for our own firestation, when my neighbor had a fire in his house, and Fairfax showed up about 9-10 minutes before Vienna, and when the Vienna fireman showed up, they appeared less professional and looking like they were litle kids when compared to the professionalism and efforts of the FAirfax County firemen. Why pay for both when we only need one?
What have they done to control the bad traffic we face on Maple Avenue, day after day?
Don't get me wrong, I like the parades and the small town charm, but from what I see, it's becoming more and more a parade for central America, and less for small town America.
We have higher crimes, 4x's the rape statistics when compared to Fairfax County, and what are we doing to stop it?
We at least need leaders who will bring real life solutions to our town, and not just sit for the glory of saying they won in the last election. Won what? What have they done to really help our town? We could still have parades without them, could we not?
well, anyway, I think Thomas is right, and I think we had some good leaders in years past, but for the present, I see a bunch of no nothings willing to sit and do nothing but show up at meetings, parades, and pretend they are helping our town, when in fcat, we could be doing better or just as well with Fairfax Co. at the helm.
Call me silly, but I dare someone to run against these people, and work hard to help Vienna, and not sit by and dream about yesterday!
Post #3 anne smith:
Jack H, This is what I keep saying here. Until we can get rid of the current failed leadership, all our complaining is a waste of time. Vienna has some serious problems & leadership is both unwilling and unable to address them. I also believe that the town might be better off disbanding & just being under county government. As you point out, most town services duplicate those provided by the county. Why does the town need an extra layer of government--especially such an incompetent one? Reston is an example of a place that is not a separate jurisdiction, yet it manages to provide all the quality-of-life "extras" that residents of vienna care so much about.
Post #4 Wyltn:
Unfortunately Reston does not read this blog and had recently been considering incorporating. I do not know what became of their plans. However, let's take Mclean as an example. Mclean has a Fairfax County Police Station, Community Center, Library, planning commission and all the other advantages we have in Vienna. They do not have the duplicate tax.
Post #5 Susan:
I was just in the City of Fairfax this morning. I had driven through it, but had not actually stopped and walked around. What an amazing job they did incorporating the new with the old. On one side of the street there are several old houses that are turned into shops, and on the other is the new development with shopping and outside eateries. Then one can walk safely to Main Street where it has still maintained its charm. Up the street there is still the Hotel which is a National Historic Landmark. It really demonstrates that when the City/Town has the ability to make their rules in zoning etc... what they can or can not do.Is a "Ghost Town" what this Town considers keeping Vienna preserved?
Post #6 Susan:
As you point out, most town services duplicate those provided by the county. Why does the town need an extra layer of government--especially such an incompetent one?POWER Anne POWER!
February 04, 2009
Magruders Update Comments (9)
Magruders posted today that the rumor that their lease is up is wrong:
I am one of the owners of Magruders. Whoever started this rumor should apologize to all of our employees and call me at 301-230-3000 ext 305 and tell me where they got this information. This is absolutly not true. Magruders has a number of years left on our lease and our store employees take great pride in operating a first class grocery store. The building maybe old but our store is not dirty. It is tough enough operating any business in today's envirnment but for someone to start such a damaging rumor is uncalled for. Gary Bortnick VP-COO
February 03, 2009
Town of Vienna Wins Historic District Case Comments (4)
A Judge on the circuit court level has ruled in favor of the Town of Vienna in regards to the historic district case. More to come.
December 30, 2008
Economic Development For Dummies Comments (1)
Can the Town of Vienna government be renamed to Town of Mental Rejects?
December 27, 2008
Historic Preservation in Vienna Comments (9)
December 23, 2008
"Historic" Demolition Today Comments (3)
One of Maud's so-called historic houses is being leveled on Walnut Lane right now. Nice preservation effort! The verdict? There never was any historic preservation effort in Vienna. It was a big political con. And for all of you historic nutbags in Vienna, how much money was wasted over the years by the government to prop up this nonsensical historic scheme? A ton. First the Moorefield house was toasted. Now this house on Walnut. What actually is "historic" in Vienna? The only thing we can think of? Maud herself.
September 23, 2008
Do Nothing Council? Not So Fast! Comments (4)
From the throw away papers comes this piece of special writing:
"A resident complained of "arrogant" bikers who ignore the rules of the road, including that of crossing public streets. Councilwoman Maude Robinson agreed with the resident that some bicyclists did present ongoing safety problems. To improve the safety of the crosswalk of the W & OD Trail on Church Street, near Freeman House, the council approved the request to omit or move parking spaces on Church Street. The last parking space closest to the crosswalk will be removed."
Way to go Maud! Nice job! We think your efforts here are just incredible. To think that you have had a hand in Vienna politics from the Civil War to today is just awesome.
April 21, 2008
Maud: "What Am I Doing Here?" Comments (10)
A picture from a big day for Mr. Volunteer Man:
Click on Picture for High Resolution
And of course an earlier not so big day for Mr. Volunteer Man.
April 20, 2008
Maple Avenue Dead Zone Comments (4)
Maple Avenue in Vienna is dead. No new buildings. No new shops. For lease signs on every other building. Some buildings and or lots are completely empty. You might be wondering: "Aren't we going to have a revenue shortfall requiring big tax increases?"
No and here is why...
The political machine in Vienna is corrupt, but not politically dumb. When times are good they always keep the revenue coming in and no one pays attention, but when things get bad they simply cut back the budget no problem. How do they so easily cut their budget back? Well, when most of the money is blown on patty cake parties at the Freeman Store and other assorted dimwit expenditures it's actually easy to cut back the budget and crow to the 500 seniors actually paying attention that you (the Town Council) worked hard to tighten the belt. Next the Sun Gazette and other local rags write obligatory a** kiss to Maud and then we repeat the cycle. So feel free to go to sleep, wake up 5 years from now and note zero progress.
April 08, 2008
Learning About Maudasaurus from Hannibal Comments (0)
A memorable Dr. Hannibal Lecter quote from 'Silence of the Lambs' :
"First principles, Clarice. Simplicity. Read Marcus Aurelius. Of each particular thing ask: what is it in itself? What is its nature? What does [she] do...?"
The only way to change Vienna is to have an honest conversation about the nature of Maud Robinson and Jane Seeman. To understand their nature, what they do and why, only then can their defeat be executed.
April 07, 2008
How to Write Copy for People Over 90 Who Have Never Turned on a PC Comments (8)
From the Town website comes some great copy:
"The Town of Vienna is providing free wireless Internet access at the Town Green located at Maple and Mill Streets,NE. This is a pilot project. The goals of the Town's Wi-Fi pilot project are to attract more customers to the downtown Vienna business area, encourage the use of this public park, and enable more citizens to access Town services online. Users are responsible to take measures to secure their devices and Internet communications. Hours of Wi-Fi operation will by the same as the park hours (parks are open dawn to dusk) throughout the year. Users can log-in using Vienna Gov't Sponsored Free WiFi for the SSID. SSID stands for "Service Set Identifier" and is a unique ID for naming a wireless network. All wireless devices attempting to communicate with each other must share the same SSID. If you have questions or comments about the Town Green Free WiFi, you can contact our I.T. Administrator: Craig Griffin Email: cgriffin@viennava.gov Phone: (703) 255-6364"
Fairly innocuous? Not really. Consider this line more carefully:
"The goals of the Town's Wi-Fi pilot project are to attract more customers to the downtown Vienna business area."
They should have just said:
"The goals of the Town's Wi-Fi pilot project are to say pointless things on the Town website that everyone knows are complete BS, but nonsensical statements make 90 year olds happy so we continue to say them."
The interesting thing about a corrupt and immoral government is that every last word uttered is a manipulative pile of barnyard waste.
April 01, 2008
Vienna Council Member Involved in Altercation Comments (3)
From the Sun Gazette (Brian Trompeter):
"The Vienna Town Council voted 6-1 to censure Maud Robinson over a recent fight on the Town Green between Robinson and Historic Vienna, Inc. President Laine Hyde. A local teacher called 911 and both women were separated by Vienna Police with only minor injuries. A Vienna Police spokesperson had no comment, but witnesses said they were troubled that a local elementary class had observed the altercation."
What really happened?
March 30, 2008
Penguin Feather: A Real Vienna History Covered Up By "Historic Vienna, Inc." Comments (12)
"I bet Maud got her high on at Penguin too."
Sure we know it is a broken record that Maudasaurus has been around for a long time, but she has been around long enough that it is worth observing her hypocritical behaviors over the years. Back in the day, back in the late 1970s there existed a record store in Vienna called "Penguin Feather". Well before Apple's iTunes, the internet and even CDs you had to buy vinyl records. Penguin Feather sold records, but that was not the only thing they sold. Penguin Feather's main business was the selling of drug paraphernalia. This was not some secret business, rather Penguin Feather sold pipes, bongs and any other device you could use to smoke pot or coke in the open in front of kids. That ladies and gentleman is the Vienna history supported and promoted by Maudasaurus, not this new found Freeman Store/Town Green fantasy she has found in her old age. In her prime, when she was in her 50s, Maud did nothing to stop Vienna kids from getting high. The fact that she is 85 now doesn't excuse her political behaviors then.
March 28, 2008
True Historicity Comments (4)
How out of touch is Maud Robinson with anyone under 20 in Vienna? Here are some events and happenings from 1939 when Maud was a teenager:
January 1, 1939 - The Hewlett-Packard Company is founded.March 13, 1939 - Hitler advises Jozef Tiso to declare Slovakia's independence in order to prevent its partition by Hungary and Poland.
April 1, 1939 - Spanish Civil War comes to an end when the last of the Republican forces surrendered.
May 2, 1939 - Major League Baseball's Lou Gehrig, the legendary Yankee first baseman known as "The Iron Horse", ends his 2130 consecutive games played streak after contracting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The record will stand for 56 years before Cal Ripken, Jr. plays 2131 consecutive games.
August 2, 1939 - Albert Einstein writes President Franklin Roosevelt about developing the Atomic Bomb November 15 - In Washington, DC, US President Franklin D. Roosevelt lays the cornerstone of the Jefferson Memorial. December 15: Gone with the Wind premieres. December 14, 1939 - League of Nations expels the USSR for attacking Finland.
Ongoing we had the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939), the Great Depression (1929-The Late 1930s) and World War II (1939-1945).
Why can't Maud be declared a historic structure? She is keen to declare everything else in Vienna historic. She has taken people's rights at her whim with no evidence of historical anything her entire career. However, the evidence says that she is the only verified historic structure in Vienna.
March 27, 2008
The Fun Never Stops Comments (6)
From the Sun Gazette:
Vienna officials will host a dedication ceremony for the Northside Park Connector Trail on Saturday, April 5 at 10 a.m. The connector consists of a 125-foot boardwalk-style trail, elevated in sections, and a 50-foot asphalt pathway connecting the W&OD Regional Trail and the Richard Black Bridge to the northeast quadrant of Vienna. In addition to the dedication ceremony, a tree will be planted near the trail, in commemoration of Arbor Day. Northside Park can be reached from Mill Street, N.E., or Glyndon Street, N.E. Parking will be available at the Northside Property Yard, 600 Mill St., N.E. For information, call Vienna Parks and Recreation Department director Cathy Salgado at (703) 255-6356, or e-mail csalgado@viennava.gov.
Following the dedication ceremony all 7 people in attendance will go to the Freeman Store to rest up after planting the big tree. Then they will share stories of Vienna as it was in the 1850s during Maud's youth.
"We have waited years for this dedication. We feel safe with Maud."
March 25, 2008
What Buildings Have Been Built Since 1980? Comments (11)
Another way to look the problem of run down and empty commercial space in Vienna: What buildings on Maple were built after 1980? Go down Maple Avenue from Nutley to East Street. Here is the initial list:
1. Whole Foods (retrofit of an old Lowes).
2. Starbucks, etc. (retrofit of an old Southern States).
3. Taco Bell.
4. Chevy Chase Bank
5. Wachovia Bank
6. Rite Aid
7. Anitas (new one).
What else? Is that it over the last 28 years?
March 24, 2008
Emtpy Stores? Comments (26)
We would like to inventory all empty stores on Maple Avenue and can use your help! Please add a comment and or address for each store vacant on Maple Avenue.
"As You Say Maud, 'F*** Vienna Businesses!'"
March 19, 2008
Who Is to Blame for the Vienna Police Station Waste of $? Comments (14)
From the Sun Gazette:
"The Vienna Police Headquarters building has proved problematic ever since it was built in the mid-1990s. Now, with the expanding need for heat-generating computer servers, town police need another heating-ventilation-and-air-conditioning (HVAC) system to keep the equipment functioning. The Vienna Town Council on March 17 awarded an up-to-$12,000 contract to Tri-Tek Engineering of Herndon to study which HVAC system would best meet the station's needs, now and in the future. Town police converted a former photography room into a computer-server area several years ago and now may use another room, which used to house photo-red-light camera servers, for the same purpose. The station's current HVAC system cannot provide the necessary cooler temperatures for the server room, and is not connected to the station's natural gas generator, which provides uninterrupted electricity if commercial power supplies fail, said Vienna Police Chief Robert Carlisle. Council member Edythe Kelleher questioned if the required HVAC equipment could not just be purchased for less than the study would cost. Vienna Town Manager John Schoeberlein said town officials estimate the police station will require about $30,000 worth of heating-and-cooling equipment for the station. Smaller, cheaper HVAC units likely will not meet the station's requirements, he said. Council member Laurie Cole said the station's ongoing travails underline the need for proper design and construction. “The life story of that building has been, ‘don't do anything on the cheap,'” she said.
So who was the Vienna politician who masterminded this building? Who was the Vienna politician who could have cared less about wasting money to build a bad structure in the early 1990s? That would be Charlie Robinson (Maud's husband). This boondoggle lays at his feet.
Note: John Schoeberlein was Town Manager for the planning of the current Police Station. And clearly he will be around to help waste money to fix the first mistake.
One Step Closer to the Nut Farm Comments (8)
From the Sun Gazette:
[The Town of Vienna] Narrowly approved the purchase of $1,500 worth of “Town of Vienna, Va.” decals that residents may display in the side or rear windows of their vehicles. Town officials still are working out the best way to distribute the 15,000 green-and-white decals, which are designed to promote town pride. Council member Michael Polychrones questioned why, during a tough budget year and the recent elimination of Vienna's auto-tax stickers, the council would spend taxpayer money for more decals. The motion passed by the closest of margins, a 4-3 vote. Council members Polychrones, Kelleher and Daniel Dellinger voted nay, while Mayor M. Jane Seeman and Council members Cole, George Lovelace and Maud Robinson voted in favor. “Civic pride overrules good judgment,” [Maud] Robinson said.
Former Vienna Mayor Jim Martinelli, Who Was Not Hinged to Reality, Was A Maud Supporter
March 17, 2008
Maud Gives Dick DeAngeles a Big Sloppy Historic Kiss Comments (2)
From the Town Council minutes in December 07:
Councilwoman Robinson spoke on remarks that had been made sometime ago by a citizen of the Town about Dick DeAngeles, who lived for many years on West Street; and who had performed meticulous research on all the dwellings on the hill, which comprise the Historic District. The remarks that had been made referred to Mr. DeAngeles as a “mere meteorologist with no credibility in the process he had performed for the Town of Vienna on his own time. Councilwoman Robinson further stated that Mr. & Mrs. DeAngeles had moved to Snow Hill, Maryland, which the Maryland Historical Trust has called the most historically intact Town in Maryland. Mr. DeAngeles spent endless hours developing material for a comprehensive walking tour, and is currently the Chairman, of the Preservation Commission, which has been charged with establishing the guidelines to protect the historic nature of the Town. Due to his efforts the Preservation Commission has received a grant of $15,000.00 from the Maryland Historical Trust to fund the cost of the project. Councilwoman Robinson stated that she felt his accomplishments in Maryland validate his competence and dedication which he had given to the Town of Vienna.
Dick DeAngeles was a loyal Maud machine member. He would do or say anything to help Maud prop up her phony historic district. Now ten years plus after living in Vienna Maud uses Town Council time to fawn over one of her former sock puppets. Nothing DeAngeles ever did regarding Vienna's farcical Windover Heights Historic District was certified by any authority. One day soon we can only hope that crazy old people lost in distant decades will not run Vienna.
Note: It should be noted that the individual (Sue Allard) who moved into Dick's former home in the Windover Heights Historic District once chained herself to a tree to support Maud. These really are sick people.
March 12, 2008
"That's Amore" Out of Business Comments (18)
We have a nice new road in front of where "That's Amore" restaurant used to be. Operative term - used to be. When you have moronic politicians leading the way, politicians who have spent the better part of their careers railing against success and money making (regardless as to whether that actually helps the whole community or not), when you have lazy, freeloading contractors who seem to be on perpetual bath room breaks and when time to completion is no object, is it really a surprise this happened? Wasn't it just last week the Vienna Town Council members lined up like retarded sock puppets in front of That's Amore and did a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new road? Our real fear is that when Maud goes she really won't go. Like her hero she will live on.
March 06, 2008
Public Corruption Comments (1)
From the papers:
[The Town Council voted to] renew the town's five-year lease with Historic Vienna Inc. to allow the non-profit group to operate and maintain the historic Freeman Store, the original Vienna Library building and the grounds at 131 Church St., N.E. The group will pay the town $1 in annual rent.
Said another way? Maud votes to allow her group of personal buddies (led by Laine Hyde) a free club house to play in. Is there any other local government that leases out millions of dollars of public assets for $1 a year with no outside competition? Is this behavior legal? When the history is written of Vienna politics Maud will go down as a dirty and corrupt public official.
March 02, 2008
Hey Maudasaurus What is Your Plan for This? Comments (3)
A new city is envisioned for Tysons and what is Vienna planning to do in response? Complain, whine and ultimately do nothing? Why are we expecting an 85 year old Maudasaurus with absolutely no experience in these matters to lead Vienna? If Maple Avenue is gridlock now, what happens in 5 years when Maud hits 90? Maud what is your solution? Connecticut Avenue's reversible lanes in DC sure offers ideas for solutions. Maud's strategy of not easing traffic in Vienna, hoping people would use different routes, has failed. Maybe Howard Springsteen Vienna's Weenie of the Year, the guy who sits on the Transportation Safety Commission, has some ideas?
Fannie Travis was part of the group that served the machine over the years. She was a member of Maud's Commercial Architectual Review Board. She was loyal.
March 01, 2008
The Snail Government Takes Action Comments (12)
From the Town website:
"At the Town Council's request, the Planning Commission is conducting an analysis of parking issues in the Church Street Pedestrian District (between Lawyers Rd and Dominion Rd). As part of this analysis, comments are being collected from Church Street Property Owners and Business Owners/Managers, as well as from the general public. Please see below to select the appropriate survey for your situation. Responses should be submitted by March 16."
Here is the survey. Look, if we were Seeman or Robinson this is exactly what we would do too. They have made their Council positions "for life". They don't have a clue how to run lead or even run a government, but "surveys" make them feel good.
