Talking Points

Talking Points

Invasive species are considered the number two threat to endangered species globally. Currently they are at the forefront of the climate change crisis and a priority issue in natural resource management. Arlington County has very little natural area left. A large proportion of our remaining natural areas had been severely degraded by invasive plants. The program was making clear, demonstrable progress that anyone can see if they get their rear ends out of their offices and visit the sites and look at the before-and-after photo documentation and talk to volunteers and citizens. Recent personnel decisions and budget proposals show they're choosing to neglect nature. For a county that claims to be green, Arlington lacks a natural resource management team or plan. Is "smart growth" really just about building lots of parking garages next to unaffordable condos above shops that sell things too expensive to purchase in this economic climate? County managers apparently think in ignorance that the park maintenance staff they have know anything about invasive species control, and they fired the one person they had who did have the knowledge before she even had the chance to train staff (something that was scheduled to take place later this spring) -- a person who was one of the region’s top experts, let alone in the state of Virginia; a person they had the good fortune of paying well below the running salary range for that level of expertise. There is one remaining, low-paid but knowledgeable technician who works on a very part-time basis on invasives (for a few more weeks, anyway, maybe…) Foolish.

On top of that, Virginia just passed a bill charging the Secretary of Natural Resources with the responsibility of developing an invasive species management plan to prevent the introduction of invasive species and to control and eradicate those species that are present on Virginia's lands and waters. When the management plan comes out and counties are asked to respond accordingly, Arlington will not have the means to respond. The county has had a long-running history of conducting improper invasive species management in the absence of and lack of consultation with a specialist -- something that angered many of us park-using citizens. Just when things were starting to turn around in this respect, they've essentially indicated that it's an unnecessary change of direction to make by removing the program coordinator and specialist. More foolish.

And this decision was delivered on the day before the start of National Invasive Weed Awareness Week (February 22 - 28), for which the conference is going on right here in DC! What kind of sign is Arlington sending to the rest of the nation? Might we also mention that a state-wide Invasive Plant Removal Day (May 2) had just been announced the week before? A state-wide initiative started by the program coordinator that they just fired. Can Arlington County possibly dare to bring their faces to the table and ask to be a partner in this initiative anymore? In fact, they probably should put out a second press release to remove their name from the previous press release. What a shame considering every other county surrounding them has already indicated full support. What kind of sign is Arlington sending to the rest of our area partners? Arlington County PRCR has a running history of being regressive, defensive, and reactive rather than proactive, protective, progressive. Extremely foolish.

What alternatives analysis was done to support the decision to effectively end the invasives program before budget hearings? What consideration was given to the resource leveraging having an invasives coordinator provides? What about the benefits for citizens and the environment from having an effective program?

The County will claim that the decision to lay off the invasives coordinator by withdrawing funding now does not mean that the program has been ended as proposed for FY10. This is misleading. Decapitating the program clearly was intended to pre-decide the issue before the public hearings next month. It takes time for a new coordinator to come up to speed in working with staff, volunteers, and citizens. By removing the coordinator, the County guarantees a head-less program that will look easy to cut permanently in a few weeks. The County will also claim that no county employee is affected. Technically this is true because Jenn has been serving as an extension agent in Virginia Cooperative Extension and her employer is Virginia Tech. Arlington has been paying for her position under contract.

Finally, at the human level, this was a rotten thing to do and it looks like targeting to some of us. Jenn is a new mom with a 5-month-old baby boy and she has only recently been increasing her work hours after maternity leave. She is dedicated, conscientious, and has put in a lot of extra time without compensation. She was only given notice on Friday, February 20, 2009 after numerous other people had been made privy to the county’s plans. Her position ends March 31. Yes, this is after public budget hearings to discuss the proposed FY10 budget that would eliminate her position, but BEFORE the Board has voted on the proposal.

Contact the County Board, County Manager Ron Carlee; Dinesh Tiwari, Director, Department of Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources; and Steve Temmermand, director, Parks and Natural Resources Division, and make your views known.