Scott McCaffrey | ARLnow

Falls Church eliminates senior staff post in money-saving effort

Published May 15, 2025 at 1:45PM

Falls Church Mayor Letty Hardi (screenshot via City of Falls Church)

In a cost-saving move, Falls Church leaders on Monday (May 12) voted to reconfigure how the city oversees its economic-development, planning, zoning and permitting operations.

In adopting the fiscal 2026 budget, City Council members eliminated the position of Community Planning and Economic Development Services director.

News

County leaders express regret for treatment of displaced Queen City residents

By Scott McCaffrey

Published May 15, 2025 at 8:30AM

William Vollin speaks of Queen City (via Arlington County)

Arlington leaders on Tuesday (May 13) honored the legacy of a once-vibrant community wiped off the map to make way for construction around the Pentagon.

Board members also expressed regret at how those residents were treated by county leaders eight decades ago.

News

Independent candidate vows to fight highways, rental housing, ‘fascists’

By Scott McCaffrey

Published May 14, 2025 at 8:30AM | Updated May 14, 2025 at 10:28AM

Jeramy Olmack (via campaign website)

A second independent has qualified to be on the County Board ballot in November, guaranteeing that the election again will be run under the still controversial ranked-choice format.

Jeramy Olmack has successfully filed paperwork to be on the Nov. 4 County Board ballot, election officials have confirmed to ARLnow.

News

County may step in to fill gaps as AmeriCorps services are defunded

By Scott McCaffrey

Published May 13, 2025 at 11:45AM

Reading partner at Aspire! Afterschool Learning (photo via Aspire Afterschool Learning/Facebook)

Arlington leaders say they will do what they can to blunt the loss of AmeriCorps staff at local nonprofit organizations.

The Trump administration has targeted the federal agency for downsizing or elimination. It is a domestic version of the Peace Corps, providing personnel — from young adults to seniors — who help staff social-safety-net organizations.

News

County leaders plan to end police ‘Section 7’ interactions with ICE

By Scott McCaffrey

Published May 13, 2025 at 9:15AM

An Arlington immigration arrest on Feb. 11, 2025 (via ICE/Flickr)

Arlington leaders on Tuesday, May 13, plan to further restrict cooperation of the county’s police department with U.S. Immigration & Customs Enforcement, or ICE.

Board members are expected to strip the ability of police to interact with ICE on local arrests out of the Arlington County Police Department’s policy.

News

County Board approves 309-unit Clarendon apartment building

By Scott McCaffrey

Published May 12, 2025 at 3:45PM | Updated May 13, 2025 at 9:03AM

Renderings of the planned redevelopment at 3033 Wilson Blvd (via Arlington County)

County Board members on Saturday (May 10) unanimously approved a developer’s plan to demolish an existing office building in Clarendon to make way for a 309-unit apartment building.

“It looks good. It’s a very nice building,” Board Chair Takis Karantonis said of the project, proposed by Carr Properties, dubbed Clarendon Square.

Schools

Bryant wins 69% in Democratic School Board caucus, advances to general election

By Scott McCaffrey

Published May 12, 2025 at 3:15PM

School Board candidate Monique "Moe" Bryant (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Monique “Moe” Bryant defeated June Prakash in the Arlington County Democratic Committee caucus, moving on to the Nov. 4 general election.

Bryant, executive director of Challenging Racism, won 1,288 votes (69%) to 582 for Prakash, president of the Arlington Education Association.

News

APS ‘Outdoor Lab’ to expand by 85 acres through land purchase

By Scott McCaffrey

Published May 12, 2025 at 9:15AM

Open-house visitors view a map showing expansion of Arlington Outdoor Lab property (via Arlington Outdoor Education Association)

The Arlington Outdoor Lab is expected to grow by 85 acres through the purchase of an adjacent tract in Fauquier County.

The Arlington Outdoor Education Association’s (AOEA) purchase will increase the lab’s current 226 acres by over a third.

News

Missing Middle and urbanization remain hot topics in County Board primary

By Scott McCaffrey

Published May 12, 2025 at 8:30AM

Candidates Takis Karantonis and James DeVita (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

Debate over housing and urbanization once again took center stage as candidates for the Democratic County Board nomination squared off at a forum last week.

Current County Board Chair Takis Karantonis met his sole challenger, James DeVita, at an Arlington County Democratic Committee meeting that attracted about 150 people on Wednesday.

News

Youth restorative justice program touts successes but wrestles with complex needs

By Scott McCaffrey

Published May 9, 2025 at 2:45PM

Chairs at the Center for Youth and Family Advocacy's PEER Ambassador Academy (via CYFA/X)

A new restorative justice program for youth has scored some success but continues to grapple with layered challenges around juvenile offenses in Arlington, leaders say.

“What stands out most is the complexity of needs among the young people we serve,” said Devanshi Patel, CEO of the nonprofit Center for Youth and Family Advocacy (CYFA).

News

Falls Church launches task force on who should pay for trash collection

By Scott McCaffrey

Published May 9, 2025 at 1:45PM

City Council work session of May 5, 2025 (screenshot via City of Falls Church)

In just a few months, Falls Church leaders are hoping to reach a final decision on whether to shift how they fund city trash collection.

City Council members on Monday directed City Manager Wyatt Shields to set up a task force on the issue and come back to Council members by Aug. 4 with recommendations.

News

Three County Board members endorse Karantonis in re-election bid

By Scott McCaffrey

Published May 9, 2025 at 8:30AM

Current County Board Chair Takis Karantonis (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

County Board Chair Takis Karantonis has picked up the support of three of his four colleagues as he seeks to beat back a primary challenge.

The Karantonis campaign last week announced it had received endorsements from County Board members Matt de Ferranti, Maureen Coffey and JD Spain, Sr. Also announced as supporters were School Board members Mary Kadera and Zuraya Tapia-Hadley, and several environmental and labor organizations.