Arlington officials have added online resources in support of county residents impacted by the ongoing federal shutdown.
The updates include links to local, state and federal supports for those impacted since Oct. 1 as either federal workers of contractors. Tens of thousands of federal workers live or work in Arlington, one of the highest concentrations in the D.C. area.
“We see you. We stand with you. We understand what this means,” County Board Chair Takis Karantonis said at the start of the Board meeting on Saturday.
One of the initiatives is a new executive-coaching service for impacted workers through the state government. Those impacted by the shutdown also have access to an online library of free training programs.
“Arlington is always very deeply impacted by these events, so we take them extremely seriously,” Karantonis said. “We try to be as close as possible to our residents and in solidarity with them.”
Also at the Oct. 18 Board meeting:
Board Chair says hate has no home in county: Karantonis urged those with views on all sides of the conflict in Palestine to lower the political rhetoric in the local community.
After a number of public speakers referenced their concerns during the public-comment period, the chair said, “We don’t tolerate hate. We don’t tolerate violence.”
“I’m very well aware antisemitism has knocked on our door here in this region. We are concerned to see those incidents happening here,” Karantonis said. “We are not going to tolerate antisemitism. We are not going to tolerate hostile positions against Muslims or any religion, race, color of skin, etc.”
Another Board member — J.D. Spain, Sr. — suggested the county may need to get more aggressive in its response to cases such as antisemitic fliers or other overt acts.
“We need leadership to actually look at this, not just say ‘well, we’ll get past it,'” Spain said. “If not, it’s just going to continue.”
In addition to some speakers raising concerns about the potential for political violence, pro-Palestinian activists used the public-comment period to continue to push the county to disentangle economic-development relationships with Israel.
As he has before, Karantonis suggested that Arlington treats all economic-development partners and opportunities fairly.
“The County Board is not the place where foreign policy is made,” he said. “This is something the advocates have to take up with the bodies that really decide foreign policy.”
Board, speakers tangle over one-speaker-per-topic rule: Board Chair Takis Karantonis again wielded the gavel against those he said were running afoul of the Board’s policy on the public-comment period preceding meetings.
For years, the rule has been that only one speaker on a given topic would be heard per meeting, or two if the second opinion was in direct contradiction to the first one heard. Also for years, advocates on certain issues have attempted to push the limits of that restriction.
As he has in the past, Karantonis at the Oct. 18 meeting said there were multiple opportunities for those wishing to have their views known by county leaders.
“This is not the place for a town hall,” he said of the public-comment period. “There are other places for a town hall, and you know it yourselves well.”
Board members adopt rules governing meetings during their annual organizational gathering in early January. Karantonis said there would be “a conversation” among Board members about concerns raised over the one-speaker rule, and that could lead to a change for 2026 if a majority of the five members agrees.
Board welcomes mayor-elect of sister city: Board members on Saturday welcomed Michael Ziemons, mayor-elect of Arlington’s Sister City of Aachen, Germany.
Ziemons was part of a contingent of students and parents that has been visiting Arlington as part of exchange programs over recent weeks. Arlington students will travel to Aachen next spring to complete the annual exchange.
“Thank you for such a great and deep friendship,” the incoming mayor said. “For us in Aachen, it’s very, very important to have friendships such as these.”
With about 260,000 residents, Aachen is Germany’s westernmost and 27th largest city, and is slightly more populous than Arlington. Located on its country’s western border, the city is adjacent to both Belgium and the Netherlands.
“It’s good to have people know each other’s feelings, what they are dealing with,” Ziemons said of the exchange’s results. “While the governments are speaking about taxes and tariffs, we are speaking about hearts and hopes. This is what makes these exchanges so special.”
Ziemons is a member of Germany’s Christian Democratic Union Party. In the recent city election, he won 56% of the vote for mayor against an opponent from the Green Party in a runoff after winning about 40% of the vote in a seven-candidate first-round balloting. His term as “lord mayor” of Aachen runs for five years.
Aachen is one of Arlington’s five Sister City relationships, along with Reims, France; Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine; San Miguel, El Salvador; and Coyoacán, Mexico. The Coyoacán relationship currently is in “emeritus” status, but efforts are being sought to bring it back to life.
At the meeting, Karantonis — who recently was in Europe on a Sister City trip — noted the importance of the Arlington Sister City Association and encouraged local residents to volunteer and otherwise support the organization.
