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Arlington police records photo illustration (by ARLnow)

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Last year, an attempt to broaden the Arlington police auditor’s access to police records quietly fizzled before reaching the public for discussion.

The auditor currently can access police records for publicly filed misconduct complaints and review summaries of the Arlington County Police Department’s internal investigations, which ACPD has about a month and a half to generate and anonymize.

The fizzling ensures that, for the near term, the auditor continues to have fewer powers than the state code allows, than what auditors in Alexandria and Fairfax County enjoy, and than what the National Association for Civilian Oversight of Law Enforcement says is essential to effective oversight.

In June, then-County Board Chair Christian Dorsey and member Matt de Ferranti introduced draft changes that would have granted auditor Mummi Ibrahim full access to all ACPD records deemed necessary to do her job, including complaints against officers going back five years, and “unrestricted and unfettered access” to software storing those records.

By December, with Dorsey leaving, time was running out for a Board vote. Before the Board met on Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, Board members, county officials, ACPD leadership and the Independent Policing Auditor (IPA) exchanged a flurry of emails about the nature of the changes and whether to approve them. ARLnow reviewed these emails, which were obtained via a Freedom of Information Act request and shared with us.

Ultimately, the revision attempt fizzled for multiple reasons, according to interviews and emails in the 444-page FOIA. Not all Board members deemed the broader powers necessary, and there were concerns the changes would reopen the county’s collective bargaining agreement with the police union. The county did not have support from ACPD leadership, while Dorsey and interim member Tannia Talento were leaving their posts in two weeks.

After the murder of George Floyd in 2020, a swath of Arlington residents agitated for police accountability in their community. A Police Practices Work Group recommended some 100 reforms, including creating a Community Oversight Board (COB) and an office of the policing auditor to review police misconduct complaints.

Establishing an independent auditor, however, got off to an inauspicious start in Arlington after Gov. Glenn Youngkin in March 2022 blocked a local charter bill that would have given the Board the same power to hire an auditor that other Virginia boards have. This dismayed elected officials, who said the auditor has less independence if she reports to Arlington County’s chief executive, County Manager Mark Schwartz.

The events of last year reveal county leadership is divided when it comes to implementing these reforms. When asked about that split, Arlington County Board Chair Libby Garvey said Board members “generally support the powers and access that the IPA currently has under our ordinance.”

“We know that effective civilian oversight is not one size fits all and we anticipate continuing to learn and refine our approach to best meet Arlington County’s needs over time,” she said.

“We are confident that the auditor and COB are enabled and capable of conducting and completing independent investigations with the information available to them,” she continued. “If the Auditor or the COB deems additional types of information to be necessary for them to fulfill their duties under the ordinance, the recourse of a direct request to the County Board for an ordinance change is available to them.”

The COB and Ibrahim, meanwhile, contend that it is harder to do their jobs without greater records access.

The aggregated summaries of internal investigations ACPD provides “do not facilitate the full transparency needed for effective civilian oversight,” COB Chair Julie Evans said in a statement to ARLnow. “Access to internal investigations will allow the IPA and COB to monitor for and help ACPD to address any systematic issues that may arise. These issues, if unaddressed, could otherwise jeopardize both public and officer safety as well as community trust in law enforcement.”

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George Mason University’s new Fuse at Mason Square in Arlington, is poised to become a 345,000-square-foot collaborative and digital innovation space in the heart of the Rosslyn-Ballston Corridor.

“As Mason expands in Arlington, Fairfax, and Prince William counties, Fuse is a groundbreaking project that is redefining the modern university’s role in catalyzing business and talent growth in the region,” says Liza Wilson Durant, Mason’s associate provost for strategic initiatives and community. “With it, we are one step closer to having a destination to collaborate with partners on development of new technologies.”

Tenant occupancy is scheduled to begin in August 2024. Once open, Fuse at Mason Square will transform the innovation landscape in the region, with opportunities for students, researchers, and commercial partners to be part of an immersive atmosphere of ideation and innovation.

The opening of the building aligns with Mason’s mission of propelling Northern Virginia’s transition into a global technology hub. Fuse will also expand research opportunities at Mason, which is already classified as a top research institution by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.

“Fuse will hit the mark on so many levels,” Wilson Durant says. “It will be at the nexus of all Mason does in digital innovation.”

Come out one and all to join this scenic, flat 5k in the heart of DC near the nation’s Capitol! Runners will receive a Finisher’s Medal, Technical (Drifit) Event Shirt & a Chip Timed Event. Walkers and strollers are welcome.

