PRESS RELEASE: Arlington County Relies on Biased Survey to Manufacture Support for Up-zoning


May 23, 2022.

I am running for Arlington County Board on November 8, and I’m concerned about a survey that the County is circulating to gauge support for so-called Missing Middle housing, which is a euphemism for up-zoning.

The survey starts off asking respondents to indicate their level of support on a scale from 1 to 5 for each of several types of multi-family dwellings. Missing from the scales are options for the usual survey categories: None of the Above and Don’t Know. The respondent has to answer these questions in order to complete the survey.

Thus when the survey results are tabulated, the County can claim universal support for Missing Middle housing, with respondents differing only over the types of multi-family housing they prefer in their neighborhoods–whether town homes, duplexes or apartments.

Not only is the Missing Middle survey biased, it is also amateurish. Certainly no professional pollster would construct a survey instrument that forced a conclusion, any more than a judge would tolerate leading questions in the courtroom.

If elected I am going to insist upon professional polling practices when surveying county residents. I will also:

  • Seek immediate tax relief for residents and businesses.
  • Say YES to affordable housing and NO to “Missing Middle” up-zoning.
  • Save our parks, streams and tree canopy and stop clear-cutting wooded areas on public property.
  • Say YES to real social justice reforms and NO to symbolic gestures.

As an 18-year Westover resident, long-time civic activist and former member of the Transportation Commission, I have both the experience andindependence to promote these reforms.
If you share my agenda, then:

  • Spread the word about my candidacy.
  • Donate to my campaign.
  • Help make the “Arlington Way” more than an empty phrase.