Alexandria Gazette Packet 25 Cents Vol. CCXXV, No. 32 Serving Alexandria for over 200 years • A Connection Newspaper August 13, 2009 Learning To Assume ‘Green-Collar’ Jobs Seaport Foundation’s new program provides specialized training. By Ansley LaBarre Staff Instructor Michael Wilson. Gazette Packet “But these guys are going to go hungry if they don’t find them- awdust covers the water- selves quickly.” front workshop where lo- The apprentice program is a full- /Gazette Packet Scal Alexandria teenagers time job, where young adults ages build boats and character. 17 and older earn an hourly wage The Alexandria Seaport Founda- dividing their time between class- tion has been running an appren- room mathematics and workshop tice program since 1992 to help at- application. In addition to the ap- Louise Krafft risk and disadvantaged youth earn prentice program, ASF was con- a GED and place them in building tacted by Alexandria City Public trades. Schools to establish a method of “A lot of kids their age are still Photos by Photos ‘finding themselves,’” said Seaport See Seaport, Page 10 Former U.S. ambassador to NATO David Abshire welcomes all to his home for a special reception after the swearing in of Don Beyer as U.S. ambassador. Cook To Lead Indefinitely Beyer Embarks as Ambassador City manager has yet to make Dual role includes Switzerland and Lichtenstein. decision on who will lead police. By Michael Lee Pope By Ansley LaBarre Gazette Packet by Photo Gazette Packet he Alexandria Police De- onald Beyer Jr., former Lieutenant Gov- partment is in a state of Krafft Louise Dernor of Virginia and prominent area Tlimbo, with an acting Po- automobile dealer, leaves his Alexandria lice Chief Earl Cook to head the home this Friday to represent the U.S. as the next department indefinitely while City ambassador to Switzerland and Lichtenstein. Manager Jim Hartmann considers Beyer was sworn into office on Aug. 5, follow- his options. Hartmann could /Gazette Packet ing a June nomination by President Barack choose to conduct a nationwide Obama. Beyer says he and his wife Megan worked search, consider candidates from on the Obama campaign for two years prior to within the department or simply the President’s election and has since been look- appoint Cook — who was one of ing for the means to return to public service. three finalists for the position “I was very hopeful for the chance to serve in when former Chief David Baker the Obama administration,” said Beyer. was appointed in 2006. Baker re- Acting Chief Earl Cook While Beyer acknowledges he has not made his signed earlier this month after be- assures Alexandria resi- career from the Foreign Service, he does not doubt ing arrested in Arlington for drunk dents that the change in his ability to be an effective ambassador and ex- leadership will not be a tend public diplomacy in Switzerland. Beyer be- See Hartmann, Page 10 change in direction. lieves he can successfully establish personal rela- tionships critical to the job from his background of political and public service, as well as business 22314 VA Alexandria, To: 1604 King St., King 1604 To: ted skills. Reques Service Address Beyer says he further benefits from his personal material. relationship with the President and believes he is, Time-sensitive Postmaster: in fact, better prepared for this job than any other Attention Ambassador Don Beyer talks to the guests he has previously held. Beyer maintains he is com Permit #482 Permit as his wife Megan listens from the door- VA Alexandria, PAID way of the Abshire home in Old Town. See Beyer, Page 30 Postage U.S. PRSRT STD PRSRT www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Alexandria Gazette Packet ❖ August 13-19, 2009 ❖ 1 2 ❖ Alexandria Gazette Packet ❖ August 13-19, 2009 www.ConnectionNewspapers.com News A HOT Mess Alexandria leaders consider joining lawsuit Arlington County is preparing against feds. By Michael Lee Pope ceive an adequate review because Gazette Packet roads near the interchanges were not studied. rustrated by mounting “Where do you stop?” asked concerns and unan- VDOT project manager Young Ho Fswered questions over a Chang. “The theory is that if the massive new transporta- interchange functions better with Dazzler and Jessica tion project, Arlington County the project then all the intersec- McCain. leaders say they are finalizing tions around the interchange will preparations for a lawsuit against also function better.” Photos by Photos the Federal Highway Administra- tion. County Board THAT THEORY members could pull hasn’t persuaded the trigger on the suit skeptical elected Louise Krafft “I’m not as early as this week, leaders in Arlington which would repre- opposed to and Alexandria, sent the culmination where proposed of months of mount- joining in changes to ing concerns over Shirlington Circle /Gazette proposed High Occu- Arlington’s have