NOTE: Don't miss Seeman's letter on the subject.
February 04, 2008
Power Lines Revisited Comments (3)
Why can't Vienna get its power lines on Maple Avenue underground? Stop one day and just look up. It is plain awful what hangs up and down our main street.
January 18, 2008
The Good News and Bad News Comments (4)
Good news? Maud is not going to run again in 09. Bad news? She will resign right before she has to declare her intentions and will then appoint a loyal machine member (read: loser) to do her bidding for her. What a system Vienna!
While most Vienna citizens look to past leaders such as Thomas Jefferson and John Kennedy for inspiration, Maud has always had a penchant for the "dictator for life" politics of African strongmen.
January 11, 2008
Maud, You and the DC Government are Kissing Cousins Comments (2)
While it might not be perfectly analogous, the article below is exactly how jack*** Maud (yes, she deserves to be called that) behaves with her Vienna Historic District:
Human Dignity Also Needs to Be PreservedBy Marc Fisher
Thursday, January 10, 2008; B01For more than a year, Richard Lucas has been trying to win permission to cut through his elderly, infirm parents' front porch so they can get from their living quarters onto the street without climbing stairs. And for more than a year, the D.C. historic preservation authorities have found reasons to say no to a ramp.
After all, as the city's architectural historian put it, "repeating porches of similar height and depth create a notable pattern and rhythm" along the Lucas family's Mount Pleasant street, and the District wouldn't want to let that rhythm be broken just to accommodate a couple of old folks who have lived in their house for 47 years.
Again and again, Lucas tried to satisfy the city's preservation police, paying his architect to rework plans for a ramp to minimize its impact on the supposedly pristine look of the 1930s rowhouses on Walbridge Place NW. But each time Lucas tried, the city came up with more objections. And so, at ages 90 and 87, Cornelius and Merry Lucas remain stuck in their basement rooms, able to come and go only through a back door that opens onto an alleyway.
"Again and again, we've tried to please them, but they're intransigent," says Richard Lucas, who has had to take a large chunk of the money he'd set aside for the ramp and waste it on architects and lawyers. "Instead of a ramp, they wanted us to put in a lift, and we rewrote the plans to do that, and then they weren't satisfied with the angle of the lift. So we changed that, and then that wasn't good enough. Suddenly, it was about wheelchair maneuverability."
Now, on the eve of a hearing before an administrative law judge who handles appeals from the historic preservation board, the District is suddenly interested in settling the Lucas case. Why? Well, let's visit with Kim Kendrick, the nation's top fair-housing official, who read my column about the Lucases a year ago and could hardly believe what she was reading.
"I read your column and said, 'Something is wrong here, and we've got to do something,' " says Kendrick, the assistant secretary for fair housing in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. So she wrote to the District's preservation officials. "Generally in matters like this, people respond with answers promptly. Not the District. In this case, we had to issue subpoenas."
What Kendrick eventually learned disturbed her even more. "I was real concerned when I heard one of the District officials say that they don't have to follow the Fair Housing Act," she says. "One in five persons in this country are disabled, and in a case like this, federal law protecting the disabled applies."
Kendrick visited the Lucas house to see for herself and concluded that "it's just not a good situation for them. For this couple to have to go to the back to get out of their house and to have to live in the bottom level like that is just not the proper accommodation."
A few weeks ago, HUD filed a complaint against the D.C. government, alleging that by denying the Lucases permission to install a ramp, the city is violating anti-discrimination laws. "I hope they would get off the position that historic preservation trumps fair housing or any law that protects the disabled," Kendrick says.
D.C. preservation chief David Maloney said he was prohibited from speaking about the case because of ongoing negotiations. He referred me to city spokesman Sean Madigan, who also declined to comment. Previously, city officials have argued that the Lucases have sufficient access to their house through the alley and that Mount Pleasant, which the city has declared a historic district, needs to preserve the elegant look of the granite retaining wall along the fronts of Walbridge Place rowhouses.
If the city doesn't back down, Kendrick says, the feds will refer the case to the Justice Department for possible prosecution. That, and a year of pressure from a team of lawyers who took on the Lucas case without charge after my column appeared last year, seems to be having an effect. Last week, the D.C. attorney general's office reached out to the Lucases' lawyers seeking settlement talks, which are now underway.
"We've been trying for a year to compromise with them," says Dominic Perella, a lawyer at Hogan and Hartson who has been working on behalf of the Lucases. "We were prepared to sue the city" before the latest negotiations began.
"The whole point of this was so that my parents could enjoy the neighbors and the front of their house and get a little light," Richard Lucas says. "Now they're in declining health and the months just keep going by as the city delays and delays."
"This is not right," Kendrick says. "Preservation does not trump fair housing. The city must follow federal law."
January 10, 2008
Is There Any Plan for Anything in Vienna in 2008? Comments (17)
Question: is there any plan to substantially improve or create anything in Vienna by our government in 2008?
January 09, 2008
What's Next Maud, Prohibition? Comments (1)
From the Sun Gazette comes a story titled "Vienna's Oktoberfest May Make Comeback" by Maud's boy Brian Trompeter:
After a 19-year break, Oktoberfest may be returning to Vienna. The Town of Vienna and the Vienna-Tysons Regional Chamber of Commerce have tentatively agreed to sponsor an Oktoberfest/Taste of the Town event on Oct. 4. The event would be a fitting finale for summer activities at the Town Green, said Tom Hanton, the chamber's vice president for membership.
Finale for Town Green summer activities? There is NOTHING going on at the Town Green, but now we have public officials outside of Town Council pretending that this boondoggle waste of money is accepted and useful? The Trompeter/Maud propaganda continues:
There would be live entertainment and activities, both designed for a younger audience, on the Town Green. A separate stage on Church Street would cater to an older crowd. Beer would be served from a closed-in area on nearby private property, as alcohol is verboten on the Town Green.
"Verboten"? It's almost as if Maud now writes the articles for Trompeter! And alcohol at the Town Green is verboten why? The article makes it sound like we citizens all know that alcohol is banned there for special events and that we all know why and agree with it. What's really odd about the no alcohol at special events bit? We have seen Town Green and historic nutbag Laine Hyde's crew have fun with alcohol, so why is it banned at the Town Green?
But it gets better. Here are some of the concerns of Council members about having Oktoberfest:
Council member Laurie Cole said chamber officials need to make sure their event does not interfere with the Vienna Optimist Club's Walk for Growing Hope, which likely will take place on the same day near that location.
Does anyone know what the "Walk for Growing Hope" is? Better yet, Maud foot soldier George Lovelace outlines his concerns:
Council member George Lovelace said organizers should be prepared for the onslaught of out-of-town visitors that Oktoberfest events often bring.
Good point George! Any economic development, any outside money coming into Vienna would be really dumb. Is this all a dream? Or do these nitwits actually run a government?
December 30, 2007
PARADE Magazine Chimes In on Senator Age Issues Comments (7)
Should there be an age limit for Senators?
91% YES
"Most of corporate America requires retirement by age 70. The Senate should too. Some Senators are there for decades, and it's impossible for anyone who's in office for that long to relate to the real world."
-Jim Thomas, Bonita Springs, Fla.
"We should have age and term restrictions. Senators should be held to two terms, just like the President. This would also help eliminate pork, since Senators would not be able to develop the power to request it."
-R.V., Carson City, Nev.
9% NO
""I oppose age or term limits. If the voters choose to elect an older politician, we should follow their will. Only they can decide if a person is unfit for office."
-William Doyle, Clark, N.J.
"I believe that society works best when the energy and idealism of youth pairs with the experience and wisdom of age. Someday, I hope, our society will get over its fear and its denial of aging."
-Sen. Robert Byrd (D., W.Va.), 90, longest-serving Senator in U.S. history
December 28, 2007
Red Lips? Not in Our Town Maud! Comments (9)
Recently the Town of Vienna lead by Maudasaurus tore down the one and only structure in the Town that was certified "historic". Even though the structure is GONE, Maud the fraud recently organized a ceremony at the location where the building used to stand to "celebrate" the building's memory (we could not make this up). Of course, Maud was her usual happy-go-lucky self:
Long after you are gone Maud this website will serve as the true testament to your abuse of power and idiotic public policy.
Maud Protects Us from Robots Comments (2)
These two surveys for senior citizens were recently posted in the Vienna Town newsletter:
Ever see the commercial parody from Saturday Night Live about robots attacking old people? Vienna seems to base public policy on similar fears:
Is Vienna really headed toward Seinfeld's Del Boca Vista?
December 15, 2007
Maud's Legacy Comments (15)
Vienna - Oakton
Source: Fairfax County Times
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11 2007
On Dec. 8, at approximately 12:20 a.m., officers from the Town of Vienna Police Department responded to the Wolftrap Motel on Maple Avenue in Vienna, to arrest three subjects alleged to be transporting a large quantity of marijuana. The arrest was the result of an ongoing investigation conducted by the Vienna Police. The officers had been conducting surveillance for several weeks and developed leads on suspects believed to be involved in the drug trade, police said. At the motel, Vienna police located three suspects. During their interaction with the three men, officers observed what they knew to be a "duty gun belt," similar to the ones worn by law enforcement, in the trunk of their vehicle. The holster was empty and the officers inquired as to the whereabouts of the weapon, police said. The officers were informed by the suspects that a backpack in their possession contained a large bag of marijuana. A further search of the subject's vehicle revealed another large bag of suspected marijuana. In addition to the marijuana, a large amount of cash was also discovered in the men's possession, police said. The three subjects were transported to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center and warrants were secured for possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute. Each individual is being held on a $10,000 bond, police said. Arrested were William Hemming, 21, of Binghamton, N.Y.; Nathan Petersen, 22, of Fairfax; and Michael Barry, 23, of Manassas.
December 13, 2007
Vienna Fireworks, Mother Maud and the Logic of a Nut Comments (21)
Vienna Mommy writes:
Hey, Maud, my kids might like a laser show. Your fireworks scare them. Now, they scare me, too.
Waters Field fireworks endangered By Monty Tayloe Source: Fairfax County Times TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11 2007 At Monday's work session, the Vienna Town Council considered the subject of laser shows."The kids like this?" said a skeptical Maude Robinson, watching a promotional video from a laser show company.
After this summer's July 4 fireworks malfunction, which resulted in injuries to 11 people, the council has to consider alternative options to its heretofore traditional fireworks display at Waters Field.
It seems very likely that last summer's unfortunate shoot was Waters Field's last. Since July 4, Fairfax County Fire Department Battalion Chief Keith Johnson has doubled the required crowd distance from certain kinds of fireworks, and regulations are likely to get tougher when lawmakers weigh in. According to Johnson, Waters Field was one of the "tightest shoots in the county."
Using plastic cutouts and a map, Parks and Recreation Director Cathy Salgado demonstrated for the council that accommodating the new required distances and finding room for a crowd of spectators are close to impossible with the large-grade fireworks the town traditionally uses.
Meanwhile, smaller mortars would not provide a sufficient display. Caught between a rock and a hard place, the Town has to look elsewhere.
"I think people will understand why we have to look at other things," Councilwoman Laurie Cole said.
The council has examined other options, including holding the shoot at Nottoway Park or Westwood Country Club. However, Nottoway Park doesn't have the proper entrances to accommodate the thousands of people who show up at Waters Field every year and it technically isn't in Vienna.
Westwood has a great deal of space and already holds its own fireworks display, but recently turned the Town down.
"You wouldn't believe what we offered and they said no," said Town Administrator John Schoberlein.
In a letter to the Town Council, Westwood's board said it was concerned about the issues associated with accommodating such a large number of people.
According Salgado, a large-scale laser show would cost about $15,000, which she says is comparable to what the Town would pay for fireworks this year. According to Salgado, a laser show could be customized to include town landmarks and symbols and have a patriotic theme.
Along with the laser show, the Town is considering smaller "ground effects fireworks."
Meanwhile, Schoberlein believes the council may be able to hold a fireworks display at Westwood sometime in the future.
"For the following year, we could put together a really good proposal for them. ... We can ask every year if we want," Schoberlein said.
December 03, 2007
Maud Wants Christmas Red Banned Comments (3)
Tonight at the annual Church Street stroll Jane and Maud took credit for Christmas. We are one lucky Town to have such accomplished leaders! They also proposed to eliminate all use of the color red during the month of December. Maud's nutty hatred toward the color red reminds us of the famous Joan Crawford "Mommie Dearest" scene where she screams and rails against wire hangers while she beats her daughter senseless.
"Maud, no more red!!!"
November 30, 2007
How About a Knife in Your Side with Your Coffee Ma'am? Comments (15)
Vienna Mommy writes:
Let me get this straight - two knife attacks that we know about. Cedar Lane is out of control. This simply has NEVER, EVER been common practice in Vienna. I refuse to believe we should tolerate this any longer.
Man Attacked with Knife at Shopping Center in Vienna by BRIAN TROMPETER Tuesday, November 27, 2007A Vienna man suffered knife wounds after he was attacked by a group of men on Nov. 21 at the Cedar Lane Shopping Center in southeast Vienna, Vienna police said.
The victim was walking toward Young's Market in the shopping center at around 9:42 p.m. when he heard someone yell “Stop” in Spanish slang terms, police said.
The victim allegedly was grabbed by two Hispanic males on the arms. A third Hispanic male suspect, wielding a knife, approached the victim from the front, police said.
The third suspect then began slashing the victim across his stomach, causing a non-life-threatening laceration, authorities said. The victim attempted to grab the knife and was cut across his hand, police said.
The victim was able to free himself from the three subjects and run away towards Park Street. The assailants chased the victim, but were unable to catch him, police said.
Fairfax County Police resources were called in to assist Vienna police in the search for the subjects. Officers were unable to locate the assailants using K-9 and other methods. The suspects are described as Hispanic males, one of them having a shaved head.
Police ask anyone with information related to this case to contact Detective Scott Leroux at (703) 255-6332 or sleroux@viennava.gov.
Malicious wounding
Location: Shopping center, 200 block Cedar Lane, S.E.
Date/Time: 3:10am, October 27Details: A man reported being approached outside the shopping center by two men, one of whom cut his hand with a knife. The victim fled to a nearby business from where the police were called. The suspect with the knife is described as a Hispanic male, 5'10" tall, 170 lbs., medium length hair, no facial hair. The other suspect is described as a Hispanic male, wearing blue jeans and a blue shirt.
Fairfax County
Source: Fairfax County Times
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 5 2007Around 8:53 p.m., PFC Dean Bailey of the Vienna Police Department stopped a 1997 Toyota Corolla in the 200 block of Maple Avenue SE for failing to use headlights. According to the Vienna Police Department, PFC Bailey determined that the driver, Walter Martinez, was wanted in connection with his alleged involvement in a robbery and malicious wounding at the Cedar Lane Shopping Center [For reference the location in question] in June. In the earlier incident, a security guard at the shopping center observed three men attempting to break into an automobile. One of them was armed with a knife, police said. When police responded, they located an injured robbery victim. A police statement about the June incident described Martinez as a known member of [a local gang]. Additionally, Martinez had two warrants on file for failing to appear at court hearings in Fairfax County. Bailey arrested Martinez and transported him to the Fairfax County Adult Detention Center where he is currently being held without bond. Jose Javier Ayala, also connected with the June incident at the Cedar Lane shopping center, remains at large.
November 24, 2007
How to Fix Cedar Lane Area Problems Comments (40)
Vienna Woods do you want your problems fixed? Then listen to the Vienna Police:
Overcrowding, said Sheeran, is a zoning issue, and independent of the gang issue. "We understand that the Vienna Woods area is concerned about changes in their neighborhood," said Sheeran.
If Maud and the rest of the Vienna Town Council do nothings wanted to fix this problem permanently, they could. They could rezone the entire apartment complex to give the apartment owner an incentive to do something new. The owner could literally be "forced" to build new condos at a higher price point and immediately "fix" the issues in that area of Vienna with economic development. Why will this not happen? For the same reason nothing else happens in Vienna that makes logical sense. We have an 85 year old nut named Maudasaurus running the show supported by a few hundred other 85 year old nuts who leave their house once a year to vote. Sorry no need to sugar coat this sad state of affairs by pretending the situation is something else.
Solution? All of the residents of Vienna Woods propose to the Vienna Town Council to have the apartments rezoned. A petition drive would have to be considered by the Town Council by law. Then you could at least see Maud rationalize in public why a rezoning would be bad and why sticking with the current state of affairs is good. Come on Vienna Woods residents, here is your solution.
"Rezone Cedar Lane Apartments? NO! I Will Patrol! Everyone Is Scared of Me."
November 21, 2007
Let Maud Run Your Bath Comments (5)
"Vienna Mommy" contributes:
More personalized services?! Does Mad Maud come over and run my bath water each night? Hardly. Just another 'control' issue for the town.
Vienna Officials Want Better Deal on Water, Sewer Services by BRIAN TROMPETER November 20, 2007Vienna officials expressed interest in obtaining cheaper water-and-sewer services from Fairfax County, but were uneasy at the timetable and potential concessions required under a plan proposed by county officials at the Vienna Town Council's Nov. 12 work session.
Vienna officials for years have noticed the discrepancy between the cost of water obtained from the city of Falls Church and water from Fairfax Water. The town has raised water-and-sewer fees five times in recent years - including an average $59.28 boost during this budget cycle - to meet increasing costs.
The current 25-year water-and-sewer agreement with Vienna expires on March 31, 2008, and county officials said they hoped town officials would indicate by the end of this year whether they were interested in switching service providers.
“We think we're giving you the best agreement now,” said Philip Allin, board chairman of Fairfax Water.
This rushed timetable, made worse by the presentation's postponement from a work session in September, did not please Vienna officials.
“To say we have a month and a half to make a decision is just out of the question,” said Vienna Town Manager John Schoeberlein.
Switching water-and-sewer service is not like picking out a new cable-television or Internet provider. Up to $2.5 million worth of connections would have to be made over a six-to-18-month period, if the county's proposal were accepted.
If the town joined Fairfax County's system, it would transfer an undetermined number of employees from the Vienna Public Works Department's Water and Sewer Division to the county. Any employee transfer would have to give workers the same or better retirement benefits than they currently receive from the town, Vienna officials said.
The town's current water-and-sewer customers would be transferred to Fairfax Water and Fairfax County Wastewater, and those agencies would handle all new customers directly. The agencies also would bill those customers and assume all regulatory responsibilities.
Fairfax County would take over ownership and maintenance of the town's water-and-sewer facilities, assume the town's outstanding $1.77 million waste-water-treatment capacity debt and be responsible for $24 million worth of sewer-line rehabilitations during the next two decades.
The town would give Fairfax County its 820,000-gallons-per-day unused treatment capacity - something Vienna officials say is worth quite a bit of money. Vienna also would remain responsible for $1,410,000 worth of outstanding general-obligation bonds for water-and-sewer projects.
