Jay's Speeches

Connecting Our Past to Our Future: The Bicentennial to E-Government
Statement of Jay Fisette, Chairman of the Arlington County Board
January 1, 2001

Good morning.

On this New Year's Day, Arlington County stands at a crossroads. This year, we honor our two-century heritage while stretching forward into new technology frontiers of the dawning millennium. This year we not only celebrate our unique history, but also remember Eleanor Roosevelt's counsel that, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." We are a generation of Arlingtonians who dare to dream, and who recognize that each milestone for our county builds upon the last.

I look forward to continuing to work closely with Arlington's Bicentennial Task Force, led by Margaret Lampe and Talmadge Williams. As the Task Force has observed, "In 1801, Arlington...wasn't even Arlington - it was part of the District of Columbia... From its humble agrarian roots, Arlington began its long, steady climb to a place of prominence and respect among America's urban communities... Like the nation, it has endured war and enjoyed peace, suffered social strife and furthered social progress, and undergone a remarkable growth and development that transformed an economy built upon the horse and plow to a powerful commercial engine of global reach..."

"The families of Washington, Custis, Lee and Mason - towering figures in American history - left their footprints here. A community of plain homespun has become a rich tapestry of nationalities, cultures, religions, and customs. We once looked like England; now we look like the world."

My purpose this year is to further this journey, and to offer you my personal vision how, together - as citizens, neighbors, family and friends - we will not only respect and celebrate our rich past, but move boldly into our future - embracing technology to enhance our quality of life and help build community.

This New Year's morning I begin with my gratitude to my colleagues. I am proud to take the gavel today, and to follow the leadership examples of Barbara, Paul, Charles and Chris. I have learned much from each of you and respect your commitment to public service. In the past three years, I have also been proud to witness first-hand the extraordinary, unselfish work and talents of our County employees. You are the finest public servants I have been privileged to know. Trust me; I will rely on you now more than ever.

This is also the ideal moment to reflect on the state of Arlington County as a whole. We are a healthy community by many key measures:

·Our public schools are top notch, providing an outstanding education to students speaking over 60 languages at home;

·We enjoy the lowest real estate tax rate of any major jurisdiction in the metro region, and maintain a AAA/Aaa bond rating, shared by only 38 jurisdictions in the country;

·In 2000, Arlington experienced the second lowest crime rate in 20 years;

·Our unemployment rate is 1.3%, our office vacancy rate is 1.9%, and approved and projected economic investment is healthy;

·Our neighborhoods are engaged and vibrant, benefiting from increased pedestrian and traffic calming efforts, and our ongoing commitment to Arlington's unique neighborhood conservation program;

We rest near the top of the livability scale. And while we will always face challenges - from providing housing that people can afford to confronting the regional transportation problems - we will continue to seek solutions to ensure Arlington's future as America's model urban village of the 21st century.

Our most valuable resource will always be the people of Arlington - and our children represent our hope for the future. In partnership with our colleagues on the School Board, we will maintain our unshakable commitment to public education and lifetime skill learning that includes every single child and adult who wishes to learn.

As an avid environmentalist, I envision county streets that welcome additional bike trails, increased use of our Land Trust -- which will be described in more detail by it's champion Paul Ferguson -- and preservation of our life-sustaining tree canopy.

As a taxpayer and budget-setter, I will maintain the Board's fiscal discipline and accountability in balancing steady, responsible tax policies with needed public investments.

As a neighbor, I appreciate the need to balance planned growth and development with the protection of our urban neighborhoods. I have a special interest in ensuring a vibrant retail street front and in searching for new strategies to protect and promote small businesses. We shall not become a big box suburb.

As a consumer advocate, I will continue to match the overly aggressive practices of some in the local towing industry with equally aggressive efforts to prevent abuses and encourage reform.

As a human rights advocate, I applaud the success of our recent Neighborhood College Initiative and the Chamber's Leadership Arlington program in cultivating new leaders from all ethnic communities.

Arlington has a proud history of battling injustice and securing equal rights, including our struggle nearly a half-century ago leading the way in Virginia to public school integration. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. reminded us, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." In Arlington, we know that human rights belong to us all. In that spirit, I will strongly represent this Board's commitment to fight -- for as long as it takes -- to reinstate equal health benefits for the domestic partners of county employees.

As the former director of a non-profit human service agency, I value the roles of both our non-profit organizations and the business community in meeting vital human needs and providing employment opportunities.

