Bob Brink

9/11 NYC-Arlington Link Commemorated

bbrink — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 02:17:31 +0000

On Sunday the Fire Department of New York memorialized the tie between that city’s first responders and Arlington’s firefighters by presenting a beam from the World Trade Center to the Arlington County Fire Department. The ceremony was held at Fire Station #5 near Pentagon City; that station’s firefighters were the first to respond to the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon.

Should ABC Be Privatized?

bbrink — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 19:18:16 +0000

In the Washington Post on Sunday 8/15, I asked whether we have fully dealt with all the questions that need to be considered before we jump on the band wagon for privatization of the ABC liquor stores: “It’s 1934. Franklin Roosevelt is president, Prohibition has just been repealed, and Virginia (along with a number of other states) authorizes the sale of bottled liquor through a chain of state-owned and –operated retail outlets. They’re called ABC stores (for Alcoholic Beverage Control) and the emphasis is on the ‘C.’ Now, more than 75 years later Gov. Robert F. McDonnell (R) is proposing to sell off the state ABC stores to private interests. He promises to use the proceeds of the privatization to provide a one time windfall for Virginia’s cash-starved transportation system…..” Is this really a good deal for the Commonwealth? Read more.

Others have weighed in on the issue: my Charlottesville colleague David Toscano noted, “During campaign season, voters frequently hear the statement, ‘government ought to be run like a business.’ How many businesses do you know would be willing to eliminate a profit center that realizes some $118 million per year in net revenue and another $120 million in taxes for a price that is speculative and which may come with some undesired consequences? Well, that is exactly what the Commonwealth is considering doing if it embraces Gov. McDonnell’s proposal to privatize the ABC stores.”

On the other hand, Washington Post business columnist Steven Pearlstein claims that privatization “offers Virginians the rare opportunity of a free lunch.” Who can argue with a free lunch?

Government Reform Commission

bbrink — Tue, 06 Jul 2010 15:49:39 +0000

Governor McDonnell’s Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring, on which I serve, has scheduled a series of public town hall meetings to give Virginians a chance to present ideas on improving delivery of government services. The first town hall will be in Northern Virginia this Thursday (July 8th) from 2:00 to 3:30 PM at Capital One headquarters in Tysons Corner. Similar meetings are scheduled across the Commonwealth during the rest of July.

TOWN MEETING Saturday June 19th

afriedman — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 17:24:01 +0000

A town meeting is a form of democracy frequently used in the United States since the 1600s: people in a geographic area come together to discuss issues at a forum. It is often used as an opportunity for voters to ask questions of elected officials. And that is just what Senator Whipple, Delegate Hope and I are planning:

Town Meeting, Sat. June 19th 10:30 -11:30 AM: Westover Library, 1644 N. McKinley Rd., Arlington.

Priorities in education, transportation, the environment, health care and our community values are being questioned. It is time for us as a community to talk about what is important to us and what we must work to preserve. Please make your voice heard at the Town Meeting. If you can’t be there, send me an email to delbrink@comcast.net with your thoughts

Don’t forget to take my online survey on your priorities for State government priorities, resource allocation and financing.

Read my latest Newsletter: Report to the 48th District – News from the General Assembly

Take My STATE GOVERNMENT PRIORITIES SURVEY!

bbrink — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 13:36:27 +0000

Click HERE to take the survey!

Faced with declining revenues due to the Great Recession, Virginia is examining its priorities — the services state government should, can, and must provide to its citizens. As a member of the House Appropriations Committee as well as Governor McDonnell’s Commission on Government Reform and Restructuring, I want to know what you think. Please take a few minutes to give me your views on what the Commonwealth’s priorities should be — and how we should pay for them.

If the link above doesn’t work, just copy and paste this into your browser:

http://survey.house.virginia.gov/Survey.aspx?s=607ae39d26914aee86de06e15ff852c5

Thanks for your help!