How are these "breakfast" links? They should be called "Snack links."

by Vanmo96 on Jun 2, 2012 4:00 pm • link • report

Vanmo96: Thanks, you're right. We usually title Saturday's "weekend links." I missed that when editing. I've fixed it.

by David Alpert on Jun 2, 2012 4:12 pm • link • report

Yes, a bailout to rail developers because the same people wouldn't try to capitalize off of it if the silver line was a road instead? And why are the kochs coming out against businesses? Isn't that why they hate president Obama?

by Drumz on Jun 2, 2012 4:38 pm • link • report

If that really is all some can take away from the passing of Chuck Brown (which I don't believe has been mentioned the past two weeks) then perhaps he is right and it's time to "get over it."

by selxic on Jun 2, 2012 5:16 pm • link • report

I wonder if the Examiner or the WaTimes will be covering the Koch's calls? It's a good example of the shortsightedness that seems to go along with their version of libertarianism. I'm sure it would be different if they owned some components manufacturer that stood to benefit.

by Rich on Jun 2, 2012 10:40 pm • link • report

RE: Loudon, Conservatives, Silver Line
(and copying my comment on DCist)

Eh... who are "rail station developers"? You mean the same people that also build highways and develop land that's also not at rail stations? Because our businesses kind of have both of those markets covered.

by Bossi on Jun 3, 2012 12:24 am • link • report

Kwame divides, Brown unites

Sounds like Kwame's decided to run his stint in office straight out of Barry's playbook. Worked out great for the city the first time around; so good to see this carrying over to the next generation...

by oboe on Jun 3, 2012 10:47 am • link • report

The rail station developers are the developers that stand the make millions of dollars from the commercial development they plan to built adjacent to the 2 Silver line stations. None of the money they spend to build their project will go to building the Silver line.

The logic that Americans for Prosperity-Virginia is using is those projects will be subsidize by the presents of the Silver line stations at the expense of Loudoun County tax payers.

by Sand Box John on Jun 3, 2012 12:33 pm • link • report

None of the money they spend to build their project will go to building the Silver line.

Tysons has a special tax district such that land owners near the stations will pay $400M toward the silver line. But that's not enough considering how much money the landowners stand to gain. More should be raised through special tax districts and less through DTR tolls (which account for 50% of financing for both phases).

by Falls Church on Jun 3, 2012 12:54 pm • link • report

The Koch brothers represent the worst in industrial monocultures. Like all market competitors, they look for every advantage, but when they try to change the rules of the game by maintaining a status quo that would otherwise evolve organically, they begin to pose a drag on economic development. I'd encourage them to renovate more of the Smithsonian's museums and whatever else they chose to spend their money on, but when they try to pick winners through their economic weight, the spector of Teddy Roosvent and his monopoly busting policies come to mind. To make sure we continue our region's urbanization through smart growth policies, local governments ought to be educating their citizens to the costs and implications of transportation policies choices while going through with the smart ones they have. They're called smart for a reason.

by Thayer-D on Jun 3, 2012 2:54 pm • link • report

The rail station developers are the developers that stand the make millions of dollars from the commercial development they plan to built adjacent to the 2 Silver line stations. None of the money they spend to build their project will go to building the Silver line.

Not directly, no - but the tax revenue from that development will indirectly cover it.

The logic that Americans for Prosperity-Virginia is using is those projects will be subsidize by the presents of the Silver line stations at the expense of Loudoun County tax payers.

Those projects, the people living, working, and shopping in them will be Loudoun Co taxpayers.

Special assessments can capture some of the value as Falls Church mentions, but not all of it. That requires a different financing mechanism - good ol' regular government funding. We do it that way for a reason.

