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Before Arlington moves to change its form of government, it needs to educate more residents on what the current structure is and why reforms might be needed, one County Board member believes.

“Walk down a street in Ballston, Columbia Pike, anywhere — most folks will look at you like a deer in the headlights” when governance is brought up, Julius “J.D.” Spain, Sr., said at the Jan. 13 Arlington County Civic Federation meeting.


News

This week marks the 10-year anniversary of Mark Schwartz becoming Arlington’s county manager on a permanent basis.

Schwartz had been appointed to the role in an acting capacity in July 2015, and County Board members announced on Jan. 8, 2016 that they had decided to make the position permanent.


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Arlington government leaders appear willing to fill financial gaps if the federal government reduces housing grants to support vulnerable populations — but they don’t know how big those gaps might be.

“We’re not going to not find a way to fund it. We’re not going to let that all fall apart,” Board member Maureen Coffey said at the Housing Commission’s Jan. 15 meeting, which looked at impacts of current and future budget cuts to federal housing funds.


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The Arlington Commission on the Status of Women opened 2026 with a goal of increasing public awareness of its activities.

But the effort also came with a caution that the body not stray from its statutory role as an advisory panel to the County Board.


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Plans for a 141-unit redevelopment project, renovations at a Gunston Park playground and potential changes to charging standards for electric vehicles are all on the agenda at an upcoming County Board meeting.

Other items slated for discussion this month include road improvements on S. George Mason Drive and flood-mitigation efforts near Cardinal Elementary School.


News

Arlington’s Pedestrian Advisory Committee is pressing county and state leaders to do more to keep public walkways clear after winter storms.

Committee members have agreed to send a letter with a list of suggestions to County Manager Mark Schwartz, hoping to potentially improve conditions this winter or in future years.


News

Another major decline in office-building values is likely to put pressure on county leaders to raise tax rates on homeowners already facing higher bills due to increasing assessments.

The overall assessed value of existing office buildings fell 19% year over year, county officials said in announcing 2026 assessments on Jan. 16.


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Representatives of both the business community and organized labor voiced skepticism at a recent forum that an end to Virginia’s right-to-work law is on the horizon for 2026.

“Right to work is not a big thing to us right now,” said Don Slaiman, political coordinator for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 26.


News

With the field of candidates now set, Arlington election officials are gearing up for the Feb. 10 special election in the 39th Senate District.

Democrats this week chose Del. Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-5) as their candidate for the race, while Republicans have selected Julie Robben Lineberry, an Alexandria real-estate professional.


News

Arlington home sales grew 5.4% year-over-year in 2025 despite economic headwinds, according to new data.

A total of 2,315 properties went to closing during the year, up from 2,196 in 2024, according to figures reported Jan. 12 by MarketStats by ShowingTime.


News

A recent presentation from a former local official examined Virginia’s three-decade statewide transformation from politically red to purple to now (maybe) blue.

John Milliken, former County Board member and Virginia Secretary of Transportation, explored the Old Dominion’s political evolution at the gubernatorial level from the narrow 2001 election of Mark Warner to the 2025 landslide bringing Abigail Spanberger into office.


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