Reston Citizen

I reported over on my other blog about the Washington DC entrepreneurial community about a company based in Reston that is bringing a few jobs into the area.  WorthPoint is a new web site (started around this time last year) to help answer peoples questions about certain collectables they may have.  If you are looking for a new job in the Reston area and have some entrepreneurial spirit in your blood, check out their jobs page.  The seem to be looking for people with a fair amount of experience already.

You better put those snacks away and visit http://www.restontriathlon.org/ to sign up of the 2008 Reston Triathlon to be held in September.  Registration started late yesterday night.

Fairfax Times is reporting today that Northern Virginia Stream Restoration, Inc will begin to clean up the streams in Reston that have undergone years of abuse due to development.  While the price tag for such an effort is reported for up to $70 million, you can breath easily as Reston residents will not have to pay a penny for the prettier streams.  Find out more information on the Fairfax Times article.

Sprint has confirmed it plans to layoff about 4000 people, as The Reston Citizen reported last week. The Wall Street Journal, who originally ran the story also claimed the Reston corporate headquarters would be moved to it’s operational headquarters in Overland Park, Kansas, but the company has remained silent on it’s intentions there.

Steve Fuller, an economist at George Mason University says this about the potential damage (or lack thereof) that would affect Reston and Fairfax County. Here’s what the Reston Times reports he said:

“Fairfax County has a 2.1 percent unemployment rate, we have a shortage of highly-qualified workers,” he said. Most former Sprint Nextel employees “would probably find a pretty good job if they wanted to,” he added.

As for the county’s reputation, Fuller said it’s economy is so strong that it would easily withstand the change. Fuller’s annual economic forecast for the county has a projected increase of 13,000 jobs, and its unemployment rate remains well below the national average of 5 percent.

The Reston headquarters of Sprint employees about 4500 people, which has lead to speculation about headquarters move. Sprint’s new CEO, has proposed large changes for turning the company around, including closing over 4,000 retail locations.

This 1767 painting by Joseph Wright of a mouse in an air pump provided inspiration for the play.
The Reston players open their second play of their acting season with comedy “Experiment with an Air Pump.”

“Experiment with an Air Pump” is a controversial comedy exploring issues such as medical ethics, passion versus love, and the evolving role of women.  The play is set in juxtaposed time periods of 1799 and 1999. Written in 1997 the play has won awards.

The play is directed by Adam Konowe and produced by Sue Pinkman and Laura Baughman.

“An Experiment with an Air Pump” runs on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00pm: January 18, 19, 25, 26, February 1, and 2. The opening night performance features a reception. Tickets can be purchased online.

On Thursday night, around midnight a 46 year old Ashburn woman was robbed in the Hyatt parking garage. The woman was entering her car when a man approached with a gun and demanded money. The victim complied and handed over an undisclosed sum of cash.

The victims where later seen exiting the parking garage in the 1800 block of Presidents Street. The suspects are described as black and 5 foot 9 inches, and weigh about 185 pounds.

A rendering of what one of the future Silver Line metro stations would appear like.

Despite meeting funding, ridership, and other requirements the Federal Transit Administration still might not fund the Silver Line extension to Wiehle Avenue. Here’s what the Washington Post says:

Officials with the Federal Transit Administration say they are concerned about the price tag and the specter of another Big Dig, the Boston project built by the same contractor in charge of the Dulles rail line, which took years longer and cost millions more than planned, according to the sources, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the negotiations are sensitive. In addition, the agency has been reluctant to promote large-scale transit projects.

The feds would be responsible for funding $900 million of the project, which is less that one fifth of the $5 billion price tag. Without the federal funding the project would be impossible.

While Metrorail to Dulles Airport is still possible, plans would need to be redrawn for Tysons Corner. Instead of having four stations in the heart of Tysons, the rail line would remain in Dulles Toll Road right of way, with a bus or light rail system making Tysons more pedestrian/transit friendly.

The FTA’s chief James S. Simpson was scheduled to meet with the head of the Metropolitan Airports Authority, owners of Dulles and National airport and the agency behind Silver Line construction. The meeting was canceled, and Virginia congressman are seeking a new meeting with Simpson to discus what exactly they view as wrong with the project.

The uncertainty of the project surprises many, since the project has met all requirements the FTA set. Meeting the requirements was not easy, nearly $300 million in features was slashed from the project.

A final decision on the projects fate will probably be made in February.

Mercury Watching the Shoppers, originally uploaded by trickybits.

Flickr user trickybits writes, “Mercury, the god of trade, profit and commerce. How fitting for Reston Town Center.” I’m not much up on my Greek mythology but his description sounds about right.

In a largely partisan vote, Republicans blocked legislation which would require subcommittee votes to be recorded so that citizens know what their representatives are voting for and against. In a letter sent to constituents, Ken Plum (D-Reston) wrote (reduced here for readability):

The General Assembly continues to cloak in secrecy some of its most basic decisions, those concerning the life or death of proposed laws. A bill to change this was defeated on a largely partisan vote during the very first hour the legislature was in session.

Two years ago, the GOP majority in the House of Delegates used its new power to change the legislative rules under which the House operated. Bills that went to subcommittee for evaluation could be killed there - with no recorded vote.

Constituents could find out not only what happened to a bill, but who made it happen. The old system provided openness and accountability.

Nearly 800 bills have been defeated anonymously. And there’s no telling what sort of bills your elected representative may have voted for in secret, in exchange for another delegates vote. Democracy and openness in government go hand in hand and thus should be a bipartisan issue, so why the need for secrecy?

The ultra-conservative Virginia Club for Growth, Virginia FREE, League of Women Voters, AARP, Virginia Education Association, and more supported this bill. But it was still struck down with only one Republican voting for the new rules.

A small Catholic girls school wants to relocate to a property in Reston. Oakcrest, a school of 200 students has outgrown it’s Chantilly location and recently purchased the property for $15 million. But the Reston Times reports on a possible issue to the schools move:

The school’s possible problem can be traced back to to the man from whom it bought the property – aspiring developer John Thoburn.

For about 20 years, Thoburn has tried various strategies to have the zoning laws for his property changed to allow more intensive residential and commercial uses, alienating neighbors and planning officials alike.

Generally here at Reston Citizen we are for development, but some locations just aren’t for it, and that includes the semi-rural area where the school would be built.

An attorney for Oakcrest believes the school will cause no problem, but who has such an antagonistic relationship with Fiarfax County might have issues. Complaints about traffic and safety concerns cause concern among neighbors, who view it as yet another scheme by Thoburn to increase density on his property.

The controversial libertarian was jailed for over 30 in days in 2001 over zoning violations including selling food on a property where that is prohibited.