The town's water rates would be frozen from 2008 to 2020 until they equalized with Fairfax County's charges, then rise at the same rate as the county's after 2020.
Vienna's sewer rates would rise at the same rate as the county's from 2008 to 2014, be frozen from 2014 to 2020 and equalize with the county's charges after 2020.
Fairfax Water is supplied by two plants. Its Corbalis Water Treatment Plant, located on the Potomac River, handles about 150 million gallons per day, is currently bringing its capacity up to 225 million gallons per day and ultimately may be expanded to treat 300 million gallons per day, officials said.
The utility's Griffith Water Treatment Plant, located on the Occoquan River, began operating in May 2006. It has a capacity of 120 million gallons per day and may be expanded to 160 million gallons per day in the future.
Fairfax Water officials said the utility tries to make its facilities blend into neighborhoods. Its pumping station on Backlick Road, for example, looks like a brick colonial-style house, while its Tysons Corner pumping station has public tennis and basketball courts on the roof.
Fairfax County operates 3,367 miles' worth of water pipelines and 3,330 miles' worth of sanitary-sewer lines. Smaller systems, such as Vienna's, are cost-prohibitive to operate in the long run, said Steven Edgemon, deputy general manager of Fairfax Water.
Fairfax Water is only one of two utilities among 55,000 nationwide to hold coveted AAA ratings from all three major bond companies, and is renowned for its state-of-the-art equipment and methods.
“We have a stellar record of performance,” Edgemon said.
Schoeberlein said it is unlikely Falls Church officials would make a similar offer to take over Vienna's water-and-sewer facilities, but they may decide to offer the town a better wholesale water rate.
Council member Maud Robinson said she would have to consider Fairfax County's proposal carefully because the town prides itself on providing separate, more personal services for its residents.
Council member George Lovelace said the town needs to shore up its water-and-sewer services for the coming decades, but must negotiate carefully to best serve town residents.
“We don't want to give away the farm,” he said.
November 05, 2007
Keeping the Machine Oiled: Robinson and Cole Pour in Some Grease Comments (16)
From the Sun Gazette:
Legislators also should resist efforts to force towns to hold local elections in November, said Council member Maud Robinson.
No surprise that Maud wants her machine run Spring election to continue. What is her argument for that? Well, she doesn't say. Also from the Sun Gazette:
Council members also reviewed a proposal by Finance Director Phil Grant to let residents pay for more town services by credit card. Grant proposed the town use Arlington-based Govolution, which handles Fairfax County's credit-card processing. The town charges convenience fees for online payments of water bills, traffic tickets, meter deposits and real estate taxes, but under the new proposal would have absorbed most fees for credit-card payments made over-the-counter at town facilities. But the Town Council opposed having the town absorb credit-card fees. Subsidizing an estimated $8,000 annually in credit-card charges “could pay for two speed humps,” said Council member Laurie Cole.
Cole worries about $8000, but spends $5+ million on a "Town Green" that no one uses. Laurie do you think no one sees the hypocrisy? Keeping the Town run like Mayberry is a clear part of keeping the machine running smooth. Transparency and ease of use? Not when you have ding dongs like Robinson and Cole running the show.
October 27, 2007
Former Vienna Town Council Member Dies; Maud Opines Comments (5)
From the papers:
“Vince was the true soul of this town,” said Vienna Town Council member Maud Robinson. “He was the soul of integrity. He was a good family man. He had something that all the college degrees in the world can't give you: instinctive intelligence and common sense.”
October 20, 2007
Traffic Up, Freeman Store Open, Town Green Empty Comments (5)
The traffic in Vienna is clearly some of the worst in Northern Virginia. To make things worse our Town Council members have conspired with the State to produce two of the most inefficient and incompetent road projects ever - Beulah Road and Branch Avenue. But guess what? The Freeman store is open and empty as is the Town Green. Maud's priorities are not the priorities of the average citizen. Does anyone have the guts to call her out except this site?
October 18, 2007
Beulah Road Disaster Is in Your Lap Maudasaurus Comments (14)
From a resident:
The Beulah Road Construction has turned to nightmare for Vienna residents especially residents live along the section of construction. The contractors VDOT authorized have not exercised care or respects to not to encroach the property right of the residents involve on the path of construction.There are several incidents that contractors used drive ways or private properties to be the staging area of their equipments and caused some drive way damaged after their equipments were removed. Residents spoke to on site manger of Martin and Gass to express the concerns of these property damages and the contractor has yet to dispatch any personal to fix the problem.
There was another incident around 9:30 PM on October 17, 2007 when the utility company was trying to work on the water utility. The utility company worker placed some lighting device in the middle of one resident’s drive way. When the resident requested the utility company to temporarily remove the lighting device so that she can pull into the drive way the utility company worker not only refused to do so and she started cursing, swearing and threatening the resident about the utility company’s right to take over the drive way when they’re working on the project. The utility worker started walking toward the garage and taking pictures of the resident and the house. When this worker was asked to leave the private property she not only refused to do so and she continued to occupy the drive way and swear to the resident.
From all these incidents it’s showing the miss-management of VDOT and lack of oversight from town of Vienna has allowed contractors and associated working groups to ignore resident’s legal rights and quite enjoyment of their properties. And phone calls made to VDOT management posted on VDOT web site were never returned by any VDOT officials. It’s yet to be determined if VDOT’s contractors have broken any Virginia law by allowing their workers to trespass private properties.
Like many bloggers mentioned it should not take one year to construct this 0.8 mile of two-lane road. The lack of planning and mismanagement of Town of Vienna and VDOT have caused properties residents along the way suffer serious noise, dust, property trespassing and harassment of un-trained workers.
Hey guess what? Maud is 85 (not the 80 or 81 she lies about in the press) and doesn't give a sh**. Until people stop electing this whacked out and incompetent crackpot we will get more of the same! And Mayor Boob, well she is right there too!
"Maud is my hero!"
October 05, 2007
Would Maud Let this Happen Next to Her House? Comments (5)
A resident of DeSale Street sent some pictures in. People will have different views as to what they mean, but it is safe to say Maud would not let this take place in front of her house:
October 04, 2007
Vienna Town Council Gives Middle Finger to Drought Comments (16)
From Vienna Mommy:
Governor Kaine wants our state to be declared a disaster but Mad Maud and Mayor Boob are still running their leaky Town Green fountain and watering the flowers at Sarah Mercer park (as witnessed at 12:30pm today). Shouldn't our elected VIENNA officials at least act like they care or even watch the evening news?Kaine Asks For Statewide Disaster Declaration
October 2, 2007
nbc4.comRICHMOND, Va. -- Gov. Tim Kaine is asking the United States Department of Agriculture to declare Virginia a statewide disaster area. The request follows reductions in farm production caused by drought and high temperatures. Kaine's office said that the majority of Virginia's localities have already requested federal assistance. In Loudoun County, the Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to grant the Sanitation Authority's request and declare a water shortage emergency, imposing mandatory water restrictions, News4's Tracee Wilkins reported. Residents are asked to limit water use to no more than 75 gallons of water per person per day. Residents are also required to use only 3-gallon water containers to water lawns and wash cars. Restaurants will serve water only when requested, and ornamental fountains would have to be turned off. Failure to follow the ordinance could result in a $500 fine. Those living in Stafford County are already under water restrictions and more could be on the way. The original restrictions were put into effect a couple of weeks ago and were aimed at getting people to cut back on watering their lawn, but without any significant rainfall since then, the water level in the county's two main water supplies has continued to drop. Officials said if the current trend continues, Stafford could run out of water in four months. Because agriculture statewide has been impacted by the drought, Kaine and agriculture officials decided a statewide designation is needed. The designation would make low-interest loans and other relief available to farmers. Kaine said Virginia has never sought a statewide drought disaster designation before.
October 01, 2007
Jane Seeman and Maud Robinson Support Chap Peterson or Jeannemarie Devolites-Davis? Comments (7)
Jane Seeman and Maud Robinson support who? Neither of these long time political dinosaurs have signs in their front yard for either Chap Peterson or Jeannemarie Devolites-Davis. Are Vienna's machine operators blowing in the wind?
September 15, 2007
Dennis Adams: The Usual "Half the Story" Comments (6)
From the Sun Gazette comes a brief bit from Dennis Adams. He is the leading advocate against the Berry Street condos:
"...Dennis Adams, who lives at 210 East St., S.E., said the parking lots behind commercial buildings occupied by SunTrust Bank, Anita's “New Mexico-Style” Mexican Food and Karin's Florist have served as a transitional area since 1963."
What Adams failed to mention is that the current owner of by SunTrust Bank, Anita's “New Mexico-Style” Mexican Food and Karin's Florist can build a new and expanded commercial building incorporating the so called "transitional area" (which Dennis failed to mention is zoned commercial). So where does his argument go then? Forget the specifics of this case, like in the historic district, it's not uncommon for older, politically active Vienna residents to show up and say anything to get their way. As long as disingenuous arguments are laid out, Berry Street or wherever, this site will exist to expose hypocrites like Dennis Adams.
September 05, 2007
Potential Stroke Inducing News for Vienna Dinosaurs Comments (4)
Oh No! Egads! Say it isn't true! Help!
Maud ain't going to like the new owners (PDF) of the Wolf Trap Motel and Tequila Grande. She of course would be happier if they built an empty parking lot like the one she forced Magruders to build next to her home.
September 02, 2007
Old Ladies Run "Posh" Out Comments (41)
Let's be blunt. No need to sugar coat it. No need to keep pretending. Maud Robinson and Jane Seeman are ignorant old ladies hell bent on destroying Vienna.
Case in point: Posh.
Posh is going. You know, the long time gift shop on Church Street in the old bank - gone. Run out of Town by Maud, Jane and their idiotic zoning code. The Mayor refuses to meet with the owners because she is too busy hanging out at the Red Hunter blog. What property will these two dimwits condemn next?
To those people in Vienna with a pulse who vote, the time to pay attention is now. Do we really have to let two stubborn, angry and ignorant old ladies ruin Vienna? And please, will the sycophant children of Town management come online (yet again) and make some posts about how wonderful their parents are?
August 30, 2007
Lighting Dead Trees is a Skill Maud Learned in New England Comments (3)
Right now at 2pm in the afternoon, on an extremely sunny and hot day, the Town of Vienna has the lights on at the base of all of the dead trees at the Town Green. Do the dead trees really need to be lit right now? Go Maudasaurus! Keep wasting money!
August 29, 2007
Town Green Dry Today Comments (2)
Today was a 'dry fountain' day at the Town Green. Can any of the Maudites lurking here explain why the fountain's water is on some days and off on other days? Nothing too controversial on a late summer day, just a simple question looking for an answer.
August 24, 2007
Deep Thoughts from Mother Maud Comments (7)
From the Sun Gazette comes...a day in the life of the crazy people who govern our little Town:
The Town Council awarded purchase orders to buy $30,214 worth of equipment from Dell Computer and $12,000 worth of Microsoft software licenses from PC Mall Gov. Council member Maud Robinson said she is resigned to high computer expenses. “I have come to accept the fact that keeping all this high-tech stuff running is more than the proverbial cost of a yacht,” she said. “We've got the techs. It's going to be money, money, money. That's the way it goes. I've never seen so much built-in obsolescence.”
Vienna...you voted for that. And you wonder why we have no sidewalks, streets not maintained and Maple Avenue as one of the biggest traffic jams in Fairfax County...
In Her Younger Years Maud Railed Against the Horse and Buggy.
Maud ALWAYS Hates New Technology, But LOVES MONEY!
August 20, 2007
Town Website Comments (13)
From the Connection:
A jump in municipal efficiency and flexibility is expected in the coming months as the Town of Vienna has nearly arrived at full employment, filling some long-standing vacancies with the assistance of salary adjustments and a Web site overhaul, according to staff members. The results of the hiring push are some of the first benefits of the increased salary rates approved in June in this year’s budget, according to Nancy McMahon, director of administrative services for the Town of Vienna. That budget included a six percent increase to average resident real estate tax bills, and approximately $750,000 in increased spending for staff salaries and benefits, according to budget figures.
The Town of Vienna is successfully hiring more people by spending more money for THIS website? The Town website, the leaky fountain, the missing sidewalks, Mother Maud...Is it possible that Vienna is not really run by wasteful bureaucrats and power hungry politicians?
August 19, 2007
The Town Green Just Keeps Leaking Comments (5)
The Town Green leaks away nonstop onto the sidewalk. Last we checked water was not free. So how much is this irresponsible and purposeful waste of water costing Vienna? Is Maud paying for it with her idle millions?
Note: Why are the flags at the Town Green half-mast on some days and not others? Is this flag silliness as disrespectful as it appears to be?
August 16, 2007
A Small Issue Indicative of a Larger Problem Comments (5)
Can anyone explain why the Town of Vienna in the course of building the Town Green, which required new curb and gutter along Mill Street, did not add a sidewalk along the entire block? How did they miss putting in a sidewalk?
August 08, 2007
Town Green Water Leak Update Comments (38)
It appears Maud has turned off the leaky fountain. When the construction workers show up to start fixing the fountain, drop us a line.
Maud Sprayed Some of This & Boom No More Water!
August 04, 2007
The Town Green in All Its Glory (Goo) Comments (10)
Some pictures of the Town Green in all its glory: no people, dead trees galore, water problems, a busted fountain, mildewed sidewalks and flags at half mast (why is that by the way?). Nothing like spending a little money.
NOTE: Northern Virginia is in the middle of a severe drought, but the Town Green can grow algae? You bet!
"What's Growing at the Town Green?"
August 01, 2007
Dead Trees at the Town Green Comments (43)
"Flags at Half Mast for Dead Trees!"
Now that it appears all of the new Town Green trees closest to Maple Avenue are dead, will we be asking HUD to divert MORE money from assorted minority housing programs because we could not either plant the first round of trees properly or water them? We understand that to say something like this is "negative" to some, but incompetence needs to be pointed out.
July 30, 2007
Weichert Sign Next to Town Green Causes Maudites to Stroke Out Comments (10)
Apparently several Maudites are up in arms over the new yellow Weichert sign on the building at the corner of Maple Avenue and Mill Street. The sign is on the side of the building facing the Town Green. Why are they are upset? The ordinance and the board (ARB) that granted approval for the sign were both conceived by the Maud and Charlie Robinson team to make Vienna look better (some success eh?). The circular nature of Vienna politics is something to behold isn't it? Dumb and dumber!
July 04, 2007
Live in the Historic District? Your Rights Go Away Comments (16)
Maud: "I have spent 50 years fooling people!"
The 4th of July is all about freedom and independence. There can be no better day to make a point about a government run amok than today. And little ole Vienna, Virginia in 2007 has a government that has crossed the line. An example? Recently, a Maud poster here named "EVS" wrote the following:
"[You] pump up your cause by claiming your Constitutional rights have been so egregiously violated. Seems more to me that you want out of what amounts to a homeowners association gone bad and your pissed because the ARB asked you to reveal your fence color? What's the deal with those lawsuits anyway? It's been years...and why not leave it to the courts....However, aren’t a citizen’s property rights subject to the State’s and/or municipality’s power and authority? In this case the Town’s authority to “preserve” that area. As part of its Historic District, the Town incorporated a quasi-judicial mechanism via the ARB, a set of codes, etc. that must be followed when determining whether to allow alteration, removal, etc. of homes in the district. There are those who would say that when you bought into the district you bought into those codes and so-called “arbitrary” rules and in some ways signed away your Constitutional rights. Also, still don’t understand how you didn’t look at the code or didn't notice the flaws BEFORE you moved into the district. Granted you might have been hard pressed to find a disclosure like, "Warning - when you buy a home in the Historic District, you are agreeing to give up your Constitutional Rights".
There you go tax payers of Vienna. That is the MORONIC logic in which the Town Council is spending tax dollars to defend their self-acknowledged defective historic district. They know they are wrong, they know the district is wrong, but they spend the tax money to show their power and mete out punishment to residents of Vienna who dare to assert their rights. But forget our rhetoric, look at the facts. Consider that on May 19, 1998 the then Town Attorney sent a memo to the Chairman of the Planning Commission justifying the addition of a brand new house to the historic district with no review by the review board. Imagine being the Vienna Town Council, defending this boondoggle of a historic district, and having this memo be part of the case:
"This will acknowledge receipt of yours of may 14, 1998 concerning the captioned and the question of its inclusion into the Windover Heights Historic District. The act of including or not including the property in the historic District is not a zoning or rezoning action and therefore, cannot be spot zoning. The age of the structure has no bearing on whether or not it should be included in the district. Your attention is invited to Section 18-280.2 of the Town's zoning ordinance concerning the boundaries of the Windover Heights Historic district. You will note that it is a historic district created by boundary and makes no reference to the age or character of the structures within the boundary. I have always maintained that if Abraham Lincoln had been assassinated at the local Giant, that structure would be historic. One the other hand, the mayor's antique chicken house is very old, but in my mind has no historic value."
This is not about preservation or rules or historic anything "EVS". This is all about two older women, Maud Gomer and Jane Goober, who have drifted into an arrogant state no longer hinged to reality. They are corrupt through and through.
July 02, 2007
Shell Station at Glyndon and Maple Goes Poof; What's Next? Comments (8)
The Shell gas station at Glyndon and Maple Avenue is now gone. What comes next Maud? We are sure you are reaching into your bag of tricks master plan for answers. Another prime spot in Vienna and we are all left to guess and hope what might come next. What an economic development system from Gomer and Goober!
"Maud, what are our choices behind the 3 doors?"
June 30, 2007
Follow Along As Vienna Investigates Itself Comments (4)
Vienna announced an investigation of their May 07 elections recently. Here is the start of that: page 1 and page 2.
June 29, 2007
"Attention My Children of Vienna, This Is Maud Talking. I Will Now Educate You." Comments (20)
From the July 07 Vienna newsletter comes this ditty from one arrogant and out of touch Mother Maud:
"I've decided there's a new kind of identity theft prevalent in this area. I call it community or municipal identity theft. It's increasingly visible in Falls Church, Fairfax City, Herdon, even McLean. Their core downtown areas are losing all individual identity to the current 'Town Center' theme of increased density, more height, mixed use and upscale shops. They are becoming part of what I recently heard a gentleman describe as the 'generic' character of area development. In the aforementioned towns and cities, this character change begins with a 'revitalization' program. Hopefully, the benefits of this undertaking will be improved architecture, pedestrian access and a desire to eliminate the less than lovely small strip malls, along with encouraging new businesses. On the negative side is the probable demise of the small shops and service providers so essential to day-to-day needs of home owners. They will be hard pressed to pay the increased rental costs. Change is inevitable, and Vienna has so far managed to accomodate it, particularly in regard to the commercial area which has steadily been made more attractive as a place to establish a business and in which to shop. This year or next, town residents and elected officials will need to deal with the question of how Vienna will respond to this latest development trend which jazzes up the investors' profits as well as the downtown ambiance. Before moving forward into new territory, the town may be well served if we look backward a few decades. The 50s and 60s featured requests by developers for apartment and town house rezonings, followed several years later by condominium proposals. In each instance, the town fathers and concerned residents carefully weighed the pros and cons of each proposal and judiciously limited their number and location. Paramount in their considerations was not what was currently in vogue development wise, but the retention of Vienna's predominantly single- family residential small town character. As a result, we are now unique in the midst of area sprawl and density. The question now is, will we exercise the same careful judgment and commitment of our predecessors who nurtured and preserved the real small town we enjoy today? Will we honor that legacy or become one more generic?"
