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

Fewer visitors at Arlington hotels could impact jobs, county budget projections

By Scott McCaffrey
Construction at the new Hilton hotel in Rosslyn in February (staff photo by Katie Taranto)

Add hotel-occupancy rates to the Arlington County government’s growing list of economic concerns.

Projections for the next 60 days suggest Arlington’s hotel-room usage will be down 15% from a year before and expected hotel revenue down 12%.

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News

Arlington neighborhoods may lose final say on placement of sidewalks

By Scott McCaffrey
A sunken portion of sidewalk along Wilson Blvd. in Ballston (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Arlington neighborhoods have long held what amounts to veto power over the installation of new sidewalks, but that may soon change.

County Manager Mark Schwartz recently told two advisory panels he is interested in developing a countywide sidewalk plan to fill in gaps — and potentially override the views of individual communities.

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News

Neighbors continue pushback on church’s plans to build affordable housing for LGBTQ+ seniors

By Dan Egitto and Scott McCaffrey
Clarendon Presbyterian Church at 1305 N. Jackson Street (staff photo)

A proposal to redevelop a Lyon Village church as affordable housing for LGBTQ+ seniors continues to get pushback from some neighbors.

Clarendon Presbyterian Church has been seeking to redevelop its property at 1305 N. Jackson Street in partnership with True Ground Housing Partners. Conceptual site plans filed last May depict a six-story building with 102 units, as well as a church and childcare center totaling 8,530 square feet.

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News

More residents unsatisfied with Falls Church roads, survey suggests

By Scott McCaffrey
An all-way stop at N. Oak Street and W&OD Trail (courtesy of Falls Church)

Falls Church residents are less satisfied with their roads than they used to be, a new survey suggests.

Still, they continue to have a generally positive view of city services and their community’s overall quality of life.

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News

Bicycle, pedestrian panels now tasked to focus on big picture, not details

By Scott McCaffrey
Construction blocking sidewalk at the end of a row of retailers in Courthouse (staff photo)

Two key Arlington government advisory panels have been asked to focus less on trying to vet individual capital projects and more on a big-picture approach.

Since that request comes from County Manager Mark Schwartz, it may have the force of a directive — albeit one politely delivered.

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News

Real-time unemployment data still elusive as federal cutbacks roll on

By Scott McCaffrey
The Washington Monument in the haze, as seen from a Pentagon City apartment building in 2023 (via WeatherBug)

Obtaining real-time data on the impacts of federal downsizing continues to pose a challenge for groups across the D.C. area.

The Northern Virginia Regional Commission has added a section tracking initial unemployment claims on its website. The most recent data as of March 16 show that statewide initial unemployment claims rose from 2,881 the week ending March 1 to 4,036 the week ending March 8.

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News

‘Stumbling stones’ honor the stories of people once enslaved in Arlington

By Scott McCaffrey
Viewing the stumbling stones (staff photo by Scott McCaffrey)

The lives of Margaret Hyson and her children George and Charlotte — three people enslaved in the Yorktown neighborhood in the 1800s — had previously been unknown to all but their descendants.

But now, this family will have their stories told to a broader community.

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News

As decision nears on accessory-dwelling housing in Falls Church, divisions remain

By Scott McCaffrey
An accessory dwelling unit by Backyard Homes in North Arlington (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Significant divisions remain as Falls Church City Council members approach final-decision time to enact rules regulating accessory-dwelling units.

“There are so many concerns” still to be worked through, Council member Marybeth Connelly said at a March 10 work session on the topic.

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News

Homelessness issues require more housing options, not just more funding, staff say

By Scott McCaffrey
Department of Human Services director Anita Friedman (screenshot via Arlington County)

As safety-net advocates press for more funding to address homelessness, Arlington officials say more permanent and temporary housing options are also needed.

The county’s full “continuum of care” for this issue clocks in at $7.5 million annually — “not an insignificant amount,” Anita Friedman, director of the county government’s Department of Human Services, said at a budget work session last week. Without places for people to go, however, she said the problem festers.

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News

More glass recycling, traffic calming on 1st Road S. discussed at County Board meeting

By Scott McCaffrey
The Arlington County Board at a meeting on Saturday, March 15 (via Arlington County/YouTube)

A relatively brief Arlington County Board meeting on Saturday involved discussion of local glass recycling and traffic calming on 1st Road S.

As officials are in the midst of determining the county’s budget and wrestling with various other thorny issues involving President Donald Trump’s administration, this week’s agenda was unusually light.

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News

Extra elementary school seats might someday put Arlington facilities on chopping block

By Scott McCaffrey
Key Elementary School in 2023 (staff photo by Jay Westcott)

Excess capacity at elementary schools might someday lead Arlington Public Schools to close facilities — but there aren’t any immediate plans to do this, officials say.

“We are not projecting a need to close any schools at this time,” Board Chair Mary Kadera said in response to a question at last week’s Arlington County Civic Federation meeting.

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Schools

‘Hard decisions’ in $845M APS budget draft prompt criticisms from advocates

By Scott McCaffrey
Ashley Donahoo speaks to School Board members in support of Integration Station (screenshot via Arlington Public Schools)

A proposed $845.4 million budget unveiled last night will not please everyone, Arlington Public Schools leaders acknowledged.

The Fiscal Year 2026 budget package represents a spending increase of 2.3% from the current budget, and anticipates $650 million in revenue coming from Arlington County. Nevertheless, “we had to make hard decisions,” Superintendent Francisco Durán said in detailing the spending package Thursday evening.

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