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Permalink Reply by Bob Jaeger on December 9, 2011 at 11:59am

From  leesburg today article 

Read between the lines..

With seven new supervisors taking to the dais in January it is possible they could be seen as more favorable to an OpenBand franchise-at least that was a concern of many residents served by the company in the final weeks before the election as they reviewed campaign contributions. Bill Dean, owner of MC Dean, contributed $7,500 to Algonkian District Republican Suzanne Volpe, $5,000 to Blue Ridge District Republican Janet Clarke, $5,000 to Ashburn District Republican Ralph Buona, and $2,500 to Dulles District Republican Matt Letourneau. MC Dean has given $3,000 to Letourneau, and $500 each to Buona and Clarke. Incumbent Supervisor Eugene Delgaudio (R-Sterling), received $10,000 from MC Dean.

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Permalink Reply by Myra on December 9, 2011 at 4:14pm

 Thanks for sharing John.

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Permalink Reply by johnf on December 9, 2011 at 11:08pm

John,

Nice to see you finally start emerging and posting about issues of concern to the community.  It is also good to see that you are finally starting to wrap your head around the details of this issue. Although you did skip some important things like the initial rulings on OUR case which have been made including which counts were denied and allowed.  Those were quite positive.  It isn't a long ruling by the judge, so hopefully you will get a chance to read it yourself and not be dependent solely on legal counsel. For interested residents, the opinion can be found on the top of our HOA page when you login.

The big question is whether you will do the right thing if and when Openband attempts to negotiate.  There are minimum standards for an acceptable deal that I outlined in my emails to you of Late May and June 2010.  I am sure you may recall as this is the exchange over the incorrect information you had blasted to the community that I got clarified for you directly from the OVS commission.  You also were resisting taking action and referencing the incorrect advice from our counsel at the time.  I'd rather not post the details here of what the minimum should be in a negotiation, but you are welcome to contact me anytime to discuss if you don't recall or can't locate the email.

It would not be OK to accept token changes in our agreement.  Especially as our legal position continues to strengthen. I would hope the whole board is committed to getting real change in the contract and the easements.

Keep posting John.  It would be good to see you start to engage in dialog with your fellow residents again after disappearing for so long.  It is what leaders do.  Engage with even those they disagree with.  I am always happy to engage in dialog with you or any board member.

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Permalink Reply by johnf on December 9, 2011 at 11:14pm

Bob,

John Whitbeck is unlikely to comment on those campaign contributions given his own controversies with contributions in his ill-advised primary race in that election.

However, I would note that Buona has publicly committed to not renewing the Franchise even after receiving those funds.  I think it is important to email the BOS to express your opinion on this issue.  The last BOS listened to us and there is no reason to give up on this BOS listening as well.  These contributions are problematic to be sure.  Perhaps more troubling is Ben Young's comments that he thought that the previous BOS vote was political when clearly it was the right thing to do. 

We have to keep up the pressure on Openband and this BOS needs to hear from us all over again.  I remain hopeful that this BOS will do the right thing and help insure competition in the marketplace.  Your voice really does matter.  It mattered last time and it will matter again. 

Please read that legal ruling.  We are making progress on even the most difficult parts of this issue - the easements.  We are getting there.  We just have to push through all the way to the end.

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Permalink Reply by Jocelyn Lasher on December 10, 2011 at 9:01am

Good information John, thanks!

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Permalink Reply by Ryan Stokes on December 12, 2011 at 4:48pm

Dude...seriously...give the John Whitbeck thing a break.  You've made it to broken record status.  If I could find an "ignore" button on this site, I'm sure there are a few people who wouldn't mind using it.

 

As far as the openband thing goes...I'm still of the opinion of being just fine with what they offer (as I have posted before).  I'm not for spending a lot of OUR money to sue them so we can save $10 per month on services.  Netflix and AppleTV have great options...it will be cheaper for the HOA to purchase memberships for everyone in the hood vs sueing Openband.  Plus, in a few years, pretty much all video will come from the web anyhow.  Irregardless of the outcome of the suit against Openband, the fiber to the home will still come from them...all we are impacting in the delivery of video over the coax.  Honestly I can't understand why any alternative provider would make a capital investment knowing that video subscribership is falling like a rock.  Everyone is turning to over-the-top video.

 

 

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Permalink Reply by johnf on December 15, 2011 at 12:52am

Ryan,

Sorry, been busy.  I am not sure why you would take a post in which I complement John Whitbeck for reemerging and starting to get engaged with the community and somehow think that is a negative comment?  I see is continuing and I am glad to see that.  His ego still hasn't allowed him to reach out to his critics - myself and others - but at least he is starting to show up.  I hope he will soon learn to work with those who have opposed him.  If he does he will be starting to show some maturity and it will be a good step for him.

I have complemented John Whotbeck several times on Lansdowne Living.  I have criticized him far more simply because of his actions, votes and the relative lack of understanding  of the Openband issue.As long as he remains a politician, he is not above criticism for what he does.  I would hope you would also want to see politicians like Whitbeck held accountable.

Now watch.  I am going to ask him a genuine question on another thread.  If he chooses to respond he is showing maturity and will be taking a step towards acting like a leader.  If he doesn't, then he is just continuing the pattern that has ended up with him being so divisive in the community.

Let's see.

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