November Krupicka Council News

Dear Friends,

I hope the fall is going well for you.  I love watching the colors change in our City.  It really is something special.  I know you share my congratulations to our new Senator Jim Webb.  I know Senator Webb will be a strong partner for us in Alexandria and will work with us to find real solutions to the challenges we all face.  We are looking forward to working with him.

My computer crashed last month.  Complete hard drive death.  Thankfully, I had backed up most of my documents.  But, a few e-mails were lost.  So, if you sent me a note about having your name removed from this e-mail list or anything else and I didn’t respond, you may want to try again.  I am sorry for any inconvenience. 

And lastly, I want to pass along congratulation to Your Dog’s Best Friend.  This new Alexandria-based business was recently awarded the Chamber of Commerce’s prize for best small business in the City.  They offer a great, high quality service for those of us with pets that need watching.  www.yourdogsbestfriends.com.  They truly deserve this honor.

In this issue:

-- An update on the City budget and taxes

-- An update on Governor Kaine’s Pre-K Initiative, Start Strong

-- Great Public School News

-- A New Job Training Program

-- City Transportation Committee Update

-- A nice little restaurant

-- An opportunity for Grant Funding

-- A chance to get some Dragon’s blood (you have to read to the end to find out).

As always, I look forward to hearing from you.

Rob

(I do not want to spam anyone.  If you would like to be removed from the list, simply send a message to newsletter@krupicka.com with “Remove” in subject line.  Or, if you or others want to be added to the list, send a message to the same address with “Add Krupicka List” in the subject line.)

** Budget & Taxes**

Six months certainly seems like a lifetime when you compare the widespread concerns about the City budget last spring to the current state of City finances.  Instead of talking about spending caps, some are now talking about needing new taxes.  Informal tax suggestions include raising the car tax, a higher property tax rate and a new “rain” tax (or fee) to pay for our clearly inadequate storm water system.  I think this tax talk is premature.  We need to first take a close look at every aspect of City spending. 

It is early in the budget process, but this is clearly shaping up to be one of the most challenging budgets in over ten years, if not fifteen.  Residential property is on track to show an average decrease in value over last year.  Total new City revenues are on track for a modest three-percentage point increase. 

At the Council’s request, City Staff is creating a program budget for the first time.  This budget will give us a detailed look at the range of programs and services provided in Alexandria and their cost.  It will take a few years to fully implement this new budget approach, but this year should still be very revealing.  With this transparent budget format, it will be easier for all of us to compare and contrast priorities throughout all City programs.  I think it is critical that we look carefully at everything we do in the City.  There are many valuable programs, but any healthy organization that strives for excellence must be willing to regularly re-evaluate its programs and priorities.  This is a year for us to do that.

On Tuesday, the City Council will set the preliminary budget target for the City Manger.  This is an important step to help us dig deep into the budget and evaluate every program.  The budget target forms the framework for the budget the Manger will submit to the City Council during the winter.  From that proposed budget, we will hold a number of hearings and meetings to determine the most appropriate final City budget.  Options before Council for a target include keeping the property tax rate at its current level or raising it. The Mayor has said our goal should be to keep the property tax rate at its present level, and I agree with him.  The target is an important first step in our Budget process.  If you have opinions about the target, I encourage you to let me and the rest of Council know.

You can send Council e-mail here: http://alexandriava.gov/contactus/view_contactus.pxe

** Start Strong Update – Expanding Pre-K in Virginia **

I have been spending a lot of time lately traveling to Richmond to work on Governor Kaine’s early childhood initiative called Start Strong.    I have also had the privilege to speak to a number of organizations in our City about this topic.  The reception I have received has been fantastic.  The issue of early childhood is something people of every political stripe and background can find value in.    Alexandrians understand the strong economic and educational value of early childhood education.  We know it makes more sense to invest in kids early than to fix problems later.  As Governor Kaine has said, “There is a compelling educational and business case for high quality early education. By making smart investments today, we can lay a foundation – a foundation that will enhance the health of our communities, the vitality of our work force, and the strength of our economy.” 

In tackling pre-k we are building upon work that has already occurred in states like Colorado, Georgia, Oklahoma, North Carolina and Florida. The Governor’s Start Strong Council is presently working to establish pilot pre-k programs throughout the state.  In addition, over the next year, we will develop a full plan for a statewide pre-k program.  This is not a one size fits all plan. This plan will enable local communities to put together the pre-k program that makes the most sense for them.