created mas- pancy Toll lanes on sive resistance in the Interstate 395. lawsuit. But I adjoining neighbor- Barkley Square hosts a few Yappy Hours. Neighbors “It seems to me also don’t hoods. Although the Alexandria Animal Shel- that the only way for interchange justifi- ter volunteer Sara gathered for First Thursday in August festivities in Del Ray last week. us to address our want to cation report stud- Glennon with Sabrina. concerns and achieve ied how traffic pat- a legally binding commit to terns might change agreement seems to at the immediately First Thursday in Del Ray be through the anything until adjacent intersec- courts,” said County tions, no formal Board Chairwoman I see what’s in study has been con- Barbara Favola. “At ducted of how the this point, we seem their lawsuit.” project might radi- to be running out of — Alexandria Mayor cally transform the options.” Bill Euille outlying streets of At issue in the po- Parkfairfax, tential litigation would be a deci- Shirlington or Fairlington. sion made in the waning days of “This project will wreak havoc the Bush administration to ap- on these neighborhoods,” said Del. prove a “categorical exclusion” for David Englin (D-45). “I think we the project — moving forward will not achieve the goal of pro- with plans even though no envi- tecting our neighborhoods without ronmental impact study had been some kind of legal action.” conducted. The Virginia Depart- Arlington County Board mem- ment of Transportation says that bers have been discussing a poten- it followed the approved rules to tial lawsuit for months, consulting Sheriff Dana Lawhorne meets an old create a document known as an with Alexandria officials about the friend, John McKlveen, on Mount “interchange justification report” possibility of a coordinated legal Vernon Avenue. that led to federal approval the strategy between the two neigh- categorical exclusion. But officials boring jurisdictions. So far, the two in Alexandria and Arlington be- jurisdictions have taken a similar lieve that the project did not re- See Lawsuit, Page 22 City Earns Green Award he City of Alexandria received the 2009 Virginia Sustain- Table Building Network’s (VSBN) Green Innovation Award for Most Sustainable Community Project. This award rec- ognizes the City’s Eco-City Alexandria Initiative efforts toward creating a more environmentally sustainable community. The Eco-City Alexandria Initiative is a collaborative effort by the City of Alexandria, the Alexandria Environmental Policy Com- Patty Moran helps young children with Chris Anderson offers free rides in his mission and Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University’s yarn for their personalized bookmarks. bicycle-powered taxi. Department of Urban Affairs & Planning www.ConnectionNewspapers.com Alexandria Gazette Packet ❖ August 13-19, 2009 ❖ 3 Politics Sasha Gong, 53 A native of Beijing, Rebel with a Cause in 46th China, Gong grew up “I’m a rebel.” in Canton, China. She Chinese dissident Sasha Gong hopes her spent much of her Gong’s positions on the issues don’t pi- youth working in hard- personal story will resonate with voters. geonhole her into a traditional Republican labor jobs, the result of platform. Although she opposes a ban on her family being la- By Michael Lee Pope beled an enemy of the public appearances and in one-on-one in- plastic bags, she supports a ban on the use state by the communist Gazette Packet teractions with voters, Gong has used her of hand-held cell phones while driving. Chinese government. background as a Chinese dissident to break Unlike many Republicans in Richmond, she After publishing an ar- unning for a seat in the Virginia the ice in the internationally diverse 46th supports opening up absentee balloting to ticle about democracy, Gong spent a year in a House of Delegates in the District. Republicans are hoping to build on voters for any reason — a departure from Chinese prison. She Rheavily Democratic 46th District the strong showing they made in January, the current rules that force voters to give a later studied history at would be a difficult challenge when Herring squeaked into office after reason they will be unable to vote on Elec- Peking University be- for any Republican — especially in a gen- securing a 16-vote margin of victory and tion Day. fore coming to America Sasha Gong in 1998 to study sociol- eral election that will feature a hotly con- enduring a recount of the ballots. “I am an educator,” said Gong, a former ogy at Harvard University, she has taught at the tested gubernatorial up-ballot race. But “That was an anomaly,” said Susan sociology professor at George Mason Uni- University of California and George Mason Univer- Sasha Gong is not a typical Republican can- Kellom, chairwoman of the Alexandria versity. “So I want to focus my energy on sity. From 1998 to 2003, she was director of the didate.