Hobbit Holes: The Answer To Arlington's Problems?
A dearth of ideas from Arlington County Board candidates
We don’t blame you for not watching any of the Arlington County Board debates. You have important things to do like perfecting your Zoom call background bookshelf or googling COVID symptoms in a panic or finding a carnival to sell your children to. Fear not, we have brought you the highlights.
Your Arlington County Board special election candidates:
Takis Karantonis, Democrat
Susan Cunningham, Independent (“Progressive Independent” according to her)
Bob Cambridge, Republican / Lovable Grandpa
Allow us to summarize ninety percent of the debate content below. Simply think of an issue and plug it into the following template:
Question: There has been a lot of discussion about Issue X recently. As a county board member, what would you do about Issue X?
Answer (if Takis or Susan): Issue X is very important and and we really need to start looking at it. If we did Issue X, we would have to do a lot of planning first, and look at it through an equity lens. Lastly, we must make sure there is more community engagement.
Answer (if Bob): Well, I don’t really know that much about Issue X. I’m really just here to get the message out. Back in the Seventies, <accidentally mutes himself>
Now for the highlights.
Chamber of Commerce debate
There was not a single interesting question in this debate. In the midst of a pandemic, an upheaval against racist policing, and a climate crisis, The Chamber asked bloodless questions like “If you could repeal one regulation, what would it be?” The debate was a one hour long Zoom call and had no less than 4 corporate sponsors. It was moderated by former ARLNow editor Alex Korma, who kept airpods in the whole time, we assume to listen to something more interesting. The Chamber of Commerce did not think policing or racial justice merited a single question.
The only memorable event was when Bob mentioned his “underground housing” solution for the first time. Think about it: if you build the house underground, you get to keep all that green space and it’s super insulated and eco-friendly. It was popular in the Seventies! Hobbit Holes for the Missing Middle.
Committee of 100 debate
It is called the Committee of 100 because to be a member, you must be at least one hundred years old. The chair, Lynn Juhl, awkwardly referred to the George Floyd protests as “the reform movement” and was sure to let us know he was looking at us through his “computer window.”
For the first question, candidates were allowed to come up with their own question that their opponents would have to answer. Takis went first, and rather than attempt to contrast himself with Susan and Bob, lobbed up a pathetic softball: “What is the most stressful part of campaigning?” We have heard from many people that see Takis as someone who will be a voice apart from the monolithic Board, but we haven’t seen any signs of it, in his politics or demeanor. It feels like he will fit right in.
There were a few notable answers. Takis supports body cameras for the police and a civilian review board. Susan wants to do a pilot on the body cameras, and did not give a clear answer on review boards. Bob is a yes on body cams, and a maybe on review boards. Takis was asked “what does ‘defund the police’ mean to you?” and he answered “Defunding the police is not a serious discussion.”
EcoAction Arlington Debate
Climate scientists have been telling us for years that we must take immediate and radical action to prevent runaway climate change. They are serious, it is very scary, and we have to get started now. All three candidates appear to believe this is true - but whatever neurons that belief resides in are not connected to anything else. There were no proposals for immediate or radical changes to be found. It was all platitudes about “innovation” and “working with partners.” No mention of municipalization or Community Choice Aggregation to bypass Dominion Energy’s dirty fuel sources. No mention of dramatically reducing Vehicle Miles Traveled, which is critical to meeting Arlington’s own climate goals.
Here’s what we did find out: No candidate supports blanket upzoning like Minneapolis is doing. Takis wants upzoning only if it is planned and along arterial roads. All candidates support a five cent plastic bag tax. Susan wants to make a “generational” investment in stormwater. Takis came out in support of the county manager’s stormwater proposal - apparently not buying Jane Green’s case that the plan disproportionately benefits single family homes in North Arlington (read: white and wealthy). Susan thinks the current county board does not hold the county attorney accountable vis-a-vis the Dillon Rule, a criticism shared by many local activists.
We didn’t mention Bob because Bob spent most of this debate more confused than usual. He did bring up underground housing for the third straight debate. He also turned himself into grass.
Three unsatisfying debates with three unsatisfying candidates. Takis sounds like he is ready to join the business-first orthodoxy of the current board, perhaps pulling it slightly to the left. Susan never made a case for why she was a “progressive” independent - we grade her as clearly to the right of Takis. Most of her criticisms were procedural and technocratic. And then there was Bob: totally unprepared, scatterbrained and rudderless. But he was good comic relief and even though we kept waiting for it to happen, he never said anything racist. Bob Cambridge for Lovable Grandpa 2020. And put this man in charge of the Underground Housing Commission.
I personally supported Susan because I thought she was super clear on the value of targeting indoor air issues. She provided me with information that helped me seek information from regarding HVAC in schools. She understood the problems with improving ventilation in schools but also the need to do so to make them safer. Schools would NEED county help to tackle this stuff. The lack of rigorous questions and leadership from Takis now should have been expected. Just following the "don't upset the apple cart" party line... I'm so disappointed there is not a single voice asking tough questions with what they are doing with their COVID-19 response. No one.