Jo DeVoe | ARLnow

JUST IN: Youngkin vetoes Arlington police auditor bill

Published March 1, 2022 at 12:00PM | Updated March 1, 2022 at 1:59PM

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin in Tysons (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 1:55 p.m.) Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s first veto could mean Arlington’s police oversight board cannot be led by an independent policing auditor.

Today (Tuesday), the Republican governor vetoed his first bill: HB 670, put forward by Arlington’s Del. Patrick Hope (D). It would have granted the Arlington County Board permission to appoint an independent auditor who would oversee the Community Oversight Board (COB), which is tasked with handling civilian complaints of misconduct by Arlington police officers.

Around Town

Catching a Friday fish fry near Arlington may require a penitential drive in traffic

By Jo DeVoe

Published March 1, 2022 at 10:30AM

The St. James fish fry in Falls Church (courtesy photo)

Locals looking for a good fish fry this Lenten season will have to cast their nets outside Arlington.

People won’t have to go far to indulge for Fat Tuesday — which is today — whether that’s with King Cake from Bayou Bakery or Cajun food at Ragtime. But getting to a fish fry may involve a drive into Falls Church or Fairfax County.

News

BREAKING: Masks optional at Arlington Public Schools as of March 1

By Jo DeVoe

Published February 28, 2022 at 3:55PM

A mask among the leaves along Wilson Blvd in November 2020 (Staff Photo by Jay Westcott)

(Updated at 4:10 p.m.) Arlington Public Schools is effectively repealing its mask mandate for all students and staff.

The move, which takes effect tomorrow (March 1), responds to new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, which was released on Friday. No opt-out form is required for those who do not wish to wear masks.

Feature

This Clarendon-based dog food brand is ‘reducing the carbon pawprint’

By Jo DeVoe

Published February 28, 2022 at 1:30PM

Haley Russell, founder of Chippin (courtesy photo)

Sponsored by Monday Properties and written by ARLnow, Startup Monday is a weekly column that profiles Arlington-based startups, founders, and other local technology news. Monday Properties is proudly featuring 1515 Wilson Blvd in Rosslyn.

Very good boys (and girls) can now eat food that’s good for the planet, from a Clarendon-based company called Chippin.

News

Arlington builds call system to divert people in mental health crises from jail

By Jo DeVoe

Published February 25, 2022 at 1:45PM

Arlington 911 dispatcher at the county's Emergency Communications Center (via Arlington County)

Arlington County is developing an alert system aimed at improving its emergency response to behavioral health crises.

The aim of the system, dubbed the Marcus Alert, is to keep people in crisis — due to a mental illness, substance use disorder or intellectual and developmental disabilities — from being arrested and booked in jail.

Schools

APS proposes new budget with sunnier outlook than years past

By Jo DeVoe

Published February 25, 2022 at 9:30AM

Superintendent Francisco Durán during the Nov. 16 School Board meeting (via APS)

For the first time in four years, Arlington Public Schools presented a balanced budget for its upcoming fiscal year.

Last night (Thursday) Superintendent Francisco Durán told the School Board his proposed $746.1 million operating budget for July 2022 to June 2023 invests heavily in students with disabilities, English-language learners and other students who are struggling, while ensuring base salaries and raises for staff that are competitive and sustainable.

News

Duplexes vs. McMansions: What makes a house too big for neighbors?

By Jo DeVoe

Published February 24, 2022 at 3:30PM | Updated October 17, 2022 at 11:25AM

The Garrison residence (courtesy of Les Garrison)

The owner of a two-family home near Crystal City says he may cancel his redevelopment plans because county approval processes have delayed construction and run up costs.

“As of right now, the project is on hold, possibly dead, because the County delayed it so long that the prices of construction (up 40%) not to mention the $150,000 in costs so far to get it approved, have made it unaffordable,” owner Les Garrison tells ARLnow. “The payback time is now unreasonable.”

News

Apartments proposed for vacant Wendy’s lot near finish line

By Jo DeVoe

Published February 24, 2022 at 11:45AM

The 16-story apartment building Greystar proposes for the Wendy's lot (via Arlington County)

Final approvals could be imminent for a high-rise apartment building proposed for the long-vacant Wendy’s lot.

Plans to redevelop 2025 Clarendon Blvd are set for Planning Commission and County Board votes next month, beginning with the Planning Commission on March 7. The County Board is expected to review the plans during its Saturday meeting on March 19.

Schools

W-L students give away books they say could be ‘banned’ under new bill

By Jo DeVoe

Published February 23, 2022 at 3:55PM | Updated February 23, 2022 at 4:26PM

Washington-Liberty High School students browse copies of "Beloved" and "Maus" (courtesy photo)

(Updated at 4:25 p.m.) This afternoon, a group of Washington-Liberty High School students are giving their peers more than 100 copies of two politically controversial books.

The books are “Beloved,” Toni Morrison’s Pulitzer Prize-winning novel following a Black family during the Reconstruction era, and “Maus,” Art Spiegelman’s award-winning graphic novel about the Holocaust and his father’s life during World War II. Both have explicit content that has some parents and politicians questioning their place in schools.

News

Arlington implementing new program to divert youth from criminal justice system

By Jo DeVoe

Published February 22, 2022 at 3:55PM

Arlington County government headquarters (file photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington County has created a new youth program aimed at diverting young people who commit crimes from the criminal justice system.

The program, called “Heart of Safety,” is the first county program established to find alternatives to prosecution in certain misdemeanor and felony cases committed by juveniles and young adults, according to a press release from the Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney.

Around Town

Arlington Bar Foundation now taking grant requests from local nonprofits

By Jo DeVoe

Published February 22, 2022 at 2:30PM

Gavel (Flickr photo by Joe Gratz)

The philanthropic arm of the Arlington County Bar Association is looking to support local nonprofits with a connection to the legal community.

From now through the month of April, the Arlington County Bar Foundation is accepting grant applications from organizations promoting or improving the justice system in Arlington and the City of Falls Church. The foundation helps local charities through grant funding and personnel support, says Paul Ferguson, the Arlington Bar Foundation Grants Committee Chair.

News

County looks to balance finances, regulations and wishes for Barcroft Apartments

By Jo DeVoe

Published February 18, 2022 at 2:45PM | Updated February 18, 2022 at 4:49PM

The Barcroft Apartments, a 1,334-unit, market-affordable apartment complex along Columbia Pike (via Google Maps)

It’s been two months since Arlington County and Amazon agreed to loan more than $300 million to facilitate the sale of the Barcroft Apartments on Columbia Pike.

In exchange for these loans, developer Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners agreed to preserve 1,334 units on the site as committed affordable units for 99 years.