This woman is running Vienna in 2007 while living in a pipe dream fantasy world of the 1950s. Enough! How in the world does this space cadet look at the daily traffic on Maple Avenue and think small town? With 20+ banks how does she think small town? With fast food restaurants, gas stations and nail salons on every corner, where is the small town? With no one, and we mean no one, walking anywhere in Vienna day or night, where is the small town? The only small town around here exists in the cloistered interior of Maud's memory.
But give her credit, this crap (and it is crap) scares old people into voting for her. How and why we don't really understand. Maud smacks them with higher taxes every chance she can, solves nothing with traffic, lets roads and sidewalks go unchecked, and builds multi-million dollar monuments to herself. Yet when she starts up the fight against the evil 50 story condos and those developers who will get *rich*, a certain contingent of Vienna laps it up like Tuesday's milk at Magruders.
Here is a fun task for all non-Maud voters in Vienna: Go drive by the new down town in Fairfax City. Look at the quality. Look at the brickwork. Oh yeah, that's bad Maud! Better to have strip malls and run down buildings on every corner. Maud is a fraud.
June 28, 2007
Maud Marvels at New Industries Comments (14)
From the Sun Gazette:
Vienna's skate park concept is in its earliest stages. What happens next will depend on the outcome of real estate discussions and the availability of construction moneys, she said. Vienna Mayor M. Jane Seeman said people have been asking for a skate park for years, and that young people are skateboarding in parking lots all over town. “We provide facilities for other kinds of sports,” she said. Vienna officials recently installed metal bands on some surfaces at the Vienna Town Green to discourage skateboarders there, Salgado said. Council member Maud Robinson marveled at skateboarding's increasing popularity and sophistication. “It's like the sandlot baseball game has morphed into the big time,” she said. “Kids are used to parking lots and curbs. Suddenly, to accommodate them, we need a whole new industry developed.”
"Thank you Maud, that was clear."
June 25, 2007
The Town Green on a Sunny Summer Day Attracts No One Comments (17)
The Town Green (otherwise known as "The Maud Memorial") sits empty yesterday for another sunny summer weekend day. A $5 million dollar plus "postcard" park with zero recreational functionality, and just a few months after its launch, attracts no people. As Gomer says, surprise, surprise, surprise. When faced with the next ill-conceived, multi-million dollar pet project, will we as a community just trust the Ayr hill Garden Club again with our money?
June 20, 2007
Maud Robinson: Sign Hypocrite Comments (35)
Maud loves to brag about how her husband crafted Vienna's ordinance for its Commercial Architectural Review Board. This Board regulates signs: their colors, words, size etc. among other things. It is supposed to apply to everyone equally, but it doesn't work that way. Now that the Town has their new Town Green they regularly station temporary metal signs along the sidewalk on Maple Avenue. Why is no other business on Maple allowed to advertise like this Maud? Can't you obey the basic laws that you helped create?
June 19, 2007
Freedom of Information? Not in Vienna Comments (27)
The Town of Vienna government is actively working to prevent the release of public information under Virginia Freedom of Information laws. Perhaps the over eighty set doesn't give a hoot, but it is the same type of arrogance displayed with their recent election gaffe. One example?
Citizen Request to the Town of Vienna:
Please provide audio cassette copy of June 4 Council meeting.
Town Information Officer Response:
A copy of tape #2 is ready to pick up in the Town Clerk’s office. Tape #1 proved to be defective and could not be copied.
Vienna Citizen Response:
The Town does not have the right to not fix the "broken" tape...requested. Please advise when I can get the tape or when you have decided that the audio information on it is lost permanently.
Town Information Officer Response:
As we discussed earlier today, I plan to consult with the Town Attorney before tonight’s Council meeting on how to proceed [and later] Concerning tape #1, we will not be providing a copy of this tape since it cannot be reproduced due to damage.
Keep in mind, this was simply asking for a copy of the tape of the Council meeting...and the Town Attorney needed to be involved?
Vienna Citizen Response:
Does that mean that the information on the tape is permanently gone? Or that the Town will not be attempting to fix it? Was the Town Clerk able to listen to it for her minutes?
Town Information Officer Response:
Yes, the Town Clerk listened to the tape to prepare the minutes. The damage to the tape occurred when she attempted to copy it. Since the minutes have been prepared, and approved by the Town Council, there is no need to try and fix the tape.
Vienna Citizen Response:
Honest government is one reason to fix it. Clearly, the Town is in the wrong here morally and ethically, but perhaps there is some legal justification to fall on, but this is a horrible way to manipulate the system. People should be embarrassed.
The context here? The Town's silly and antiquated method of using "tape" to record their meetings allows them the cover to act like morons over basic rights we all have regarding Freedom of Information.
How did this request start? We wanted to hear Laurie Cole's voice asking the Town Attorney to investigate the May Vienna Election (since there were no citizens there to video tape Cole that night). Well, that record is PERMANENTLY gone and clearly the Town could care less.
June 14, 2007
Here's How the Old Lady Consolidates Power Comments (29)
From the Sun Gazette regarding the Monday Town Council meeting:
Council members want to change the fee for rezoning applications from $1,200 to $2,000. The fee also would apply to residents who wish to add or remove their properties from the Windover Heights Historic District. Appeals of Windover Heights Board of Review decisions, which now are free, would cost $250. The Town Council, after some highly contentious public hearings, has turned down numerous requests from property owners wishing to leave the historic district. “We are not trying to be punitive,” Town Council member Maud Robinson said regarding the fee hikes. “This is an issue of equity for the taxpayers.” The Town Council must hold a public hearing before adopting the proposed fee increases.
Isn't this a convenient way to solidify control, curb debate and push people around? Maud Robinson is biting off more than she can chew, she just doesn't realize it yet. It's only a matter of time until this woman does something so egregious that the Justice Department sits her down.
The article adds:
Many Town of Vienna land-use fees could double under a proposal put forth by Vienna Planning and Zoning Director Greg Hembree. The increases are necessary to bring the town's fees more in line with those charged by nearby jurisdictions and more accurately reflect the costs of legal advertising and labor performed by town employees, Hembree told Town Council members at a work session on June 11. “You have to look at these as user fees,” Hembree said. “People interested in these services should have to pay for them, instead of spreading the cost around the town.”
Interesting. The Vienna Zoning Director believes that the right to appeal a corrupt law, along with corrupt enforcement, is a SERVICE for residents?
"Hembree, I Changed My Mind, Make Any Appeal $10,000!
That Will Show Them!"
June 12, 2007
The Garden Club Strikes Back; Town Green Crack Down! Comments (34)
From Police reports:
Town Green, Maple Ave., E. & Mill St., N.E. 1:22 p.m. June 8: Nathan Wolfberg, 19, 1833 Toyon Way, Vienna, was charged with trespassing when he was observed skateboarding on the Town Green after being banned from the property..
Dramatization of Maud's Perfect World: Youth in Prison
June 04, 2007
The Town Green Lavatory is Open for Business Comments (32)
Cathy Salgado, head of Vienna's parks department, speaks to the wide involvement of citizens in the Town Green planning process:
“This was carefully thought-out, in review for a couple of years, We had a list of what people wanted in a town green and we planned with those interests in mind.”
What is so wonderful about the Vienna political structure is not that their words have any meaning or connect to any measurable reality, but rather what it is important is that their words make people "feel" good.
May 30, 2007
Vienna Demographics After 53 Years of Robinson Control Comments (21)
Perhaps no one cares, but...
9.51% - African-American population in Herndon
9.20% - African-American population in Leesburg
8.83% - African-American population in Fairfax County
6.89% - African-American population in Loudon County
5.07% - African-American population in Fairfax City
3.44% - African-American population in Vienna
Said another way, 85,628 African-Americans live in Fairfax County and 497 African-Americans live in Vienna. Four hundred ninety seven. How did Vienna get this way?
“You know I always get a little edgy when I hear the word ‘HUD' mentioned.”
-- Maud Robinson"The politicians can then say to the blacks and union members "hey, don't look at me", while it's wink wink to the gays."
-- Tom Seeman
Maud's Election Day Campaigner & Mayor's Son“And it defied comprehension how anyone could say that we have not tried beyond trying to make the lives of black people in particular better since the mid-fifties, with the trend accelerating greating [sic] from 1964 on. Trillions of dollars, program after program, quota after quota (excuse me, "diversity")."
-- Tom Seeman
Maud's Election Day Campaigner & Mayor's Son
Tom, no worries. You and the rest of the Vienna political establishment made sure that "diversity" is a four letter word in Vienna. We have a funny feeling that when census data is pulled for the last 50 years of Mother Maud's reign that there will be a year after year precipitous drop in the African-American population of Vienna.
The Robinson Political Machine Started in 1954 Comments (1)
Time line of Robinson political control in Vienna:
- Charles Robinson appointed to Board of Zoning Appeals in 1954
- Charles Robinson named to Planning Commission in 1960
- Charles Robinson elected to Town Council in 1962
- Charles Robinson elected Mayor in 1976
- Charles Robinson dies in office in 2000
- Maud Robinson appointed to Town Council in 2000
Mother Maud has had a death grip on power in Vienna for 53 years. That is bizarre any way you slice it. So what was going on in 1954 as the Robinson machine starts?
- President Eisenhower warns against U.S. intervention in Vietnam.
- Marilyn Monroe weds Joe DiMaggio.
- National Negro Network is established with 40 charter radio stations.
- First Church of Scientology established in Los Angeles, California.
- Bill Haley & His Comets record "Rock Around the Clock".
- Jerry Seinfeld is born.
- The Dow Jones closes at an all-time high of 382.74.
- The Boy Scouts desegregate on the basis of race.
- U.S. Supreme Court delivers decision in Brown v. Board of Education.
Wow.
May 29, 2007
ViVa Vienna Wrap-Up Comments (3)
Another ViVa Vienna is in the books. Families, kids, seniors - everyone raced to a central area in Vienna where they could eat, shop, hang out, walk, etc. Well, it's over. Jane and Maud give us three days a year. That's it folks. While other communities across Fairfax County get outdoor fair year round, we get three days. Tomorrow is back to normal. Get back in your car and go to your favorite Vienna strip mall. When you are done from another robotic day of Vienna errands (while stuck in traffic that Maud assures us has no fix), please go home. That is community building Maud and Jane style. Don't frown, you get three more days in 2008! Plus for the next year you can buy rock candy at the Freeman Store and use the lavatory at the new Town Green. Isn't that enough economic vitality for you?
May 28, 2007
Gomer and Goober Patrol Mayberry; Shazam! Comments (87)
Viva Vienna's Mayberry's security force of Town Council Member Maud Robinson Gomer and Town Council Member Jane Seeman Goober in action:
Maud: "If I was inside the Freeman Store you could not take my picture!"
Jane: "[Expletive Deleted]"
Question: Were these women seriously prepared to handle an emergency or was this all meant to be cute?
May 24, 2007
Our Mission: Remove Careerists from Vienna Government Comments (0)
We found the following Mark Tapscott editorial in The Examiner. He sums up the mission of this web site: get rid of careerists in Vienna politics:
Neither Democrats versus Republicans nor liberals versus conservatives will define 21st-century politics. Citizen legislators versus career politicians will. The citizen legislators will win by embracing the Internet and the wisdom of crowds. Politicians in both major parties who repeatedly seek re-election to keep "bringing home the bacon" while feathering their own nests are careerists. Candidates in both parties who bring the real world to Washington to clean it up - and who can't wait to return home - are citizen legislators. Careerists thrive on the power, perks and prestige that come with being insiders. Until now, their power stemmed from a monopoly on information, which they selectively shared with the rest of us. Theirs is the world of old media, big impersonal institutions and spinning "experts." By contrast, citizen legislators thrive on the power of principle and the liberating independence that comes with being outsiders. Their power stems from their cultivation of information to the widest possible audience and the accountability that comes with such transparency. Theirs is the world of Internet-based new media and the collaborative networking that thrives there. As long as the careerists remain in power, they will continue aggrandizing themselves, while making government bigger, more costly and less able to deal with emergencies...
Seeman, Robinson try as you might, neither of you are citizen legislators.
May 20, 2007
Maud From August 2007 Comments (4)
From the Washington Post:
"You can't condemn the McMansions out of hand," said Maud F. Robinson, a Vienna Town Council member who has lived in the town for 55 years. "It's the American dream to build and rebuild." Nonetheless, she said, she worries that rising property values will drive out longtime residents who can't afford the taxes." All these people who are of retirement age -- I hate to see them forced to leave," she said.
Do you feel like you now better understand Maudasaurus' position?
May 19, 2007
Flashback: Maud Flaps Her Lips About Maple Avenue Circa 2002 Comments (0)
From Cathy Hudgins 2002 newsletter (PDF) comes a little ditty from Maud called Town of Vienna Planning Workshops:
"The focus of the workshops was to help the Town build on its ongoing efforts at improvement and, most important, to develop a sustainable vision for Vienna's well being in the next 10 to 20 years. The focus was on downtown Vienna, with particular emphasis on the central commercial core encompassing Maple Avenue from Lawyers Road to Glyndon Street, Church and Mills Streets, and a portion of Dominion Road. Topics explored included developing incentives for good building design, attracting businesses and services needed in town, and creating an attractive environment in which to operate a business and shop so that Vienna retains a sound commercial base. Another concern was enlisting the interest and cooperation of business owners. It should be noted that the business community generates approximately 35% of Town tax revenue, hence the emphasis on maintaining its viability. The workshops validated the need to look beyond the present, to have the courage to take new and innovative steps, to respect the past, but not become so entrenched in the familiarity of the present that we forfeit the future."
What happened? WE FORFEITED THE FUTURE. The people who elect this woman are either 1.) ignorant, 2.) scared, 3.) don't care that she contradicts herself, 4.) can't remember yesterday or 5.) are as corrupt and vision-less as she is.
May 18, 2007
Faulkners: A Piece of Vienna's History Comments (7)
Before it was the Vienna Inn, it was Faulkners. Given that Maud holds herself out as all that is historic, we wonder if she would care to comment on Faulkners segregated history? Maud did you ever have a drink there when it was divided down the "white" and "colored" line? Come on Mother Maud, cat got your tongue when it comes to your place in Vienna history?
And Maud (or Laine as she knows Vienna history too), was the Freeman Store ever segregated? Or was your beloved non-historical "store" simply off limits to African-Americans?
May 17, 2007
Vienna Teen Center Fights Gang Violence Comments (3)
From the Vienna Municipal League comes this:
Since the late 1990s, Northern Virginia has experienced a dramatic increase in the violence, vandalism, drug use and other problems associated with youth gangs. According to a Fairfax County Gang Update presented at the 2004 VML conference, more than 80 gangs operate in the county with a total membership of at least 1,500. One of the more disturbing trends in these gangs is toward younger members, many of them in grades 6-8. The After School Program offered at the Town of Vienna’s Club Phoenix Teen Center provides a positive alternative to gang involvement for these younger students.
Does anyone care that this piece of writing is 100% made up nonsense? We are to believe that lily white Club Phoenix is an alternative for gang members? Well, maybe we are wrong here. Tell you what. Pass us some of that Club Phoenix Kool-Aid!
"HV, stop being so angry. Can't you just sit back and enjoy it? Club Phoenix is wonderful!"
Wasn't Lies, It Was Just... Bulls**t Comments (20)
Brian Trompeter, Maud Robinson's adopted son & checkers partner, writes about the glorious new Town Green:
- "This will be an oasis in our busy lives, a place to come and refresh ourselves," said Vienna Mayor M. Jane Seeman. "Most importantly, this is a legacy those of us can leave today for those who follow."
- The $3.5 million park features about a dozen park benches, seating walls, restrooms and a small wooden amphitheater.
- "This is the centerpiece for Vienna," Lovelace said. "A lot of people we haven't seen for while, I think we'll meet them on the green."
- Vienna resident Denise Ramsey, who attended the event with her husband and children, said her family was excited by the park's potential. "It's nice to have something we can all congregate at and listen to music, watch movies and all that kind of stuff," she said.
The Town Green will also cure cancer, stop terrorism and lower the deficit. Watch movies you say Denise? Wow, we had no idea that was a benefit too! Awesome.
Jake: You lied to me.
Elwood: Wasn't lies, it was just... bullshit.
May 15, 2007
Age Clarification Comments (4)
A May 2007 article in the Washington Post referred to Maud Robinson as 80 years old. She is either 84 or 85, but she is NOT 80. As with most things in Vienna the smallest items become blurry and fuzzy...and made-up. That's how the machine runs the show.
May 09, 2007
Never Lose Faith! Comments (7)
After the election Maud was quoted saying:
"My husband [the late Mayor Charles Robinson Jr.] always said, 'Never, never lose faith in the people,' that their innate good sense and judgment would determine the outcome of the election. I think this trust was validated today."
Did Charlie also say to stack the polling place with your poliitcal cronies as insurance for the outcome? Don't worry Mother Maud we will get every last table scrap of documentation from the State Election authorities and post it for easy review. We suspect by comparison Maud won't be posting the data on the Town of Vienna web site.
May 04, 2007
Is This Really Smart? Comments (19)
Let's try and be political scientists for a moment. 1416 people cast a vote for Maud. That's 15-20% of the electorate. Who are those people on average? It is an important answer to find out. If 80% of those people, for example, are 75+ years of age, in retirement and living in a house they bought 30+ years ago (and there is nothing wrong with that), BUT is it a good thing for that voting block to be the only ONES deciding Vienna's future?
Counter argument: "Get more people out to vote if you don't like it!"
More people did come out to vote this year, but not enough to beat the Magruders machine. Let's face it the current group of Vienna Town Council members do everything in their power to remain a nameless-faceless lot. The Vienna web site on Election Day did not have one mention of the Election ANYWHERE on the front page. Cable TV? In the Vienna power system cable TV would only offer sunshine which would only possibly expose how Vienna operates. Everything is done to keep everything about Vienna politics a secret. Tip your hat to them, it is one helluva a machine. But unfortunately now the other 90% of Vienna residents are faced with another year of nothing.
Counter argument: "Only if Vienna could shake that nasty, mean website historicvienna.com...they are just messing everything up with their hidden agenda. Why can't they just join a club or a board and be like us!"
April 23, 2007
Why? Comments (7)
Real simple question as Vienna heads to the polls in about a week:
Why is it important for some to re-elect Maud?
