 During his nine years on Council, Rob worked to expand mass transit throughout the city (including leading on the creation of the planned Potomac Yard Metro); advocated for policies that have dramatically increased recycling; instituted policies that encourage people to walk or bike to work (their numbers have more than doubled since his arrival); fought for the acquisition of acres of new open space; successfully pushed to expand pre-k services in the city; streamlined bureaucracy for small businesses so that independent companies have a better chance to thrive; promoted expanded community policing and gang prevention efforts which have contributed to historically low crime rates, and; co-founded the nationally recognized Eco-City Alexandria program that has made Alexandria a recognized leader in energy conservation and sustainability.In 2009, after helping to create Virginia's school readiness standards, Governor Tim Kaine appointed Rob to the State Board of Education where he worked to expand educational opportunity in Virginia's schools and ensure that children in the Commonwealth show up to Kindergarten ready to learn and graduate High School with the skills necessary to compete in the 21st Century economy.On the Board, Rob was a strong advocate for increasing math and science learning opportunities in Virginia as well as for getting away from the stranglehold of the No Child Left Behind law.