ACPD: No Charges to Be Filed Against Patrick Moran
There will be no criminal charges filed against the son of Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.) as a result of the video that purported to show him going along with a scheme to commit voter fraud.
In a statement released this afternoon (below), the Arlington County Police Department said it has completed an investigation and will not be filing charges against Patrick Moran, who resigned as Director of Field Operation for his father’s reelection campaign following the release of the video.
The video was created by Project Veritas, a nonprofit investigative group founded by conservative activist James O’Keefe. The police department said the video-makers did not cooperate with their investigation.
The Arlington County Police Department, in collaboration with the Offices of the Virginia Attorney General and the Arlington County Commonwealth’s Attorney, has concluded its investigation of election offense allegations against Patrick Moran.
A criminal investigation was initiated by the Arlington County Police Department in late October 2012 after a video was released allegedly depicting Patrick Moran, former Director of Field Operations for the Jim Moran for Congress campaign organization, assisting another to vote illegally.
Patrick Moran and the Jim Moran for Congress campaign provided full cooperation throughout the investigation. Despite repeated attempts to involve the party responsible for producing the video, they failed to provide any assistance.
As a result of the investigation, there will be no charges brought against Moran and the investigation is now closed.
Rep. Moran was reelected despite the video controversy. In a separate incident, Patrick Moran later pleaded guilty to assaulting his girlfriend outside a D.C. bar.
As Snow Falls, A Reminder About Snow Removal
With snow falling and the evening rush hour beginning, Arlington County snow removal crews are gearing up to keep primary and secondary arterial streets clear.
According to the Arlington County website, the county is currently in a Phase 1 snow alert. Soon, crews will likely move into Phase 2, clearing accumulated snow from arterial streets.
“Our crews are on alert and scheduled to work through the evening as needed,” said county spokeswoman Laura G. Smith. “The public [can] check the snow status on our website.”
The video above, released by the county on Wednesday, explains Arlington’s snow removal process and its four phases.
The video also reminds residents that, by ordinance, all Arlington property owners are required to clear snow and ice from public sidewalks adjacent to their property within 24 hours after snow stops falling. In the event of snowfall over six inches, that timeframe is increased to 36 hours.
Property owners are also prohibited from depositing snow onto roads and other public property.
APS Now on Social Media Websites
Arlington Public Schools has joined several popular social media websites in an effort to better communicate with the community at large.
The school system is now on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. From an APS press release:
In an effort to increase communications and strengthen ties with Arlington Public Schools families and the community, APS has developed a social media presence. The Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts will go live on Mon, Jan. 14.
These new communication channels will provide the APS community with more ways to receive information about current events, capital improvements, the budget, boundaries and other initiatives, as well as all the news and events going on throughout APS.
Remy Takes on TSA in ‘I Saw Daddy Pat Down Santa Claus’ Video
Clarendon’s own Remy Munasifi, of Arlington Rap fame, is continuing his comedy campaign against the Transportation Security Administration with a new holiday-themed video.
Remy again collaborated with the libertarian Reason TV website to create the video, entitled “I Saw Daddy Pat Down Santa Claus (A Very TSA Christmas Song).”
The video features plenty of suggestive gags at the TSA’s expense, including Remy holding a nutcracker with a sign reading “Only the TSA May Handle Nuts” in the background, and Remy holding a candy cane next to a sign reading “Only TSA may handle kids’ junk (food).” At one point Remy also fondles Jolly Old St. Nick’s groin region.
Reason has been critical of the TSA’s heavy-handed approach to airport security.
Raccoon ‘Evicted’ from Arlington Chimney
Christmas has been saved for one Arlington household, after a raccoon tried to block Santa’s impending arrival.