WHAT: 2nd Annual Alex Manfull Fund 5K 
WHERE: Hains Point, Washington, DC. 
WHEN: Sat., April 13, 8 am
REGISTER: http://bit.ly/TAMF5k2024

This run/walk/roll event, sponsored by the nonprofit Alex Manfull Fund (TheAlexmanfullFund.org), aims to raise awareness and fund research on PANS and PANDAS, Post-Infectious Immune-Mediated Neuropsychiatric Disorders. The disease arises from an abnormal immune response following common infections in kids and young adults. Funds raised last year supported cutting-edge research on PANS and PANDAS at academic facilities around the country, including the POND Brain Bank at Georgetown University. Proceeds from this year’s race will help fund the POND Brain Bank and other critical research, education, and clinical care. The event commemorates the life of Alex Manfull who died at age 26 due to PANDAS. Susan and William Manfull, Alex’s parents, established the Fund in their daughter’s name with the vision that no life ever again be cut short — or interrupted — by this disease. CLICK HERE TO RACE OR DONATE! https://thealexmanfullfund.org/the-alex-manfull-fund-2024-5k-run-walk/

Submit your own Announcement here.

A tree blossoming (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

It’s the ARLnow Five and Five, where nonprofit Washington Consumers’ Checkbook provides five top-rated local businesses and five tips for getting great service and prices. ARLnow readers can access all of Checkbook’s ratings of local tree care services until May 5 at Checkbook.org/ARLnow/tree-care.

These tree care companies serve Arlington County and received Washington Consumers’ Checkbook’s top rating for quality (as reported by their customers in Checkbook’s surveys).

Arlington Tree Care
325 N Edison St
Arlington, VA 22203
703-524-0888

Bonilla Tree Service
2905 Summerfield Rd
Falls Church, VA 22042
703-533-0667

Dad’s Tree Service
Springfield, VA 22152
703-799-5844

Ports Professional Tree Surgery
5242 Port Royal Rd #1611
Springfield, VA 22151
703-323-7061

Strictly Stumps
39 Hermitage Dr
Stafford, VA 22556
703-978-8662

Checkbook’s Top Five Tips for Getting Great Tree Care for Less Green

  • Before hiring any company, obtain competitive bids from several. For tree removal jobs, Checkbook’s undercover shoppers found big price differences for the same work. For one specific job, prices ranged from $1,500 to $2,350 and from $2,440 to $3,250 for another. Typically, you don’t have to be home when bidders are looking at the job.
  • No-shows are a common complaint about tree care services. Invite more companies for estimates than you actually need; once you have enough bids, cancel remaining visits.
  • Check whether a company’s liability insurance and worker’s compensation insurance are current. Ask to see certificates of insurance, and call to verify coverage.
  • When you’ve selected a company, request a contract including a thorough description of the work. Be sure to include who cleans up afterward, hauls away debris and wood, and removes the stump.
  • You may be able to get a better price for pruning or removing trees if you can schedule work during the winter, when companies are less busy and there is less debris to haul away.

Washington Consumers’ Checkbook magazine and Checkbook.org is a nonprofit organization with a mission to help consumers get the best service and lowest prices. We are supported by consumers and take no money from the service providers we evaluate.

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This sponsored column is by Law Office of James Montana PLLC. All questions about it should be directed to James Montana, Esq., Doran Shemin, Esq., Janice Chen, Esq., and Austen Soare, Esq., practicing attorneys at The Law Office of James Montana PLLC, an immigration-focused law firm located in Falls Church, Virginia. The legal information given here is general in nature. If you want legal advice, contact us for an appointment.

USCIS’s fees for most applications are increasing on Monday, April 1st.

This article is a PSA on how not to pay more for the same service. Green card application fees are increasing from $1,760, for an ordinary marriage-based case, to $3,005! We addressed this in additional detail in February, but today, we’re here to talk mechanics.

1. Don’t file if you aren’t eligible…

If you file for a benefit, and you don’t qualify, you’ll eventually find yourself in immigration court facing deportation. That will cost you many, many thousands of dollars, and several years of sleepless nights. So, if you aren’t sure that you’re eligible, don’t file!

2. If you are eligible, file at the right address

It isn’t obvious where to file these things! If you’re filing a green card application, start here, and work your way through the options to find the correct address for you.

3. Enclose a check or money order…

Make your check or money order out to “U.S. Department of Homeland Security.” Don’t make it out to “DHS” or “USCIS” or anything else. (Here are detailed instructions on how to make out your check)

Can you pay by credit card instead? Yes, using Form G-1450. We don’t generally recommend that.

4. In the correct amount…

The correct amount depends on the application. The current fee schedule (valid through March 31st) is eleven pages long. The new fee schedule, valid from April 1, 2024 on, is forty-five pages long.