I don't seem to hear this Koch group calling other publicly funded projects as bailout for developers - are they saying that about road extensions? Sewer and water extensions? electric grid upgrades? They are not - just transit. Ergo, their argument is bunk.

by Alex B. on Jun 3, 2012 5:03 pm • link • report

@Falls Church, Alex B

I am not trying to defend Americans for Prosperity-Virginia, I am just identifying who they believe will benefit at the expense of Loudoun County tax payers.

by Sand Box John on Jun 3, 2012 7:57 pm • link • report

@Sandbox,
Do you believe the State of New York benefits from having NYC? Of course, as does all of Virginia benefit with a thriving northern Virginia. That's not to say some will benefit more than others,but that's true the moment you lay down a new (public funded) road or expand a bridge. Do one of those things by a healthy economy and you'll double your investment, and after 50 years of laying down the structure to enable sprawl, this rail investment seems not only timely, but long over due.

by Thayer-D on Jun 4, 2012 8:12 am • link • report

Sounds like Kwame's decided to run his stint in office straight out of Barry's playbook. Worked out great for the city the first time around; so good to see this carrying over to the next generation...

We clearly read two different articles. I don't see how bringing up the real fact that newer residents (like me) don't have love for go-go is tapping into some real "divide."

This dog-whistle of a blurb/posting criticizes brown for using a dog-whistle? Hunh????

Er, uhm, pork meet bacon.

by HogWash on Jun 4, 2012 11:29 am • link • report

Koch Bros robocalls: Like others, I fail to see the logic here. Since when do right-wingers oppose government handouts and bailouts to companies?

by Jasper on Jun 4, 2012 12:33 pm • link • report

Plenty of folks born in DC, and those who have moved here as adults, of all races, have never heard of Chuck Brown or listened to his music (I have!). It doesn't matter, though, people have different tastes & exposure to music. DC, however, has a problem with racism from the AA community. Some AA leaders stoke black-against-white racism. Is there anyone who has the integrity to quell the racism, even criticize it when it rears its ugly head, whether the race bigotry of Marion Barry or otherwise?

by Commenter on Jun 4, 2012 3:13 pm • link • report

Some AA leaders stoke black-against-white racism.

I imagine this "stoking" is similar to that of those who stoke white-against-black racism by criticizing black people who discuss native/nonnative love for Go-Go music?

*sigh*

by HogWash on Jun 4, 2012 4:29 pm • link • report

hog - you may not have love for go-go, but do you "have a problem with it" as Mr Brown suggested? Do you think the crowd responded because they resent african american nonnatives who don't like go-go.

Its possible they do (resent all nonnatives regardless of race, that is).

I would guess that 90% of the crowd assumed Mr Brown was referring to non-african american nonnatives, and I would say its 90% likely that Mr Brown expected that they would read his words that way.

OTOH Im also not sure its worth making a big deal out of.

by thenonnativesarerestless on Jun 4, 2012 4:39 pm • link • report

In the grand scheme of things, Chuck Brown (and all of go-go for that matter) was a pretty small blip on the music scene. He sold very few records, could not draw crowds outside of DC, and the t-shirts being hawked by the vendors can only call him a "Grammy Nominated" artist.

I fail to see how he rates the equivalent of a state funeral in DC.

As for the evil "new residents" of the city, they know him as the guy on the lottery commercials.

by dcdriver on Jun 4, 2012 4:45 pm • link • report

you may not have love for go-go, but do you "have a problem with it" as Mr Brown suggested

Now? No. Did I? Yes. It took me years to get over myself and realize that this is a locally-born genre of music and my attempts to devalue it were ridiculous.

Do you think the crowd responded because they resent african american nonnatives who don't like go-go.

Well yes. Why don't you? I've been to go-go clubs where the performers yelled expletive-ridden "we don't give a bleep who don't like our music" chants. Under the influence of a heavy mix of of drums, trumpets, guitars, vocalist etc., I'm inclined to believe that white people were the furthest thing from their minds. Kwame made a universal statement applying to anyone, irrespective of race. Yet, some apparently felt it was divisive. Well, ok.

Its possible they do (resent all nonnatives regardless of race, that is).

I would say they resent any who attempts to devalue their city.

OTOH Im also not sure its worth making a big deal out of

Well it's not. He was accused of being divisive. He's not making a big deal of it. People are passionate about their native home...good and bad.

Ask yourself this, if Tim McGraw made the same statement (about country music) at a Tennessee concert..and the crowd reacted the same way, would you instinctively think they were "really" referring to black people? I wouldn't.

That's a good test for any of those who felt the racial slight in Brown's comments. Try it. And be honest.

by HogWash on Jun 4, 2012 8:00 pm • link • report

Great comment, HogWash.

by selxic on Jun 5, 2012 11:16 am • link • report