The Maud benefits don't seem to be definable.
One response that came in:
The failure over the years of Vienna residents to take an active interest in the administration of their tax dollars by not knowing the issues and the candidates, and by not voting... has allowed Town leadership to become a stagnant and aging garden club of personal agenda that has ignored the common needs of our community and has failed to do the right thing when doing the right thing is very often hard and selfless.Lawless boards ruling from the hip, failure to maintain and communicate a full public record of Town business, sound bites over substance, endless planning that amounts to zero progress, major capital expenditures of dubious value to the community, failure to maintain a viable commercial district and tax base to afford residents local goods and services and in turn tax relief, failure to take responsibility for failures, blatant conflicts of interest that mirror favoritism toward the usual suspects, and on and on. Need another sidewalk survey, Vienna? How about a another beautification award for your collection! Some folk singing? A house and garden tour? Another quarter million dollars a year in arts and crafts? Another increase in your water bill and real estate tax? Another speed bump or Bukont encroachment on your right-of-way?
HOW ABOUT A REALITY CHECK! VOTE, VIENNA!!!
April 21, 2007
Postal Over "Hysteric Condos" Comments (22)
A Maud supporter writes in yesterday:
I find your site to be pretty disgusting - the web equivalent of talk radio. Trashing Town Council members in order to get the zoning laws changed so you can put up condos in the historic district. It's disappointing that you are dragging political discourse in Vienna to such laws [sic]. Your site has solidified my support for Maud and George.
The truth about hysteric district condos was set forth last year.
Mock-up of 100-Story Planned Hysteric Condos
p.s. If you believe this, you are voting for Maud!
April 16, 2007
Maud Robinson on "Tall" Parking Garages; The End of the Vienna Inn Is Near Comments (7)
From Maud Robinson recently:
"We need to preserve Vienna’s low skyline...that’s an important element of Vienna’s character. At the same time, [I] accept the fact that our height level might need to be increased in certain areas...for a parking garage."
Where does Robinson plan to install the new 5-6 story parking garage? Can you spell V-I-E-N-N-A I-N-N!
April 10, 2007
Small Town or Fantasy Island Comments (4)
Are we going to keep pretending we only have small town problems or are we going to elect leaders who work to solve the real problems of a community 3 miles from Tysons inudated with tens of thousands of cars daily on our roads? Small Town or Fantasy Island? (image)
April 09, 2007
Maud's Campaign Brochure; The Same One She Used in 1867 Comments (22)
Maud Robinson's campaign brochure:
Why is there no mention at how much money she has? She so loves to rail about "rich" developers, but apparently wants no one to know her wealth of $5 million plus.
April 06, 2007
Town Council in Persistent Vegetative State Comments (1)
Last year at the Vienna elections, a medical van pulled up and they unloaded a guy in a wheel chair clearly in a catatonic or vegetative state hooked up to what appeared to be a portable life support system. No joke, Maud tickled the poor guy under the chin, he never budged or recognized her or even blinked...and they wheeled him in to do his civic voting duty. Yeah, power held for a long time is not pretty (or clean).
April 05, 2007
Does Anyone Think the Traffic on Maple Avenue Equates with Small Town? Comments (18)
From Maud Robinson comes this:
"I’ve lived in this community and INVESTED [she sure has!] myself in this community for the last half century and I want to preserve it as the small town community that it is...Developers always look to recreate and imitate a small town nowadays, but we don’t need any imitation in Vienna, we have the real thing right here."
A great project for "small Town Vienna"? A wax museum.
2007 Campaign Slogan: "Money, That's What I Want!"
Alternate Slogan: "Forget Term Limits, Town Council for Life!"
April 03, 2007
Maud Robinson: "Greed is Good!" Comments (2)
As we approach the Vienna campaign season, as we watch wasteful Town spending, as we watch older residents squeezed out of Vienna due to financial concerns, as we listen to politicians like Maud Robinson rail against developers pretending to be "of the people", it is worth noting the lie Maud Robinson has been living all these years. She is STINKING RICH. Loaded! Millions. A $5 million plus net worth for her is the best estimate. The proof is in. The next time you see Robinson around Town playing the pauper role, just keep in mind the REAL "greed is good" life she has been secretly leading all these years.
March 19, 2007
Maud Plays Hide and Go Seek Too Comments (16)
Hiding from the camera is a relatively new trick in Vienna politics. First, it was Laine Hyde. Then Jane Seeman. Now, tonight Maud Robinson has started "hiding". That's not just Maud holding up a picture, that's a nutty politician talking behind a piece of paper and waving her finger. Washington Post reporters are you watching one of the craziest political scenes imaginable in one of the country's wealthiest counties? You know what would also be instructive for Vienna residents? Have Maud and Jane sit through a polygraph.
Maud's Vision of Vienna Town Council Harmony
March 16, 2007
The Town Green Is One Hungry Dollar Pig Comments (6)
From the Connection this week comes this excerpt:
"This year, there has been a focus on the town green and town beautification," she said, underlining that staff and council have requested a review of possible increases to programming funds of Vienna's Parks and Recreation Department to manage and implement activities at the new multi-million dollar town green, slated to open on May 12. Town staff members are looking to form more partnerships with local businesses and community organizations to offset those increases as much as possible, according to Cathy Salgado, director of Vienna's Department of Parks and Recreation.
Sidewalks? No.
Roads? No.
Water savings? No.
It's Town Green time people. Open up your wallet and give the Garden Club your money. They do after all need to finish construction of their bike path bath house. This spending on a tiny, no functionality park, is a joke.
March 13, 2007
While Vienna's Roads & Sidewalks Cave In, The Town Green Rises! Comments (1)
Two Town supplied PDFs regarding the Town Green: #1 & #2. Why has Maudasaurus not put this kind of energy into sidewalks for the rest of Vienna? Hint: she doesn't care.
March 10, 2007
Maud Robinson's Asphalt Wonderland; After 50 Years of Her Hard Work, We Have Parking Lots! Comments (18)
Maud Robinson lives in the fantasy world that the new Town Green is the center of Vienna for a redevelopment of Vienna. Clearly, it is not. It is landlocked with limited roads and limited land to work with. Two blocks away that is not the case. All of the property HERE is ready and willing to listen to a new plan for how Vienna should look in the future. Town Green? Yeah, right. Maud Robinson could care less about GREEN anything. She likes black asphalt and we got plenty of her handiwork for proof as far as you can see!
March 07, 2007
Mother Maud Lost in the 1950s Comments (17)
Maud Robinson recently told the owners of the Marco Polo restaurant in Vienna that if they wanted to redevelop that she would support the idea of a new one story building whereby people could drive up to the front door and park right there - like so many of the antiquated and poorly planned buildings dotting Maple Avenue already. This woman is not living in the real world with the rest of us. She is nuts. What's amazing is that she wants to relive her youth, purports to be Mrs. Historic (a complete farce), but is actively working to make sure the Vienna Inn is leveled.
February 21, 2007
Church Street Intersection: Ticking Time Bomb Comments (13)
The intersection of Church Street and Lawyers Road is a disgrace:
Click Here for High Resolution Image
This is another fine example of the Jane & Maud leadership vacuum. When will the first pedestrian or auto death happen? Will Jane & Maud be responsible when the tragedy comes?
February 20, 2007
Maud Robinson's Vienna Inn Destruction Plan Is In Place Comments (44)
Multiple private phone conversations confirm: Maud has set her sights on the demolition of the Vienna Inn. While she pretends to be Mrs. Historic Vienna, she is conniving to have Vienna's one and only historic and cultural landmark wiped off the map ("It interferes with the Town Green"). You heard it here first. And yes, Jane Seeman is along for this idiotic attack on Vienna's most famous icon.
February 19, 2007
Vienna Town Council's Inept Leadership on Parking Problems Comments (3)
This image shows the Vienna Presbyterian Church (VPC) parking lot on Maple Avenue. There can be no greater example of the failed leadership of Jane Seeman and Maud Robinson. These same Council members whine nonstop that a lack of parking is Vienna's biggest problem, but why did they allow this? For the lost in space critics who will write in and say, "but that is the Vienna Presbyterian Church's private property, Vienna could do nothing!"
That's BS. There are any number of private/public partnerships that could have been conceived to allow a parking garage at that location. All of Tysons Corner is going to be redeveloped through give and take incentives/negotiations and Jane and Mother Maud can't get one parking garage done? You say the Church is not interested in a win/win solution for all of Vienna? That's hard to believe. The Town should reach out now and do something productive for a change. Will it happen? Doubtful. Mother Maud is focused only on tearing down the Vienna Inn and the antique stores next to it.
February 16, 2007
"I Am Not Living in the Past" Comments (4)
In the following clip when Maud talks about how she proposed parking solutions 50 years ago, it is worth noting that she was proposing the solutions to herself. Of course, she and her husband the then Mayor controlled Vienna and still do. We have no parking solutions in Vienna due to a failure on the part of Maud and Charlie Robinson. Those two alone dropped the ball.
February 15, 2007
Jane and Maud Discuss Economic Development in the Stone Age Comments (6)
This is a 25 minute video clip (25MB) from Monday's Town Council work session. Note how Council members Kelleher and Polychrones address legitimate issues only to be shouted down by Mother Maud. Seeman seems lost throughout. Lovelace's statements are an embarrassment (he is either spinning or ignorant). Cole has no other objective except to try and assume Maud's role when she is gone (and make lots of $).
This file was too big to go on YouTube.com. The video is only grainy due to compression. If the Council was not so intent on "hiding", and put meetings on cable, this would not be an issue.
Maud Style Development Planned to Replace the Vienna Inn
"Hold on, it is worth considering that rocks can be historic."
February 14, 2007
Maud Pushed for Parking Solutions in the 1960s. Say What? Comments (1)
At Monday's Town Council work session Maudasaurus stated that she was pushing for Vienna parking garages in the 1960s. Apparently, the Council did not listen to her glorious wisdom. That was 50 years ago! She has had 50 years and has done nothing except flap her lips nonstop. Ladies and gentlemen, enough is enough. Video.
February 13, 2007
Maud's Economic Development Plan for Vienna? Tear Down the Vienna Inn Comments (6)
Last night Maud, who generally does more talking than anyone else at a Council meeting, provided further insights into the cobwebs of her mind:
1. Robinson was clear AGAIN that the two new banks, Chevy Chase and Commerce Bank, are good for Vienna. She sees those as proving Vienna's vitality. She sees those as proper economic development. That alone could classify her as past the due date, but there was more to come.
2. Robinson wants to study economic development on Maple Avenue from Park Street to Dominion Road. She wants to give that area of Vienna special building incentives to redevelop and build taller buildings. Sounds positive, right? Not so fast. What properties are in this arbitrary boundary as determined by Dear Maud Leader? The Presbyterian Church. No development taking place there. Then the Town Green. Ditto. That covers the boundary for that side of the street. Cross over. Now, we have the Library. No tear down there. Then the Business Bank building of condos. No change coming there. And then finally Whole Foods. That's not coming down. So why propose a plan that has no hope of doing anything? That should be obvious.
However, this plan does leave one property targeted by Mother Maud...
She wants the Vienna Inn gone. We have said this before, but last night proved it.
That is her plan and since the owner of the Vienna Inn doesn't own the property (he owns the business only), Maud knows she can influence the property owner who no longer lives in Vienna.
February 12, 2007
Shsssh...Don't Talk About Mother Maud's Millions! Comments (14)
At tonight's Town Council work session Mother Maud railed on about the lack of "affordable" housing in Tysons Corner. She then reminded everyone that it is not her job to make developers wealthy in Vienna. Isn't that special? The woman who has more money than most all Vienna residents is helping "poor" people in Tysons and making sure Vienna developers don't get as rich as her! Vienna should have a work session just to count Maud's money! It makes you wonder why Maud doesn't reach into her greedy pockets and help those less fortunate. This whole charade where Queen Maud pretends to be "of the people" is getting tiring.
Vienna Citizens Volunteer to Count Maud's Money
February 10, 2007
How Much Money Does Maud Robinson Have? A Pile of Cash! Comments (6)
As we move into election season it is worth reminding Vienna citizens about Maud Robinson's wealth. Sure, you have seen her "dressed down" at Magruder's and you have seen her rail against "rich developers", but it turns out Maud is loaded. Maud Robinson is a multi-millionaire AT A BARE MINIMUM. She appears to have far and away more wealth by a country mile over any other Town Council member or Board member:
Review Maud Robinson's Stock & Bond Holdings (PDF).
1. Maud has 43 investments valued at between $10,000 and $50,000 each.
2. Maud has 22 investments valued at over $50,000 each.
At a bare minimum, excluding her RS-10 zoned 30,000+ sq. ft. property (worth over $1M), Robinson has, if assuming the LOWEST range of security values (which is highly unlikely), $1.5M in stocks and bonds alone.
And she doesn't want anyone to know. With such extensive holdings in public companies that operate in Vienna, a thorough read of Robinson's wealth is in order. Additionally, a full accounting of services provided to her by Vienna developers should be started.
February 09, 2007
New Vienna Post Office Killed by Mother Maud and the Mayor Who Can't Tell the Truth Comments (11)
Here is a sketch of a proposed New Vienna Post Office:
Click for Larger Image
This was killed by Maud and Jane. This had the support of Tom Davis. It would have brought Vienna's Post Office up to this century and fixed the intersection of Lawyers and Church. We repeat: It was killed by Maud and Jane.
February 02, 2007
"Historic Church Street" Sign Scam Comments (10)
In the last few years in her zeal to invent historicity in Vienna, Mother Maud placed signs around Vienna pointing in the general direction of "Historic Church Street."
Questions:
1. What EXACTLY is historic on Church Street?
2. Where is the documentation, Federal or State, of historic anything on Church Street?
3. Are Bukont's two new buildings historic?
4. Is the new Paul Layer building on the corner of Center St. and Church St. historic?
5. Are the new brick sidewalks added a few years back historic?
6. Are the green pylons located at driveways on Church St. historic?
7. Is Bazin's historic?
8. Was the original firehouse torn down to make room for Bazin's historic?
9. Why is the Freeman Store NOT on any historic registers?
10. Is the Caboose on Church St. historic?
11. Are the houses on Church St. from Park St. to Beulah Rd. historic?
Please don't tell us that these historic Church Street signs have no foundation? They were not put up in the last few years to simply falsify Vienna history because the Town is facing lawsuits about their historical politics? There is no way that Maud and the historic wackos could be that transparent?
Is this building historic?
The Maud Spin at Wikipedia.com Comments (11)
From Vienna's entry on Wikipedia.com:
"The town's recent utility undergrounding project along the main road, Maple Avenue, is considered a success as evidenced by the beautiful, utility-free skies above Maple Avenue. The project's high costs and disruption to traffic were easily outweighed by the completion of the project and the result: removal of all of the unsightly electrical utility poles and their wiring along Maple Avenue."
Gee, we did not know Maud was doing her own PR! Clearly, this writing is against the basic tenets of Wikipedia:
February 01, 2007
"My Life Is Sitting on Vienna Town Council" Comments (1)
What happens when elected positions in a government are occupied by people whose whole life revolves around just being on Town Council? Not much. That's where Vienna is ladies and gentleman. Fairfax County is exploding, we are in the middle of it, and we have no leadership - at all.
We desperately need people who want to achieve something other than power for the sake of power. Now, you might laugh at that statement thinking, "What could be so great about being on Town Council?"
Being on Town Council is the only thing people like Maud Robinson and Jane Seeman live for. The fact that their husbands passed on the baton to both of them further exemplifies what Deborah Brehony said in the paper, "dynasty". It doesn't take much observation to see that they have the same death grip on power that people like Byrd and Thurmond (now dead of course) have/had in the US Senate.
These politicians long out live their usefulness (whether they ever had it is debatable), but they hang on because they can and because they have nothing else. It's not just public service to them, it's their lives. It's all very sad because clearly Vienna has some of the most educated and ambitious populace in the country. However, as of right now we are relegated to leaders who are terribly incompetent.
At this stage of the game beating around the bush and saying that Robinson and crew have redeemable political value is hogwash. Anyone who says that probably could have been convinced to drink Kool-aid with Jim Jones.
Perhaps, some people don't like the tone of this website. Fine, but if you live in Vienna and you are honest with yourself, you must be embarrassed at what populates these pages. The actions and words of our current crop of leaders are atrocious.
All this said, this website is under no illusions. Until the older generations (the 80+ and over set) that keep voting the Maud's of the world into power either wakeup and acknowledge that their long time political Madame has lost it or they too pass onto the other side, Vienna will remain crippled. And crippled ain't good when you are in the middle of Fairfax County.
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 18, 2007
Vienna Moms Take Your Kids to the Town Green! Comments (1)
Sometimes a picture just says it all.
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:
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 05, 2007
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?
December 13, 2006
Maud You Gonna Lose Your Pork for the Town Green? Comments (1)
From article today titled Dems to Wipe Out Pet Projects in Bills:
(AP) Democrats tidying up a cluster of unfinished spending bills dumped on them by departing Republican leaders in Congress will start by removing billions of dollars in lawmakers' pet projects next month. The move, orchestrated by the incoming chairmen of the House and Senate Appropriations committees, could prove politically savvy even as it proves unpopular with other members of Congress, who as a group will lose thousands of so-called earmarks. "There will be no congressional earmarks," Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., and Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.Va., said Monday in a statement announcing their plans, which were quickly endorsed by incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D- Nev. Earmarks are congressionally mandated projects such as grants for local governments, home-state universities and hospitals, roads, bridges and flood control construction, and economic development efforts not included in the president's spending proposals. Often called "pork" by critics, their sponsors defend inserting the projects into spending bills by claiming that, as elected representatives, they know more about the needs of people in their states and government programs than the president or bureaucrats in the executive branch. Such projects have exploded in number under GOP control of Congress over the last 12 years and at the same time have spawned a boom on Washington's K Street lobbying corridor, where consultants earn big fees by helping outsiders navigate the system.
How does this affect the Town Green? A $200,000 loss is how it is affected. Maud's benefactor for this pork, Tom Davis, is now powerless. It will be interesting to see what happens...
December 06, 2006
Maud Robinson Targets the Vienna Inn for Destruction; Marty, An Old Lady Wants You Gone! Comments (9)
While it is only a table scrap of land hardly worthy of any real development, Maud Robinson and her Town Green cronies on Council have targeted the Vienna Inn and the few antique stores next to it for destruction. The Town of Vienna thinks those land parcels are where future more intensive development must go. The Vienna Inn is the only true historic landmark left in Vienna and isn't it ironic that the supposed Mrs. Historic Maud wants it leveled?
November 22, 2006
Why Does Mao Robinson Hate the Color Red? Comments (2)
Why does Mao Robinson hate the color red? We are not sure, but we think we may have figured it out.