As the video above shows, the Humane Society was recently called to a home to help “evict” the raccoon from the chimney. Said Humane Society of the United States spokeswoman Kaitlin Sanderson:
“As stockings are being hung, trees decorated and children anxiously await the arrival of Santa Claus, one home owner in Arlington needed help making sure Santa could deliver presents Christmas morning. The Humane Society of the United States’ Humane Wildlife Services was called to help an Arlington family with ‘Raccoon Claus,’ a little raccoon who decided to turn Santa’s entry-way into his home for the winter.”
Police Release Video of Glebe Road Bank Robbery
Arlington County Police and the FBI have released surveillance video of Tuesday’s robbery of the Bank of America branch at 3600 S. Glebe Road.
The video shows a man wearing a black jacket, cap, sunglasses and gloves entering the bank and passing a note to the teller. The teller then hands the man a stack of cash, which the man inspects before quickly fleeing on foot.
ACPD and the FBI are asking for the public’s assistance in identifying the man.
“He is described as black male, between 5’10 and 5’11” and weighing approximately 165 pounds,” police said in a press release. “He was wearing a black jacket, a knit hat and scarf. He also wore mirrored sunglasses, black gloves, dark pants and tennis shoes.”
“Anyone with information on the identity or whereabouts of this individual is asked to contact the FBI’s Washington Field Office at 202-278-2000 or Detective Gary Skeens with the Arlington County Police Department at 703.228.4166 or investigations@arlingtonva.us,” police said. “To report information anonymously, contact the Arlington County Crime Solvers at 866.411.TIPS (8477).”
Video: Arlington Year in Review
Arlington County has released a video that recounts the year that was 2012.
Among the topics covered in the four-and-a-half minute video: the PLACE initiative, the opening of the Mary Marshall Assisting Living facility, the Buckingham Gardens renovation, awards for the VPoint affordable apartment project, the 10-year Capital Improvement Plan, the opening of Penrose Square park, the new Yorktown Aquatic Center, Fourth of July at Long Bridge Park, the Frida Kahlo exhibit at Artisphere, President Obama’s visit to Washington-Lee High School, progress on the county’s streetcar projects, adoption of a new sign ordinance, the purchase of 2020 14th Street N., and the approval of various new office and residential developments.
Video: PLACE Initiative Update
At the County Board’s New Years meeting in January, new Board Chairman Mary Hynes announced a new initiative called PLACE, which stands for Participation, Leadership and Civic Engagement.
The initiative has resulted in weekly “open door” meetings with County Board members, civic engagement training for county staff members, and the new PLACE Space “community networking” web site.
PLACE Space allows Arlington residents to engage in online conversations about community issues and to join “circles” for specific neighborhoods or interests. There’s a circle for cyclists, hikers, church-goers, and even for “fig aficionados.”
In the video above, the county’s television channel takes a look at progress on the PLACE initiative so far.
Vacuum Leaf Collection Begins Next Week
Arlington County’s vacuum leaf collection service will begin one week from today.
The vacuum trucks will be out from Monday, Nov. 12 until Friday, Dec. 21. The trucks will operate Monday through Saturday, except for Thanksgiving, on a set neighborhood schedule. To prepare for the vacuum collection, residents are asked to rake leaves to the curb but away from storm drains, and to remove stones, litter and other debris from the piles.
Biodegradable leaf bag collection started last Monday (Oct. 29) and will run on weekdays (except Christmas and New Year’s Day) through Friday, Jan. 11, 2013. Collection takes place on the next business day after your regular trash collection day. Free leaf bags can be picked up at a number of locations around the county, as listed on Arlington’s residential leaf collection web site.
More information on leaf collection can be found in the county-produced video, above.
Audition Tapes Sought for ‘Arlington’s Got Talent’
Arlington is getting its very own talent show.
The Young Professionals Program of Leadership Arlington is currently accepting audition videos for “Arlington’s Got Talent,” a talent show scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 27.