As an advocate for regional cooperation, I have witnessed Arlington's stature and influential voice in our region. More than many communities in the nation, we are profoundly sensitive to the nexus between transportation, land use and economic potential. Our success in urban planning is a national model of smart growth well before its time. As globalization takes hold, we must adjust our thinking accordingly - in cross-border and borderless terms. We are citizens of the world, and of a region. Yet, Arlingtonians understand that while thinking globally and regionally, we must act locally.

I began this morning by referring to a vision of connecting the best of our past with the promise of our future. Twenty-five years ago, perhaps even ten or five years ago, none of us could have imagined the full promise of the Internet or the role of communications technologies today.

Even one of American's brightest thinkers, Warren Bennis, only got it partly right when he predicted some time ago that, "The factory of the future will have two employees: a man and a dog. The man's job will be to feed the dog. The dog's job will be to prevent the man from touching any of the automated equipment."

While we can't predict the future, what we do know is this: The urban village we're creating and connecting is no longer simply the landscape of trees, roads, homes and office buildings, but is also fiber optics, digits, portals, and intergalactic connectivity. The transportation and communication of choice has shifted from the railroad, to the auto and airline, to the Super Highway--- from snail mail, to the fax, to email.

Change has taken on a new meaning...a new scale. For example, think about your business card. It wasn't long ago that you added your fax number...then an email address. You were certainly cutting edge when your URL (that's your website address) was printed on the card. Now...the latest is the pocket CD, with all that information and more.

In this Internet world, innovation and speed have become the watchwords for business AND for local government. While our businesses have taken the most risks and achieved the most gains, the technology future for public services is brighter than ever. Technology is transforming the way we do business. We must harness its full potential for Arlington.

So what must Arlington do? First, we must make a significant investment in our technology infrastructure. To date our e-government efforts have been adequate but unremarkable. We must make a quantum leap forward.

Second, we must find e-government solutions to enhance the delivery of services, with a net result of shorter lines, quicker response, and less cost. Consider this -- a typical bank transaction costs $1.25 when handled by a teller, 54 cents when done by phone, or 24 cents at an ATM. The same transaction processed over the Internet costs a mere 2 cents. I propose that we take several concrete steps:

·Establish online registration, scheduling, and payment for: filing police reports for insurance purposes; summer camp and classes; and building inspections;

·Provide credit card, debit card, and checking account payment with digital signatures; and

·Create an online Consumer Advocate Service.

We must also remember that technology is simply a tool - and is meaningless without a purpose. Arlington must use the Internet, not to divide or distance us from one another, but to connect us. We must provide digital opportunity for all and we must use the Internet to encourage new participation in our community life.

Thus, third, to increase access and bridge the digital divide-which is both income and age related -- I propose that we establish the following specific initiatives:

·Internet access should be provided at every senior center, with instruction and coaching, possibly through an intergenerational bridge created by younger people teaching seniors;

·Free e-mail will be provided for all county residents through public access sites, such as libraries and outreach centers;

·Spanish language access screens will be added to our website; and

·Access for citizens with disabilities will be assured at all public access sites and on the website itself.

And fourth, to elevate new voices and create a new opportunity for Arlington's digital citizens to participate in creating our future, I propose the following initiatives:

·Monthly "Online Chats with the Chairman." These will be real time, moderated discussions with me on specified topics. The first month's topic, appropriately, will focus on e-government;

·Online Community Forums will be expanded to inform the community about issues and projects under debate and invite your comments through e-mail responses; and

·County Board meetings will be webcast on the County website.

And finally, as technology is not our only tool, and to emphasize that Arlington has not lost the personal touch - I also will hold six Walking Town Meetings. Face-to-face still matters in our town. Beginning in April, my colleagues and I will visit six neighborhoods to listen, learn and walk the terrain.

And let me share a personal confession - I am no techie. I am a product of my generation. I am still learning. Unlike today's youth, I started on a typewriter. In fact, my impatient thirteen-year-old nephew gave his old uncle a helpful training session over the holidays. For kids, the mouse functions as an extension of their arm. It's quite impressive! Many of us must overcome our lack of knowledge and a fear of change. But it can be done.

Arlington has come a long way in two hundred years. Like all communities, we have our challenges. Yet our rich history is proof that Arlington has used challenge as a stepping-stone to a better future. I have confidence that through your engagement and ours.. that once again.we will accomplish great things.
I look forward to our time together. Happy New Year everybody.