First, it is a matter of fact that the Vienna Commercial Board of Architecture Review routinely turns down buildings or signs that are "red" in color. No joke, happens all the time. Does Vienna have a code that prevents the color red? No, but it does have a vague law that says their review Board:
"Examines and approves plans for commercial buildings, signs and landscaping to ensure that new construction is not bizarre or garish and is harmonious and compatible with existing buildings."
With that bit of legal prose, Maud is able to keep "red" out of Vienna. But why does she actually use the government to censor a color from Vienna? It has been staring at us for months! Tom Seeman and his web site TheRedHunter.com have laid the answer out in plain view!
Just like Tom Seeman (and his mother Jane the Mayor), Maud is also fighting the red communists. If you are fighting communists, the last thing you want is to have your Town of Vienna colored red! Think we jest? We could not make this up. From Tom Seeman's web site:
"...I remember the exact moment that I finished the book ["1984" by George Orwell]. 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."
That diatribe from nutbag Tom Seeman is what dinner table conversation at the Mayor's house sounds like. It is seriously time for the far right wing sisters Jane Seeman and Maud Robinson to go. Yes, they may walk around and pretend to be moderate Democrats, but they both supported George Allen. Clearly the behind the scenes views of Tom "The Red Hunter" Seeman show how crazy these people are. Vienna is not a majority "far right wing Communist fighting lost in a different era" community. So why then do we have these political morons leading us?
Footnote: What does a "Cold Warrior's" resume look like? Hint: Visit Radio Shack.
November 17, 2006
Town Green HUD Audio Comments (2)
Audio (MP3) from November 6, 2006 Town Council meeting where Maud expresses her HUD concerns. For good measure, beyond Robinson's fear of "entanglements" with HUD, she is also concerned that she might have to hire certain people due to HUD regulations.
November 16, 2006
Maud Robinson: "Just Say No!" Comments (6)
Here are some concrete public works projects that Maud Robinson has either screwed up or stopped cold turkey. This was all done with her famous "Just Say No" political philosophy:
1. Maud stopped the funding of a new Post Office in Vienna at the same location.
2. Maud turned away County money that would have taken the Vienna Library out of the Stone Age.
3. Maud is responsible for all of the new banks popping up on every square inch of Vienna real estate.
4. Maud makes sure that power lines on Maple Avenue do not go underground.
5. Maud is responsible for absolutely no public parking garages in Vienna.
6. Maud blocked the bypass around down town Vienna.
Why does Robinson not work on these issues? She is TOO busy with the REAL important stuff as evidenced from this excerpt from the last Town Council work session (from Sun Gazette paper):
Council member Maud Robinson said portable containers are basically boxes that lack shingled roofs and other features that make sheds attractive by comparison. “They don't have the aesthetics of a shed,” she said. “There are no architectural elements. A POD is a POD is a POD. There's no visual attractiveness to them.”
Ladies and gentlemen, that is Maud Robinson's brain hard at work! Do we laugh or cry?
Bottom line: if you like political leaders who take money away from struggling low income families to plant flowers or if you like leaders who take charge to fight the supposed POD problem, Robinson is your woman.
November 13, 2006
Time for HUD Investigation of Maud Robinson Comments (6)
It has come to our attention that HUD is investigating Maud Robinson for her comments here. Why? Consider this screen shot from the HUD web site:
We believe Robinson's remarks are illegal. She is intimidating and harassing certain people away from Vienna. It may just be her down fall.
November 12, 2006
Maud Robinson Wants the HUD Money, Just NO Minorities! Comments (9)
From this week's Sun Gazette about Maud's big earmark:
Council members accepted a $198,000 economic-development-initiative grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), which will be applied toward the new Vienna Town Green. The grant, obtained by U.S. Rep. Thomas Davis (R-11th), will be spent on landscaping work toward the end of the project, said Cathy Salgado, Vienna parks and recreation director. Council member Maud Robinson received assurances from Town Attorney Steven Briglia that accepting the grant would not oblige the town to participate in any of that federal agency's other programs. “You know I always get a little edgy when I hear the word ‘HUD' mentioned,” she said.
HUD causes her to be edgy? What is HUD's mission? From their web site:
HUD's mission is to increase homeownership, support community development and increase access to affordable housing free from discrimination. To fulfill this mission, HUD will embrace high standards of ethics, management and accountability and forge new partnerships--particularly with faith-based and community organizations--that leverage resources and improve HUD's ability to be effective on the community level.
Isn't this special? Maud gets a big piece of pork from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for her Town Green, but then in the next breath clearly implies she wants no strings attached to her early Christmas present. Said another way, "No Diversity, No Affirmative Action...Therefore No blacks."
Who else could get away with this without being called a racist? When does Vienna stop making excuses for Robinson? These kinds of statements (and actions) make us all look like intolerant red necks. How much more of her foot can she cram in her mouth?
Maud is this the kind of sign you want in Vienna?
Most politicians in Robinson's position would have kept their pie hole shut and taken the pork. Robinson took the money, but only after sinking down low. She is one of a kind.
November 06, 2006
Mixed Use Downtown Vienna? Curmudgeon Maud Says We Already Have Condos! Comments (5)
We have already established the nice work being done in Fairfax City and Clarendon. Vienna has nothing like this, but that doesn't stop Vienna's resident curmudgeon from blurting out this wing ding comment:
Maud where are these condos? Can you name any stock of condos built in Vienna in the last 30 years? So are you either a liar or dumb? Or are we all just dumb in your eyes? Vienna has no such mixed use living Maud, whether you are capable of speaking the truth or not.
Worse yet, hear the Mayor in the background seconding all of Darth Maud's idiotic comments? She has no spine to stand up and speak the truth either.
November 04, 2006
Vienna's No. 1 Comedy Team: Darth Maud and Lieutenant Jane; Their Views on Vienna's Downtown Equal Failure Comments (4)
First, watch this clip:
Sounds great? Two nice elderly ladies speaking with passion about downtown Vienna!
Not exactly.
What is the true story that makes the motivations of Vienna's politicians look suspect? Robinson speaks of a "core". She means between Lawyers Road and Park Street on 123. This means the Vienna Town Council wants to pass a law to allow increased redevelopment on Maple Avenue/123 between those two streets. Sounds great!
Not so fast. None of this land will be redeveloped any time soon. Think about the actual properties in between these two streets:
Magruders? That's not going anywhere. The Town Green and Presbyterian Church. Well, no land to do anything there. Money and King Funeral Home? No, they are not moving. The old Anita's across from Magruders? That piece of land is so small that nothing can be done there unless it is combined with other properties. The Vienna library? No, that's not changing. Whole Foods? Ditto.
What does this all mean? Vienna will pass a law that sounds progressive in the local paper, but allows no change since there is no land. Nice. Thanks Maud and Jane. Thanks for the comedy as you fool no one.
Sadly, there are pieces of land outside of this idiotic and arbitrarily defined "core" ready right now to change. Marco Polo restaurant? Ready to be torn down tomorrow. Why is that property blackballed by Darth Maud?
There is no reason. There is no planning. We simply have an older lady with absolutely nothing going on except sitting on this Council lording over residents with whacked out pronouncements that mean zilch. Not unexpected, for if you read any of this site for more than 5 minutes, regardless of our editorial beliefs, Maud Robinson is clearly unbalanced.
Maybe others have no spine to stand up to her, but we are not just going to sit back and let her go unchecked because she is "elderly." She is in a position of power and she is hurting Vienna for the long term with her combination of no vision, no planning and selfish attitude.
Lastly, to answer Maud's question of "What kind of a Town do we want Vienna to be?" we say Vienna should have leaders who are not lost in time four decades ago. We want leaders who can actually make decisions that help Vienna, not leaders who play politics non-stop for their own self-aggrandizement. Notice that she has NO goal?
As a side note, Seeman has no clue that the study they are discussing, the one taxpayers paid $10,000 for, actually covers from Lawyers to Beulah. She clearly thinks the study was from Lawyers to Park. All Vienna citizens can rest in peace that Vienna's finest minds are at the helm.
October 31, 2006
Phony Empathy from Maud Robinson As She Describes the "Incident" Comments (2)
This piece of video needs little comment. The transition from Robinson's fake empathy to her only concern of stopping the proposed memorial, is gross. Everyone in Vienna now knows why these cast of clowns wanted to ban video last year.
This kind of BS and spin is exactly why the Town faces lawsuits over the historic district. They are dishonest brokers on numerous issues. If Robinson wasn't 84 years old, would anyone respect her? Of course not. If this was all filmed and on cable would it happen? Of course not.
Maud Robinson Slams Memorial to Honor Biker Killed Comments (8)
Maud Robinson last night showed clearly why she is no one's Grandmother. In the clip below (addressing George Lovelace's request for a specific up or down vote) she responds to the request of a widow whose husband was killed on the corner of the new Town Green along Maple Avenue. This man's widow designed a bike rack as a memorial to her late husband. She did so with the approval of the Town. Now the Town says they don't want the memorial, but Maud took her 'no' an extra step. She declared that the Town Green had already been designed and approved and that if they approved this memorial, then next her Garden Club would want a vegetable stand And yes, she made that Garden Club crack in a room of twenty people with this man's widow sitting 15 feet from her. She is plain nasty. You know what wasn't part of the "PROCEDURE" you harp about Maud? This man's death! You should be ashamed, but since you have no shame, we know that is wishful thinking.
Robinson is more than confused. She is mean. And yes, if you listen close, that is someone saying, "She is nuts."
October 25, 2006
Maud, Explain This to Us Comments (1)
This feedback was posted today and adds to the discussion about the new Bukont law change underway:
"...most people are sheep and often ignorant of being abused and afraid or unable to speak out. Not knowing and not knowing to care are big contributors to their silence. Hell, just consider our own national predicament right now... Americans drunk on their religions are unconscious about important issues concerning our country and now they are going to swing their vote the other way without really knowing why. Go ask the previous owner of the old 7-11 property if he knew the Town of Vienna was going to rewrite the zoning law that makes that property now worth far more than he sold it for. Inform him and then see if he feels slighted. You are a fool if you don't take notice when your elected officials get into bed with developers for their own mutual benefit, cheating others along the way while lowering the standard by which all are expected to conduct themselves. Those complicit are corrupt cheats who demean and disgrace the Town government and its entire staff. This should concern all in Vienna whether they realize it or not. Watch the Council vote... those voting for Bukont's zoning law cheat are your elected frauds."
Just because someone has white hair, doesn't mean they are honest or have ethics and that is the sole reason Robinson is getting a pass from criticism. If this widescale Vienna nonsense was going on and she was forty years old, do you really think outside law enforcement would not be investigating by now?
And if we were not right, don't you think Robinson would have responded in some form by now? Everyone in Town Hall reads this site everyday (even though they were ordered not to) and they all know what is up. They are more disgusted than anyone. The Town Staff is basically told, "Do my bidding, or you are fired."
And where are the Town puppets who have been posting here? Where are Brehony, Andrews, Baldwin, Colbert and Seeman's daughter? Cat got your tongue? Surely, there is some way to spin this to your advantage?
October 24, 2006
Here Is How It Works in Vienna Comments (7)
We reported earlier on a desire to build apartments at Tapawingo and Glyndon.
Now it turns out that the Town Council is set to change the law to make this happen. Here is the evidence (PDF). This law change has one beneficiary: Steve Bukont. That's right, the Vienna Town Council is set to change the zoning code to make Steve Bukont money. This is not just a rezoning, it is a law change! Would they do that for you? What about the prior owner...do you think he would have sold to Bukont if he knew he could get this freebie from Maud and Jane?
Maud Robinson is a dishonest politician - the evidence is in. For those who may want to speak on the matter, the Planning Commission will hear it at a special session this Thursday night.
October 01, 2006
Vigilante Maud Says Beat Them with a Stick Comments (2)
From the Sun Gazette it was reported that the Vienna Town Council:
"Heard a plea from Assembly of God Church minister Craig Burns for more speed and courtesy rules enforcement along the Washington & Old Dominion Trail. Burns, a marathoner who regularly jogs on the trail, said bicyclists increasingly are dispensing with audible warnings that alert pedestrians to their approach. Burns said he once was struck from behind by a bicyclist, who then offered no apology. Cyclists' behavior changes markedly when police are present, as with the Vienna farmers' market on summer Saturdays, he said. Burns rejected a suggestion from Council member Maud Robinson, who said her late husband, Mayor Charles Robinson, used to carry sticks with him on the trail."
September 24, 2006
Maud's Apologists Whine Up a Storm Comments (3)
Don't Talk About Maud,
I Need My Building Approvals!
This site and many of the people who participate with comments have diametrically different political views, ethics and morals compared to Maud Robinson. The case is made over an assortment of issues.
However, we are learning that there are a handful of weenies running around every chance they get complaining that this site is picking on a little old lady. Isn't that a convenient retort? We should feel sympathy just because she happens to be 80 something? We could care less her age. A bad leader is a bad leader - regardless of age. She doesn't want the heat, step down.
We will make it real clear: If you are tired of seeing Maud Robinson savaged politically (and apparently there are some of you out there), remove her from power. As long as she sits there in control of Vienna, acting with an iron fist and questionable ethics, this site will expose her politically at every opportunity it can.
And for any of you long time residents, wasn't it nice when Charlie was still here and she was kept under wraps? Now, she has reduced Vienna government to a club of busy bodies and pet projects. One day change will come...
September 21, 2006
So We Want Video Now? Comments (4)
At another post tonight, this comment was made:
"If one is to be "Open", then one is not to shy away from the camera. Public Meetings SHOULD be televised. Vienna is a Grand Example. We have many older voters here who do not drive, and simply cannot get out at night to attend meetings. As a local government it is reasonable and fair to them that we should offer an alternate way of communication."
Maud and Jane don't want video. We all got short-term memory loss here? These clowns tried to BAN it last year. How hard is it to put up video? Not hard at all. A teen could do it with a few hundred bucks.
Better yet, ask the Town Clerk and Town Staff in the Planning Office how many days a week they spend transcribing minutes. Upwards of several days each! That is idiotic. They could simply use some basic digital equipment to record all meetings, put it all online for everyone to hear instantly and save the Town thousands of dollars.
Why is this not done? These people know that they will never be elected again once they are exposed. No more showing up in pajamas and disheveled looking half in the bag on a jug of wine. The whole no video thing is plain gross arrogance. One day Maud you will be on TV and your political career will be an instant footnote.
September 14, 2006
Maud Says Wear a Belt! Comments (1)
There has been a run of recent attacks against women in the Vienna area and now another attack has just happened. While we have plenty of money for Town Greens in Vienna, we are cutting corners on the funding of Police protection. In all seriousness, we see Maud's response to the attacks as one of, "put a belt on."
Vienna, Va. (AP) - Police are investigating another assault on a woman in Fairfax. Fairfax County Police say late Sunday night, a 26-year-old Fairfax-area woman was assaulted near her home on the 3300 block of Willow Crescent Drive when a man approached her from behind. The suspect pulled down the victim's shorts, who then screamed and the suspect fled. The victim was not physically injured. This is the fourth such attack in Fairfax. The three prior attack occurred near the Vienna Metro station. Police describe the suspect as a Hispanic male in his twenties. He is about 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighs between 130 and 150 pounds. Police continue to ask anyone with information about these incidents to call Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS (8477) or the police non-emergency number at 703-691-2131.
September 08, 2006
Dissension within Town Staff Comments (0)
There is dissension within Town staff ranks these days. Why? In the early 1990s the Town Council built a new police building moving the police from their long-time basement location in Town Hall. Now all these years later the Town Council is moving police staff back into the basement at the Town Hall. This has all Town staff cramped back into one building. It is an example of extremely poor management. Does Maud have an explanation for this? Or does her preoccupation with the building of her personal Town Green monument blind her to the real world?
September 02, 2006
Chained to a Tree for Historic Vienna Inc. Comments (3)
Historic District Protest Reenactment
One of the tactics sanctioned by Maud's historic district lynch mob is the 'ole protestor chained to a tree routine'. No joke. We could not make this up. A few years back a new home was built at the corner of West and Windover in the historic district. The neighbor living across the street on West Street was so upset she chained herself to the tree on her neighbor's property. A Police file exists of the incident, but we have been unable to obtain it (More on the house in question).
Why is this all relevant? Very large trees are routinely cut down in the historic district to make way for new homes. Tom Stevens cut down one of the largest trees in the historic district to make way for his $10 million dollar super mansion. On the other hand, if the powers that be don't like you, they will argue all day long about the preservation of trees. Bottom line? There is no preservation of trees or homes going on in the historic district.
August 21, 2006
Maud Robinson Uses Her "No Condos" Platform to Control Race and Class in Vienna Comments (1)
Smile Maud, That's the Camera You Wanted to Ban
Vienna has no condos in its commercial section. It has several decades-old apartment complexes, but not one new condo has been built in Vienna. There is one reason for this: Maud Robinson does not want them. She has used her control in Vienna for over thirty years to achieve this end. First her husband as Mayor led the anti-condo campaign, now the 85-year-old Robinson leads the charge from her Council seat. Argue with those statements? We are sure a few cranks will try and "spin" away from the obvious truth.
The end result of Robinson's anti-condo effort?
1. She has single handedly forced seniors out of Vienna.
2. She has single handedly forced young people out of Vienna.
3. She has single handedly forced minorities out of Vienna.
Let's face it; Robinson has used her power over Vienna's zoning to legislate race and class in Vienna. Average hard working people don't have Robinson's wealth. Doesn't Robinson know any young people? There are plenty of young people who would love a condo in Vienna instead of being stuck everyday in 66W traffic headed toward Haymarket. Some condos in downtown commercial Vienna are a must.
August 07, 2006
Statistics Abuse from the Maud Machine Comments (6)
How Can We Spin the News Today?
A comment was posted tonight by someone called 'Math person':
Another comparison to Fairfax County to go along with Matthew Stich's: If you take the police department budget in the latest Town newsletter ($5.1M) and divide it by the approximately 15000 residents of Vienna, you get $340 in police spending per resident. Then take the combined police and sheriff spending in the FY07 budget for Fairfax County ($201M), divide it by the estimated 2006 county population (1.059M), and you get $190 per person. Given those numbers, it's pretty hard to argue that the Town government is underfunding the police.
'Math person' are you trying to say that the Vienna Police force is not competent? Those hard working men and women are quality people! Additionally, your misuse of statistics is transparent. Obviously, Maple/123 is a HUGE artery of traffic handling far more than Vienna residents. You did not add those tens of thousands of people into your calculations...which is not surprising. Our police are under funded and understaffed for the total volume of people they must handle - which far exceeds the base population of Vienna.
July 26, 2006
Vienna Reality: Accept or Reject Comments (13)
This post brought in feedback that we have posted here so it can be better seen:
So where did Maud say that about elderly housing? Just seeking the facts so I can make up my own mind.
We responded:
Have you seen Vienna? Do you realize that the collection of housing offerings available is under her direct control and has been for 50 years? Those are facts. What's not clear?
