politics in N Arlington (Annandale, Jefferson: low income, section 8, cheap apartments)

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

I've live in N. Arl for several years. Most of what has been posted here is accurate; it is indeed a mix.

I think the Democrats in the SFH neighborhoods of N. Arlington tend to be more conservative in some ways, especially as they get older, more settled, more affluent, and more suburban. Many of them actually *don't* want more density and development near their SFH neighborhoods,.

and will try to use zoning to stop it. Damned socialists.

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

I've live in N. Arl for several years. Most of what has been posted here is accurate; it is indeed a mix.

I think the Democrats in the SFH neighborhoods of N. Arlington tend to be more conservative in some ways, especially as they get older, more settled, more affluent, and more suburban. Many of them actually *don't* want more density and development near their SFH neighborhoods, higher County taxes, or more public housing. They want quiet streets, reliable services, good schools, and low crime. (There are exceptions, of course.)

seriously, do you think the elitist liberals of Lexington, Mass, Lincoln, Mass, etc dont like quiet streets, reliable services, good schools, and low crime? Ideologically rigid elitist Massachusetts liberal does NOT mean "urban pioneer"

and of course the folks who ARE urban pioneers, want reliable services and low crime, by and large (and have managed to push the district in those directions in the last 20 years) They may not want quiet streets, and mayb more willing to pay higher taxes, but they aren't such odd birds, AFAICT. And my impression is you will find GOP voters among them as well.

[Carlingtonian]

Until recently, this thread had, against all odds, stuck to the question of what viewpoints are represented in the region in question, rather than our own personal viewpionts, which were not requested. Lest this thread devolve into yet another partisan Internet shoutfest, I'd prefer we keep it that way.

[OrangeFish]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

As to the Republicans in N. Arl., I suspect many (if not most) are as conservative as anywhere else, because unlike the Dems (whose conservative leanings reflect a more suburban lifestyle than most Democrats nationally), the GOPers in the McMansions--and make no mistake; that IS their preferred housing, as I have seen over and over--are pretty much living the same lifestyle as GOPers in other places (except for those in rural areas).

Interesting observation. Of the two dozen+ Arlington Republicans that I work with that live in N. Arlington, not one of them lives in a McMansion. Must be my employer.

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

Until recently, this thread had, against all odds, stuck to the question of what viewpoints are represented in the region in question, rather than our own personal viewpionts, which were not requested. Lest this thread devolve into yet another partisan Internet shoutfest, I'd prefer we keep it that way.

thats fair. But I find it odd though that the particular agenda you referred to as being common among N arlington SFH owners is an example of "conservativism". Some of it is A. things that are pretty widely held by most everyone (who is for more crime?) B. Things that are widely held by all suburbanites, including the liberal elitists in Mass that OP mentioned C. Things (like using local zoning to limit development) that would seem as much "liberal" (use of state regulation of private property for the social good) as anything else. Its definitely an agenda thats "anti X" but the X, in this instance, is nothing in particular like massachusetts liberalism.

some issues are in fact orthogonal to the left right divide, and while urbanists in GREATER DC may be mostly liberal (with a sprinkling of libertarians) and anti-urbanists in NoVa may be mostly conservative, in the context of comparing NoVa with Eastern Mass, I think the issues ARE orthogonal. I think you would find a lot of GOP activists (and moderate democrats) in DC or even North Arlington (VA, not Arlingon Mass) who are much more supportive of the urbanist agenda than some genuinely leftist folks in Middlesex County.

[Carlingtonian]

No one wants crime, but some people are willing to tolerate more of it in exchange for proximity to things that they value--e.g., Metro stations, shopping, etc. A quick look at any crime map (Spotcrime, etc.) will show more crime near Metro. Residents at or very near Metro stations are disproportionately younger, and young people are disproportionately Democratic.

I don't know if I'd consider zoning to be liberal or conservative. One could say it is the embodiment of powerful (local) government; yet others would call it "NIMBYism" and say it prevents the kind of egalitarianism (public housing, density) many liberals support.

We're kind of getting off topic here. You're free to disagree with my points, but I stand by them.

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

No one wants crime, but some people are willing to tolerate more of it in exchange for proximity to things that they value--e.g., Metro stations, shopping, etc. A quick look at any crime map (Spotcrime, etc.) will show more crime near Metro. Residents at or very near Metro stations are disproportionately younger, and young people are disproportionately Democratic..

