WELCOME
After 28 years of service in Arlington County’s local government, first on the School Board and then the County Board, I have stepped into a new role and life chapter: Private Citizen. My career has equipped me with extensive experience, valuable connections, and an unwavering passion for fostering good local government in Arlington and in the D.C., Maryland and Virginia (DMV) region, an area I call home.
Readers' Note: My New Chapter I aim to help change the fact that – despite its profound impact on our daily lives – local government is frequently overlooked and misunderstood. Through this website, my newsletter and social media, I want to inspire and empower people of goodwill to thrive despite the challenges posed by those who act in bad faith. I hope to provide information, ideas, and inspiration that will help us all build stronger, more resilient communities. I will be championing good governance, supporting good people, and help us all survive and thrive in a time so dominated by those of ill will. Finally, I believe in making this work enjoyable and fulfilling. Local Government and the Golden Rule As a longtime advocate for good governance and community engagement in Arlington County and the broader DMV region, I have always tried to keep in mind the Golden Rule: do unto others as you would have them do unto you. This universal ethos, embraced by all major religions and even by secular philosophies, is more than a moral compass. I believe it is key for the survival of our species in an era marked by rapid climate change and global uncertainties. It is a practical guide and just common sense. In today’s landscape, where divisiveness and bad faith too often dominate national and state politics, the role of local government is more important than ever. Over the next several years, it may be the only functioning government we have. It remains the backbone of our democracy: the level of government closest to the people. Despite its profound impact on our daily lives, local government is frequently ignored by the people it serves. My Platform & What You’ll Find on This Site My platform is called “Libby’s Local List” and is a resource for exploring the pressing issues and best practices of local government today. It’s also a platform where you can stay informed on key issues and discover ways to make a difference. I will highlight and support outstanding candidates running for office in the DMV region. Together, we can create a brighter future, starting right here in our communities. At its core, this website serves as a content aggregator, featuring relevant articles, thoughtful commentary, and personal reflections. It is organized by topics, making it easy for readers to explore material by issue. I encourage my readers to share with me your own suggestions and ideas to make this truly a community resource. Learn about our mission and vision on the About page. Stay updated with insights and news on the Blog Posts and News section. Dive into key challenges and solutions on the Issues page. Connect with us on Social Media or through the Contact page. Donate to help keep our mission alive. A Note to My Readers: Three themes have guided my public service and will continue to shape the discussions on this platform: Equity: Ensuring fairness and justice in access to resources and opportunities for all. Innovation: Embracing new ideas and solutions to adapt to an ever-changing world. Resiliency: Building the capacity to withstand and adapt to challenges, from climate change to social division. These three themes are interconnected. I recommend readers peruse the Rockefeller Foundation’s 2019 report, 100 Resilient Cities. The report underscores that cities around the world identify climate change and social inequities as their greatest challenges. To be resilient, communities must work together to adapt and innovate. Unity and fairness provide the cohesive strength needed for a community to adapt and innovate. Hyperlink: https://www.rockefellerfoundation.org/report/100-resilient-cities/ Local government is the bedrock of resilience and where meaningful change begins. I hope you enjoy and find helpful the information, suggestions, and inspirations I post on my website and via my newsletters (also found here under the “News/Blogs” tab). I look forward to hearing from you and working together to strengthen our community in these turbulent times. Best, Libby
Most Recent Blog Post
Dear Friends:
I was pleased to listen to Andrea Pitzer’s latest podcast about the betrayal of Ukraine and hear her recommend flying Ukrainian flags among other things to do.
The Ukrainian flag I put up last week was old and the strong winds tattered it. Before that happened however, I saw that someone had tried to secure it for me several times. On Friday, I took a new Ukrainian flag and an American flag and put them up again. Two people stopped to help and several people on the highway below and driving by gave honks of support. These small acts of protest are very important and certainly make me feel better. It seems they make others feel better, too, which is the point. Those flags were taken down over the weekend….so I have ordered several more.
Yesterday was International Women’s Day. I love this historic example of women’s strength from our sisters in Canada.
If you’d like a really clear and bracing rebuttal to Trump’s speech to Congress, take a listen (and/or read the subtitles) of French senator Claude Malhuret. It’s short and right to the point. I think we need more clear speeches like this from our own elected leaders. That said, first-term Michigan Senator Elissa Slotkin did a good job of showing how Trump is harming all Americans…. “making it local” for people... and called everyone to action.
If you’d like a gentle read that puts our current crisis in context with other similar times in US history, I highly recommend this article “The State of the Union is... On the lies he tells, and the truths we must repeat to one another” by Garrett Bucks. While he is clear that we are in great danger right now, his Quaker perspective is gentle and even reassuring. It’s a little long, but I found it comforting. We could all use some reassurance and the long perspective right now.
If you couldn’t make the Science rally on Friday or the Federal Employee Resource Fair on Saturday, 50501 is working on events across the country for March 14 (March on Washington) and April 5 (Nationwide Day of Action: 435 Congressional Offices – 435 Demonstrations). I think the approach of many events at frequent intervals is really good. Many events mean it’s harder to target protestors, shows broad support, and gets us all in the habit of coming out to protest. We really cannot be silent and need to build up our social push back muscles. We need acts of protest to grow and grow.
On the idea of a “shadow government” of experienced former officials to push back on Trump/Musk diktats mentioned in a previous blog, I appreciate the suggestion from a reader to just call it the “loyal opposition” as they do in England. Seemed obvious once I read it!
I hope you’ve found this post helpful. Keep the comments and suggestions coming!
Best,
Libby
P.S. On a slightly different subject: the toll road text scam. You may have gotten some texts telling you that you owe money and have to get in touch right away, I got them, too. I hope none of my readers fell for it. Scammers are getting more and more ubiquitous and clever. Appropriate for a time when we have a Scammer in Chief in the White House, I guess.
The Fourth Turning: An American Prophecy - What the Cycles of History Tell Us About America's Next Rendezvous with Destiny
William Strauss and Neil Howe presents a cyclical theory of history, arguing that American society moves through four recurring generational archetypes—High, Awakening, Unraveling, and Crisis—over approximately 80 to 100 years. Each cycle, or saeculum, consists of four "turnings," with the Fourth Turning representing a period of crisis and transformation. The authors suggest that America is currently in a Fourth Turning, a time of upheaval that will reshape institutions and national identity. Drawing from historical patterns, they predict that this period will culminate in a major conflict or challenge around the 2020s, leading to either renewal or collapse. Strauss and Howe link these cycles to generational attitudes, claiming that Millennials will play a key role in resolving the crisis, much like the "Greatest Generation" during World War II. The book blends history, sociology, and prophecy, offering a provocative vision of America's future.
Incel Clown Posse: Seizing the Narrative from Musk and Trump - Andrea Pitzer
“Mr. Smith Goes to Washington,” starring James Stewart.