The response back came in today:
What is it that the Town should do to encourage the building of elderly housing? What specific actions has it taken that discourages it? This is an important issue, and I am ready to be educated. I am not in anyone's "camp," but would welcome a well-thought out reasoned argument on this issue. I see one constructive suggestion in the above posts (mixed residential/commercial use building). What is preventing that in Vienna? Is it a Vienna code? Is it county code? This is the type of information I would welcome. Your response of "do you realize that the collection of housing offerings available is under her direct control and has been for 50 years" is decidedly unhelpful.
Building and development in Vienna is controlled by Vienna Town code, not County code. Meaning what gets built, how big, what density, is all a choice made by Vienna. While this is governed under code enacted by the Vienna Town Council, the political reality is that what gets built in Vienna must be approved by Maud Robinson. This is the reality - she has the control. What does Maud want? Single family residential only. She is against anything else. It could be million dollar Town homes or condos, makes no difference, Maud is opposed to it. You said our original response was 'decidedly unhelpful'. Does this lengthier response make it clearer?
July 19, 2006
Elderly Housing in Vienna? Over Maud's Dead Body! Comments (15)
From The Examiner today:
Fairfax County - Though housing sales are slowing, one developer is planning nearly 1,000 new residential units for a growing Fairfax County market: seniors. Peterson Companies has proposed 989 "age-qualified" condo and villa units within the Dulles Discovery project on Route 29. Homeowners can be no younger than 55, and no permanent residents below the age of 18 are allowed. It's hardly a niche market in a county projecting that its population of 55-to-64-year-olds will expand by nearly 20,000 people in the next 10 years. Jim Todd, president of Peterson Companies, said he expects developers to become increasingly interested in building age-qualified units. "Our aging working population is a very strong part of the growth. That's why you see builders going that way," he said. The units are part of a mixed-use rezoning proposal that will come before the Fairfax County Planning Commission in November.
Don't ever expect to have such in Vienna. Maud Robinson could care less about those people who don't have her kind of money. Through her words and actions she has said clearly that this kind of housing will not exist in Vienna over her dead body.
July 18, 2006
Vienna No Longer #4; Drops Like a Stone Out of Top 100 Comments (9)
Money Magazine must perceive big problems in Vienna to drop it from #4 to out of their top 100 in the span of one year. Their 2006 rankings are in and Vienna is gone from the best places to live. Maud Robinson and Jane Seeman must have thought no one would notice their out of control behavior over the last year. People noticed.. Is everyone grasping what their mindless leadership over the last year ultimately means to the value of their homes? Maybe the Mayor will go post her feelings about the drop at her son's blog.
July 01, 2006
Lost in Space (& Out of Touch) Comments (7)
The Classic TV Series Exists Here in Vienna
Here is a recent comment in the Town newsletter from Vienna's wealthiest Council Member Maud F. Robinson on Tysons Corner growth:
What will be the impact on Vienna from the proposed massive Tysons Corner expansion, a project that appears to be on the fast track regardless of Metro construction decisions and citizen concern? One hears this question with increasing frequency now that the MetroWest project is off the front page and town residents focus on a more proximate and visible challenge. I came away from a recent luncheon meeting, which featured a graphic presentation of the Tysons project, feeling very pessimistic about the impact on Vienna. Then I began to assess the strength of Vienna and its proven durability as a healthy, vibrant municipal entity with a Town Council and citizens committed to retaining its authentic and desirable small-town character. Resolved: Vienna, unlike the legendary isle of Atlantis, will not suddenly disappear or become an undefinable community area within the 400 square miles of Fairfax County. Voted by Money Magazine last year as the 4th best place in the nation in which to live, Vienna is not just a pass-through spot on Route 123 between Tysons Corner and Fairfax City. Not only is it a highly desirable residential community, it has an increasingly attractive and viable commercial core and, most important, a high level of citizen involvement at all levels of community life, in organizations, churches, schools, sports, local government and civic associations. It is this bedrock of citizen involvement that has made the Vienna of today and will preserve it in the face of developmental pressures, whether from without or within the town. What better way to assess Vienna's right to adequate representation on the Tysons Task Force, instead of the one member currently permitted under the guidelines established by the County, than the facts in the Town's Comprehensive Plan, adopted pursuant to state statute in April 2006? Numbers can be boring, but in this instance they describe a community on the border of Tysons Corner which has a sustained environment as a safe, family-oriented town with a sound fiscal posture. Our incorporated town, with a population of approximately 15,000, encompasses 2,821.90 acres (about 4 square miles). 76% of this acreage is residential (single-family dwellings, townhouses, apartments, duplexes and condominiums). 9.2% is commercial/industrial, and the remaining 14.8% includes parks and recreational use (334 acres) and governmental/institutional use. There exists a substantial variety of residential, particularly so for a town this size. What can all of us, Town Council members and citizens, do to impress on County officials Vienna's legitimate concerns and right to adequate representation in the ongoing Tysons Task Force study? Tysons is an economic engine for the entire county, but surely Vienna's input merits as much or more attention as that afforded Reston, Springfield and all other county areas. Mayor Seeman has tried repeatedly to obtain another seat at the table for Vienna, as have others. Even if we cannot mitigate the scope of the Tysons project, we can at least focus attention on its traffic impact on Vienna and rezoning pressures at our borders. I urge everyone to contact the Board of Supervisors - Vienna needs more places at the table, not a peek from the kitchen.
Vienna proper did not take home the #4 ranking. That ranking included 60,000 people, not only Vienna's 15,000 people, and encompassed much of the Tysons Corner you denigrate. Enough spin! Where is this wonderful commercial corridor you speak of in Vienna? Do you assume that every citizen in Vienna is plain dumb and knows no better?
Mrs. Robinson, like most machine politicians, has an agenda. Her agenda is to just say 'no'. She has no alternative, no vision and no plan - other than to say 'no'. Well, that doesn't work and frankly seems silly in 2006. Attempting to stop Metro development did what? What was the reason for your opposition? We bet you were against the very train itself too, right? Now you want to stop something in Tysons Corner. What is it you seek to stop Maud? Time?
Vienna has little political respect in the County due to your obstructionist political ideals. With no real answers of your own, politicians across both isles in Fairfax County fully understand you are not a serious leader. They are not dumb. They all know you just want to sit in that Council chair and exert power. Fortunately for all of us, politicians who feed only on power eventually go by the wayside.
June 29, 2006
$10,000 to Charity for the Rules Comments (1)
How About Helping to Fight Cancer Mrs. Robinson?
If Maud Robinson can explain the precise and objective rules of the Windover Heights Historic District, a Vienna citizen has informed this web site that they will donate $10,000 to the American Cancer Society in Maud's name.
This means Maud must explain the exact guidelines that the Review Board uses to approve or disapprove a color choice, building material choice, design choice or landscaping choice. Specifically, if a resident proposes a blue house, how does the Board determine blue is good or bad as compared to red or orange or whatever color, etc.
We call this challenge the 'honesty test'. Can Mrs. Robinson pass?
June 19, 2006
Fast and Loose with Freedom of Information Comments (1)
Recently we posted the results of a freedom of information inquiry into Maud Robinson's 2006 economic interests. We then decided to seek her statement of economic interests from 2001-2005 to check for conflicts (those will be posted soon). The Town of Vienna delivered the requested records, but the records had a problem, they were edited.
It seems someone at Town Hall decided to 'white out' Maud Robinson's phone number on the documents. You might say, 'No big deal, so what.' Yes, it is a big deal. Complete, unedited Town records are open to inspection by ANYONE. Town employees, or whoever, are not allowed to unilaterally decide that some aspect of a record is 'private' based on their subjective whim at that moment. Town employees and Town Council members must operate under State law. They don't get to make up the law as they go. Better yet, if forced to talk, would we find someone in Town Hall was ordered to do this by Maud?
And that is why this seemingly innocuous act is so important. Maud Robinson over 50 years has crafted a culture of elitism that seemingly floats outside of any boundary. Altering records shows clearly, in yet another way, the disdain that the Vienna Town Council and Vienna Town Staff have for the rule of law. It's their country club and who are we to tell them how to run things.
Guess what? They rolled over. The Town has now agreed to provide the complete and unedited documents while not explaining why the records were edited in the first place. They did offer Robinson's phone number in an email response and said that her phone number was listed in the phone book. That's brilliant, why were the documents edited then?
Lastly, whoever decided to redact Maud's phone number must be oblivious to what happens when you type in the phrase 'Maud Robinson Vienna' in Google. By George, it's a phone number!
This is not the first time Town Hall has played games with public records.
June 15, 2006
Maple Avenue/123 Closed Comments (0)
Maple Avenue/123 is closed today both ways due to a sewer pipe rupture. The pipe also happens to lie next to a major gas line. If you want to be mad at anyone, make it the elected officials who have most likely dropped the ball on maintenance. However, don't blame the police and public works crews, they did not cause it and they are stuck fixing it! And after talking to the guys out there working on it, it might be a good while before it is all fixed.
Think about this: we now have a multi-million dollar Town Green, but our sewer infrastructure is rotting out. Maud enough of the pet projects, take care of the basics. How much money did this cost businesses today? Seriously, what will be the total economic loss from this? Vienna's political machine sure messed up the lives of tens of thousands of Fairfax County residents today.
Looking Toward Tysons on 123 at 5PM
In Front of Magruders - Ruptured Sewer Line
June 09, 2006
Maud's Private 1-Acre Parking Lot Comments (3)
Look at this picture.
With all of the problems Vienna has with parking crunches, and given the huge increase in property values in Vienna that makes 1 acre of land worth far more than a million dollars, why would the owners of this parking lot, a lot that is ALWAYS empty, be willing to sit still and do nothing with their property for 30+ years?
Mrs. Robinson you live next door, got an answer? Are you penalizing this property owner for your own selfish reasons? This property is more than twice the size of the upcoming Town Green! Is this a good use of land? An empty asphalt 1-acre lot?
Maud Likes Asphalt Everywhere. We Don't.
June 08, 2006
Maud Robinson Wants 'Rich' Post Removed Comments (1)
Maud Robinson apparently sent out John Sekas, one of Vienna's prominent builders and a man who has to appear before her for approvals regularly, to personally lobby for the removal of this post. We are learning more and more about who scratches who's back and how hard in little ole Vienna. What a machine!
Will Maud Ever Graduate from Playground Bully?
June 05, 2006
Maud & Jane Still Have Your Norfolk Pattern Book? Comments (4)
Maud Robinson and Jane Seeman, while facing down the barrel of historic district lawsuits and playing games with Maple Avenue's revitalization, have had a little document in their possession for several years now. What is that document? It is the City of Norfolk's A Pattern Book for Norfolk Neighborhoods. In fact, they have bragged about how great this document is (when you click on link above each section has a detailed PDF to download). Unfortunately, like everything in Vienna, their excitement was short-lived and fleeting. It's not that Vienna politicos don't know the 'right' way. They know their way is backward. The problem? The current powers that be don't have the skill to implement anything, work solely to keep their political power and plain just don't care. They are lazy AND manipulative. Lazy is too strong of a word you say? What would you call someone who has the above document and does nothing with it? Why can't Vienna implement good ideas from other jurisdictions?
May 31, 2006
How RICH Is Maud Robinson? VERY! Comments (7)
Damn, It's Nice to Be Stinking Rich When My 'Subjects' Don't Know!
Maud Robinson has carefully crafted an "of the people" political persona. Nothing flashy. Seemingly just average with a modest house, etc. Just like all of us, eh?
Not so fast. Maud Robinson is a multi-millionaire AT A BARE MINIMUM. She appears to have far and away more wealth by a country mile over any other Town Council member or Board member.
So for all these years, while she has practiced class warfare, railed against so-called developers' greed and used the financial success of others against them at every chance she could, it turns out that Maud is a big-time hypocrite when it comes to wealth.
Review Maud Robinson's Stock & Bond Holdings (PDF).
1. Maud has 43 investments valued at between $10,000 and $50,000 each.
2. Maud has 22 investments valued at over $50,000 each.
At a bare minimum, excluding her RS-10 zoned 30,000+ sq. ft. property (worth over $1M), Robinson has, if assuming the LOWEST range of security values (which is highly unlikely), $1.5M in stocks and bonds alone.
It is easy to see Maud Robinson with a net worth of $5 Million+.
May 20, 2006
The Chewbacca Defense: Maud's Secret Weapon Comments (1)
The Master of the Chewbacca Defense
The logical fallacy of Ignoratio elenchi (or the use of a "red herring") is pervasive within the power core of Vienna government. An especially good example can be seen in the use of The Chewbacca Defense [Wikipedia definition]. The Chewbacca Defense is a FAVORITE of Maud Machine members. What is the Chewbacca Defense? Watch the Video. Examples of the Maud Machine using some form of the Chewbacca Defense?
Statement #1: Vienna needs economic revitalization in its commercial corridor. Form-based codes will assist greatly.
Chewbacca Defense: Vienna just replaced a gas station with a bank. Vienna just tore a building down to create a Town Green. Everything is fine and growing!
Statement #2: Vienna needs economic revitalization in its commercial corridor. Form-based codes will assist greatly.
Chewbacca Defense: Quit trying to scare people. This is my neighborhood and it deserves to thrive. Quit the rumors and let the shopkeeper's businesses continue their success. I like this community and I like the diversity - ethnically and economically. If you can't handle it, MOVE. I like the affordable services and the racially and ethnically diverse population. I'm not for a white gentrification of Vienna. Keep up the good work, incumbents. Praises to Seeman and Cole - who seem to be targets by small minds.
Statement #3: Vienna needs economic revitalization in its commercial corridor. Form-based codes will assist greatly.
Chewbacca Defense: Since [Susan] Stich and [Blair] Jenkins were such ardent advocates of form based zoning, we can only surmise that it is something that will be BAD for the town and a tool for permitting the detrimental development that [various Vienna residents] want to carry out throughout all of the neighborhoods where their vast land holding [sic] lie.
Statement #4: Vienna's historic district is unconstitutional.
Chewbacca Defense: Let's vote to see if everyone wants it.
Statement #5: Vienna's historic district is unconstitutional.
Chewbacca Defense: You are rich developers who want to build hotels.
Statement #6: Vienna needs to embrace younger generations and their views.
Chewbacca Defense: You hate old people. Elections are over. Stop the personal attacks. You lost. Get over it. When you're 85 (if you're lucky enough to live that long), you'll probably rail against age-prejudiced comments such as those you just made. You'll no doubt ignore this advice, but remember that your sense of immortality is a fleeting thing.
NOTE: Chewbacca Defenses for #2, #3 and #6 (except for first sentence) REALLY are verbatim from Maud Machine members. The others are paraphrased from actual statements.
May 17, 2006
Boss Maud Rails Against Maple Avenue Comments (1)
The jig is up Maud. Video of your out of touch rants from last night will be posted here soon. There will come a day when your handful of blind followers will be gone and Vienna will finally be able to maximize itself. You have become a sad spectacle. Unfortunately, only very few Vienna citizens see you in action. Bitter, angry and spreading wild rumors only works so long Maud.
May 13, 2006
New 50-Story Condo Tower Coming Soon Comments (0)
"Maud You Always Promised to Protect Us From
People Getting Rich!"
There is a new rumor going around. Listen close. It seems 'certain' residents of the Windover Heights Historic District are planning to combine all of their properties into one large parcel. They then plan to build a 50-story condo tower with a Hooters on the top floor. They will become very RICH by doing this. It will ruin Vienna! Everyone must rally behind the historic district and Maud, as they are our only hope to stop those evil people from getting rich and destroying Vienna! What really scares us is their pending lawsuit. Can you believe that, a LAWSUIT that says our historic district is unconstitutional! It all sounds SO scary.
May 05, 2006
Boss Maud and the Robinson Machine Comments (0)
Richard J. Daley & Maud Robinson:
Kissing Cousins
We have seen a continuing post-Election banter back and forth. It goes something like this:
"Go away now! The incumbents won big, that means we are right!"
And the response by the other side:
"Vienna needs to get beyond just sitting still. Vienna needs to address today's world!"
The reality? Vienna's election revealed little. It did not make a difference who the incumbents were or who the challengers were. You could have had all "no name" incumbents and they would have won. You could have had all "no name" challengers and they would have lost.
What do the results really reveal? Boss Maud Robinson controls 800-1200 votes who will do anything she tells them to do. Most of these folks have known Maud for literally 30-50 years. These voters are not focused on issues or philosophies or web sites. They simply vote as they are told. To achieve that level of political machinery is quite an achievement. The 2006 Elections revealed only that Maud Robinson's machine is well oiled and lubed to precision.
The leaders in the Maud machine, however, do worry about the content of this site. Too much truth will eventually cause trouble for even the most skilled politicians.
April 19, 2006
The Big Lie: Lie Big and Stick to It Comments (0)
The big lie that Maud Robinson sticks to is that the Windover Heights Historic District is about "preservation". This is a lie. Yes, the only word to use is lie. Consider video from April 17, 2006 Town Council public hearing:
Still shots of Maud Robinson at the meeting in question:
None of this is funny. It is sad.
April 13, 2006
Where Have You Gone, Joe DiMaggio? Comments (2)
Sitting on a sofa
On a Sunday afternoon,
Going to the candidates' debate,
Laugh about it,
Shout about it,
When you've got to choose,
Every way you look at this you lose [Mrs. Robinson].
Where have you gone, Joe DiMaggio?
A nation turns its lonely eyes to you
Ooo ooo ooo.
What's that you say, Mrs. Robinson?
Joltin' Joe has left and gone away,
Hey hey hey, hey hey hey.
April 09, 2006
Correlation Is Not Causation Comments (0)
What is Maud Robinson's favorite technique to justify the Windover Heights Historic District? Robinson loves to point out the expensive, new homes built in the District. In her world of political spin, the new homes are the direct result of the District. Robinson knows this is BS. She knows correlation is not causation.
There are no more new million-dollar homes in the historic district than other areas of Vienna. In fact, there are many run down homes in need of demolition in the District that would have otherwise already been torn down in other areas of Vienna. After what Robinson, Lovelace and Cole did to this homeowner, people are afraid of becoming the next historic lamb. This all comes down to Maud Robinson's censorship of our choices:
"The economic arguments for historic preservation rules-that they foster community benefits like urban renewal, local business growth, and rising property values-falsely presume that a political elite knows better how to manage property than do the individuals who actually own the properties. And supplanting the aesthetic choices of the property owner with the edicts of the historical commission isn't just bad economics; it's censorship. The government has no more business imposing aesthetic controls on our buildings than it does on our clothes or our cars."
Unfortunately Vienna is one big step worse than so-called "aesthetic controls". Vienna has no specific controls. Vienna's rules are made up on the fly and are different at every meeting.
April 05, 2006
The Historic Register Scam Comments (1)
What would you do if you were Maud Robinson? She wants the Windover Heights Historic District REAL bad, but she has a problem. She knows that it is a joke. She knows that it will be declared unconstitutional. She knows that she is wasting tax dollars to defend multiple lawsuits. She also knows that there is a long history of deception with all that is so-called "historic" in the Town of Vienna.