People do make different decisions about tradeoffs in location decisions. OP was asking about political preferences though, not residential preferences - and I am pretty sure everyone from DC hipsters, to Clarendon yuppies to Lincoln,Mass suburbanites, to central Square hipsters, to southwest virginia coal miners wants govt to pursue lower crime. Though they may not all agree on how.

I am not going to reopen the crime and metro discussion - but I will note that AFAIK, most N Arlington homehowners, INCLUDING ones who want to use zoning to limit densit support the existence of metro.

If the point is only that young people are often more liberal OR more Dem (that isnt the case always, or everywhere) well I think OP realized that NoVa,like Eastern Mass, has a range of ages.

[brooklynborndad]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

One could say it is the embodiment of powerful (local) government; yet others would call it "NIMBYism" and say it prevents the kind of egalitarianism (public housing, density) many liberals support.

I know some libertarians who would say its powerful local govt AND NIMBYISM, and that it interferes with the market.

Im not sure how it can conflict with public housing in Arlington - is there any public housing proposed to be near metro in Arlington? And if there were one could oppose that by lobbying the County directly on housing, not necessarily by using zoning.

Unless all rental apartments or even all multifamily units are somehow considered "public housing" but I cant imagine anyone saying that.

[irvine]

Originally Posted by Carlingtonian

No one wants crime, but some people are willing to tolerate more of it in exchange for proximity to things that they value--e.g., Metro stations, shopping, etc.

Despite higher crime stats near Metro, in the N Arlington single family home neighborhoods near Metro, it is very safe. Less crime even than in many of the exclusive neighborhoods in Upper NW DC. Kids often walk alone or with friends and ride Metro even into the early evening, as in the other metro-convenient neighborhoods in similarly affluent suburbs like Friendship Heights or Bethesda. And most of the older homes are still without alarm systems (although the newly built homes have all the standard security bells and whistles). Quite a few people leave bikes and other personal items on porches. Sure there is crime --it is not Mayberry, BUT overall the single family home neighborhoods near Metro are very safe places to raise a family. For the high housing prices, it had better be safe. Just thought I'd offer my two cents to give the OP another viewpoint, as she is considering neighborhoods close to her husband's office in the Orange Line corridor.

[Carlingtonian]

Originally Posted by irvine

Despite higher crime stats near Metro, in the N Arlington single family home neighborhoods near Metro, it is very safe. Less crime even than in many of the exclusive neighborhoods in Upper NW DC. Kids often walk alone or with friends and ride Metro even into the early evening, as in the other metro-convenient neighborhoods in similarly affluent suburbs like Friendship Heights or Bethesda. And most of the older homes are still without alarm systems (although the newly built homes have all the standard security bells and whistles). Quite a few people leave bikes and other personal items on porches. Sure there is crime --it is not Mayberry, BUT overall the single family home neighborhoods near Metro are very safe places to raise a family. For the high housing prices, it had better be safe. Just thought I'd offer my two cents to give the OP another viewpoint, as she is considering neighborhoods close to her husband's office in the Orange Line corridor.

I agree the overall crime rate is not high and is certainly lower than comparable locales in MD or DC. Within about a mile of the Metro, it's mostly property crimes--vandalism to and thefts from cars, panhandling, and theft of things that aren't locked down. (There was recently a rash of bicycle thefts from unlocked garages and backyard sheds.) There's also the occasional perv exposing himself or grabbing women.

Here's a recent crime report from the ArlNow blog:
Crime Report: Indecent Exposure in Rosslyn | ARLnow.com

Still, we knew of one home in our old neighborhood (less than a mile north of Ballston) where some mentally ill guy wandered into these folks' backyard. Generally, that doesn't happen in areas that are farther from transit. Obviously, if you're an easy walk from public transportation, your odds of having more of the public (including the less savory public) walk past your home are increased.

Farther from the Metro, it tends to be limited to door-to-door solicitor scams (which we also got in the old 'hood) and the rare burglary. Still, we have an alarm system (on our prewar house) and don't leave valuables (like bikes) on the porch.

You really can't be too careful. Around the nation, home invasions have happened in very upscale neighborhoods (Cheshire, CT). I'll always be a bit haunted by the one that happened in Richmond on New Year's Day of 2006. It was just horrible luck: an unlocked door and two murderous animals who stumbled upon this house. The statistical odds of this happening to any particular home are low--but that was true of these people too.