If you would like more information about this, send me an e-mail, I would be happy to talk to you.  You can also learn more at http://www.smartbeginnings.org/

Also, don’t just take it from Governor Kaine or me; here is what a noted economist has to say about the value of early Childhood education.

The following is excerpted from Exceptional Returns, by Robert G. Lynch.

http://www.epinet.org/content.cfm/books_exceptional_returns

At a time of fundamental disagreements in the United States over the nature of the country's economic problems and their solutions, it is rare when a consensus emerges across the political spectrum on both the problems and the appropriate policy solutions. There is almost universal agreement among experts that too many young children—the most vulnerable members of our community—have inadequate access to food, clothing, shelter, health care, and clean, safe, crime-free living environments. In addition, too many of our children do not have access to high-quality educational opportunities or fall far short of achieving their academic potential while in school. At the very same time, however, there is a consensus among experts of all political stripes that high-quality investments in the education and health of young children would have huge long-term economic payoffs, both to our children and to society as a whole. Recent studies of high-quality early childhood development (ECD) programs have consistently found that investing in young children has many important benefits for children, their families, and society at large (including its taxpayers).

Although there are many ways to illustrate the deprivation experienced by children, one good indicator of the magnitude of the crisis is the statistics on childhood poverty. In 2003, fully 19.8% of all children under the age of six—that is, one out of every five kids, or some 4.7 million children—were living in poverty in the United States. This is up from 18.5% or 4.3 million children in 2002.

There is a strong consensus among the experts who have studied high-quality early childhood development (ECD) programs that these programs have substantial payoffs. Although the programs vary in whom they serve and in the services they provide, most ECD programs offer wide-ranging education services as well as health services (such as immunizations and health screenings) and nutrition services, typically for children younger than six. Many also provide adult education and parenting classes for the parents of young children. Investments in high-quality ECD programs consistently generate benefit-cost ratios exceeding 3-to-1or more than a $3 return for every $1 invested well above the 1-to-1 ratio needed to justify such investments. Even economists who are particularly skeptical about government programs make an exception for high-quality ECD programs. Follow-up studies of poor children who have participated in these programs have found solid evidence of markedly better academic performance, decreased rates of criminal conduct, and higher adult earnings than among their non-participating peers.

Interested in Learning More? http://www.naeyc.org/ece/research.asp

** Great Things Happening In Alexandria Public Schools **

It was announced today that Maury Elementary School Principal Lucretia Jackson has been named a Distinguished Educational Leader by The Washington Post. Each year, The Washington Post honors principals from area public and private schools who “day after day go beyond the demands of their highly demanding professions to create exceptional education environments for our children.” Ms. Jackson is most deserving of this award.  Maury Elementary is doing fantastic things under her leadership and with the help of a caring neighborhood.  The success of this school is a great example of the power that comes when our community focuses on a goal and keeps at it.

** Growing the work force **

Did you know that one quarter of all jobs in the U.S. pay poverty level wages – a wage so low that a full-time worker cannot keep a family out of poverty?  So, while we enjoy low unemployment (close to 2%) in Alexadria, that doesn’t mean people are able to take care of their families.  We can do more to help people acquire skills that enable them to earn a healthy wage. Some area employers have a very difficult time finding employees with the right skills.  One area where it is touch to find employees is the field of auto mechanics and other automobile oriented jobs.  As car repair and servicing have become more complicated, the skills needed for these jobs have increased.  In our tight labor market, it isn’t easy to find people for these high paying jobs – a good auto mechanic can earn over $100,000 per year.  Alexandria’s JobLink program is working to answer that challenge.  With seed money secured from the Department of Labor by Congressman Moran, Alexandria is working with the Northern Virginia Community College, local auto businesses and other collaborators to create the Automobile Training Institute of Alexandria.  This program is in its infancy and will hopefully grow and prosper.  I enthusiastically support its goals of teaching people skills that can enable them to prosper in our community.  I was happy to play a small role in this new program by bringing some of the first auto industry representatives to meet with JobLink a little over a year ago.  Thanks to the Mayor, Congressman Moran, creative industry participants and very talented City staff at JobLink, this program is on its way.

