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

Future library budgets may have to pick: more staff or more materials in Arlington

By Scott McCaffrey
The renovated Courthouse Library in the Ellen M. Bozman Government Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Future Arlington Public Library budgets may face tough questions about which is more important: additional staffing or additional materials.

For the fiscal year beginning in July, both are facing the budget scalpel.

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News

Remains of railroad structure in E. Falls Church to receive historic marker

By Scott McCaffrey
Remnants of railroad trestle in East Falls Church (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

One of the few remaining pieces of an abandoned railroad in East Falls Church is about to receive public recognition.

The Historical Affairs and Landmark Review Board (HALRB) on March 19 approved the design of a commemorative marker to be located adjacent to remnants of a train trestle next to Washington and Old Dominion Railroad Regional Park.

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News

Youngkin vetoes bill to let Arlington change its form of government

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

Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) has vetoed legislation that would have allowed Arlington County to change the structure of its government for the first time in 93 years.

Del. Patrick Hope (D-Arlington), who sponsored the bill, has vowed to continue fighting for the change that passed both chambers of the General Assembly. Locally, the legislation has the backing of the Arlington County Civic Federation but lacks support from the Arlington County Board.

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News

Hefty increases in Arlington development and permit fees proposed, despite criticism

By Scott McCaffrey
Building under construction in Crystal City (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

Substantial increases to planning, zoning and inspection fees may be coming to Arlington.

County Manager Mark Schwartz says the proposed fee increases will ensure that developers, not taxpayers, bear the full cost of staff time involved in commercial and residential development projects. However, critics argue that the change could hinder attempts to build Arlington’s reputation as a business-friendly environment.

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Around Town

Departure of natural-resources guru will leave void in Arlington, Alexandria

By Scott McCaffrey
Kirsten Conrad retirement ceremony (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

After more than 17 years, Arlington and Alexandria’s Virginia Cooperative Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources is headed to retirement.

Kudos for Kirsten Conrad, who has many fond memories of her time at the extension, poured in from colleagues at the local, regional and state levels at a March 17 reception honoring her tenure.

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News

Arlington’s human services spending set to surpass $200M for first time

By Scott McCaffrey
Sequoia Plaza - Arlington Dept. of Human Services headquarters (staff photo)

The Arlington government plans to spend over $200 million on human services programs and personnel in the coming fiscal year, a new record high.

While officials are making some efforts to rein in the increase, they warn that local and national economic factors may force them to either add more funding or scale back existing initiatives as the year progresses.

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News

Melwood development on hold pending action on historic status

By Scott McCaffrey
Rendering of Melwood site redevelopment proposal (via Melwood and Wesley Housing)

Safeguards are being put in place to ensure that county staff do not accidentally issue demolition and construction permits allowing the Melwood redevelopment to move forward before a planned historic-preservation analysis is done.

And that’s a process that could take a year.

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News

Reagan National leaders hope spring brings better times after a challenging winter

By Scott McCaffrey
Ronald Reagan National Airport (staff photo by James Jarvis)

Winter weather, economic jitters and the fatal Jan. 29 aircraft collision combined for a challenging start to 2025 at Reagan National Airport.

Acknowledging 2025 has opened as “a turbulent year,” the president of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority (MWAA) told the body’s board of directors he believed the long-term outlook remains positive — despite ongoing uncertainty.

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News

Views split on whether APS budget plan prioritizes classrooms over central office

By Scott McCaffrey
The Arlington Public Schools Syphax Education Center (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

The proposed $845 million fiscal 2026 budget to fund Arlington Public Schools (APS) for the 2025-26 school year has again brought up concerns over how much funding should go into classrooms and how much is needed to provide central-office oversight.

Given fiscal challenges faced by the county government and school system, and the ongoing uncertainty over the region’s economic future, those concerns may be more pronounced this year.

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News

Dominion’s W&OD tree removal draws pushback from county, regional leaders

By Scott McCaffrey and Angela Woolsey
Tree stumps under Dominion Energy power lines along the W&OD Trail in Vienna (staff photo by Angela Woolsey)

The Arlington County Board has joined a chorus of regional voices asking Dominion Energy to be more judicious in tree removal efforts.

The Board unanimously voted on Tuesday in support of a resolution calling on the energy company to avoid draconian efforts to manage the landscape along Washington & Old Dominion (W&OD) Regional Park and adjoining power lines.

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News

County Board awards $419K to support immigrants, faces arguments from nonprofit left out

By Scott McCaffrey
Tsehaye Teferra (screenshot via Arlington County)

Over $400,000 in funding for immigration-related services is included in a package of grants that the Arlington County Board approved for local nonprofits this week.

However, one Arlington-based organization focused on immigrant communities —  the Ethiopian Community Development Council — pushed back at a County Board meeting on Tuesday after a selection panel declined to recommend funding the nonprofit. Board members declined to bend the rules to help, but said they would help the group find additional streams of funding and other support.

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