What do we mean? At one point in the history of the Vienna historic district charade the Town created a "historic register". This was to put a "historic marker" on so-called historic structures and places. Sounds plausible right? One big problem. There are no rules. There are no guidelines to get on the Vienna historic register. And last, but not least, it is 100% voluntary.
Here are the three pages that constitute the register: (1), (2), (3).
Any real historic preservation professional at the National Trust for Historic Preservation or at the Virginia Department of Historic Resources would laugh at this ordinance. What's the bottom line? If you want a historical marker for your house you can get one and join the club. The Town doesn't turn down anyone and there is no rationale to deny anyone a marker. What's the big problem with this? In the abstract, not much. A few busy bodies want to pretend they are "historic" and the Town recognizes them with a special plaque. But here is where it gets fun. Watch what Maud Robinson does with a voluntary and meaningless "register".
Every five years the Town of Vienna issues a Comprehensive Plan. It is a tightly worded document designed to lay out a Vienna vision in terms of planning and zoning for the next 5 years. In the Town's zeal to make it seem like they are "historic" they have added the voluntary register that accepts everyone to the 2006 Comprehensive Plan. They have positioned this register as meaningful and documented. It is neither.
Here is the excerpt from the 2006 Comprehensive Plan (PDF)
We asked Maud about this register in the context of the 2006 Comprehensive Plan. Watch her response:
Maud confirms the voluntary nature of the register:
We repeat: Maud Robinson will do anything to make it seem there is some grand historicity in Vienna. The register is one big scam to prop up the notion that the Town of Vienna is all things historic. Remember when Vienna actually did have a structure on a National Historic Register? Moorefield was on the register with the National Trust, but Maud engineered its demise and destruction. Little commentary is needed from us. Maud and her wanna be historic cronies sink themselves with their words and deeds. This site simply keeps tab on the ruse.
Oh, we almost forgot. Guess who plays a role in the historic register process? That would be the infamous Laine Hyde who once complained through her attorney that this site was damaging her "social standing" in the Town. Imagine that. You work like hell behind the scenes to mess with people's lives, you get caught with your hand in the cookie jar, and people then look at you funny causing a decline in "social standing". Try not to chuckle at all of this.
March 19, 2006
Vienna Faces A Choice: Maud or the Real World Comments (2)
Maud Robinson Prefers 1960s Style Strip Malls. Why?
Monday night at a Vienna Town Council work session, the Vienna Town Council discussed the Maple Avenue Vision with an engineering firm proposing a feasibility study for the revitalization of Maple Avenue. During the meeting Vienna's abundance of one-story strip malls was broached and the comparison was made to Clarendon's new low-rise Market Common development. Watch carefully (video) what Maud Robinson has to say about this jewel of Clarendon:
Robinson states on the video:
"...it was very hard to find anyone there on a beautiful sunny day, there were a lot of glitzy shops that didn't seem to have any customers."
This can only be characterized as propaganda. Why would she say something so patently false? It would not be over the top to characterize Robinson's statements as lies. Not only is this development packed with people, restaurants and shops, it has won substantial awards. Does this mean we accept it all for Vienna blindly? No. But why does Robinson have the need to make things up to defend her position? Is her only political skill "fear mongering"?
For example, in defending Vienna's older strip malls, Robinson says they are good for "mom and pop" shops. Last we checked Vienna strip malls housed the likes of Giant, Safeway, Popeyes, Radio Shack, 7-Eleven, Subway and the list goes on and on. Strip malls are ugly, pedestrian unfriendly, parking lot choked eyesores. However, Vienna does not have to be stuck. There are options.
For those not familiar with Market Commons, here are some pictures:
Market Commons in Clarendon, VA
Market Commons in Clarendon, VA
Market Commons in Clarendon, VA
We are assuming Robinson, who is now on the record as favoring 1960s strip malls, would much rather keep this Vienna eyesore of a landmark:
Vienna Strip Mall: An Example of Maud Robinson Preferred Devleopment
Is anyone paying attention to what Maud Robinson is actually saying and doing? The people of Vienna have a clear choice: follow Maud Robinson and likes of Laurie Cole down dead ends OR accept the real world and make Vienna a better place.
Vienna Strip Mall: An Example of Maud Robinson Preferred Devleopment
March 12, 2006
"Historic Church Street" Signs: A Farce Comments (2)
New signs have been appearing around Church Street in Vienna. The signs seem to be everywhere and all point in the general direction of "Historic Church Street". What does that mean exactly? Does that mean the new building that just replaced Vienna's first fire department is "historic"? Or maybe the new brick sidewalks are "historic"? Perhaps the caboose brought in during the 1980s, that is "historic"? Is the brand new Vienna Presbyterian Church "historic"? Is the new building that houses Nielsen’s Frozen Custard "historic"? The auto-parts store, that is "historic"? Maybe, the building on the corner of Church and Center Street set for demolition at any moment, that must be "historic"?
Of course, Church Street is not historic. Nothing on the Street, except maybe the Freeman Store, is even remotely "historic". And the Freeman Store is not on any historical registers, nor is it in a historic district. Why all the wordsmithing with the word "historic"? That ladies and gentleman is how Vienna Town Council Member Maud Robinson operates. The truth doesn't matter to her. She wants to pretend Church Street is historic, so she will do and say everything that makes the ruse stick. Why does Robinson spend so much time creating "fake" historicity in Vienna?
March 04, 2006
Mayor Charlie Robinson Says Put Me In Comments (0)
Back in 1985 former Vienna Mayor Charlie Robinson (Maud Robinson's husband) spoke against letting a property out of the District. Listen to his argument:
Does anyone in Vienna beyond Maud Robinson believe this today in 2006? Does anyone believe after the 20 years of cronyism that unfolded following those words from Mayor Robinson that the District places no hardships on property owners? Is Maud Robinson willing to put her house in the Windover Heights Historic District and back up her husband's words?
February 23, 2006
The Maud Robinson Political Machine Comments (0)
After the Planning Commission voted last night 5-3 to deny a petition to have a property removed from the Historic District, Maud Robinson "dressed down" one of the 3 Commission members who voted to allow the property out of the District. Can you imagine being on the Commission, asking fair questions and voting your conscious, only to have Maud yell at you? You can never underestimate the nastiness of Maud Robinson. Sadly, while many people may have fond memories of Mayor Robinson (her husband), Maud Robinson is not a close facsimile of the former Mayor. It is time for Maud Robinson to retire and move on.
February 10, 2006
Demolition: Maud Robinson Style Comments (0)
How does Maud Robinson promote "preservation" in the Windover Heights Historic District? Can you spell demolition? Here is some great video (MPG):
This video was shot today February 9th. It is yet another house receiving 'Vienna style historic preservation'! What's the point of the Historic District if this is legal and approved by Maud Robinson? If you can blow every house up like this - why have a District?
Before "Preservation":
After "Preservation":
February 03, 2006
Enter the Spin (Twilight) Zone Comments (0)
While the Chairman of Windover Heights Board of Review recently resigned under pressure, he had no shortage of defenders in the 'Spin (Twilight) Zone':
"The barrage of insinuation and innuendo recently directed toward Mr. Bukont is reprehensible. I am very sorry that he and his family have been subjected to it. There is always room for civil discourse concerning different views in public affairs. But insidious, unfounded attacks on a person's integrity are beyond the pale of civil debate."
Laurie Cole, January 30, 2006
"It bothers me that we have to lose people in this way."
George Lovelace, January 30, 2006
"I feel firmly that tolerance is at an end."
Maud Robinson, January 30, 2006
On December 6, 2005 in full view of Town Staff and numerous Town residents, then Chairman of the Windover Heights Board of Review Steve Bukont called citizens, "f**king morons".
Why are three Town Council members defending such behavior? We doubt Laurie Cole would be flowing with praise if she had the f-bomb whipped at her. Or is that type of talk 'civil discourse' for Cole? Or better yet, does this video represent the 'civil debate' Cole speaks of?
Mrs. Cole it is not 1950. It is 2006. You can't sit up there on your podium and throw political spin out expecting it to stick unrebutted.
December 13, 2005
Can You Imagine Maud Robinson Under Oath? Comments (0)
This site firmly establishes the Windover Heights Historic District as a fraud. Disagree? Watch this rambling diatribe from Council Member Maud Robinson:
The Vienna Town Code, the law that governs the Historic District, does not speak to "flights of fancy". It doesn't mention "Victorian". The code doesn't say that when you want to justify new construction to run off to the library for "rules". Robinson knows that every word she utters is baseless. She knows she is making it all up. She knows the Windover Heights Historic District makes no reference to the age or character of the structures within the District's boundary. That still doesn't stop Robinson from manipulation and deception. Can you imagine Robinson under oath?
Jane Seeman exposes Robinson:
Maud Robinson: A Severe Problem with the Truth
December 05, 2005
Who Is Telling the Truth? Comments (0)
In 2005 Council Member Maud Robinson on "color":
In 2005 Windover Heights Board of Review Chairman Steve Bukont on "color":
One is clearly not telling the truth. Why should residents of Vienna tolerate officials in power playing fast and loose with the truth?
November 29, 2005
Maud Robinson Questions Existence of the District Comments (0)
This web site is not the only voice declaring that it is time to go for the so-called historic district in Vienna. Maud Robinson (2004 video 10MG) discusses the possibility of disbanding the Windover Heights Historic District with Steve Bukont.
Maud Robinson
Chuck Anderson of Capital Trade: Inconsistent Comments (0)
Charles Anderson of Capital Trade lobbied hard in 2004 for this house not to be built. Fortunately, he was stopped in his tracks and the rest of Vienna now benefits. But what is the real story with Chuck Anderson?
In 1997 he bought this little white house on the outside of the Windover Heights Historic District's boundary. He ripped this house down and built this new one in its place. Anderson's new house was then added to the historic district for no reason in 1998. His house was never reviewed - it was just added.
Now back to 2004 and watch this video of Anderson right after his public speech to keep 315 Windover from being built in the Windover Heights Historic District. Just so we are all clear: Anderson wanted to make sure 315 Windover was denied even though he never had to deal with an approval process for his new house.
Frank Lillis and Chuck Anderson
discuss how to keep 315 Windover
from building a new house.
The video also shows clear manipulation of the facts by Maud Robinson.
November 28, 2005
Robinson, Cole & Lovelace Vote to Lower Property Values; Is Your Home's Value at Risk from Them? Comments (5)
We recently wrote about Frank and Joan Lillis attempting to lower property values.
Unfortunately, they had backing from the Vienna Town Council in the form of Maud Robinson, George Lovelace and Laurie Cole. These members of Vienna Town Council voted in 2004 against the now completed $1.8 million dollar house. Here is the gorgeous new house:
Click to Enlarge
What sane person would vote against this house? Cole, Robinson and Lovelace did. They should be ashamed. They had no legal reason to vote against it. Here is the house torn down before the new one.
Next time you think about voting for Laurie Cole, Maud Robinson or George Lovelace don't forget their vote to lower property values. These three if left to their own devices would make your house worth less money. How can George Lovelace expect to get elected Mayor in 2006 campaigning to lower property values?
Here is the type of house Lovelace, Cole and Robinson would prefer at 313 Windover Avenue. Does any of this make sense?
Maud Says Time to Fish or Cut Bait Comments (0)
Watch the 2004 video of Maud Robinson proposing to "fix" the Windover Heights Historic District. She said this one year after two lawsuits were filed.
Interestingly, listen to what Steve Bukont says in 2005 (MP3). Does this make sense? Robinson says in 2004 it is time to fix it. Bukont says in 2005 it doesn't need fixing. We say this entire District is a sham.
Laurie Cole, Maud Robinson and
Historic District supporters Frank Lillis
and Paul Layer
Carte Blanche to Act? Comments (0)
Maud Robinson declared in 2005 that the Windover Heights Historic District gives carte blanche to act. Watch the video. If you have carte blanche, what is the point of a review board? If you have carte blanche why are some citizens turned down by the review board and council? Keep in mind that the word "Victorian" doesn't exist in Vienna law. Robinson appears to also have carte blanche in making up the law as she goes.
Carey Sienicki v. Maud Robinson Comments (0)
Carey Sienicki, who appears to have Town Council aspirations and residing at 427 Center Street, offered this 2005 statement on "color" in the Windover Heights Historic District:
Later on in 2005 Maud Robinson offered this statement on "color":
Make sense? We repeat: the Windover Heights Historic District is a 100% abuse of property rights.
Seeman and Robinson Fight Over District Comments (0)
Watch the 2005 video of Mayor Jane Seeman and Council Member Maud Robinson fight over the historic district. George Lovelace loves to say that the District has stood the test of time for 25 years. If that is so, why do these two women have such widely differing views of the law?
November 27, 2005
Laine Hyde: One of the Most Dishonest Citizens Ever in the Town of Vienna Comments (0)
Laine Hyde and Maud Robinson run Vienna's only political action committee 'Historic Vienna, Inc.' Don't let the little old lady, garden club spin fool you, utilizing this Town funded organization Hyde (230 Lovers Lane, NW) and Robinson have spent years carefully crafting a 'history' to buttress the existence of the Windover Heights Historic District. Why do this? This gives them the power to give their friends free rides along the approval process, but with people they don't like it gives them the power to harass.
Vienna Council Member Maud Robinson
Historic Vienna Inc., under Hyde's and Robinson's stewardship, puts on a walking tour within the Windover Heights Historic District every year. It is called the 'Walk on the Hill'. During the tour they hand out a brochure that purports to show the historical significance for each and every house in the District.
They do all this to convince people that the area comprising the Windover Heights Historic District is the same now as it was in 1850 (or whatever year they make up). The brochure and the Walk on the Hill are also designed to push their agenda that 'historical preservation' is taking place.
Unfortunately, there is clear evidence that 'history' for Hyde and Robinson changes every time they vote to demolish a house.
Example #1:
Inside the Walk on the Hill brochure from a few years back this entry was logged:
308 West. The original part of this residence is an 18th century log and brick cabin. The beams are still visible inside the house. The shaded, naturalized property is most appropriate to the old cabin.
Then under Hyde's leadership on the Windover Heights Board of Review, the house was razed on her vote. One day it's the 'historic cabin'; the next day it's two new houses. The brochure has since been edited by Hyde and Robinson to read:
308 West and 201 Windover. These two homes were built in 2000 and replace a single structure.
Isn't it amazing how the original story of the cabin just goes 'poof'? We propose the brochure to read:
308 West and 201 Windover. These two homes were built in 2000 and replace the so-called 'historic' cabin Laine Hyde voted to demolish.
Example #2:
Inside that same Walk on the Hill brochure this entry was logged:
316 Windover, known as 'Windover'. Built @1898 and enlarged @1909 by Mr. Whipple for his widowed daughter-in-law, who liked to entertain. There is still the huge tin tank in the attic that was used to gravity feed water to the rest of the house. During the Civil War a round log house was said to house officers.
Then under Hyde's leadership (and her vote) on the Windover Heights Board of Review, the house was demolished to any recognizable extent and expanded to 15,000 square feet. One day it's the 'historic tin tank', the next day it's the largest house ever built in Vienna...and no more tin tank!
The brochure has since been edited by Hyde and Robinson to read:
316 Windover, known as 'Windover'. Built @1898 and enlarged @1909 by Mr. Whipple for his widowed daughter-in-law, who liked to entertain. During the Civil War a round log house was said to house officers. Extensive renovations of the house and gardens in 2003-4.
Extensive renovations? Give us a break! Anyone with a heartbeat living in Vienna saw what happened. They built a brand new house. Gardens? There were no gardens.
Mrs. Robinson the next time you wave this brochure in the air at a Council meeting declaring it the inventory for the Windover Heights Historic District, well at least now the citizens of Vienna will more fully understand your manipulations, spins and half-truths.
November 25, 2005
Maud Robinson: Preservationist? Comments (0)
Maud Robinson: Preservationist? Not even close:
"The home at 316 Windover contains a tin tank in the attic, which once provided the water supply for the house."
Maud Robinson's 1991 Press Kit Highlighting Vienna's Historic District
While Robinson once spoke highly of the old-time plumbing system for 316 Windover in a PR campaign to make the Windover Heights Historic District appear legitimate, her lack of actual preservation now leaves the tin tank sitting outside: view the tin tank.
Robinson added in PR campaign:
"Part of the structure at 308 West Street is log and chink, which dates back to the 1700's."
The house Robinson refers to was torn down in the late 1999. Does anyone remember Robinson standing up to save the "log and chink"? Two brand new houses stand there now. Nice job of preservation Maud!
November 23, 2005
Maud Robinson Makes Up the Rules Comments (0)
One of the problems with Vienna's so-called Historic District is that there are NO rules. Here is what Maud Robinson says:
"You have carte blanche. To do a very basic analogy it’s sort of like making a pot if you are a potter. In a certain form. Ok. We have the Queen Anne form. Then after you get the pot made you can put any kind of decoration on it that you want. I can find nothing that absolutely forbids what Mr. Haight did…we might consider what Mr. Haight could have done and no one could have stopped him. If he had on a whim or flight of whimsy decided to paint that house in red and orange stripes, he could have done it and there is nothing in the code that says he could not have done it. I have respect for the Board, I believe the board is an essential component of keeping the historic district intact, but I sincerely feel in this case they went a little overboard. I feel they are applying contemporary standards or interpretations to Victorian when we are talking about a period from 1837-1901."
Maud Robinson
If a resident has carte blanche (which is a falsehood since Robinson has voted against applications) what is the point of a review board? Where did this period 1837-1901 come from? The largest most expensive home ever built in Vienna is in the District. It was built in 2003.
This is all nonsense.
Maud Robinson Sounds Off Comments (0)
Maud Robinson's recent words:
"We have talked about this a lot, but we have never done anything. The time has come to fish or cut bait. If we care about the historic district, if we think the ordinance is deficient let’s move ahead and do something. I would move that this matter, that a work session be held at the earliest possible date on the Windover board of review ordinance to examine it closely to see if it has any deficiencies and I would further invite members of the historic district who live up there, interested, concerned individuals to feel free to submit to the council any suggestions they have as to how to rectify any deficiencies the ordinance may have."
Interestingly, not long after Robinson said that, the Chairman of the Historic Review Board Steve Bukont said this:
"I have been advised by the Town Attorney to um…given that there is pending litigation that involves this board to wait for the resolution of that litigation so that the Town can advise us which direction they would like us to go. But they saw no need at this time to do that. They felt the ordinance was quite adequate as drafted and um we are welcome to make recommendations on our own but as far as the Town was concerned, that being the Town Attorney’s office, the ordinance stands and is quite adequate as it exists."
Why the contradiction between Robinson and Bukont?
It makes you wonder if Steve Bukont has now changed his tune to protect his multi-million dollar business...a business that depends on Maud Robinson's vote.
