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Light Voter Turnout Reported in Arlington

Published June 10, 2014 at 10:25AM

Polling places around Arlington are reporting relatively light turnout so far this morning for the 8th Congressional District Democratic primary.

“It’s probably a little slower at this point then we had anticipated,” Arlington County General Registrar Linda Lindberg told ARLnow.com. “Some precincts haven’t even had 50 voters yet.”

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published June 10, 2014 at 9:00AM

Voting Starts in Congressional Primary — Polls opened at 6:00 this morning in the seven-way race for the Democratic nod to replace Rep. Jim Moran. The polls will close at tonight 7:00. The candidates seeking the nomination are Don Beyer, Bill Euille, Lavern Chatman, Adam Ebbin, Patrick Hope, Derek Hyra and Mark Levine. [Washington Post]

Few Surprises in Howze Speech — County Board candidate Alan Howze addressed the local Democratic faithful at the Arlington Jefferson-Jackson dinner on Saturday. Howze talked about school overcrowding and global warming in the speech, which was described as “low-key,” and said little that would suggest a significant change in strategy since his special election loss to independent candidate John Vihstadt. [InsideNova]

Feature

Total Value of Arlington Homes: $43.4 Billion

By ARLnow.com

Published June 9, 2014 at 1:35PM

According to a report from real estate website Redfin, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett could individually, with their net worth, buy every single home in Arlington County.

There are 75,317 homes in Arlington with an aggregate value of $43.4 billion, the report says. Warren Buffett, with his $65.5 billion, or Bill Gates, with $78.4 billion, according to Forbes, could theoretically buy all the residential real estate there is to buy in Arlington.

Events

Hillary Clinton to Sign Books at Pentagon City Costco

By ARLnow.com

Published June 9, 2014 at 10:15AM

Hard Choices will go on sale on Tuesday. The book chronicles Clinton’s four years as Secretary of State and the “crises, choices, and challenges she faced.”

Clinton will be signing copies of the book at the Pentagon City Costco store from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on June 14.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published June 9, 2014 at 9:30AM

Graffiti Closes Powhatan Skatepark — Powhatan Springs Skatepark is temporarily closed after “graffiti containing vulgar language” was found. The park will be temporarily closed until park staff can remove the graffiti. No word yet on a reopening date.

Tejada: Three Dems on County Board — At the Arlington County Democratic Committee’s annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner over the weekend, Walter Tejada said pointedly that he is “one of three Democratic county board members,” presumably excluding Libby Garvey. Garvey was also not listed as an “Arlington Democratic Elected Official” in the program. [Blue Virginia]

Opinion

Letter to the Editor: Arlington Values Education

By ARLnow.com

Published June 7, 2014 at 10:55AM

The following letter to the editor was submitted by Mary Hynes and Noah Simon. Mary is Vice Chair of the Arlington County Board and a former School Board member. Noah is an Arlington County School Board Member. This letter represents their individual views.

Arlington residents value education. We are, after all, a community where 70% of residents hold bachelor degrees and over 25% hold advanced degrees. We see the commitment to education daily – in engaged parents, committed teachers, active PTA’s, and strong business partnerships. That commitment has been demonstrated for more than three decades by voter support for upgraded and expanded schools.

News

Morning Notes

By ARLnow.com

Published June 6, 2014 at 10:00AM

Dump Truck Driver Found Guilty in Woman’s Death — The driver of a dump truck that struck and killed a 39-year-old mother of three in February has been found guilty of “failing to pay full time and attention.” Marvin Valladares, 33, was sentenced to 10 days in jail with four suspended. [WTOP, WJLA]

Pentagon Centre Redevelopment Plans Change — A plan to redevelop the Pentagon Centre shopping center is being changed. Owner Kimco Realty Corp. now wants to build two residential buildings on the site before building two office buildings and a hotel. Pentagon Centre is currently home to Best Buy, Costco and other big box retailers. If the plan is approved, it and other Pentagon City development projects could result in “a deluge of roughly 4,000 new residential units in a decade.” [Washington Business Journal]

News

ACPD to Enforce Va. Uber, Lyft Cease and Desist

By ARLnow.com

Published June 5, 2014 at 7:45PM

The DMV asserts that the smartphone-based services, which allow drivers to make money by using their own cars like a dispatched taxicab, are illegal because they have not received the proper authorization from the DMV to operate in Virginia.

In letters to company officials, the DMV says it will “enforce existing laws by companies… and by individual drivers that lack authority to provide passenger transportation.”

News

Crime Report: Robbery Foiled by Armed Victim

By ARLnow.com

Published June 5, 2014 at 4:45PM | Updated January 16, 2018 at 2:13PM

File photo

Police say the 27-year-old victim was taking out the trash last Friday night in the Arna Valley View neighborhood near S. Glebe Road. When he returned to his apartment, four alleged, would-be robbers forced their way in.

As two of the suspects rifled through his things, the victim said there was a brief struggle and he was able to draw a pistol. The suspects then reportedly dropped everything and ran off.

News

Bids Canceled for Aquatics Center As County Seeks Private Funds

By ARLnow.com

Published June 5, 2014 at 3:30PM

(Updated at 3:45 p.m.) Arlington will not award a contract for construction of the Long Bridge Park Aquatics, Health and Fitness Facility, delaying the project for at least a year, the county announced this afternoon.

The decision to cancel the bids for the facility follows an effort by County Manager Barbara Donnellan and her staff to work with construction companies to “value engineer” the project and lower costs. The bids initially came in well above the level necessary to keep the aquatics center within its original $79 million projected cost. Even with cheaper furnishings and other cut corners, however, we’re told the revised cost estimate “got close but not close enough.”

News

Mark Levine: Why You Should Vote for Me

By ARLnow.com

Published June 5, 2014 at 2:30PM

Del. Mark Levine

Here is Mark Levine’s unedited response:

There is a battle going on in the Democratic Party between its establishment and progressive wings. Conventional Democrats believe the best way to “get things done” is to appease the right wing, give them half of what they want, and declare victory.

News

Patrick Hope: Why You Should Vote for Me

By ARLnow.com

Published June 5, 2014 at 2:00PM

Here is Del. Patrick Hope’s unedited response:

Arlington is my home. When my wife, Kristen, and I were looking for a place to raise a family, we sought out an area with strong schools, a vibrant community, and diverse neighborhoods. That’s what first drew us to Arlington County and Northern Virginia, and why we have chosen to raise our three daughters here, who attend Arlington’s public schools. I believe passionately in public service, which is why I’ve served on numerous boards and commissions trying to make our community an even better place to live. I was a Special Olympics coach for eight years, and chaired the Arlington Community Services Board for five, which dealt with mental illness, substance abuse, and developmental and intellectual disabilities.