Author: Scott McCaffrey

A Northern Virginia native, Scott McCaffrey has four decades of reporting, editing and newsroom experience in the local area plus Florida, South Carolina and the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. He spent 26 years as editor of the Sun Gazette newspaper chain. For Local News Now, he covers government and civic issues in Arlington, Fairfax County and Falls Church.

News

Falls Church City Council members debate giving themselves a pay raise

By Scott McCaffrey

Falls Church City Council members seem split on how much to raise their salaries, now that they have state permission to approve a potentially hefty boost in pay.

Council members currently earn $11,500 per year, and the mayor earns $12,000. Virginia law now permits a maximum salary of $21,000 for Council members and $22,000 for the mayor of a city the size of Falls Church.

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News

Spillover parking, abandoned vehicles bring headaches for Cherrydale residents

By Scott McCaffrey
Parking in the 2000 block of N. Nelson Street (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Cherrydale residents appear to have finally gotten county leaders’ attention about issues with traffic, parking and vehicle noise in their neighborhood.

Now, they’re waiting to see whether these concerns will be addressed.

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News

Officials consider creating community foundation for Arlington parks

By Scott McCaffrey
Douglas Park (via Arlington County)

Arlington officials are considering whether it would be worth establishing a community foundation to supplement funding for local park facilities and programming.

So far, however, there’s no firm consensus on the Park and Recreation Commission on whether this would be a good step to take.

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News

Redevelopment proposal in Falls Church’s West End passes first hurdle

By Scott McCaffrey
Portion of Beyer site in Gordon Road Triangle (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

What could be Falls Church’s next major redevelopment project has taken a small but key step forward.

At a meeting last week, members of Fairfax County’s Planning Commission signaled that they will recommend that the Board of Supervisors authorize further study of a 2.4-acre parcel fronting Route 7.

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News

Arlington leader opposes region-wide sales tax to support Metro

By Scott McCaffrey
Matt de Ferranti speaks at May 16, 2025, DMV Moves meeting (screenshot via WMATA)

Arlington’s representative on a panel studying D.C. Metro funding is opposing a region-wide sales tax to support the transit system.

Instead, County Board member Matt de Ferranti believes Virginia, D.C. and Maryland should each determine how they will pay for the extra regional costs now estimated at $500 million to $600 million a year.

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News

New Crystal House management hasn’t delivered on improvements, some renters say

By Scott McCaffrey
Crystal House Apartments (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

As development around the Crystal House Apartments begins to pick up speed, some current residents are raising concerns about the property’s management.

A recent change in management companies has not resulted in improvements, several renters said at last week’s meeting of the county’s Tenant-Landlord Commission.

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Schools

School Board approves $845M budget, removing controversial cutbacks

By Scott McCaffrey
Mary Kadera (screenshot via Arlington Public Schools)

Public opinion won the day on two contentious issues as School Board members finalized an $844.6 million budget last week.

The new spending package, approved last Thursday, is up 2.2% from the fiscal year ending June 30. It includes funding for continuing the Integration Station early-childhood program and retaining library aides as full-time positions.

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News

Karantonis: Governance-change task force will be set up after summer break

By Scott McCaffrey
Takis Karantonis at 2025 County Board organizational meeting (via Arlington County)

Though still unsure about the necessity, Arlington’s County Board chair is preparing to move forward with a task force on governance-change options.

Takis Karantonis detailed the timeline to ARLnow. It is likely the panel will be established after the Board returns from its August recess.

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Schools

Divided School Board rejects late calendar change to mark Islamic holiday

By Scott McCaffrey
Bethany Zecher Sutton (screenshot via Arlington Public Schools)

A divided School Board on Thursday night (May 15) opted not to add a last-minute school holiday in early June to accommodate a key date on the Islamic calendar.

Although their votes went in different directions, Board members each said they were conflicted in selecting the best option available to them.

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News

‘Disruptive’ road project to impact drivers in Falls Church for next month

By Scott McCaffrey
W. Broad Street roadwork in 2025 (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Motorists using W. Broad Street (Route 7) eastbound through Falls Church will find road construction ongoing through at least early June.

Work will impact the 1000 block of W. Broad between the West End Plaza shopping center and the intersection with West Street.

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News

Del. Hope touts experience, but challenger says that’s not enough

By Scott McCaffrey
1st District candidates Patrick Hope, Arjoon Srikanth and Sean Epstein at a March 5, 2025 Democratic event (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

The familiar political conflict of experience and new blood dominated a debate between Democratic contenders for the 1st District House of Delegates seat.

Incumbent Del. Patrick Hope worked to fend off criticisms by challenger Arjoon Srikanth in the Tuesday (May 13) forum, sponsored by the Arlington County Civic Federation.

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News

Supporters, critics of Rosslyn skywalks clash over development proposal

By Scott McCaffrey
One Rosslyn project (center-left, tan buildings) (via Arlington County)

To some, Rosslyn’s pedestrian skywalks are relics of the 1960s-70s. But to others, they are a vital safety alternative in an urbanized environment.

Those two opposing views were on display earlier this month, when the One Rosslyn redevelopment plan went through its second site-plan review committee on the way to potential County Board consideration over the summer.

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