The event will showcase Arlingtonians who can sing, dance, play a musical instrument, do stand-up comedy or show off any other type of entertaining, family-friendly talent. Links to audition videos can be sent to talent@leadershiparlington.com or mailed to the address listed on this Facebook page. The submission deadline is Friday, Nov. 2. Participants must be at least 21 years old.
The talent show will take place at the Clarendon Ballroom (3185 Wilson Blvd) starting at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 27. Tickets are on sale online for $30. Proceeds will benefit the Leadership Arlington Young Professionals Program Scholarship Fund.
Video: Ribbon Cutting For New Glebe Road Bridge
County leaders and VDOT officials officially marked the end of construction on the new Glebe Road bridge over Route 50 yesterday (Wednesday) morning.
Construction on the bridge started in the summer of 2011 and wrapped up earlier this week. The bridge was replaced following at least three instances of chunks of concrete falling off the aging span.
The new bridge is 27 feet wider than the old bridge, and features a northbound turn lane onto Route 50, improved “sight distance” for drivers making right turns from Route 50 to Glebe Road, a 17-foot shared use path and a 11-foot sidewalk on either side of the span, decorative green wrought-iron fencing, brick medians, gateway pillars and new LED lighting. The project cost $6 million, according to VDOT.
“Getting this project to construction and improving safety at this location has been a top priority for VDOT,” Garrett Moore, VDOT’s district administrator for Northern Virginia, said in a statement. “We are pleased to deliver a safer, more attractive bridge that will attract more pedestrians and cyclists.”
In the video above, from the county’s “Arlington TV” crew, Moore says he hopes the bridge will last at least 70 years before it needs to be replaced.
Video: First Pike ‘Super Stop’ Nearing Completion
The first of 24 planned enhanced transit stops along Columbia Pike is less than a month away from opening.
On Sept. 19, a canopy was installed at the prototype “Super Stop” near the intersection of Columbia Pike and Walter Reed Drive, in front of the Rite Aid pharmacy. When the stop is finished — it’s currently slated to open in late October — the stop will feature lighting, maps, screens with real time bus arrival information, heating and shelter for 10-15 passengers.
The Walter Reed Drive stop is one of four Super Stop locations selected for a pilot program. Other Columbia Pike Super Stops that are part of the pilot program are: Columbus Street, Dinwiddie Street and Barton Street. Together, the four stops serve more than 2,000 passengers per day, according to Arlington County.
Other future Super Stop locations include the former Navy Annex, Courthouse Road, Glebe Road, Monroe Street, George Mason Drive, Taylor Street, Buchanan Street and Greenbrier Street.
The video above, produced by Arlington County, shows the installation of the new canopy at the Walter Reed Drive stop.
Video: ACPD in Dramatized Hostage Situation
A newly-released video shows the Arlington County Police Department at work during a dramatized hostage situation.
The video, which is just under a minute long, shows ACPD officers negotiating with an armed man who took two people hostage. Then, after the hostages are released, the department’s SWAT team moves into take the fictional suspect into custody without incident.
ACPD spokesman Dustin Sternbeck said the video is at least a year old and is used for recruitment purposes. It will be featured on an ACPD jobs website that’s expected to launch “shortly,” Sternbeck said.
Video: Be Prepared Week in Arlington
Arlington County has declared Sept. 23-29 “Be Prepared Week.”
Arlington officials are encouraging residents and businesses ”to do something toward preparedness” — like downloading the “Arlington Prepares” smartphone app or putting together a “go bag” — during the week. The Arlington Office of Emergency Management is also asking people to sign an online “preparedness pledge.”
The county released a short video (above) to get the word out about Be Prepared Week.
Video: Arlington Mill Community Center Construction
The new, under-construction Arlington Mill Community Center recently celebrated its “topping out” — the moment when the last beam is placed at the top of a building.
The complex, which is expected to open in the summer of 2013, will include a community center, senior center, gymnasium, parking garage and an affordable housing development. Arlington County’s “Arlington TV” crew produced a video about the topping out ceremony, above.