** Ad Hoc Transportation Corridor Concepts Unveiled **

Over the summer, the Ad Hoc Transportation Task Force presented some preliminary concepts about dedicated transit-ways in Alexandria.  The Task Force is writing a new transportation chapter for the city master plan.  They are looking at roads, mass transit, bicycle lanes and walking paths…every mode of transportation available.  As part of their initial focus on transit, they are looking at dedicated routes for busses, trolleys or some other type of vehicle.  Those Routes would travel east and west on Duke, North and South on Rt. 1, and North and South from Van Dorn up through Beauregard.  These concepts are still preliminary.  You can find out more here: http://alexandriava.gov/tes/policy_and_program/transportation_policy.html

In addition, Metro, Arlington, Alexandria and the Virginia Department of Public Transportation actively working to finalize a plan for mass transit connectivity between the Braddock Road Metro and the Pentagon.   This will one of many pieces of the Potomac Yard and Crystal City transportation management plans.  I have already written about dedicated lanes for busses along Rt. 1 and in Crystal City.  We expect the combined planning team to have a public meeting this fall to share information about their plans, environmental and other impact analysis.  To learn more about this entire project, you can go to www.ccpytransit.com

** A Nice Little Restaurant**

Not to long ago a new Japanese Restaurant opened in the Bradlee Shopping Center.  Kyoto Japanese Restaurant is a great addition to our City.  I took my family there last week and we had a great time. The staff is incredibly friendly, the food is fantastic and the atmosphere is very nice (not too fancy, not too casual).  If you are in the mood to try something new, give them a chance.  3676 King Street, Alexandria, VA 22302. 703-379-8060

** A Call For Proposals **

This is a bit last minute, but Women for Wise Giving, a giving circle made up of a small group of women in Alexandria, is now soliciting applicants for its second funding cycle.

Women for Wise Giving invite emerging nonprofit 501(c) (3) programs who serve the needs of Alexandrians to apply.  For our purposes, an emerging nonprofit program: (1) has been in operation for less than 5 years; (2)shows some evidence that it is an up-and-coming, expanding organization; and, (3) serves a significant number of people in our Alexandria community.

To apply, please submit a letter, 1 - 2 pages in length, with the following information:

1) Mission and history of organization and program, 2) Need and population served in Alexandria, 3) Description of project for which funding is being requested, 4) How a grant from Women for Wise Giving would be used, 5) Also, please include an organizational budget, as an attachment to the letter.

Requests may be for funding up to $5,000.

The deadline for receipt of the letter is November 15, 2006.  Submit the letter by email to Lynn O’Connell at lynnoconnell@prodigy.net.  Questions may also be sent to that email address.

** Things to do **

In the mood for a little Dragon’s blood?  

The Stabler-Leadbeater Apothecary Museum, one of the oldest pharmacies in the nation, was recently re-opened after major renovations.  It exists to promote a greater understanding of historic public health issues, inspire people with the values of Quaker founder, Edward Stabler, and engage the visitor in an appreciation of our local and national history by sharing the story of this business and family’s profound effect on the community in such diverse areas as education and the abolition of slavery.

You can visit the site where some notable Alexandrian’s received their medications. The names of famous customers appear in the documents, including Martha Washington, James Monroe, Nelly Custis and Robert E. Lee. According to an 1802 letter from Mount Vernon, “Mrs. Washington desires Mr. Stabler to send by the bearer a quart bottle of his best Castor Oil and the bill for it.”

And yes, there are a number of old boxes of Dragon’s Blood, a once popular herbal remedy.   This is a fun place to take family.  They have a great gift shop full of unique items.

Location

105-107 S. Fairfax Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
(703) 836-3713

Museum Hours

April through October
Sunday and Monday, 1 to 5 p.m.
Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

November through March
Wednesday through Saturday, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Sunday 1 to 4 p.m.

Admission

$4.00 for adults, $2.00 for students age 11 - 17, children under age 11 are free with paying adult. Group rates and block tickets with other Historic Alexandria museums will be available.

Official Web Site

www.apothecarymuseum.org

A Guide to More to Do in Old Town: http://dc.about.com/od/museumsinnorthernva/a/Stabler.htm

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