5. And get a postmark!

USCIS says: “We will use the postmark date of a filing to determine which form version and fees are correct, but will use the received date for purposes of any regulatory or statutory filing deadlines.” Okay! Go to a U.S. post office, as late as Saturday morning, and ask for a physical postmark. Pay for a service, like Ground Advantage or Priority Mail, which allows for tracking of your package.

As always, we welcome your comments and will do our best to respond.

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Kids at Sky Zone (photo via Sky Zone/Facebook)

Alexandria might not be getting a pro sports arena, but Arlington and Alexandria might be getting another “premier indoor active entertainment destination.”

Specifically: Sky Zone, a kid-friendly trampoline park with foam pits, climbing walls, slides, zip lines, basketball, dodgeball and other activities.

The company announced yesterday that a group of local investors has bought the franchise rights for one location apiece in Arlington and Alexandria. A location has not yet been chosen and might be a bit tricky to find considering the space required and Arlington’s lack of it — at affordable rental rates, at least.

“The typical Sky Zone location has an average 32,000 sq-ft footprint, and Sky Zone owns, operates, and franchises over 270 parks across the U.S., aiming for 300 by the end of year, including several in DC area including Springfield, Gaithersburg, and Bowie,” a PR rep noted to ARLnow.

A timeline for an opening has also not yet been set.

More, below, from a press release.

Sky Zone, the premier indoor active entertainment destination, today announced its plans to bring three new parks to the greater Washington D.C. area through its strategic franchise development efforts.

Two of the locations, set to open in Alexandria and Arlington, Virginia, will be operated by a group of investors consisting of Adebara Lawrence, Akintunde Ola, John Odilli and Olatokunboh Abereoje.

Complementing this expansion, the third park, scheduled to open its doors in Frederick, Maryland later in the year, will be overseen by local entrepreneurs Abi and Betty Ayodeji. Drawing from their extensive backgrounds in information technology and real estate, the first-time Sky Zone franchisees look forward to leveraging their unique skillsets as the newest home for play in the Frederick community.

“After researching various franchise options, investing in Sky Zone was an easy decision,” said Abi and Betty Ayodeji, Sky Zone franchisees. “We were not only impressed by the company’s demonstrated track record of profitability but also by their commitment to fostering robust community relationships and providing comprehensive support to franchisees.”

Mike Revak, President of Sky Zone Franchise Group, shared his enthusiasm for the brand’s expansion in the DMV area, stating, “As we approach the milestone of our 300th park, we’re so grateful to be working alongside such talented entrepreneurs like those of our upcoming D.C. metro locations. With the help of our franchise owners, we look forward to bringing the joy of Sky Zone to many more families across the U.S.”

Entrepreneurs interested in joining the rapid growth at Sky Zone are encouraged to learn more about the brand and its offerings, at skyzone.com.

About Sky Zone:
Sky Zone, the premier leader in indoor active entertainment in the United States, owns, operates and franchises over 270 parks. Founded in 2004 as Sky Zone Trampoline Park, the brand has evolved from being the first of its kind to now being the top destination for active play offering its 500,000+ members over 60 smile-inducing attractions. The brand encourages families to make memories and Play Every Day through birthdays, team gatherings and after-school activities each year. Sky Zone caters to kids under 12 through thoughtful programming in a clean and safe environment. Sky Zone has been recognized as a top franchise organization in both Franchise Times’ Top 400 and Fast & Serious lists, as well as Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500. For more information about Sky Zone and to find your local park, visit skyzone.com or follow on socials at @skyzone.

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A new Arlington food hall opened this week with the hope of breathing more life into Rosslyn.

Featuring fresh technology, murals by local artists and a full plate of nine D.C.-area food vendors, Upside on Moore has taken over the former site of Assembly at Rosslyn City Center (above the Metro station).

The idea, says Nick Freshman, founder of the food hall’s operator Mothersauce Partners, is to provide a place where Rosslyn residents and office workers can not only eat but also relax and even work.

“They’ve tried to restart Rosslyn a lot of times,” Freshman said. “I think this is the time we’re going to get it right.”

The redesigned space, which opened Tuesday, offers upgraded WiFi and rows of seats with plentiful outlets in addition to more traditional dining areas. Visitors can scan QR codes to order from any restaurant in the hall on their cellphones, and servers will deliver meals to their seats.

The “hub” of the food hall, in Freshman’s vision, is a cocktail bar with a menu by mixologist Elli Benchimol, owner of Michelin-recognized Apéro in Georgetown. All other offerings — from Ghostburger to La Michoacana to Laoban Dumplings — are also local.

Beyond the main concourse, the food hall has a patio overlooking downtown Rosslyn as well as an upper floor that can host events with up to 500 people.

