To the editor: At the Jan. 2 Arlington County Board organizational meeting, new chair Libby Garvey announced her intent to initiate a visioning session on the future of Arlington. I applaud her efforts to think past today and look toward tomorrow.
In her last term as chair, in 2020, Garvey espoused similar insights, and in my role then as the county government’s chief information officer, we launched a series of public discussions on the topic of “Defining Arlington’s Digital Destiny.” For those who attended the community sessions, they were very valuable as they reached out to all segments of the community and sparked original thinking and suggestions about “what might be.”
The discussions addressed future initiatives related to digital equity, transformed resident services, transportation, education and health care framed by the exponential growth portended for the future.
These previous or similar new discussions must be integral to any plan for the future of Arlington, and there must be strong advocacy by the county government’s leadership. (As in the bacon-and-eggs scenario, the chicken is involved, but the hog is committed. Let’s hope the county leadership takes on the role of the latter participant in this particular meal preparation.)
We are at an inflection point, where emerging, potential technologies – such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, data analytics, cybersecurity threats and wireless-spectrum advances – may well have a disruptive impact on the community.
Many leading technology experts – such as Andy Jassy (CEO of Amazon), Evan Burfield (founder of startup 1776), Eric Schmidt (former CEO of Google and a Yorktown High School alumnus), and Gary Shapiro (CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association) could offer invaluable perspectives if asked to provide their insights.
No discussion of Arlington’s future should take place without the understanding and advocation that anything proposed will require the understanding of the future impact of technology.
Innovation, people and transformation are the three legs to the future of every community. Arlington is far better positioned than most.
Jack Belcher, Ph.D., Arlington
[Belcher served in the Arlington County government in the roles of chief technology officer and chief technology innovation officer from 2000 to 2023.]