While thousands of Rosslyn residents live within walking distance, Freshman said they often leave the neighborhood of office buildings and residential high-rises when going out to eat or drink. He believes a revamped, central hangout spot can help change that, providing a destination in its own right.

“Instead of looking past Rosslyn, we are leaning in, and the residential and business community are reacting enthusiastically,” he said. “As an added bonus, we have seen fans of our brands come from all over the area to check the space out. Our hope in curating this lineup was to draw people into Rosslyn from the wider area, and we think that is happening.”

Before the pandemic, it looked like Rosslyn would be home to three separate food halls. In addition to Assembly, which was opened in 2021 by Chicago-based DMK Restaurants, the neighborhood was slated to get Common Ground and Happy Endings Eatery, both in the Central Place development.

The former never opened and the latter has rebranded as The Happy Eatery, de-emphasizing the food hall concept.

American Real Estate Partners, which owns the Rosslyn City Center, partnered with Mothersauce last year to plan an overhaul of the dining area.

Assembly shuttered at the start of this month as the redesign removed all previous vendors, which included the Fog Point oyster bar, Charo’s Taqueria and Big Day Coffee.

As businesses such as For Five Roasters and BurgerFi have popped up in Rosslyn in recent months, Freshman believes the food hall can help drive a shift toward making the area more appealing to locals.

“We can keep them here if we have the right concept and the right programming,” he said.

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Washington Nationals opening day in 2016 (staff photo)

With the Alexandria NHL and NBA arena deal now dead, and MLB opening day today, it’s a good time to reflect on the fact that Arlington could have been the home of the Nationals.

In the early 2000s, a group bidding to land the Montreal Expos pitched the “PenPlace” site in Pentagon City. You know it now as the site where Amazon HQ2 Phase 2 and its distinctive Helix tower will be going (probably).

As recounted by WeLoveDC in 2011, local residents balked at the idea of an MLB stadium clogging nearby roads and the property owner decided a mixed-use development — ultimately an office complex that was approved but never built — would be more lucrative. The team, of course, moved to D.C. in 2005 and the Nationals won a World Series in 2019 before entering their current rebuilding phase.

Would-be Pentagon City stadium for the Nationals (screenshot via WeLoveDC)

Many of the arena-related concerns of Alexandria residents — traffic and parking namely — were the same concerns of those living near Pentagon City at the time.

While there was much rejoicing on social media upon news that D.C. had reached a deal with team owner Ted Leonsis to retain the Capitals and Wizards at Capital One Arena, there were also some disappointed at the loss of a potential economic development driver for Alexandria and Potomac Yard.

Likewise, we’re wondering whether anyone is still disappointed by Arlington not landing the baseball stadium. Let’s find out.

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Morning Notes

Rainy in East Falls Church (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Alexandria Arena Nixed — “The City of Alexandria just announced that the city is ending negotiations related to the Potomac Yard Entertainment District and ‘the proposal will not move forward.'” [ALXnow]

Local Man Arrested for Shooting — “Fairfax County police have arrested an Arlington man who allegedly shot two women, including his wife, at a day care center in West Springfield.” [FFXnow]

Latest Rent Ranking — “Arlington ranked as the 7th most expensive city to rent. The price of one bedroom units in Arlington increased 0.4% to $2,340 last month, while two bedroom units fell 0.7% to $2,960.” [Zumper]

Little League Opener Set — “The annual Arlington Little League opening-day ceremony will include many of the traditional features and activities during this year’s Sunday, April 7 event at Barcroft Park.” [Gazette Leader]

It’s Thursday — Expect rain mainly before 11am, accompanied by patchy morning fog. The day will be cloudy with a high near 53, a northwest wind at 8-13 mph, and gusts up to 21 mph. There is a 60% chance of precipitation, with up to a quarter inch of rain. Initially cloudy Thursday night before gradually clearing, with a low around 38. Nighttime winds of 9-14 mph, with gusts as high as 22 mph. [NWS]

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The Summer 2024 STEAM (Science/Technology/Engineering/Arts/Math) Fellowship application is now open! Apply by April 15 to be considered!

The STEAM Workforce Development Teacher Fellowship provides Arlington Public Schools (APS) high school, middle school, and elementary school teachers with opportunities to learn about workplace needs in STEAM-related fields and for them to use the experience to enhance student learning to match workplace expectations in a selected industry. STEAM Fellows participate in a three-week summer fellowship, receiving a $4,000 stipend upon completion.

Applicants planning to pursue a fellowship in the arts must demonstrate how they will build connections between the arts and science, technology, engineering, or mathematics.

Click the button to learn more, share, apply, and see the variety of fellowships completed in previous years.

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